Abstract
SummaryObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine prevalence, patterns and predictors of substance use among a sample of adolescent psychiatric inpatients.MethodsParticipants included 25 minors aged 12–17 years admitted to an Austrian department of child and adolescent psychiatry. Lifetime use, initiation, frequency and quantity of substance use, sociodemographic, family and school-related data were collected by self-report measures. Substance use disorders were detected using CAGE (a screening instrument for problem drinking) and FTND (Fagerström Test For Nicotine Dependence). Clinical characteristics were extracted from medical records.ResultsLifetime prevalence of any substance use (76%) and regular use (32%) were common. Prevalence was high for alcohol (76%), nicotine (44%) and illicit drug use (36%). Older age was associated with tobacco (p = 0.023), drug (p = 0.021) and cannabis use (p = 0.015) and regular use of psychotropic substances (p = 0.027). Family dysfunction predicted regular (p = 0.035) and cannabis use (p = 0.02). History of trauma prognosticated regular (p = 0.047) and tobacco use (p = 0.011). Use of any substance (p < 0.001) as well as regular use (p = 0.026) were significantly associated with peer substance use. Consuming adolescents were more likely to show academic failure, school absenteeism and behavioral problems. Alcohol (p = 0.02), drug (p = 0.017) and regular substance use (p = 0.007) were linked to suicidal ideation. A remarkable relationship between affective as well as externalizing disorders and alcohol, nicotine and drug use was found.ConclusionsSubstance use is highly prevalent among youth with mental illnesses and associated with psychosocial consequences. These data highlight the need to carefully explore this population at high risk.
Highlights
Adolescence represents a developmental period which appears to be essential regarding substance use initiation and the development of mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use [1, 2]
The aim of the current study was to investigate prevalence, pattern and frequency of alcohol, nicotine and illicit drug use in a clinical population of adolescents suffering from mental disorders in Vienna, Austria
Lifetime use rates and initiation, frequency and quantity of alcohol, nicotine and illicit drug use were collected by self-report measures
Summary
Adolescence represents a developmental period which appears to be essential regarding substance use initiation and the development of mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use [1, 2]. In epidemiological studies on alcohol, nicotine and illegal drug use among European youth, prevalence of psychoactive substance use was found to be high [10, 11]. Adolescents aged 15 to 16 reported using alcohol at a rate of 80%, nicotine at 46% and illicit drugs at 18% at least once [10]. Cannabis was the most frequently used illicit drug [12,13,14], with prevalence of lifetime use being lower in Austria (16%) than in other European countries (20%) [10, 12]. Illicit drug use usually started at an older age, very early consumption was found among 3% of users [10]
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