Handbook of Child and Adolescent Drug and Substance Abuse Pharmacological, Developmental, and Clinical Considerations

More than 90 percent of adults with current substance use disorders started using before age 18, engaging in behaviors that affect healthy neurological and psychological development. This handbook provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the nature and extent of substance use by children and adolescents. Discussion is included on the direct impact on health, safety, and well being, as well as that of families and communities. This book will enable mental health professionals, students, and policy makers to develop effective prevention and treatment services for children and adolescents affected by substance abuse.

Louis A. Pagliaro is Codirector of the Substance Abusology and Clinical Pharmacology Research Group. A registered psychologist, his area of specialty clinical practice is the treatment of people who have substance use disorders, including dual disorders. He consults widely as a forensic psychologist in the area of psychotropic drug use. Ann Marie Pagliaro is Codirector of the Substance Abusology and Clinical Pharmacology Research Group. Her specialty area of research is theory development and evaluation in regard to increasing the understanding of why people use various substances of abuse.