"Teen drug use went up dramatically in the 1990s"

John Walters' quote about teen drug use in the 1990s is a reflection of the truth of the time. During the 1990s, substance abuse amongst teenagers increased substantially. This was because of a range of factors, consisting of the availability of drugs, the glamorization of substance abuse in popular culture, and the illiteracy about the dangers of drug use. The increase in teenager drug use during this time period was a cause for issue, as it put young people at risk of dependency, health problems, and even death. The boost in teenager substance abuse throughout the 1990s was a wake-up call for parents, educators, and policy makers, who started to take steps to deal with the issue. These steps consisted of increased education about the threats of substance abuse, stricter laws and penalties for drug use, and increased access to treatment and assistance services for those dealing with addiction.