PURPOSE: The factors that distinguish adolescent male and female substance abusers with and without legal problems were investigated. METHOD: Youths (N = 4,071) admitted for substance abuse treatment were administered the revised Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI-R) to measure severity of health, behavior, and social adjustment problems. RESULTS: Legal problems were more frequent among boys; however, severity of disturbance was greater in girls on 9 of 10 scales. Substance abusing girls and boys with legal problems reported more severe behavior, substance abuse, family adjustment, and peer relationship problems than substance abusing peers without legal problems. Quality of peer relationship mediated the association of family dysfunction, substance abuse and behavior problems with legal problems in boys only. CONCLUSIONS: Gender and legal status both need to be taken into account to potentiate treatment prognosis of substance abusing youths.
PURPOSE: The factors that distinguish adolescent male and female substance abusers with and without legal problems were investigated. METHOD: Youths (N = 4,071) admitted for substance abuse treatment were administered the revised Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI-R) to measure severity of health, behavior, and social adjustment problems. RESULTS: Legal problems were more frequent among boys; however, severity of disturbance was greater in girls on 9 of 10 scales. Substance abusing girls and boys with legal problems reported more severe behavior, substance abuse, family adjustment, and peer relationship problems than substance abusing peers without legal problems. Quality of peer relationship mediated the association of family dysfunction, substance abuse and behavior problems with legal problems in boys only. CONCLUSIONS: Gender and legal status both need to be taken into account to potentiate treatment prognosis of substance abusing youths.
Authors: Jaimee L Heffner; Robert M Anthenelli; Caleb M Adler; Stephen M Strakowski; Jennifer Beavers; Melissa P DelBello Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2013-05-17 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Zoltán L Apa; RuoYu Bai; Dhritiman V Mukherejee; Carolyn T A Herzig; Carl Koenigsmann; Franklin D Lowy; Elaine L Larson Journal: Public Health Nurs Date: 2012-05-25 Impact factor: 1.462
Authors: Kelly E Moore; Lindsay Oberleitner; Brian P Pittman; Walter Roberts; Terril L Verplaetse; Robyn L Hacker; MacKenzie R Peltier; Sherry A McKee Journal: Addict Res Theory Date: 2019-05-31