M Y Chong1, K W Chan, A T Cheng. 1. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This paper reports prevalences, sociodemographic correlates and psychiatric co-morbidity of substance use disorders (SUDs) among adolescents in Taiwan. METHODS: A random sample of ninth grade students (N = 774) was selected from an urban, a suburban and a rural community. Two-stage case identification was employed with a brief screening tool and a modified Chinese version of the Kiddie-SADS conducted by child psychiatrists. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of any SUD was 11.0%, with nicotine (96.0%) as the most prevalent substance. The prevalences of SUDs were significantly higher in boys, rural community and classes with poor academic performance. Sixty-two per cent of all SUD cases suffered from other concurrent psychiatric disorders. The most common co-morbid conditions were conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and mood disorders. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalences of SUDs were found among adolescent school children in Taiwan. Effects of urbanization, selective migration and the availability of substances are possible explanations for the urban-rural difference on the risk for SUDs. Psychiatric co-morbid conditions for SUD among adolescents in Taiwan were similar to those in Western societies.
BACKGROUND: This paper reports prevalences, sociodemographic correlates and psychiatric co-morbidity of substance use disorders (SUDs) among adolescents in Taiwan. METHODS: A random sample of ninth grade students (N = 774) was selected from an urban, a suburban and a rural community. Two-stage case identification was employed with a brief screening tool and a modified Chinese version of the Kiddie-SADS conducted by child psychiatrists. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of any SUD was 11.0%, with nicotine (96.0%) as the most prevalent substance. The prevalences of SUDs were significantly higher in boys, rural community and classes with poor academic performance. Sixty-two per cent of all SUD cases suffered from other concurrent psychiatric disorders. The most common co-morbid conditions were conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and mood disorders. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalences of SUDs were found among adolescent school children in Taiwan. Effects of urbanization, selective migration and the availability of substances are possible explanations for the urban-rural difference on the risk for SUDs. Psychiatric co-morbid conditions for SUD among adolescents in Taiwan were similar to those in Western societies.
Authors: Manish S Dalwani; Mary Agnes McMahon; Susan K Mikulich-Gilbertson; Susan E Young; Michael F Regner; Kristen M Raymond; Shannon K McWilliams; Marie T Banich; Jody L Tanabe; Thomas J Crowley; Joseph T Sakai Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-05-22 Impact factor: 3.240