Abstract
Adolescence is a crucial period of biological, psychological, and social
development; hence, it is at higher risk of drug use and its negative effects.
Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage that involves important behavioral,
emotional, social, and cognitive changes. Teenagers may be predisposed to begin drug
use, develop substance use disorders, and experience potentially substantial and
permanent substance-related negative outcomes due to the neurobiological changes
underpinning these intricate developmental processes. This chapter includes the study
of recent research on this complicated subject, which aims to guide clinical care and
research on teenagers. This chapter is about how addiction to drugs and substances of
abuse is spreading among the youth and has become a serious problem. The chapter
includes all the harmful effects of this practice among youth and how this habit is
disturbing the young minds of our country with its bad impact on the thinking and
decision-making power of youth, especially in the people taking drugs regularly. Types
of substances of abuse and drugs, along with the ways by which they are taken by
individuals, are also discussed in this chapter. Diseases associated with it and the
neurological disturbance created by such drugs in individuals who are habitual of
taking them are also reviewed and mentioned in this chapter in detail. Further, this
chapter includes the law and order followed in our country regarding drugs and
substances of abuse. Since addiction to the substance is a major problem, it is very
important to get rid of this habit; for this, some ways are being used. Adolescent
substance use is diverse, ranging from pathological to normal, and it can cause severe
short- and long-term illnesses and even mortality. Adolescent drug use issues must be
addressed by comprehending risk and resilience factors, underlying neurobiology, and
the best developmentally sensitive therapies.