Ali M Yurasek1, Kathleen Kemp2, Jessica Otero3, Marina Tolou-Shams4. 1. College of Health and Human Performance, Health Education and Behavior Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: a.yurasek@ufl.edu. 2. Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, United States. Electronic address: Kathleen_kemp@brown.edu. 3. College of Health and Human Performance, Health Education and Behavior Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: jessi.otero@ufl.edu. 4. School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States. Electronic address: Marina.Tolou-Shams@ucsf.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Justice-involved youth report high rates of substance use and related problems that are associated with treatment needs; however, data on screening and linkage to treatment within the justice system is lacking. To further inform the juvenile justice behavioral health cascade of care, this study examined factors associated with identified problematic substance use and treatment referral using two screening tools. METHOD: As part of a family court intake process, 348 justice-involved youth received two screening measures, the MAYSI-2 alcohol/drug use subscale and the CRAFFT. Both tools are designed to indicate early warning signs of substance use problems and signal referral for further clinical evaluation or treatment. Chart review analysis examined whether demographic variables (sex & race), severity of use, and type of substance used were associated with positive screens on either or both measures and subsequent treatment referral. RESULTS: Half (51.2%) of youth were identified as having problematic substance use (a positive screen) on at least one of the screeners. Overall, 38.5% positively screened on the CRAFFT with only 0.3% positively screening on just the MAYSI-2 alcohol/drug scale. Cannabis only users were less likely to positively screen on the MAYSI-2 compared to youth who reported use of both alcohol and cannabis. Positively screening on one versus both screeners was not associated with referral, yet many (28%) who positively screened were not referred for services. CONCLUSIONS: The CRAFFT may be more accurate at identifying youth specifically at risk for problematic cannabis use compared to the MAYSI-2 alcohol/drug subscale. Regardless of tool used, treatment referral was low, highlighting the need for accurate identification of treatment needs of substance-using, justice-involved youth. Interventions to facilitate referrals for youth with problematic substance use are needed.
BACKGROUND: Justice-involved youth report high rates of substance use and related problems that are associated with treatment needs; however, data on screening and linkage to treatment within the justice system is lacking. To further inform the juvenile justice behavioral health cascade of care, this study examined factors associated with identified problematic substance use and treatment referral using two screening tools. METHOD: As part of a family court intake process, 348 justice-involved youth received two screening measures, the MAYSI-2 alcohol/drug use subscale and the CRAFFT. Both tools are designed to indicate early warning signs of substance use problems and signal referral for further clinical evaluation or treatment. Chart review analysis examined whether demographic variables (sex & race), severity of use, and type of substance used were associated with positive screens on either or both measures and subsequent treatment referral. RESULTS: Half (51.2%) of youth were identified as having problematic substance use (a positive screen) on at least one of the screeners. Overall, 38.5% positively screened on the CRAFFT with only 0.3% positively screening on just the MAYSI-2 alcohol/drug scale. Cannabis only users were less likely to positively screen on the MAYSI-2 compared to youth who reported use of both alcohol and cannabis. Positively screening on one versus both screeners was not associated with referral, yet many (28%) who positively screened were not referred for services. CONCLUSIONS: The CRAFFT may be more accurate at identifying youth specifically at risk for problematic cannabis use compared to the MAYSI-2 alcohol/drug subscale. Regardless of tool used, treatment referral was low, highlighting the need for accurate identification of treatment needs of substance-using, justice-involved youth. Interventions to facilitate referrals for youth with problematic substance use are needed.
Authors: Matthew C Aalsma; Laura M White; Katherine S L Lau; Anthony Perkins; Patrick Monahan; Thomas Grisso Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-05-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Steven Belenko; Danica Knight; Gail A Wasserman; Michael L Dennis; Tisha Wiley; Faye S Taxman; Carrie Oser; Richard Dembo; Angela A Robertson; Jessica Sales Journal: J Subst Abuse Treat Date: 2016-12-31
Authors: Sarah Jensen Racz; Shonali Saha; Maria Trent; Hoover Adger; Catherine P Bradshaw; Asha Goldweber; Elizabeth Cauffman Journal: Child Youth Care Forum Date: 2015-09-05
Authors: Rodney Funk; Hannah K Knudsen; Larkin S McReynolds; John P Bartkowski; Katherine S Elkington; Ellen H Steele; Jessica M Sales; Christy K Scott Journal: Health Justice Date: 2020-05-13
Authors: Michael Krausz; Jean N Westenberg; Vivian Tsang; Janet Suen; Martha J Ignaszewski; Nickie Mathew; Pouya Azar; Maurice Cabanis; Julie Elsner; Marc Vogel; Renske Spijkerman; Laura Orsolini; Dzung Vo; Eva Moore; Jessica Moe; Johannes Strasser; Patrick Köck; Calin Marian; Kenneth M Dürsteler; Markus Backmund; Jeanette Röhrig; Marianne Post; Hans Haltmayer; Wolfgang Wladika; Thomas Trabi; Christian Muller; Gerhard Rechberger; Maree Teesson; Michael Farrell; Grant Christie; Sally Merry; Mostafa Mamdouh; Rachel Alinsky; Sharon Levy; Marc Fishman; Richard Rosenthal; Kerry Jang; Fiona Choi Journal: Medicina (Kaunas) Date: 2022-04-13 Impact factor: 2.948
Authors: Sarah A Helseth; John Guigayoma; Dayna Price; Anthony Spirito; Melissa A Clark; Nancy P Barnett; Sara J Becker Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2022-03-11