ABSTRACT

Adolescence, broadly defined as the “teen” years, is featured by dramatic biological and psychological changes. Physique assumes adult appearance and reproductive maturation is completed. Neurological development is largely finalized and cognitive capacities achieve asymptote. During this stage of ontogeny, substance use is, however, commonly initiated. By twelfth grade, over 50 percent of adolescents have used an illicit drug (Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2005). Among a subset of users, the consequences of consumption satisfy criteria for diagnosis of substance use disorder (SUD).