Problem: Preventing Substance Abuse among Employees and Retirees

Abstract

People often view substance abuse as a teenage problem because it usually begins with youthful experimentation in alcohol and tobacco. They may forget that many people probably first try illegal drugs as adults. Figure 8.1 shows that half of all adults who ever used marijuana tried it for the first time during or after their late teen years. In addition, most teenagers classified as substance abusers fall into that category because they are using legal drugs before the minimum purchase age; as soon as they reach their 21st birthday, they technically stop being abusers. The same cannot be said for young adults who become involved in drug use.