Editorial Prevention of Substance Abuse among Adolescents in Low- and Middle- Income countries

Globally substance abuse is a major public health and social concern. With changes in lifestyle, globalisation in substance marketing, the erosion of powers of censure that have existed in traditional societies, and an increased acceptance of such substances it is clear that their use is growing in low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries, particularly in the children, adolescents and the youth. In 2002, the use of alcohol and illicit drugs was estimated to contribute 4 % of the disease burden in the 15–29 years age group in LAMI countries.1 Also, problems associated with use, e.g. deaths and the spread of infectious disease are on the rise.2,3 In addition to acute effects and disorders, substance use in children and adolescents can harm the healthy development of the body, brain, and behaviour.4 There is thus an obvious need to target adolescents in order to reverse this trend. Preventive efforts in adolescence will have the additional spin-off of reduction in substance use in adult populations as the majority of adult drug users begin some form of drug use while still in their teens and the powerful influences of habit and addiction, made greater by their extended length of drug use, are more likely to make them resistant to cessation interventions at the later age.2,5,6 Preventive approaches are needed particularly because drug use disorders in adolescenc