Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults (Evidence-based Resource Guide Series)

Book excerpt: For those who show heavier patterns of drinking, frequent binge drinking, regular nicotine intake, or early onset of substance use, interventions are required to prevent serious consequences of problem use and alter the path toward substance use disorder (SUD).2 Such interventions include practices shown to delay substance use initiation in adolescents and reduce substance misuse and its associated consequences in young adulthood. Effective prevention practices address factors that place young adults at increased risk for substance misuse-or protect them from substance misuse-and often focus on youth who may be more vulnerable due to their life circumstances, sexual orientation, and preexisting health conditions.