Understanding Adolescent Substance Abuse: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Implications

From a developmental perspective, adolescence is a time of gaining independence, experimentation, and taking risks. One area of experimentation associated with adolescence is substance use. For counselors working with adolescents who use or abuse substances, or both, it is important to understand the scope of the problem and ways to effectively work with this population. This article provides counselors with current information on adolescent substance abuse and suggestions for clinical work.