Citation

Hennessy EA, Tanner-Smith EE, Finch AJ, Sathe NA, Potter SA. Campbell Syst. Rev. 2017; 13(1): 1-39.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, The Authors, Publisher John Wiley and Sons with the Campbell Collaboration)

DOI

10.1002/CL2.184

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUDs) among youth are a major public health problem. In the United States, for example, the incidence of SUDs increases steadily after age 12 and peaks among youth ages 18-23 (White, Evans, Ali, Abrahams, & King, 2009). Although not every youth who experiments with alcohol or illicit drugs is diagnosed with a SUD, approximately 7-9% of 12-24 year olds in the United States were admitted for public SUD treatment in 2013 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2016). The true prevalence of SUDs among youth in the United States is likely higher than 7-9%, however, given that many youth receive treatment in private or in non-specialty settings (Laudet, Harris, Kimball, Winters, & Moberg, 2014), and other youth may never receive treatment for their substance use problems (SAMHSA, 2015). Data available on substance use patterns and treatment availability in other nations also suggests that there are significant numbers of youth worldwide in need of some form of substance use treatment and/or aftercare, although this research is primarily limited to developed nations. For example, in Australia, adolescents aged 10-19 years old comprised approximately 12% of all treatment admissions from 2012-2013 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra, 2014). Similarly, the European Council estimated that across surveyed countries, youth constituted anywhere from 16% (Italy) to 65% (Czech Republic) of the overall substance use treatment population (Council of Europe, Pompidou Group, 2006). And, in 2011, approximately 28,000 adolescents were newly admitted to outpatient treatment across Europe (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2013).

Substance use problems can have numerous detrimental consequences on the academic, social, and general well-being of youth. This might include negative effects on school or work performance, legal problems, and substance use tolerance and progression (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Prior research has documented the multiple negative effects from prolonged and heavy substance use, including diminished memory and cognitive abilities, reduced grades, a decreased likelihood of finishing high school or attending post-secondary education, problems attaining or keeping employment, higher rates of more acute and chronic health conditions than those without a history of use, poverty, and family and social problems (Brown & Tapert, 2004; Homel, Thompson, & Leadbeater, 2014; Larm, Hodgins, Larsson, Samuelson, & Tengström, 2008; Leslie et al., 2016; Lisdahl, Wright, Kirchner-Medina, Maple, & Shollen, 2014; Menasco & Blair, 2014; Newcomb & Bentler, 1988; Patrick, Schulenberg, & O'Malley, 2016; Silins et al., 2014; Squeglia, Jacobus, & Tapert, 2009; Thoma et al., 2011). Given the numerous negative effects associated with heavy substance use among youth, it is important to understand what programs and interventions might be effective in assisting youth with SUDs...

Language: en