NCJ Number
227133
Journal
Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: 2009 Pages: 144-156
Date Published
2009
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study investigated and compared the differences in characteristics and risk behaviors endorsed by detained adolescent methamphetamine (meth) users with other drug users.
Abstract
Results indicate that when compared with non-meth users, meth-using adolescents had a higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, parents who used drugs, and other members of their households who used drugs. Further, meth users were primarily Caucasian and found to be significantly younger in age than other drug users at initiation of drug use. Meth users also differed significantly in the complete Clinical Syndromes section of the Million Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) and differed from other drug users in their choice of drugs and their delinquency history. Findings for meth users concerning ethnicity, polydrug use, increased prevalence of suicidal behavior, familial substance abuse, and psychiatric symptoms were comparable with previous research. However, also found was that the most common use of meth was by smoking, followed by snorting and injection; this result contradicts other research but could suggest differences in the regional culture of the data samples, the accessibility of different forms of the drug, or a combination of these factors. Findings related to increased familial substance abuse and a younger age at initiation of drug and alcohol use for meth users may be related and further help clinicians identify youths who are at risk for drug use. Data were collected from 53 youth, ages 13 to 17 who were detained at 1 Regional Youth Detention Center in Northeast Georgia. Tables and references