A study of the patterns and correlates of substance use among adolescents applying for drug treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To inform planners by providing a psychosocial and drug-use profile of adolescents who have applied for a drug-treatment program.


METHODS
The setting was a residential drug-treatment program in Sydney for adolescents from NSW and the ACT. The design was a descriptive study of consecutive program applicants over 18 months. Study participants were 14-18 years, 53% were male. Most assessments were telephone interviews. The instrument incorporated the Opiate Treatment Index, Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis, Severity of Dependence Scale and Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R).


RESULTS
Study participants tended to be poly-substance users, mostly using cannabis, heroin and/or alcohol. Heavy use in terms of frequency and amounts of use were reported, e.g. 50% of the sample used heroin daily and the mean number of standard drinks consumed on the last day of drinking was 18. High levels of problems in the areas of social functioning, criminal activity, psychological distress, physical health, HIV risk and substance dependence were reported. For example, most participants were unemployed and 88% had committed a crime in the previous month. Higher rates of some problems were identified among females, heroin users and benzodiazepine users.


CONCLUSIONS
The sample reported a high level of involvement in substance use and associated problems. The profile suggested that improvements might be difficult to achieve and to maintain.


CONCLUSIONS
A comprehensive, intensive, longer-term drug-treatment program to address the number and extent of substance-related problems for such adolescents is recommended.
Spooner
C
C
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney. c.spooner@unsw.edu.au
Mattick
R P
RP
Noffs
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000145:classification*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation