The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between substance abuse and academic achievement of adolescents in the United States. Previous literature has shown that adolescence is a period of increased substance use (Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, et al., 2011) and that individuals who use substances describe themselves as poor academic achievers (Bergen, H.A., 2005). Data from epidemiological surveys highlight the tendency of adolescents to ignore the negative risks associated with underage drug use (Johnston et al., 2008). For the current research project, data were drawn from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, an epidemiologic self-reported survey based on 16,410 individual responses of adolescents located in the United States. Results from the investigation displayed an inverse relationship between substance abuse and academic achievement, where increased levels of substance abuse were related to decreases in academic performance. The association between substance abuse and academic achievement demonstrates the need for identification of substance use among adolescents as well as the delivery of interventions intended to reduce risks for academic underachievement and future health problems.