Problem Behavior of Adolescents

The questions below should help focus the reading of this article. 1. What is known about substance use by adolescents in the United States? 2. Which youth are at increased risk for motor/recreational vehicle acci-dents? 3. What antecedent factors increase the risk for premature sexual activity in female adolescents? 4. What techniques should be used, and what information should be sought, when obtaining a medical his-tory from an adolescent? 5. What should the pediatrician do to help prevent and manage youth at risk for involvement with problem be-haviors? EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES 37. The pediatrician should have appropriate knowledge of the risks involved In cigarette smoking by children and adolescents (Recent Advances, 88/89). 38. The pediatrician should have appropriate recognition of the im-portance of identifying families in which alcoholism is present (Re-cent Advances, 88/89). Three major problem behaviors-substance use, sexual activity, and recreational/motor vehicle use-account for the majority of morbidity and mortality during adolescence