ABSTRACT
Adolescent substance use and abuse is a significant concern in American society. Students in middle school and high school are using illicit substances, including marijuana, amphetamines, alcohol, and cigarettes at alarming rates. School counselors are likely to encounter students dealing with substance use and abuse issues on a regular basis. Doweiko (2002) discusses childhood and adolescence as a time when individuals are especially vulnerable to developing substance abuse disorders. This chapter is designed to provide the reader first with an overview of the prevalence, recent trends, and contributors to adolescent substance use and abuse. Next, information about how the school counselor can intervene in substance abuse situations is included, followed by an introduction and overview of the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in the school setting.
