Risk factors leading to adolescent substance abuse.

The risk factors leading to adolescent substance abuse were examined to provide greater understanding of their influence. The risk factors were divided into four major categories: demographic, social, behavioral, and individual. Each category was broken down into its respective components, among which are ages of susceptibility; gender differences; the influences of family, peers, and environment; the influence of past use of substances; the relationship between substance abuse and other problem behaviors; and the relationships between substance abuse and academic achievement, psychological variables, and student employment. Background information on the prevalence of adolescent substance abuse is also provided.