Drug Use by Juveniles

Rebecca J. Boyd

Psychoactive drug use is a mainstay of American culture, with use dating to the nation's founding. Most adult drug users report adolescence as the time in which drug initiation occurred for them. Due to the potential negative consequences that juvenile drug use poses, considerable effort has been made toward understanding the consequences, prevalence, and causes of this public health problem. This entry provides a brief overview of each of these dimensions. Where applicable, components are discussed within the context of race. Psychoactive drug use poses considerable negative consequences for individual users, families, and society in general. On the economic front, costs are astronomical. In 2002, costs stemming from adult and juvenile drug treatment, drug law enforcement, lost productivity, and insurance totaled $180.8 billion. Underage drinking alone costs taxpayers $62 billion a year. On the health front, considerable life is lost to drug abuse and dependence, particularly that concerning alcohol and ...

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