Drug Use Among Youth: No Simple Answers to Guide Prevention

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO studied the use of illicit drugs and alcohol among adolescents, focusing on the: (1) prevalence of drug and alcohol use among various groups of young people; (2) relationship between drug and alcohol use; (3) risk factors most related to drug and alcohol use by youth; (4) federal programs targeted at drug-use risk factors; and (5) policies that constitute a reasonable prevention or intervention strategy.