THE DRUGS MOST widely abused by teens are the drugs legally used by adults and common in the home and community. They are easily available, affordable, and carry little social stigma. Nicotine and alcohol are the most common, both illegal for minors but difficult to keep out of minors' hands. Inhalants, which include a large number of commonly used household chemicals, also are largely unregulated and accessible. And prescription drugs, designed to cure illness, carry great potential for abuse by teens who do not realize how toxic they can be.

These four substances play a critical role in teen addiction, both as gateway drugs and as serious addictions in their own right. It is important for teens to understand their specific properties, use, addictive potential, and other dangers posed specifically to young people.

Nicotine

Nicotine is a chemical compound found naturally in...