SUBSTANCE USE AND IMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS WITH EATING DISORDERS

Results of past research suggest that the existence of bulimic behavio rs (binge eating and/or purging) may be an indicator of increased like lihood of substance use. We investigated incidence of substance use am ong adolescent girls (mean age = 15.4 years) with anorexia nerovsa (n = 59) or bulimia nervosa (n = 58). The incidence of substance use amon g girls with anorexia nervosa was low, particularly after removing tho se anorexic adolescents with bulimic symptoms. Nearly one-third of gir ls with bulimia nervosa had smoked tobacco cigarettes, had used mariju ana, and were drinking alcohol at least weekly. Among those exhibiting bulimic symptoms, increased experience with use of different substanc es was related to increased incidence of attempted suicide, stealing, and sexual intercourse but was unrelated to age or incidence of intent ional self-harm behavior. Our findings are discussed in relation to th e results of past research and the clinical implications of our data.