NCJ Number
169921
Journal
Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (1997) Pages: 33-43
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Using a brief screening instrument within an adolescent primary health care clinic, this study examined the prevalence of patient self-reported drug use and interest in being treated for drug abuse.
Abstract
The research was conducted at an adolescent clinic within a large teaching hospital in an urban metropolitan area. The patients who attend this clinic reside predominantly in the surrounding urban area and are disproportionately exposed to social and economic factors that put them at high risk for developing problems related to the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD). A convenience sample of 176 patients was drawn from the outpatient adolescent clinic. Subjects ranged in age from 10 to 22 years old; the sample consisted of 77 percent female subjects and 23 percent male subjects; approximately 95 percent were African-American. A one-page screening form asked the following questions: Have you used ATOD within the last year? What kind of drugs have you used? The degree of severity of ATOD problem? and Are you interested in help/referral with youth ATOD problems? Findings show that 25 percent of those adolescents who reported drug use also indicated to a health provider that they were interested in receiving help for their drug abuse problems. This rate of service use is five times the national rate for drug abuse treatment. These findings provide support for the inclusion of substance-abuse screening as a fundamental component of the health assessment of adolescents. 1 table and 31 references