Publication year: 2011
Source: Addictive Behaviors, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 16 August 2011
Mark A., Ilgen , John, Schulenberg , Deborah D., Kloska , Ewa, Czyz , Lloyd, Johnston , …
Objective: Although many adolescents use and abuse illicit drugs, few of those who could benefit from substance abuse treatment ever receive these services. The present study examines the prevalence of utilization of substance abuse treatment in national samples of adolescents over the past 22years and identifies characteristics associated with receipt of these services. Method: Monitoring the Future data on lifetime utilization of substance abuse treatment was available for 12th grade students who reported any lifetime illicit drug use from 1987 to 2008 (N=25,537). After describing the prevalence of treatment utilization over this time period, logistic regression was used to examine potential predictors of…
Highlights: ► Rates of lifetime utilization of substance abuse treatment in adolescent substance users are low and have remained relatively stable over the past 22years (ranging from 6% to 10%). ► Greater frequency of lifetime occasions of use of alcohol, marijuana and cocaine was related to a higher likelihood of receiving substance abuse treatment. ► Substance abuse treatment utilization was more common in those adolescents who already had contact with the mental health treatment system.