Abstract
The biopsychosocial phenomenon of adolescent substance use is of major importance to all health care professionals. As suggested by the excellent study of Robinson et al<sup>1</sup>in this issue ofThe Journaladolescent substance use should be viewed within the larger perspective of adolescent risktaking behaviors.<sup>2</sup>Much of adolescent behavior consists of experimenting with a variety of activities, many potentially perilous, including sex, substance use, and violence. But to understand and find solutions to the risk-taking behavior of youth, we have to understand adolescence in today's culture. To be an adolescent today is difficult. Pregnancy, incest, sexual abuse, rape, suicide, homicide, prostitution, and other devastating problems are all integral facts of life. Sexual experimentation, for example, often has tragic results as adolescents tend to show little insight into the consequences of their actions. Millions of cases of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies are reported annually in teenagers. Adolescent
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
