This article discusses the increase in illicit drug use by adolescents between the ages of 12 - 17. The topics discussed range form the types of drugs which are increasingly being abused (methamphetemine, heroin, cocaine and LSD) to the trends in the increased use of the more widely abused drugs (marijuana, alcohol and tobacco).

Starting with a comparison between Plano, Texas (population 180,000; median family income, $54,000) just north of Dallas, to Fairfax County, Virginia (population 900,000; median household income, $70,000) where parents equally wonder "How could this happen to our children?" The evidence reporting that the statistics are rising everywhere, no matter the population or the family income. The article then moves in to the discussion of how the most used substances are showing alarming increases ion abuse, especially by younger adolescents. The percentage of 8th graders using marijuana in 1997 had incre

With the realization that drug use by an adolescent can be experimental, at what point is it determined that there is in fact drug abuse taking place? Focus is shifted to when the experimentation starts to become an impairment. The article then briefly touches on the availability of home drug test kits, which work, but put a strain on the problem of parental monitoring and family discussion. If a parent determines their child needs treatment the proper source of treatment must be found. Adolescent substance abusers require a wider scope of services, including family intervention, mental health care, remedial education and community outreach. Alas, these services are scarce. The population of adolescent substance abusers is vastly undeserved, despite the fact that this number has increased. To make matters worse, managed health care has hindered the quality of these programs and their ability to be available. The programs will only be supported if healthcare organizations see need for them. And due to lack of adolescent addictions outcomes research, data indicates tha

Some common words found in the essay are:
County Virginia, ONDCP ONDCP, United Drugs, Association August, Plano Texas, substance abuse, adolescent substance, health care, adolescent substance abusers, article discusses, substance abusers, family income, adolescents illicit, illicit drug, drug prevention, helping professional,
Approximate Word count = 722
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)