Adolescence is the at-risk time period for developing a substance use disorder. The majority of individuals who become addicted start using before age 18 and develop their disorder by age 20.
By the time they are seniors, almost 70 percent of high school students will have tried alcohol, half will have taken an illegal drug, nearly 40 percent will have smoked a cigarette, and more than 20 percent will have used a prescription drug for a nonmedical purpose (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). Substance use disorders are costly to individuals, families, and communities, leading to negative health, social, and behavioral outcomes. These outcomes include physical and mental health problems, as well as challenges being successful in school and in the workplace. Misuse and addiction are key contributing factors to the leading causes of death among teens.