Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to illicit drug use, and substance use among adolescents is a worldwide health issue. Scholars have conducted many empirical studies to identify the causes of addiction, prevention, and intervention to reduce adolescent involvement in substance use and prevent substance abuse later in adulthood. Despite the significant result in determining risk and protective factors in western society, the relative success of the domain of risk and protective factors towards substance use has not been welldocumented within Asia. Hence, this systematic review article examines the risk and protection factors for illicit drug use among adolescents in Asia. Preferred reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to present a systematic literature review of 13 out of 363 articles from four databases (Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Dimension). The study's findings identified three main themes: individual level, interpersonal level, and institutional level. Overall, further analysis established eight sub-themes. Adolescents' individual level is most highlighted in this study. However, multiple factors within a different level, such as interpersonal, community and policy, are essential to further explore and develop effective substance abuse prevention strategies.

The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the addictive behavior changes experienced by former drug users. This qualitative study draws on in-depth interviews and guided life narratives of eight ex-drug users (2 female; 6 male). The findings indicate that informants first experienced drugs during adolescence or early adulthood. Personal difficulties and frequent interactions with peers played a significant role in this drug addiction. Majority informants have previously used cannabis and methamphetamine. Each informant described psychological and behavioral changes that impacted their well-being and the links and connections within their families. In general, this study demonstrates the critical nature of comprehending the addict's world, its causes, and its modifications. Based on the data obtained, appropriate preventive measures can be identified and implemented for adolescents from primary school age to prevent the spread of substance abuse, especially among adolescents.