NCJ Number
208899
Date Published
February 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Based on selected findings from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this paper examines the need for and receipt of substance abuse treatment among juveniles (ages 12 to 17) who have been in foster care.
Abstract
All estimates presented in this report are annual averages based on combined 2002 and 2003 NSDUH data. An individual was considered to need treatment if he/she met the criteria for dependence on or abuse of alcohol or an illicit drug, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; or had received treatment for a substance abuse problem at a "specialty" substance abuse facility during the past 12 months. According to NSDUH data, approximately 680,000 youths (2.7 percent) ages 12 to 17 had ever been in foster care. Youths who had ever been in foster care had higher rates of past-year use of any illicit drug than youths who had never been in foster care (33.6 percent compared to 21.7 percent). Youths who had ever been in foster care had higher rates of need for substance abuse treatment than other youths, and the youths who were in need of substance abuse treatment in the past year were more likely to have received treatment if they had ever been in foster care. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 4 notes