Injection Drug Use among Adolescents and Young Adults: Scope of the Problem and Recommendations

The goal of this article is to heighten awareness among social workers and other human service professionals about the use of injection drugs by adolescents and young adults. Although social work and other human service providers possess increasingly greater knowledge and skills in dealing with tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use among adolescents and young adults, they often have limited knowledge of injection drugs such as heroin and cocaine. This article reviews the empirical research on prevalence, hazards, and treatment options for young injection drug users and provides case studies to illustrate key points. The role of professional education is discussed as are implications for research and practice, including early intervention, involvement of family and social networks, street outreach strategies, and the need for services along a continuum of care.