J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.
2001 Nov;40(6):1194-1203.
The Characteristics of Adolescent Substance Abuse by the Age of the First Exposure to Substances
- Affiliations
-
- 1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea.
- 2National Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, Kongju, Korea.
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.
Keyword
- Full Text Links
-
- Actions
-
Cited
- CITED
-
- Close
- Share
-
- Similar articles
-
- A Study on Substance Abuse, Knowledge and Attitude about Substances in the Elementary Students
- Recovery outcomes of Korean adolescents with substance Abuse problems
- Predictive factors of substance misuse and abuse in South Korean adolescents: a secondary data analysis of the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey
- A case of methamphetamine intoxication in an adolescent
- Adolescent Substance Abuse
