Prescription drug abuse and dependency by adolescents and young adults: Treatment need and treatment receipt

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Linda Simoni-Wastila, PhD and Hui-Wen Keri Yang, MS. Pharmaceutical Health Services research, University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Pharmacy, 515 W. Lombard street, Room 162, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-706-4352, lsimoniw@rx.umaryland.edu

In 2003, more than 865,000 adolescents and young adults aged 12-25 met clinical criteria for prescription drug abuse or dependency requiring treatment. Little is known, however, about how many young people actually receive treatment, patterns and modalities of treatment, and the barriers and facilitators for treatment of prescription drug use disorders. In preliminary analysis, we found that 59.4% of adolescents and 62.3% of young adults reported using 2 or more different prescription drugs; nearly three-quarters used illicit substances other than alcohol or tobacco. Fewer than 1 in 6 young people with a prescription drug use disorder received any treatment; 55% of treatment was provided on an outpatient basis. Using logistic regression analysis, we examined the factors associated with receiving any treatment and treatment specific to prescription drug use disorders and found use of one substance (relative to concomitant use of alcohol and other drugs), self-perception of treatment need, and recent initiation of substance use are positively associated with treatment receipt. Findings suggest that adolescents and young adults are significantly under-treated for prescription drug use disorders, and family members and providers may require more guidance in recognizing prescription drug use disorders in order to improve entry to treatment.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will

1)know the extent to which adolescents and young adults require treatment for prescription drug abuse and dependency by adolescents and young adults.
2)understand the extent to which treatment needs are currently unmet in this population, and patterns of treatment modalities.
3)be able to identify individual and environmental factors associated with attaining treatment for prescription drug abuse and dependency.

Keywords: Prescription Drug Use Patterns, Treatment Patterns

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation

Prescription Drug Abuse in Young People: Prevalence, Patterns, Factors and Treatment

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA