ABSTRACT
Since 1993, adolescent substance abuse has been increasing in frequency with approximately 25 percent of adolescents at risk for substance abuse and related health risk behaviors (Brown, 1990). In a national sample of twelfth grade students, 81.7 percent reported using alcohol, 65 percent reported smoking cigarettes, 49.6 percent reported using marijuana, and 8.7 percent reported using cocaine at least once in their lifetime. (Johnston et al., 1995). Moreover, over $270 million was spent in 1992 for adolescent inpatient and outpatient treatment for substance abuse (Gans et al., 1995). However, these statistics may under represent high-risk youths who have dropped out of school (USPHS, 1991).
