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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Marina Tolou-Shams, PhD¹, Larry K. Brown, MD¹, Christopher Houck, PhD¹, Celia M. Lescano, PhD¹, Glenn Gordon, BS¹, and Project SHIELD Study Group². (1) Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Bradley Hasbro Research Center, Brown University Medical School/Rhode Island Hospital, Coro West, 1 Hoppin St, Suite 204, Providence, RI 02906, 401 444-8539, mtoloushams@lifespan.org, (2) Coordinating Center Investigators, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Background: Juvenile offenders have substantially higher rates of substance use disorders and psychopathology than their peers, which heighten risk for HIV infection. Few studies focus on juvenile arrestees, who may be at similar risk as those detained/incarcerated, but are often released back to the community without having their needs identified. This study sought to understand substance use, HIV risk and mental health among juvenile arrestees to help determine protocols for needs assessment at time of arrest.

Methods: Adolescents (M age 18 years) who participated in a larger multi-site HIV prevention program in 3 states provided baseline data on demographics, psychosocial context/attitudes, mental health crises, alcohol/drug use, sexual behavior and arrest history. Participants were grouped as arrestees (n=404) and non-arrestees (n=996). Analyses of covariance determined differences between groups on various mental and physical health risk outcomes.

Results: Juvenile arrestees reported more alcohol and drug use, substance use during sex, unprotected sex acts, STI diagnoses, suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalizations than non-arrestees.

Conclusions: Juvenile arrestees are similar to incarcerated juveniles in terms of their substance use, sexual safety and mental health needs. Effectively identifying and responding to the psychosocial and health needs of adolescents at time of first arrest could increase the odds of successful substance use and mental health treatment, reduce HIV risk and recidivism in the community, and relate to declines in cost within the legal, medical and mental health systems.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

• Describe how arrestees are similar to incarcerated juveniles in terms of their substance use, sexual health and mental health needs.
• Discuss the implications of identifying these needs prior to their release to community, which includes increasing odds of successful substance use and mental health treatment, reducing HIV/STI risk, reducing recidivism and cost to the legal, medical and mental health systems. 3.Recognize the importance of public health intervention at time of first arrest.

Keywords: Jails and Prisons, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered