Drugs, drinking, and adolescence
D. I. Macdonald
Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, most physicians do not want to
believe that a drug epidemic involving children from all socioeconomic
classes across the country is in progress. Prevention efforts are hindered
by massive denial at all levels--societal, medical, and parental. Reasons
for this denial are many; among them are misconceptions about the risks of
experimentation and effectiveness of drug treatment programs, and a
tendency to view drug abuse as a moral rather than a health problem. The
use of alcohol and other drugs is closely related to rising mortality in
older adolescents, for whom the leading causes of death are accidents,
suicide, and homicide. The leading causes of disability in this age range
are chemical dependency and impairments related to accidents. Chemical
dependency, which has trapped millions of children, is best regarded as a
progressive, contagious disease that causes serious problems for young
people, their families, and society. Pediatricians, well skilled in
preventive medicine, must address more seriously this epidemic killer and
disabler of young people whose care has been entrusted to them.
