Introduction: Differences in access to mental health services as a function of race and ethnicity have been previously documented, while there has been less research examining the use of psychotropic medication as a function of these same variables. Youth involved with public service sectors, such as mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare, special education, and alcohol/drug treatment are known to be at increased risk for mental health problems, but patterns of psychotropic medication use has not been studied. Method: Participants in this study included 1580 children and adolescents involved in one or more public service sectors. Controlling for age, gender, presence of functional impairment as measured by the CIS, and access to the mental health sector, we examined the degree to which race/ethnicity predicted use of psychotropic medication. Results: After controlling for age, gender, presence of functional impairment, and involvement with the mental health sector, each of the non-Caucasian groups (African-American, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander) children and adolescents was less likely to use psychotropic medication compared to the Caucasian group. In a similar analysis controlling for the same factors, African-American and Hispanic children and adolescents were less likely to be using more than one psychotropic medication. Follow-up analyses found this pattern in the use of stimulant, anti-depressants, and mood stabilizers, while no differences according to race/ethnicity were observed in the use of anti-psychotics or anti-hypertensives. Implications: Even when age, gender, functional impairment, and sector involvement are held constant, non-Caucasian children do not receive or do not use psychotropic medication.
Learning Objectives: Discuss patterns of medicaton use by children and adolescents as a function of demographic variables.
Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Ethnicity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.