Given the individual and societal consequences of teen drug use, prevention efforts have increased in order to help avoid years of the debilitating effects that substance use has on the health and lifespan development of adolescents. Prevention programming focuses on changing adolescents’ existing habits that precede occurrence or worsening of the substance use behavior, whereas cessation intervention efforts focus on disrupting behavior patterns and offering proper treatment. Providing high-quality substance use prevention programs to adolescents requires sound, evidence-based material, implementation fidelity, interactive practitioner involvement, and use of appropriate delivery channels. When implementing these programs, practitioners need to consider the neurobiological, cognitive, social, and environmental aspects of substance use among youth to effectively address crucial time-points and processes during an adolescent’s life, such as puberty. Practitioners should also be aware of emerging threats to adolescents, such as use of marijuana, e-cigarettes, and opioids, and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.

Approximately 23.5 million people in America need assistance for an alcohol, tobacco, or other drug use (ATOD) disorder, although many do not obtain the help that they need. This disorder is extremely difficult to resolve, as it can be hard to make the necessary lifestyle changes to accommodate sobriety. Sometimes, individuals may recover without formalized treatment, otherwise known as natural recovery. Other times, inpatient or outpatient treatment, or partial-hospitalization, is warranted. Even for individuals taking the proper steps and going to treatment, attrition rates are high, with consistent drop-out rates of 30 percent to 40 percent within three months of treatment initiation. Racial and gender disparities in both treatment participation and outcomes exist, indicating a need for tailoring of treatments and further research on breaking barriers to treatment entrance. Motivation is central in several recovery models proposed to explain stages of change in treatment. Treatment options include initial detoxification and pharmacological options (such as medication-assisted treatment using buprenorphine for opioid use disorder), cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, cue exposure, attentional retraining, twelve-step programs, and group/family therapy. Relapse rates are high, and oftentimes individuals move from one addiction to another. Harm reduction approaches may be beneficial to those that cannot fully quit an addiction, and relapse prevention is an important treatment component, as addiction is a life-long battle.

Romantic love is a universal feeling that most individuals hope to experience in their lifetime. At its best, it is fulfilling, joyous, committed, and stable. However, there is a chance that love can become dysregulated, associated with a preoccupation with love objects, stalking, and/or depression. Feelings of love mimic individual’s neurobiological responses to drugs of abuse and can become an obsession that resembles behaviors of a substance-dependent addict. In this chapter, we discuss the evolution of romantic love and love addiction etiology. We speculate on four personality dimensions that may distinguish certain love-related behaviors and addiction. Finally, we draw from substance and behavioral addiction literature to suggest various prevention and treatment strategies for those who are susceptible to or currently afflicted by love addiction.