Responding To Teen Substance Use: What Is Teen Substance Use
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What is teen substance use?
- Experimenting. Today, most teens try alcohol, cigarettes, inhalants, or other drugs one or more times. However, many of these teens never go any further than experimenting, and they usually do not have any problems as a result of their substance use.
- Substance abuse. For some teens, experimenting leads to regular or frequent use (abuse). Substance abuse results in problems at home (such as more arguments with parents), at school (such as failing grades), or with the law (such as driving under the influence or possessing illegal substances).
- Substance dependence (addiction). Teens can become physically and/or psychologically dependent on the substance. At this stage, use of the substance takes up a significant portion of the teen's activities, continues despite causing harm, and is difficult to stop. Addiction is an ongoing (chronic), progressive, and possibly fatal disease.
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Why is it important to recognize and deal with teen substance use?
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Responding to teen substance use
| Last updated: | September 13, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Ralph Poore |
| Reviewed By: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Yifrah Kaminer, MD - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman |
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