Yumi Lee, MPP¹, Girlyn Arganza, MA², Rachele Espiritu, PhD¹, and Larke Huang, PhD¹. (1) Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, 3307 M St., NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007, 202-687-5073, yl26@georgetown.edu, (2) Office of Planning, Policy and Analysis, Peace Corps, 1111 20th St., NW, Washington, DC 20526

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that a significant percentage of youth with diagnosed mental health disorders also have substance abuse disorders. The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, based on data from 1994-1996, found that the likelihood of substance use among adolescents including alcohol and illicit drugs is higher for those who suffer from severe emotional and behavior problems.

How does this pattern of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders apply to ethnic minority youth? The recent Surgeon General’s Report: Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity emphasizes the role of culture in the identification, diagnosis and treatment of disorders. Yet, there have been only few studies that examine the relationship between ethnicity and race and diagnoses of co-occurring disorders.

The present study examines the relationship among race/ethnicity, age, gender and diagnosis of a co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder. This is a secondary analysis of data obtained from the national evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families program collected in the first phase (1993-94) of this 85-site federal grant program. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship of diagnosis of co-occurring disorder and substance abuse disorder across race/ethnicity controlling for age, socioeconomic status, and functional level. The results revealed significantly different patterns of co-occurring disorders among the white, Hispanic, African American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Native American groups of youth. Details of the findings and their implications will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn about the relationship among race/ethnicity, age, gender and diagnosis of a co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder.

Keywords: Co-morbid, Youth

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.