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Abstract

There is a serious threat to the health and well being of America today: the threat of substance abuse. It affects everyone on some level: the friend’s child who is always in trouble with the law, the family member whose activities are kept secret, or the work colleague who habitually calls in sick. For many, the abuser lives in their own home. The problem of abuse is not discriminating; it can even start in early adolescence. When the individual who is using is an adolescent, it affects their parents, peers, school, and community. In a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (1999), 50% of twelfth graders have tried drugs and one in four are current users.

Author's Biographies

Lori Beckwith is completing her last semester in the M.Ed. program in School Counseling at Columbus State University. She also attained her B.S. degree in Health Science at CSU. In addition to her academic career, Lori was a staff member at CSU for 17 years in various capacities.

Shea Bailey is currently working toward her M.Ed. in School Counseling at Columbus State University. She works as a substance abuse counselor in a female adolescent residential treatment facility.

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