Substance use is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States and has created a great deal of hardship on the nation's economy and the health of its citizens; this includes increasing number of deaths, crime rates, health care costs, and loss of productivity. Knowing the risk factors, warning signs, and how to intervene is critical for decreasing the prevalence of substance use. The goal of this paper aligns with the Healthy People 2020 objectives to increase awareness of substance use in adolescents with the objective to reduce and prevent substance use.