Substance Use Prevention

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth—with new challenges, opportunities, and risks. One of the most critical public health priorities for this age group is substance use prevention. Why? Because the choices and experiences young people have today can shape their lifelong health, relationships, and futures.

Why Focus on Adolescents?

Although many teens in the United States do not engage in substance use, risk increases as youth age. According to recent national survey data, about 73% of adolescents aged 12–17 reported no use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, vaping products, or other illicit drugs in the past year, but the likelihood of use climbs steadily with age.

Even with these positive trends, the adolescent brain is still developing well into the mid-20s, making early exposure to drugs or alcohol more harmful than later in life. Substance use during this period can interfere with brain regions involved in memory, decision-making, and impulse control. Moreover, early use is one of the strongest predictors of later substance use disorders.

In fact, research shows that more than 90% of adults with a substance use disorder began using substances during adolescence, underscoring the importance of preventing initiation before it starts.

Current Trends and Risks

National data indicate that substance use patterns among youth are complex:

• While overall rates of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine vaping are historically low or stable among teens, a significant portion of older teens still report past-year use of illicit substances.
• Early substance use is associated with greater risk for poor school performance, mental health challenges, risky sexual behavior, justice system involvement, and overdose.
• Only about one in five adolescents with substance use disorder received treatment in the past year, meaning many young people with serious needs go without support.

These figures show that while many teens are avoiding substances, prevention and early intervention remain essential to protect those who are at risk or are already experimenting.

Why Prevention Works

Substance use prevention isn’t just about saying “don’t do drugs.” Effective prevention:

• Helps youth build resilience, coping skills, and healthy decision-making.
• Reduces early initiation, which delays or prevents long-term use and disorder. Research suggests that delaying substance use, even by a year, can significantly reduce lifetime risk.
• Strengthens families, schools, and communities through coordinated education and support.

Evidence-based strategies, from school curricula to community engagement, have been shown to reduce initiation and lower risk behaviors when consistently implemented.

Takeaway: Prevention is a Community Effort

Substance use prevention in adolescents isn’t just the job of schools or health professionals, it requires support from families, peers, community organizations, and policymakers alike. By promoting healthy choices, open communication, and access to supportive resources, we help young people reach their full potential.

✨ When we invest in prevention today, we empower a healthier, stronger generation tomorrow.

 Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.