Adolescence is a developmental period of accelerating physical, psychological, social! cultural, and cognitive development, often characterized by confronting and surmounting a myriad of challenges and establishing a sense of self-identity and autonomy. It is also, unfortunately, a period fraught with many threats to the health and well-being of adoles cents and with substantial consequent impairment and disability. Many of the adverse health consequences experienced by adolescents are, to a large extent, the result of their risk behaviors. Many adolescents today, and perhaps an increasing number in the future, are at risk for death, disease, and other adverse health outcomes that are not primarily biomedical in origin. In general, there has been a marked change in the causes of morbidity and mortality among adolescents. Previously, infectious diseases accounted for a dispro portionate share of adolescent morbidity and mortality. At present, however, the over whelming toll of adolescent morbidity and mortality is the result of lifestyle practices.

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This reference provides a comprehensive assessment of adolescent health risk behaviors - such as smoking, violence, teen pregnancy, and AIDS among many others. Experts describe trends and changes in risk behaviors over time; illustrate theoretical models useful for understanding adolescent risk-taking behavior and developing preventive interventions; review the state-of-the-science with respect to prevention strategies for each risk behavior; and identify effective treatment modalities.

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Adolescents at Risk: A Generation in Jeopardy; R.J. DiClemente, et al. Trends in Adolescent Morbidity and Mortality; C.W. Sells, R.Wm. Blum. Theories of Adolescent Risktaking; V. Igra, C.E. Irwin, Jr. Tobacco Use; C.L. Perry, M.J. Staufacker. Disordered Eating; L.E. Ponton. Alcohol Use; M. Windle, et al. Drug Use; W.B. Hansen, P.M. O'Malley. Suicide and Suicidal Behavior; Y. Cohen, et al. Unintentional Injury; I. Lescohier, S.S. Gallagher. Delinquency; D.C. Gottfredson, et al. Violence; A.R. Stiffman et al.. Pregnancy; C. Stevens-Simon, E.R. McAnarney. Sexually Transmitted Disease including Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection; L. D'Angelo, R.J. DiClemente. Runaways and Homelessness; M.J. Rotheram-Borus, et al. Academic Underachievement and School Failure; J. Sikorski, et al. New Directions for Adolescent Risk Prevention and Health Promotion Research and Interventions; R.J. DiClemente, et al. Index.