Substance abuse among young children and adolescents has proven to be a rapidly changing phenomenon. Beginning in the 1960s, the use of illicit drugs and alcohol significantly increased among adolescents. From a public health perspective, the rise and incidence of substance abuse (e.g., amphetamines, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, barbiturate sedatives, cocaine, opioids, ecstasy, heroin, crystal methamphetamine, cannabis, inhalants, and excessive use of over-the-counter and prescription drugs), [Page 843]cigarette smoking, and alcohol use among teens has been the focus of considerable international attention. Such behaviors often begin during adolescent and young adulthood. Beginning in 1975, the use of a variety of substances among adolescents has been systematically tracked. Both the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institutes of Health has tracked this behavior through the Monitoring ...