Adolescent chemical substance use and abuse : environmental and personal determinants, and a proposed model for group intervention

• Main Author: LeCoq, Lindy Louise Low
• Format: Others
• Published: PDXScholar 1982
• Subjects: Substance abuse; Youth > Alcohol use; Marijuana; Alcoholism counseling; Drug abuse counseling; Counseling; Education; Substance Abuse and Addiction
• Online Access: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3193; https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4201&context=open_access_etds

The purpose of the literature review is to identify consistent patterns regarding adolescent use and abuse of chemical substances, especially alcohol and marijuana. Acute physical, cognitive and social effects of alcohol and marijuana use are outlined, and environmental and personal determinants of drug use and abuse are examined. Methods of prevention and intervention are discussed and, from the research findings, a model group counseling program designed for the school setting is proposed. Adolescent use of both marijuana and alcohol is found to be modal by age 16-17. The physical, cognitive and social effects are pervasive and especially damaging to chronic users. Youth are extremely vulnerable to suffering adversity from their drug use patterns.