NCJ Number
59230
Date Published
1977
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THE PAPER DESCRIBES THE INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF DRUG USE BY AMERICAN YOUTH AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING TREATMENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDS.
Abstract
DURING THE 1970'S THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS BY TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, AND THE AGE AT WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE FIRST TRY DRUGS HAS DROPPED. THE PREVALENCE OF DRUG USE HAS REMAINED STABLE SINCE THE MID-1970'S WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MARIJUANA WHICH HAS BEEN RISING STEADILY. INFORMATION ON HEROIN IS NOT REPORTED BECAUSE OF A LACK CREDIBLE DATA. NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG USE INCLUDES LOSS OF ENERGY. INTERFERENCE WITH ABILITY TO THINK CLEARLY, DAMAGE TO INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND POOR PERFORMANCE AT WORK OR SCHOOL, ALTHOUGH MORE RESEARCH NEEDS BE DONE IN THIS AREA. THE AVERAGE PHYSICAL IS PROBABLY UNFAMILIAR WITH CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE AND SHOULD BE RECEIVE TRAINING IN THIS FIELD AND BE INFORMED ABOUT AVAILABLE TREATMENT AND COUNSELING FACILITIES. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT OCCASIONAL USERS OF ILLICIT DRUGS ARE MOTIVATED BY CURIOSITY OR SOCIAL FACTORS AND NEED AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES. MORE SERIOUS USERS, HOWEVER, ARE TAKING DRUGS TO ALLEVIATE PERSONAL PROBLEMS AND REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING. ILLICIT DRUG USE WILL CONTINUE WITH MARIJUANA AND COCAINE BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. RESEARCH SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DRUGS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERVENTION STRATEGIES WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS FOLLOWED BY HIGH-QUALITY EVALUATIONS. STATISTICAL TABLES AND A SHORT LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MJM)