1980; 1968) classifies as being between ages 18 and 30, a time when the focus of personal development is on social and personal relationships. Between one-fourth and two-fifths of all hospital inpatients are related to substance abuse in some way, as well as up to 16% of general-medicine outpatients (Weaver, et al., 1999). Meanwhile, an estimated 26 million Americans use illegal drugs every year, half of them at least once a month (Fox & Miller, 1997).
According to emerging clinical opinion, patients of 18 years or older who have experienced two or more nonsports-related injuries or other trauma (e.g., dislocated bones, traffic accidents, fighting) are to be considered as possible addicts and hence candidates for intervention by primary-care doctors (Weaver, et al., 1999). Weaver, et al., also cite the "medical sequelae of drug abuse," i.e., associated dysfunctions, ranging from hepatitis, AIDS-related infections, and evidence of injection sites being hidden by those attempting to conceal their addiction -- such as under the tongue, breast, legs, or even
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