Chapter 2's Figure 3 is a diagram indicating the possible lifelines for an individual from his or her birth, childhood, teenage years, young adulthood, midlife, elderly years, and very old age. It has a separate lifeline for individuals with a drug problem only, individuals with a drug and mental problem, individuals with a mental problem, and individuals who are in permanent drug recovery. As might be expected, no health residuals attributable to drug and/or mental problems are found among individuals who do not have a drug and/or mental problem. For all other individuals, there is a possibility that drug use and/or mental problems may have residual health consequences in later life.

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This page was last updated on June 16, 2008.

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.