Dear Colleagues,

Substance use among youths (age group of 15–24) is common. The prevalence of substance use increases during adolescence and peaks in early adulthood. While the majority of youths who engage in substance use do not develop problematic use patterns, about 5% of adolescents and 15% of young adults meet the criteria for substance use disorder (SUD). Young substance users experience a range of specific problems, including a more rapid progression from first use to SUD, a shorter time from first to second SUD, and a higher rate of co-occurring mental health conditions. Additionally, the brain undergoes extensive neuromaturation until the mid-20s. This heightens concerns about the neurobiological vulnerability of youths to the adverse effects of regular substance use on cognitive–emotional development. Despite the serious consequences of youth SUD, only a small proportion of adolescents and young adults with SUD receive treatment. Moreover, data indicate that more than half of those who receive treatment drop out or terminate with unsatisfactory outcomes. This stresses the importance of effective early intervention and treatment for SUD during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Decreasing or eliminating substance use at this early stage could have significant long-term implications. However, there is still a lack of expert knowledge and specialized treatment services for this population. In addition, evidence-based interventions for youth SUD are almost exclusively psychosocial and modestly effective.

Given the importance of effective early intervention and treatment strategies in youth SUD, the journal Medicina is launching this Special Issue. Early diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment of SUD should be paramount in this population; therapeutic investment in this stage of life is essential to address the fact that treatment delay leads to a worse prognosis. We encourage you and your co-workers to submit your articles reporting on this topic. Original research, reviews, and case reports dealing with innovative therapeutic strategies and challenges in the early diagnosis and intervention of youth SUD are particularly welcome.

Dr. Kenneth M. Dürsteler
Dr. Marc Vogel
Dr. Maximilian Meyer
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• adolescence
• early adulthood
• substance use
• substance use disorder
• diagnosis
• comorbidity
• psychosocial interventions
• pharmacotherapy
• outcome
• health