The Lancet, published April 25, 2012

“In 2007, The Lancet published its first adolescent health series, which highlighted particular areas of attention, such as sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and substance misuse. Today’s 1.8 billion adolescents are more exposed to harmful alcohol consumption, sexually transmitted diseases, and other risks than in the past, and face other new challenges such as social media. The Lancet’s second Series on Adolescent Health, launched to coincide with the 45th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, argues that it is now time to put the young person, not the specific issue, centre stage. Four papers analyse the role of adolescence as a foundation for future health, the social determinants of adolescent health, the potential of the worldwide application of prevention science, and the current availability of data on 25 suggested core indicators in all countries.”

“The Series Editorial points out that ‘this more holistic vision is an important further step for firmly putting adolescent health—in many countries still a specialty in its infancy—out of a marginalised subspecialty existence into mainstream global health agendas by advocating a life-course framework’.”