Prevalence of substance abuse and use among Australian youth: A literature review

Abstract

The frequency of abusing substance and its use is a pervasive one. The study sought to ascertain the burden of using substance and abuse among the Australian youth. Secondary sources were employed, offering a vivid representation of the non-ending problem of using substance and abuse among the Australian youth. A literature review was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines to produce evidence from relevant referred publications, and other papers that focus on using substance and abuse among the Australian youth. The method used in looking for literature includes: Websites, databases, and keywords. A final list of six unique articles that satisfied the conditions was reviewed. Evidence suggests that substance used and abused is very prevalent among the youth of Australians and that there has been increase in use. Additional research is needed to comprehend the trends in the various substance uptakes and use pattern among Australian youth. Pragmatic interventions may have to be established and be made accessible to the youth group who are heavily using these substances.   Key words: Youth, substance use, substance abuse, prescription drug abuse, drug abuse treatment, substance abuse treatment.