|
Study examines substance abuse prevalence among teens receiving routine medical care
November 06, 2007Approximately 15 percent of teens receiving routine outpatient medical care in a New England primary care network had positive results on a substance abuse screening test, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
"According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic disease with genetic, environmental and behavioral factors contributing to its cause, manifestations and natural history," the authors write. Addiction often begins during adolescence and can predict future addictive disorders. About 80 percent of teens have begun to drink and half have used an illegal drug by senior year in high school. "Substance use is associated with the leading causes of death among U.S. teenagers: unintentional injuries, homicides and suicides." Depression, conduct disorder and unplanned sexual activity are also associated with substance use.
John R. Knight, M.D., of Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston, and colleagues administered a substance abuse screening test consisting of six questions focused on the use of alcohol or other drugs and risky behavior to 2,133 adolescents age 12 to 18 who received outpatient medical care from March 2003 to August 2005.
The sample consisted of 56.3 percent female participants and 48.6 percent non-Hispanic whites. Most came from middle-class and upper−middle-class families. In total, 43.5 percent reported any use of alcohol or other drugs and 24.1 percent reported impaired driving risk during their lifetimes.
Overall, 14.8 percent of teens screened positive for substance abuse on the questionnaire. Of these, 29.5 percent were tested at school-based health centers, 24.2 percent at rural family practice facilities, 16.6 percent at adolescent clinics, 14.1 percent at health maintenance organizations and 8 percent at pediatric clinics. Teens who visited their physicians because they were sick were more likely to screen positive for substance abuse than those who went in for well-child care visits (23.2 percent vs. 7.1 percent).
"Given the pressures of time on primary care providers, more research is needed on efficient and effective office-based systems for substance abuse screening and therapeutic interventions," the authors conclude. "Early identification and intervention of adolescent substance use presents the greatest opportunity for reducing the burden of addictive disorders later in life."
"Substance abuse screening should occur whenever the opportunity arises, not at well-child care visits only."
JAMA and Archives Journals
The sample consisted of 56.3 percent female participants and 48.6 percent non-Hispanic whites. Most came from middle-class and upper−middle-class families. In total, 43.5 percent reported any use of alcohol or other drugs and 24.1 percent reported impaired driving risk during their lifetimes.
Overall, 14.8 percent of teens screened positive for substance abuse on the questionnaire. Of these, 29.5 percent were tested at school-based health centers, 24.2 percent at rural family practice facilities, 16.6 percent at adolescent clinics, 14.1 percent at health maintenance organizations and 8 percent at pediatric clinics. Teens who visited their physicians because they were sick were more likely to screen positive for substance abuse than those who went in for well-child care visits (23.2 percent vs. 7.1 percent).
"Given the pressures of time on primary care providers, more research is needed on efficient and effective office-based systems for substance abuse screening and therapeutic interventions," the authors conclude. "Early identification and intervention of adolescent substance use presents the greatest opportunity for reducing the burden of addictive disorders later in life."
"Substance abuse screening should occur whenever the opportunity arises, not at well-child care visits only."
JAMA and Archives Journals
Substance Abuse News and Current Substance Abuse Events RSSMinimum drinking age of 21 saves lives
One of the most comprehensive studies on the minimum drinking age shows that laws aimed at preventing consumption of alcohol by those under 21 have significantly reduced drinking-related fatal car crashes.
Violence declines with medication use in some with schizophrenia
Some schizophrenia patients become less prone to violence when taking medication, but those with a history of childhood conduct problems continue to pose a higher risk even with treatment, according to a new study by researchers at Duke University Medical Center.
Treatment for cigarette, alcohol and drug use in pregnancy improves outcomes for mom and baby
Pregnant women who receive treatment for substance abuse early in their pregnancy can achieve the same health outcomes as pregnant women with no substance abuse, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online in the Journal of Perinatology.
Study shows high rates, rising costs of alcohol/drug disorders in hospitalized patients
Fourteen percent of patients admitted to the hospital have alcohol/drug abuse and addiction (ADAA) disorders, costs for which have risen sharply in recent years, according to a study in the June issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (JSAT).
State policies influence drug treatment programs
State policies have a significant impact on the services performed by substance abuse treatment programs, and could play a key role in efforts to expand the use of research-based "comprehensive" treatment approaches, reports a study in the June issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (JSAT).
Scientifically valid prevention programs cut rates of juvenile delinquency
Seventh-grade students in U.S. communities that have set up scientifically validated programs to reduce juvenile delinquency have a significantly smaller chance of engaging such behavior than do children in towns that have not adopted such programs.
Does everyone really want to be a macho man?
Traditional attitudes of masculinity, such as physical toughness and personal sacrifice, are valued in Mexican culture.
Report confirms increased risk of smoking, substance abuse in bipolar adolescents
A study from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) supports previous reports that adolescents with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for smoking and substance abuse.
Study: Child maltreatment victims lose two years of quality of life
Child maltreatment is associated with reductions in quality of life even decades later, according to a new University of Georgia study that finds that-on average-victims lose at least two years of quality of life.
Middle class relaxing with marijuana
A variety of middle-class people are making a conscious but careful choice to use marijuana to enhance their leisure activities, a University of Alberta study shows.
More Substance Abuse News Articles
 | Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff |
 | Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie |
 | Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff |
 | The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Non-Smokers Using Allen Carr's Easyway Method by Allen Carr |
 | The Language of Letting Go (Hazelden Meditation Series) by Melody Beattie |
 | A Million Little Pieces by James Frey |
 | Alcoholics Anonymous - Big Book 4th Edition by AA Services |
 | Motivational Interviewing, Second Edition: Preparing People for Change by William R. Miller, Stephen Rollnick |
 | Crank by Ellen Hopkins |
 | Adult Children of Alcoholics by Janet G. Woititz |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |