RISK-FACTORS IN ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE-ABUSE - TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENTIMPLICATIONS

Adolescence is a critical age for the development of coping behaviors and responses. As adolescents experience new pressures and experiment with methods of adjustment, they may develop inappropriate and/or dest ructive methods of coping. A preeminent example is the use of substanc es to deal with stress, peer pressure, and emotional distress (Kandel & Logan, 1984). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human S ervices National High School Senior Survey, almost half of the young p eople surveyed have experimented with illicit substances by the time t hey have graduated from high school: 47.8% of high school seniors and 54% of college students in 1990 had experimented with illicit substanc es (Windle, 1991). Adolescent substance abuse involves personality, bi ological, genetic, cognitive, attitudinal, social, and environmental f actors. Prevention and intervention strategies must reflect this if th ey are to be successful in curbing adolescent substance use. Researche rs and clinicians must devise multimodal programs that address differe nt etiologic factors and combine different theoretical orientations if they are to have an impact on the use of drugs and alcohol within the adolescent population. Adolescent substance use must be conceptualize d within a theoretical model that incorporates peer, family, and intra - and interpersonal factors, This presentation will review the literat ure on the etiology of adolescent substance use with the purpose of de termining the significance of various risk factors in the development of prevention and treatment strategies, It is the intent to demonstrat e that, though no single intervention approach is effective with all a dolescents, specific interventions may be especially applicable to cer tain risk factors in the treatment and management of adolescent substa nce abuse. Implications for future research, treatment and prevention will be discussed.