The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74048

Constance Weisner, DrPH, MSW, Stacy Sterling, MPH, MSW, Sujaya Parthasarathy, PhD, and Jennifer Mertens, MA. Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 891-3599, Constance.Weisner@kp.org

Adolescents entering substance abuse treatment represent a population with complex problems, and one which increasingly has become more difficult to treat. We contrast adolescents and adults entering treatment in regard to history of alcohol and drug use initiation, drug severity at baseline, and comorbidities. Adolescents began using multiple drugs at earlier ages than did current adults in treatment. We found, that in a commercially insured HMO population of substance abuse diagnoses and of a sample entering treatment, a very high level of mental health and medical comorbidities, as well as cost, in comparison to a matched sample of non substance abusing youth in the same health plan. As we would expect, those who had higher levels of severity did less well in treatment at six and twelve months, although those who received some integrated care had better outcomes. Our comparison of adolescents and adults in treatment in the same health plan suggests that treatment programs in the future will be dealing with a much more complex, multi-problem population.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to (
• describe the problems of adolescents in treatment as compared to adults in treatment, and (
• understand the implications for the treatment system in the future.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.