Heroin use among adolescents in treatment for substance use disorders

Objective: To clarify prevalence rates and describe patterns of adolescent heroin users who are in treatment far substance use disorders. Method: The Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) was examined for trends in the number of adolescents admitted to substance abuse treatment centers and for changes i n the routes of heroin administration. Thirteen adolescents who used heroin from one treatment program were compared with 536 adolescents who did not. Results: Between 1992 and 1996, heroin-using youths represented 2.0% of yo uths in treatment and in 1997 they represented 2.6%. Heroin-using youths re presented 56% of those using injection drugs. Heroin-using youths from one treatment program had significantly more poly-substance dependence in compa rison with adolescents who did not use heroin. Conclusions: Nationally, the re has been an increasing number, but not percentage, of heroin-using youth s in treatment between 1992 and 1996. In 1997 there was an increase in both the number and percentage of heroin-using youths in treatment. Heroin-usin g adolescents have the highest rate of injection drug use when compared wit h youths using other substances. Because of their greater risk of contracti ng human immunodeficiency virus through injection drug use, treatment trial s for these adolescents are needed.