gateway drugs

Gateway Drugs to Overdoses: Adolescents, Substance Use, and Prevention

Jun 23, 2025 | Learning Opportunities

Gateway Drugs to Overdoses – From public service announcements to harm reduction strategies, we have evolved our efforts at safeguarding youth from substance use. But has it worked? This presentation follows the research, trends, and neuroscience of substance use in adolescents. From concerns about gateway drugs to the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, we will synthesize the historic concerns and current neurobiological research to better illustrate the threats, impacts, and opportunities related to substance use with our younger population.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this training, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the trajectory of substance use in the adolescent population since the beginning of research on this phenomenon.
  2. Explain how the history of substance use presenting in adolescents has impacted prevention and outreach methods historically and currently.
  3. Recite current expectations and best practices when intervening with adolescents who are using substance use.

When: Jul. 29, 2025 10:00 am-12:00pm

Provided by Central East PTTC