National Substance Abuse Prevention Month has been celebrated in the month of October since 2011. In recognition of the topic, WGA is sharing some resources with our community about the nature of adolescent addiction and contributing factors to substance use.
There are many reasons young people choose to use. Some are curious. Some succumb to peer pressure. Others knowingly (or unknowingly) use substances to self-medicate.
Whatever the reasons, adolescent substance and alcohol use can lead to dependence and other grave consequences, including changes to cognitive functioning and death. The earlier a young person starts using, the greater the likelihood they will experience negative long-term consequences.
There is hope.
According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health as reported on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, most youth aged 12-17 have not used alcohol, nicotine or illicit drugs in their lifetime. That’s cause for celebration and a great foundation to work from.
Individually and as a community, we can support and strengthen prevention efforts by taking steps to know the signs and risk factors of alcohol/chemical use and dependence. We can also foster healthy family environments, address trauma, and engage youth in meaningful ways about the topic. Below are a few resources that may be useful:
- Drugs, Brain and Behavior: The Science of Addiction Article (National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH)
- Making the Connection: Trauma and Substance Abuse PDF (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Helping Your Teen Cope with Traumatic Stress and Substance Abuse PDF (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- ENGAGE: Evidence-based Strategies to Prevent Youth Substance Use Webpage & Resource (CDC)
- Preventing Drug Misuse and Addiction: The Best Strategy Article (National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH)
- Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit PDF (SAMHSA)
The Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Program at WGA educates and counsels participating youth on the dangers of substance use and misuse. The program offers hope for recovery from active addiction, as well as tangible coping strategies to deal with addiction that is present within the family or young person’s social circle. The program also provides training on naloxone (aka Narcan®), which is used to help rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. Over the summer of 2025, WGA received a message from a former WGA resident who had been trained in naloxone use that they had, “saved someone with narcan thanks to Amanda’s training.”
Learn more about the program and another teen’s journey toward recovery here.