ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on five major areas: the limitations of drug-related statistics; demographic characteristics of Hispanics in the United States; a review of the literature on Hispanic adolescent substance abuse; factors inhibiting a comprehensive analysis of the problem, its treatment, and appropriate policies; and issues for the 1980s. It provides an understanding of the present state of knowledge about the problem of substance abuse among Hispanic youth and identifies issues with which researchers, clinicians, administrators, and policy makers. Adolescence is a developmental state that is often categorized as unsettling and filled with conflict and rebellion. The manner and success in which the upheavals are handled will determine to a great extent one's functioning as an adult; the adolescent who attempts to resolve stage-related issues with substance abuse is faced with additional burdens to resolve. An extensive review of the literature published between 1970 and 1982 revealed that several authors have considered the issue of substance abuse among Hispanic adolescents.
