The Characteristics of Adolescent Substance Abuse by the Age of the First Exposure to Substances.
- Author:
Hyun Jung LEE
1
;
Sungdo HONG
;
Yoosook JOUNG
;
Hyun Ju PARK
;
Sang Sub CHOI
Author Information
1. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pre-adolescence;
Substance abuse;
characteristics
- MeSH:
Adolescent*;
Alcoholism;
Child;
Child Abuse;
Diagnosis;
Education;
Humans;
Intelligence;
MMPI;
Psychology;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Running;
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome;
Substance-Related Disorders*
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2001;40(6):1194-1203
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the age of the first exposure to substances influences the characteristics of substance abuse. METHOD: Ninety seven adolescent boys in a substance abuse treatment facility were evaluated by using questionnaires, individual diagnostic interviews, and psychology tests. They were classified into 3 groups, preadolescence group(PA), early adolescence group(EA), and middle adolescence group (MA) according to the age of the first exposure to substances, and the data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 9.0. RESULTS: The average age was 16.4+/-1.2 years. There were 39 in PA, 29 in EA, and 29 in MA. In comparison to EA, PA showed higher frequency in substance use, substance dependence, and positive family history of alcohol abuse. In comparison to MA, PA had higher frequency in troubles in interpersonal relationship, functional impairment, dependence on substances, withdrawal symptoms, amount of alcohol and gas consumed, positive family history of alcohol abuse. presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders, and higher score in K-subscale of MMPI. PA also used more variety of substances more frequently, and had shorter duration before starting the second substance. In comparison to MA, EA showed higher frequency of substance use, functional impairment, trouble in interpersonal relationship, diagnoses of substance dependence, and shorter duration before starting the second substance. However, less EA were from disorganized families. Among the 3 groups, there were no statistically meaningful differences in combined use of alcohol, trial of abstinence, duration of abstinence, child abuse history, family support, intelligence, and frequency and duration of running away from home. CONCLUSION: Earlier exposure to substances may lead to more serious problems of drug abuse. Earlier drug prevention education for adolescents should be provided.
