Includes bibliographical references (p. 162-166) and index.

ch. 1. The crisis of teen addiction -- 1. The effects of alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs on the adolescent brain / David Walsh -- 2. The teen drug crisis is exaggerated / Mike Males, interviewed by Drug War Chronicle -- 3. The teen drug crisis is escalating / Meredith Maran -- 4. Methamphetamine is today's teen drug of choice / Michael J. Weiss -- 5. Compulsive gambling is a growing problem among teens / Monica Villavicencio -- 6. Prescription drug addiction is a growing problem among teens / Sandy Fertman Ryan -- ch. 2. The causes of teen addiction -- 1. Genetic factors contribute to teen addiction / Katherine Ketcham, Nicholas A. Pace -- 2. The nature of brain development can contribute to teen addiction / Lee Dye -- 3. Contemporary American culture contributes to teen addiction / Stanton Peele -- 4. A variety of factors puts teens at risk of addiction / Timmen L. Cermak -- 5. The gateway effect of tobacco and marijuana / Henry David Abraham -- 6. Marketing tobacco and alcohol to teens / Susan Linn -- 7. Middle-class teens are susceptible to addiction / Elliott Currie -- ch. 3. Preventing and treating teen addiction -- 1. Media-literate teens are less susceptible to addiction / Peter DeBenedittis -- 2. Traditional anti-drug programs are ineffective / Renee Moilanen -- 3. An overview of adolescent drug treatment programs / Timmen L. Cermak -- 4. Student drug testing reduces teen addiction / Office of National Drug Control Policy -- 5. Student drug testing is invasive and counterproductive / Janice M. Eisen -- 6. Stronger public policies are needed to prevent marijuana addiction / Joseph A. Califano Jr. -- ch. 4. Personal stories of addiction and recovery -- 1. Using drug tests to stay clean / Noah Harpham -- 2. A teen boy's addiction to prescription painkillers / Laura D'Angelo -- 3. A teen girl survives her addiction to ecstasy / Nicole Hansen -- 4. Losing it all to compulsive gambling / Tan Vinh -- Organizations to contact.