title: Prescription drug abuse among adolescent arrestees: correlates and implications.
abstract: This preliminary study examines the correlates of prescription drug abuse in a sample of adolescents in an urban juvenile detention center in Ohio. The study measures risk in 359 incarcerated females (20.1%) and 1,425 males (79.9%) by asking questions related to problems with alcohol, drug use, treatment history, mental and physical health problems, sexual behavior, anger management, physical violence, and family support. The results of the study suggest that incarcerated adolescents may benefit from interventions targeting prescription drug misuse. Female adolescent detainees abuse prescription drugs at a higher level than male adolescent detainees (17% vs. 10%). The correlates of prescription drug abuse are complex and multidimensional and offer opportunities for further study.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health and Social Policy, University of Akron, Ohio 44325, USA. alemagn@uakron.edu
authors.forename: Sonia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Alemagno
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shaffer-King
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Teasdale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs