Multiple adverse outcomes over 30 years following adolescent substance misuse treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To compare outcomes over 30 years experienced by individuals who as adolescents entered substance misuse treatment and a general population sample.


METHODS
All 1992 individuals seen at the only clinic for substance misusing adolescents in Stockholm from 1968 to 1971 were compared to 1992 individuals randomly selected from the Swedish population, matched for sex, age and birthplace. Death, hospitalization for physical illness related to substance misuse, hospitalization for mental illness, substance misuse, criminal convictions and poverty were documented from national registers.


RESULTS
Relative risks of death, physical illness, mental illness, substance misuse, criminal convictions and poverty were significantly elevated in the clinic compared to the general population sample. After adjustment for substance misuse in adulthood, the risks of death, physical and mental illness, criminality and poverty remained elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents who consult for substance misuse problems are at high risk for multiple adverse outcomes over the subsequent 30 years.
Hodgins
S
S
Department of Forensic Mental Health Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK. s.hodgins@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Larm
P
P
Molero-Samuleson
Y
Y
Tengström
A
A
Larsson
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D055030:Drug Users / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology