Given the resurgence of substance abuse in the 1990's among adolescents, this research is of critical importance, presenting a timely analysis of substance abuse among Miami adolescents. The book is multidisciplinary, drawing from the research on substance abuse in such fields as psychology, sociology, criminal justice, political science, and economics. Additionally, it derives a comprehensive 'risk factor' approach in addressing the underlying issue of why it is that certain adolescents seem to be more prone to substance abuse. The scope of the study is also important, starting with such common substances as cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana and moving on to some of the relative newcomers such as crack and steroids. Other substances analyzed are inhalants, LSD, cocaine, heroin, and narcotics. The research presented here is also conceived as a broader policy analytic piece, with specific suggestions for the schools, parents, and communities facing the overwhelming plague of substance abuse.