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Objective: The comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and substance abuse disorders among adolescents and adults is well-documented in the literature. The current study investigates the relationship between psychiatric and substance use disorders in a sample of treatment-seeking Hispanic adolescents. Methods: The study uses baseline data (N = 190) from a randomized control trial testing the effectiveness of a family-based treatment for Hispanic adolescents with substance abuse disorder to examine the relationship between psychiatric disorders and substance use patterns at baseline, including types of substances used (both lifetime use and past-month use) and age at onset of substance use, controlling for age and gender. Results: Linear regression models were used to examine predictors of age at onset, while logistic regression models examined predictors of lifetime substance use. Significant findings predicting age at onset for marijuana and alcohol are discussed. In addition, psychiatric profiles were differentially associated with lifetime use of sedatives, stimulants, and hallucinogens, but not alcohol or marijuana. Conclusions: Findings from this study can be used to help inform the treatment of adolescents seeking mental health and substance use services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early adolescence, Hispanics self-report higher drug use rates compared to White and African American peers. Among adolescent users, heavy users have more negative behavioral and health consequences. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine whether psychiatric symptoms, parental attachment, and reasons for use predict heavy alcohol and illicit drug use (more than 10 times in the past three months) among Hispanic adolescents.Methods:This study examines baseline data from a study evaluating a family based substance abuse treatment program for Hispanic adolescents. Participants were 14–17 years old (N= 156, 44% female). Adolescent reports on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Predictive Scales measured psychiatric symptoms of major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and anxiety. The Personal Experiences Inventory measured type and amount of drug use, as well as perceived social and psychological benefits of drug use. The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment measured trust, communication, and alienation between adolescents and their mothers. Logistic regression identified correlates of heavy alcohol use and heavy illicit drug use among Hispanic adolescents.Results:Higher social benefits were associated with increased likelihood of heavy alcohol use. Conduct disorder, higher levels of maternal attachment, lower levels of acculturation, and higher levels of psychological benefits of use were associated with an increased likelihood of heavy illicit drug use.Conclusion:These findings support the assumption that substance use treatment among Hispanic adolescents must be capable of addressing co-occurring psychiatric disorders, familial relationships, and the individual reasons/motivators to use. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Prescription opioid use has grown rapidly, but few studies examined whether users have similar treatment responses as heroin users. Participants were 1,648 opioid users in Florida Access to Recovery (2004-2007). Participants engaged in methadone or buprenorphine maintenance had better retention than those in nonmaintenance treatment. Heroin only users (HO) had better engagement in nonmaintenance treatments and had worse retention than prescription opioid only users (PO). In methadone maintenance, PO were more likely to report opioid abstinence during treatment than heroin and prescription opioid users (H&P). Future research should focus on understanding and improving the treatment experience of opioid use subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on several factors including, psychiatric, family, and ethnicity, that can impact treatment utilization among Hispanic substance abusing adolescents. It is widely accepted that a small minority of youth requiring treatment for a diagnosable disorder actually ever receive treatment and this is particularly true among substance abusing youth. For this purpose, a study of treatment utilization has been carried out in which one hundred and ten Hispanic substance abusing adolescents and their parents participated. Analysis showed that adolescents with lower numbers of externalizing disorders and parents with better parenting strategies, predicted overall treatment utilization, i.e., residential and outpatient. Better parenting practices and higher parental years in the U.S. predicted more utilization of outpatient services and lower parenting stress predicted more utilization of residential services. Without specialized engagement strategies, adolescents and families most in need may be the least likely to engage in recommended treatment.

The assessment of maladaptive family functioning among adolescent drug abusers is particularly important because maladaptive family functioning has been linked to adolescent drug abuse/delinquent behaviors, and there are now highly effective family interventions available for treating these family dysfunctions. The purpose of the study reported in this article was to investigate the degree to which the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers screen for the family domain provides useful information regarding family functioning when used with clinic-referred youths with behavior problems. Participants in this study were 135 Hispanic and African-American youth referred for the treatment of severe behavior problems, including drug use. Our findings provide support for the usefulness of the 11-item POSIT family functioning screen. Data supporting the criterion validity of the POSIT Family screen, its ability to classify families correctly in terms of their family functioning, and its significant loading on the latent variable resulting from a confirmatory factor analysis all lend support to the usefulness of this screen of family functioning. In addition, analyses designed to explore the relationships between gender and race/ethnicity and the POSIT Family subscale showed that differences in scores by gender and race/ethnicity are not unique to the POSIT, but rather reflect similar differences in family functioning reported by the adolescent on more extensive family measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the factor structure the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist (SRBPC), a rating scale used to determine the behavior of child-functioning. Features of the behavior rating scale; Use of principal-axis method with varimax rotation; Significant use of SRBPC among children and adolescents.

Presents a discussion that aims to bridge the gap between systems theory, clinical research and clinical practice in order to more successfully address family interactional patterns that prevent families with a substance abusing youth from entering treatment. Developments in family systems thinking.