Sociodemographic characteristics and drug abuse patterns of adolescents admitted for substance use disorder treatment in Istanbul.
BACKGROUND
Adolescent substance use is an increasing major health problem in developing countries.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics and drug abuse patterns of children and youth seeking treatment in Turkey.


METHODS
This retrospective study reviewed the demographic and clinical data of substance users who visited the substance addiction treatment clinic for children and youth in Bakırköy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery in Istanbul, between January 2011 and December 2012.


RESULTS
The sample comprised of 1969 children and youth aged between 11 and 20 (346 female and 1623 male). Cannabis (60.1%), followed by solvents/inhalants (38.3%) and ecstasy (33.4%), were the most prevalent substances used. The use of solvents/inhalants was more common among males, whereas ecstasy and cocaine use were more common among females. The mean age for the onset of substance use was 13 years. The proportion of polysubstance use was 60.2%. There was a mean duration of 2.28 ± 1.91 years between the first substance use and seeking treatment. The risk factors for most of the drug usage were onset of substance use at a young age, gender, treatment admission at older ages, higher parental criminal history, and having substance using parents or relatives.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of the very early onset of substance and polysubstance use indicated easy accessibility of legal and illicit substances by children and youth in Istanbul. These findings on Turkish children and youth who seek substance use treatment can be useful in developing preventive early interventions and treatment facilities.
Alcohol and Drug Research, Treatment and Training Center .
Arzu
A
Çiftçi Demirci
Ayten
A
Erdoğan
Özhan
Ö
Yalçın
Eren
E
Yıldızhan
Zehra
Z
Koyuncu
Tuğba
T
Eseroğlu
Arif
A
Önder
Cuneyt
C
Evren
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescent; alcohol; cannabis; cocaine; ecstasy; gender; solvent; ınhalant