Assessing Substance Use and Abuse among Adolescents: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Program Practitioners. Research-to-Results Brief. Publication #2007-08.

Abstract

BACKGROUND This brief discusses the signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use and provides recommendations to assess substance use among youth in your program. It is not uncommon for adolescents to experiment with different substances such as alcohol or cigarettes, but this can lead to heavy and continued use, which is dangerous and may put their health at risk. Additionally, individuals who drink and smoke are more likely to participate in other risky behaviors, including using other drugs or driving after drinking. Adolescents may turn to substance use when they are under stress at home or at school, or when their friends are smoking or drinking. TOBACCO USE Tobacco can be used in the form of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or smokeless tobacco. Using tobacco at a young age increases the risk of addiction and later health problems. E About one-quarter of high school students reported having smoked a cigarette before the age of 13, and more than one-third of high school students reported smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days. 1 E Tobacco use has been associated with many health problems, including heart disease and cancer, 2 and is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. 3