Alcohol is the most widely misused substance among America’s youth. Drinking by young people has big health and safety risks. It is dangerous because it:
Causes many deaths and injuries
Can lead to poor decisions about engaging in risky behavior, such as drinking and driving or unprotected sex
Increases the risk of physical and sexual assault
Can lead to
Smoking cigarettes has many health risks for everyone. However, the younger you are when you start smoking, the more problems it can cause. People who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting. Teens who smoke are also more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs.
The problem is not just
What is drug use?
Drug use, or misuse, includes:
Using illegal substances, such as
Anabolic steroids
Club drugs
Cocaine
Heroin
Inhalants
Marijuana
Methamphetamines
Misusing prescription medicines, including opioids. This means taking the medicines in a different way than the health care provider prescribed. This includes
Taking a medicine that was prescribed for someone else
Taking a larger dose than you are supposed to
Using the medicine in a
What is dual diagnosis?
A person with dual diagnosis has both a mental disorder and an alcohol or drug problem. These conditions occur together frequently. About half of people who have a mental disorder will also have a substance use disorder at some point in their lives and vice versa. The interactions of the two conditions