If we hope to improve our response to the addiction and overdose crisis, we must focus on when addiction commonly starts: adolescence. Addiction is a pediatric-onset illness, as ongoing neurodevelopment makes the adolescent brain particularly vulnerable to the effects of substances. In fact, 80% of adults with substance use disorder (SUD) begin using substances before the age of 18.1,2 Not only is the neurobiology of adolescents unique, but so are their social, educational, and mental and physical health needs.