Pediatric Drug Use, Misuse, and Abuse

Abstract

Addiction is a complex disease that no single factor can predict who will become an addict thus far age of first use, genetic predisposition, and environment are the main risk factors. Addiction is a developmental disease that usually begins in adolescence or even childhood when the brain is undergoing major changes. It is important to recognize that fact that the most serious, costly, and widespread adolescent health problems such as use of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and risk involvement behaviors are potentially preventable. Prevention of drug use and abuse in children and adolescents should be everyone's responsibility. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)