title: Use of addiction treatment services by Irish youth: does place of residence matter?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Substance abuse treatment centres for Irish rural youth have largely been overlooked in the scientific literature. This study examined data from a substance abuse treatment centre that treats both urban and rural attendees to investigate if there are differences in usage patterns between attendee groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was done of 436 service-users attending a treatment centre: patient characteristics, treatment referral details and substance history of the attendees from urban and rural areas were compared. Descriptive analysis of the service-user population was performed and recent substance use was investigated. Inferential tests examined for differences between urban and rural service-users.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The typical service-user was an Irish male aged between 16 and 17 years, who resided with his parents. A greater percentage of rural service-users were employed (33.3% vs 22.2%, p=0.015), while a significantly greater percentage of urban service-users were unemployed (10.3% vs 4.1%, p=0.015). A greater proportion of urban service-users had tried multiple substances in their lifetimes (73.7% vs 52.2%, p=0.001) and continued to use multiple substances regularly (49.3% vs 31.3%, p=0.003) compared with their rural counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first Irish study comparing service-users from urban and rural settings. Rural service-users developed more problematic alcohol use, while more urban service-users were referred for benzodiazepine use. Prevention strategies should acknowledge the differences and similarities in urban and rural young people.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Care Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland. kev.mur21@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Care Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland. stephen.byrne@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Care Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland. l.sahm@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sahm
authors.affiliation: Day Treatment Centre, Matt Talbot Services, Rockview Trabeg Lawn, Douglas, Cork, Ireland. sharon.lambert@mtas.ie.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Care Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland. s.mccarthy@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol and Drug; Community Participation; Consumer perspectives; Determinants of Health; Europe; Health Scientist; Health Service reform; Law; Postgraduate; Public Health; Researcher; Youth