RT Book, Section A1 Robertson, Elizabeth B. A1 Compton, Wilson M. A2 Wallace, Robert B. SR Print(0) ID 1141973087 T1 Prevention of Drug Use and Drug Use Disorders T2 Maxcy-Rosenau-Last Public Health and Preventive Medicine, 15e YR 2017 FD 2017 PB McGraw-Hill Medical PP New York, NY SN 9780071441988 LK accessbiomedicalscience.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1141973087 RD 2024/03/28 AB Drug use and drug use disorders interfere with the normal, healthy functioning across the lifespan but are fundamentally preventable. In considering the opportunities for preventing drug use and drug disorders, it is important to consider that the initiation of drug use, a necessary precursor to drug disorders, is in most cases a voluntary activity. However, the onset of drug disorders (namely abuse and dependence) is much more dependent on genetic variation in combination with specific environmental factors. The onset of drug use is most common during the late childhood and adolescent years. Proximal and distal biological, psychological, social, and environmental precursors originating as early as the prenatal period play a large role in whether experimentation occurs and use persists. On the other hand, for some individuals, the initiation of drug misuse and illicit use of drugs extends well beyond adolescence into adulthood, even in late adulthood. What follows is a review of basic information about drug use and drug use disorders and a review of prevention opportunities.