ERIC Number: EJ864755
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0886-571X
EISSN: N/A
Substance Use and Dependency Disorders in Adolescent Girls in Group Living Programs: Prevalence and Associations with Milieu Factors
Baker, Amy J. L.; Ashare, Caryn; Charvat, Benjamin J.
Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, v26 n1 p42-57 2009
Fifty-three adolescent girls residing in community-based group-living child welfare programs were administered a standardized measure (SASS-2) in order to assess probability of a substance use/dependency disorder in this highly vulnerable population. Findings revealed that one third of the sample, and one half of the nonpregnant/parenting girls, met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use/dependency disorder. Probability of such a disorder was associated with aspects of the group living milieu including access to peers who also use drugs and lack of perceived pressure from staff to abstain from using drugs and alcohol. Results support the need for broad-based screening of group home youth, intensive interventions to address existing substance use problems, and staff training in prevention and identification of youth who use substances. Findings also suggest that pregnancy and parenthood represent a window of opportunity for changing the trajectory of substance use in adolescent teens in the child welfare system. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Females, Narcotics, Child Welfare, Pregnancy, Group Homes, Probability, Group Experience, Substance Abuse, Adolescents, Incidence, Correlation, At Risk Persons, Peer Influence, Environmental Influences, Screening Tests, Early Parenthood, Residential Programs, Drug Addiction
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A