This is a report of a governor's task force established to investigate alcohol abuse by youth and young adults in Maryland. Since the task force was informed that young people use whatever drug is readily available including marijuana and cocaine, substance abuse in general is included in the report. The introduction discusses the task force's beliefs and actions. The task force warns that if the issue of adolescent substance abuse is not dealt with effectively now, the financial and emotional costs will be greater in the future. The executive summary lists 31 recommendations in five areas which are further elaborated upon in subsequent sections of the document; these areas are: (1) coordination, cooperation, and implementation of services; (2) public awareness prevention programs; (3) school-based prevention programs; (4) intervention actions by local boards of education, the state legislature, and the governor and legislature; and (5) treatment services which can be affected or created by the governor and state legislature as well as by the Special Office on Substance Abuse. Included in the appendix is a description of the task force's survey process which gathered information on adolescent substance abuse from service providers and advisory groups. (ABL)