A study of the patterns and correlates of substance use among adolescents applying for drug treatment

Objective: To inform planners by providing a psychosocial and drug-use prof ile of adolescents who have applied for a drug-treatment program. Method: The setting was a residential drug-treatment program in Sydney for adolescents from NSW and the ACT. The design was a descriptive study of con secutive program applicants over 18 months. Study participants were 14-18 y ears, 53% were male. Most assessments were telephone interviews. The instru ment incorporated the Opiate Treatment Index, Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnos is, Severity of Dependence Scale and Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R ). Results: Study participants tended to be poly-substa nce users, mostly usin g cannabis, heroin and/or alcohol. Heavy use in terms of frequency and amou nts of use were reported, e.g. 50% of the sample used heroin daily and the mean number of standard drinks consumed on the last day of drinking was 18. High levels of problems in the areas of social functioning, criminal activ ity, psychological distress, physical health, HIV risk and substance depend ence were reported. For example, most participants were unemployed and 88% had committed a crime in the previous month. Higher rates of some problems were identified among females, heroin users and benzodiazepine users. Conclusions: The sample reported a high level of involvement in substance u se and associated problems. The profile suggested that improvements might b e difficult to achieve and to maintain. Implications: A comprehensive, intensive, longer-term drug-treatment progra m to address the number and extent of substance-related problems for such a dolescents is recommended.