NCJ Number
188403
Date Published
2000
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the prevalence of alcohol use among youth with a serious emotional disturbance (SED), specialized needs of adolescents in treatment for alcohol use or dependence and SED, and some examples of innovative treatment programs for adolescents with varying SED and substance abuse problems.
Abstract
In adolescents, SED refers to a range of diagnosable mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders that limits their ability to participate in family, school, and community activities. SED may include conditions such as depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and conduct and eating disorders. Adolescents struggling with these disorders face even greater challenges when they use alcohol. Alcohol is the substance most commonly used by adolescents with SED. Two research studies found that approximately half of all adolescents admitted to mental health facilities self-reported moderate or heavy drug and alcohol use. SAMHSA's Analytic Series on the Relationship between Mental Health and Substance Abuse Among Adolescents reports that adolescents with SED were nearly twice as likely as adolescents with low levels of SED to have used alcohol in the past months. Adolescents with SED were five times as likely as those with low levels of SED (2 percent compared to 10 percent) to report alcohol dependence. Because SED and alcohol dependence are often integrally related, simultaneous treatment of both problems is suggested. Pharmacotherapy for adolescents with SED who are also receiving treatment for alcohol abuse or dependence should proceed cautiously. Recent findings suggested that medications for SED could yield favorable treatment results for youth receiving alcohol treatment. The examples of innovative treatment programs for adolescents with varying SED and substance abuse problems include a school-based and community-based intervention program, clinic treatment, partial day treatment, day treatment, and short-term inpatient treatment. 14 notes and a glossary