Substance use in adolescents is a teen's use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs (including prescription medicines without a prescription). Such use could be occasional experimenting or regular and ongoing.
Any substance use raises the risk of other problems. For example, adolescents who use substances are more likely to have car crashes, fights, unwise or unwanted sex, overdose, or other behavior problems Behavior Problems in Adolescents Adolescence is the time when children grow into independent adults. It usually begins at about age 10 years and lasts until the late teens or early 20s. But most people just think of adolescence... read more . Substance use is considered substance abuse when adolescents continue to use substances even after these behavior problems happen.
Adolescents who abuse substances are at a higher risk of having long-term problems. These problems include mental health problems, poor grades in school, and substance use disorders Substance Use Disorders Substance use disorders generally involve behavior patterns in which people continue to use a substance despite having problems caused by its use. The substances involved tend to be members... read more such as addiction and overdose.
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It’s common for adolescents to try alcohol or other substances, but regular use is rarer
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Alcohol is the most common substance used by adolescents—they often drink heavily and binge drink, which raises the chance of fights, car crashes, and other causes of injury
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Parents, peers, and the media influence an adolescent's attitude toward substance use
What types of substances do adolescents use and abuse?
Adolescents use and abuse many substances, including over-the-counter medicines. The most common substances are:
Adolescents also abuse:
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Prescription medicines, such as opioids Opioids Opioids are a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy (including synthetic variations) that are pain relievers with a high potential for misuse. Opioids are used to relieve pain, but they... read more , antianxiety drugs Antianxiety and Sedative Drugs Antianxiety and sedative drugs are prescription drugs used to relieve anxiety and/or help with sleep, but their use can result in dependency and a substance use disorder. Using prescription... read more , and stimulants
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Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, such as cough and cold medicines
Alcohol
Tobacco
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Tobacco use includes smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars, chewing tobacco, putting tobacco between the lower lip and gum, and inhaling it into the nose
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Most adults who smoke started smoking as adolescents
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Adolescents are more likely to smoke if they have parents who smoke
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To prevent tobacco use, don’t use tobacco in front of your children and talk to them about the effects of tobacco
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If your child already smokes or uses tobacco, encourage quitting and help him or her find support
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, vapes) don't burn tobacco. They heat up a liquid that contains nicotine, which is the active ingredient in tobacco. The "smoke" that comes off e-cigarettes is just water vapor that contains nicotine. Because it's the smoke from burning tobacco that causes lung cancer Lung Cancer Lung cancer is cancer that starts in your lungs. Cancers that start growing in other organs may spread (metastasize) to the lungs. Cancers that have spread to your lungs aren't really considered... read more and chronic lung disease (COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) COPD is a disease in your lungs that makes it hard to breathe. It's hard to push air out of your lungs. Difficulty pushing air out is called chronic airflow obstruction. Smoking cigarettes is... read more 
), e-cigarettes have been promoted as a safer alternative to cigarettes. However, they aren't necessarily safe:
What should I do if my adolescent is using or abusing substances?
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
nicotine |
COMMIT, NICORETTE, NICOTROL |
