Abstract
Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are driving advancements across healthcare,
education, and social sciences by improving predictive accuracy, decision-making, and operational
efficiency. Applications include early detection of co-occurring mental health and substance use
disorders, risk prediction for opioid overdoses, and understanding youth polysubstance use and
behavioral patterns like fear of missing out (FoMO). Despite significant potential, challenges such as data
privacy, model interpretability, and computational costs remain. This review highlights emerging
solutions, including explainable AI, hybrid models, and innovations like federated learning, offering a
pathway to more ethical and scalable ML applications across diverse fields.