children s health issues
Substance Use in Adolescents
Other Substances
Use of substances other than alcohol,nicotine, and cannabis during adolescence is less common. In the 2021 Monitoring the Future Survey, the following percentages of 12th graders reported using illicit substances one or more times in their life: Prescription drugs (taken without a prescription): 8.8% Volatile Solvents (for example, glue, aerosols): 5.0% Hallucinogens (for example, LSD, PCP, mescaline, mushrooms): 7.1% Cocaine : 2.5% Anabolic Steroids (taken by mouth or injected into a muscle): 0.8% Amphetamines (nonprescription): 0.6% Opioids : 0.4% that are most often misused include Opioids , antianxiety drugs, sedatives, and stimulants (such as Although Anabolic Steroids use is more common among athletes, non-athletes use them too. Use of anabolic steroids is associated with a number of side effects. A problem specific to adolescents includes premature closure of the growth plates at the ends of bones, resulting in permanent short stature. Other side effects are common to both adolescents and adults. Nonprescription, over-the-counter (OTC) drugsthat are commonly misused include cough and cold drugs that containdextromethorphan. OTC cough and cold drugs are widely available and are considered safe by many adolescents and now serve as gateway drugs. Gateway drugs are introductory substances that can increase the likelihood of other drug use and the risk of substance use disorders later on. Other gateway drugs include cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis. Even young adolescents may try drugs, with some reporting drug use as early as age 12. Many adolescents who experiment with OTC, prescription, and other substances go on to develop Overview of Substance-Related Disorders . 