Diagnosis and treatment of adolescent substance abuse

This paper has demonstrated the persistence of drug abuse as a problem among adolescents and describes cocaine abuse particularly, profiling the typical cocaine abuser. The stagewise progression of drug use has been described. Factors that make youngsters vulnerable to progression to further stages of drug abuse have been suggested. In treatment strategies, the appeal to fear and moral and religious arguments has for the most part necessarily been replaced by an appeal to reason and an educational approach. The coexistence of drug abuse and psychopathology occurs with sufficient frequency to require full medical and psychiatric evaluation in every adolescent who presents with a history of substance misuse. Inpatient and residential treatment, family involvement, and urine monitoring with sufficient aftercare programs seem to be important components of treatment approaches.