Adolescents and chemical dependency: Part II

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Last month's column looked at why youth choose to drink and use drugs.

This month, I'm going to look at the profile of the chemically dependent young person to better understand why young people get trapped in the addiction cycle. It will also help parents monitor their children to see whether a child may be prone to falling into alcohol and drug abuse.

In 1990, the Chemical Abuse Treatment Outcome Registry (CATOR) study was conducted in the United States. While the population of the survey may not be totally representative of all chemically dependent youth, the findings have proven very useful in determining why youth choose to use.

The CATOR study found the male-to-female ratio in chemical dependent treatment centres to be two to one. But, based on trends of chemical use in adolescents, we expect that ratio to change to equal numbers during the next decade. The study also found that 74 per cent of the youth surveyed had behavior problems at school. Fifty-eight per cent had been suspended and 14 per cent had been expelled from school.

The study also showed that 59 per cent of the youth had been in trouble with the law.

Now, this is where some surprising results were shown. Of that 59 per cent, 40 per cent had minor offenses. Thirty-seven per cent were arrested for misdemeanors and 21 per cent for status offenses (behaviors that are not illegal for adults, but are for youth, such as curfew violations). Sixteen per cent had been arrested for felonies and only 23 per cent had suffered severe legal consequences.

These stats have led to the conclusion that while legal problems are there, most chemically dependent youth are not juvenile delinquents.

Another interesting observation that came out of the CATOR study was that 24 per cent of the youth surveyed had some form of learning disability.

More attention and awareness is being brought about with these types of disabilities which will improve the way we communicate with youth.

Chemical dependency treatment involves a lot of education and if we do not evaluate and work with youth in special ways, they will not receive the information or skills that are necessary to get and remain sober.

Another startling observation that came from the study was that 15 per cent of this population had come into treatment having seen a doctor for physical reasons within the past year. That's extremely high for this predominantly healthy population.

What does this tell us? The medical profession has to be more aware to recognize chemical dependency symptoms, in order for the youth to obtain help for chemical dependency.

Other interesting observations that we really need to pay attention to from this study were: 69 per cent of those surveyed suffer from depression; 41 per cent had thought of or tried to commit suicide; 41 per cent had been physically abused by one or both parents; 48 per cent of females and nine per cent of males had been sexually abused; the average age of first chemical use was 12 years and, finally, 57 per cent had at least one chemical abuser in the family.

In conclusion, taking a look at this profile can educate and bring awareness to youth and chemical dependency. This can also aid parents in checking to see if their child is prone to alcohol/drug use.

Next month I will wrap up my three part series on youth and chemical dependency by looking at what is "normal" childhood development.

Until next month .