Nearly all adults with substance use disorders began using addictive substances as teens, most commonly with alcohol, nicotine and marijuana. The adolescent brain is hardwired for risk-taking putting teens at the highest risk for problems related to substance use including addiction. Drug use starting in adolescence is especially likely to lead to addiction later in life. Reducing the risk of future substance use problems, including addiction, begins with prevention of youth drug use.

As the nation focuses on reducing the devastating opioid overdose epidemic, there is a simultaneous booming marijuana industry that is working to promote the commercialization of legal marijuana. This webinar will explore these key concepts and their implications for youth drug use prevention.

Additionally, the webinar will review the new biology of addiction and the recognition “hijacked" addicted brain, discussing their importance in youth drug prevention. New data from two major national surveys of teen substance use will be presented that show youth of any drug greatly increases the risk of using all other drugs. This data shows that the big decision for youth is not whether or not to use individual drugs, but whether or not to use any drug. Further national data show that the percentage of American youth making the decision not to use any drug has been steadily increasing for nearly four decades. Supported by these data, this webinar will present a straightforward and clear prevention message for youth under the age of 21. One Choice: Do not use any alcohol, nicotine, marijuana or other drugs for reasons of health. This unified, clear, simple and powerful prevention message holds the promise of significant reductions in youth drug use.