Survey on Drug Abuse, indicate that some children are already abusing drugs at age 12 or 13, which likely means that some begin even earlier. Early abuse often includes such substances as tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, and prescription drugs such as sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medicines. If drug abuse persists into later adolescence, abusers typically become more heavily involved with marijuana and then advance to other drugs, while continuing their abuse of tobacco and alcohol. Studies have also shown that abuse of drugs in late childhood and early adolescence is associated with greater drug involvement. It is important to note that most youth, however, do not progress to abusing other drugs.

Long-term abuse causes changes in other brain chemical systems and circuits as well. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that influences the reward circuit and the ability to learn. When the optimal concentration of glutamate is altered by drug abuse, the brain attempts to compensate, which can impair cognitive function. Drugs of abuse facilitate nonconscious (conditioned) learning, which leads the user to experience uncontrollable cravings when they see a place or person they associate with the drug experience, even when the drug itself is not available. Brain imaging studies of drug-addicted individuals show changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decisionmaking, learning and memory, and behavior control. Together, these changes can drive an abuser to seek out and take drugs compulsively despite adverse consequences—in other words, to become addicted to drugs.

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PERMANENT AND NATURAL CURE

Expose your children to the world of substance abuse and prevention. Give them a reason not to get involved with drugs. Show them all the lives that have been ruined by such actions. Let them know that nothing good can come from drug use. The more your kids now about the reality of substance abuse and prevention, the better off they'll be.

Advancing the role of behavioral therapies in drug abuse treatment is a priority of the Treatment Initiative, Two other workshops are examining adolescent treatment issues. One is focusing on the development of more effective treatment approaches to deal with the special needs of adolescents. The other workshop is addressing how to develop early treatment strategies for adolescents and preadolescents who are beginning to abuse drugs.

Keep in mind, no single drug abuse treatment program is appropriate for all individuals. Matching drug abuse treatment settings and services to each individual's particular problems and needs is critical to his or her ultimate success in returning to productive functioning in the family, workplace, and society.

Short-term residential programs, often referred to as chemical dependency units. These programs involve a 3- to 6-week inpatient treatment phase followed by extended outpatient therapy or participation in 12-step self-help groups. Today, as private provider benefits decline, more programs are extending their services to publicly funded patients.

The more drug treatment an individual receives the better the outcome. Those who stay in drug treatment longer than three months usually have better outcomes than those who stay less time. Over the last 25 years, studies have shown that drug treatment works to reduce an individual's drug use and the crimes committed by drug addicted individuals. Research has also shown that those who have successfully completed a drug treatment program are more likely to be employed.

Of course, not all drug abuse treatment is equally effective. Research also has revealed a set of overarching principles that characterize the most effective drug abuse and addiction treatments and their implementation..

More traumatic ways of getting help for drug abuse include medical or legal intervention. Enrollment in a drug abuse rehabilitation and treatment program will typically follow overdoses, or may be mandated by the courts following a drug charge. Whatever the case may be, it is important to realize that nobody but the drug abuser can make the decision to truly embrace change. True healing will begin when addicts make up their mind that they are weak, they have an addiction and need support from others with similar experience.

Treatment for drug addiction works, but this knowledge by itself is not sufficient. Implementing drug abuse treatment into any non-treatment setting is challenging.