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Methamphetamine Use Among Adolescents & Young Adults

Methamphetamine Use Among Adolescents & Young Adults. Rachel Gonzales UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs. Presentation Objectives. Examine MA use trends among youth specific to the West Highlight unique gender differences Examine plausible risk factors associated with use

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Methamphetamine Use Among Adolescents & Young Adults

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  1. Methamphetamine Use Among Adolescents & Young Adults Rachel Gonzales UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs

  2. Presentation Objectives • Examine MA use trends among youth specific to the West • Highlight unique gender differences • Examine plausible risk factors associated with use • Future directions for research

  3. What do we know about the problem? • Most widely used sources: • National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) • Monitoring the Future Study (MTF) • Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

  4. Past MonthDrug Use Rates Source: NIDA, Monitoring the Future, Nat’l Results on Adolescent Drug Use, 2004.

  5. Measurement Challenges • While beneficial, national surveys tend to underrepresent youth at risk for drug use: • Dropouts and delinquent youth • Homeless and runaways • Foster care youth

  6. Other Sources • Adolescent Treatment Programs • Juvenile Justice System • Emergency Room Data • Reveal that MA use is a problem by young people.

  7. Primary Drug Problem Among Adolescent & Young Adult Treatment Admissions: 2004 17 years and under 18-25 years old Source: LA County ADPA, July 2003-April 2004

  8. Extent of Adolescent Drug Use Mentioned in DAWN ED System, LA-Long Beach, 2002 *Percent of all mentions for each substance

  9. Juvenile Justice Data • Since 2000, a significant proportion of juveniles aged 12 to 18 in CA have tested positive for dangerous drugs (including MA, PCP, and LSD) upon arrest. • In the second half of 2002, 22% of male arrestees aged 18 to 21 in Los Angeles County tested positive for MA. Source: Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) System

  10. Gender Differences MA use has become increasingly problematic among adolescent and young adult females

  11. Adolescent (<18) Treatment Admissions by Gender 2004 FEMALES MALES Source: LA county ADP

  12. Treatment Studies • Research on drug treatment outcome studies among adolescents is limited. • Very few published studies specific to MA and youth. • Recent articles on MA and youth in Taiwan growing.

  13. Matrix Treatment Study N=305 Adolescents 13-18 years old N=90 N=215 Source: Rawson et al., 2005

  14. Matrix Treatment Study found: • Older teens (ages 17-18) more likely to use than younger youth. • Greater psychological & legal dysfunction than non-MA users. • More alcohol & drug use during treatment than non-MA users. • Greaterdrop out rates than non-MA users. • No injectors (14% smoke, 12% smoke/snort, 4% snort) Source: Rawson et al., 2005

  15. Phoenix House Treatment Found: • MA accounted for 42.3% of teen treatment admissions in 2005. • 16% increase in MA admissions between 2002 and 2005 (172 to 210). • More youth females are presenting for treatment with MA problem than males. Year Boys Girls 2002 25% 43% 2003 23% 51% 2004 27% 53% Source: CBS2 News Story, 2006

  16. LA County Treatment Study (N=4,430) Youth 12-24 yrs old • Outpatient or residential treatment from 2000 through 2005. • Compared treatment response of primary Marijuana (MJ) users to Primary MA users. • Admission and Discharge data

  17. LA County Youth Treatment Admissions for MA and MJ N = 4,430

  18. LA County Sample Descriptives

  19. LA County: Treatment Patterns • 89% of MJ users in outpatient treatment • 46% of MA users in residential treatment

  20. LA County Study found: • Compared to MJ users MA users more likely to be: • Female • On probation/parole • Older aged (>17) • Have previous treatment episodes • Enrolled in residential treatment • Adherent to treatment: poorer retention Source: Gonzales et al., 2006

  21. 3 year CASA study on adolescents 8 to 22 years old found: • Females became dependent upon MA faster. • Females suffered more adverse effects sooner than males. Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2003

  22. Risk Factors for MA Use Largely understudied area

  23. Anecdotal Reports • Clinicians indicate low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, & eating disorder make girls especially vulnerable to use and continued misuse of MA • Deviant behavioral problems in males – ASPD, ADHD make males vulnerable to MA use (Yen & Chung, 2006)

  24. CASA Study: Female Risk Factors Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Low Self Esteem MA Abuse Tension Depression Weight Concerns Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2003

  25. Risk Factors among adolescents in Matrix Treatment (Matrix Sample); p<.001

  26. Other Factors to Consider • Readily available to youth • Simple, home-made manufacturing • Cheap • Easy access to primary chemicals at local merchants

  27. Adolescent Story • Teen resident at Phoenix House said: “When I first tried crystal meth, I automatically fell in love. I had finally found the drug that I was looking for. The stuff was pretty cheap and it was very easy for me to get.” Source: CBS2 News Story, 2006

  28. Clinical Characteristics • Cognitive dysfunction • Rapid mood swings • Hyperactivity & Impulsivity • Lesion-marked skin • Depression • Paranoia & Psychoses (auditory hallucinations) Source: Gettig, Grady et al., 2006

  29. Risky Behaviors • Agitation & Aggressive Behaviors • Partner Violence • Multiple sex partners & unprotected sex • Suicide Source: Baskin-Sommers & Sommers, 2006

  30. Relapse Antecedents for MA Use • Social pressure & Social In-adaptation • Lack of emotional stability • Low educational level • Psychiatric Disorder Status Yen & Chang, 2005 (Taiwanese sample, N=60)

  31. Summary: Key Points • Researchers need to be aware of other critical data sources to understand the scope of MA use among youth • It remains unclear which risk factors are occurring for MA use • Treatment should be sensitive to gender differences

  32. Future Research • More studies to look at specific risk factors for MA use & relapse • Other study populations should include: • Homeless/runaway youth • Juvenile justice system youth • Child welfare system (foster care) youth • More exploration on MA use & Risky Behaviors • More research on developmental processes

  33. Acknowledgments Richard Rawson Michael McCann Beth Rutkowski CA & LA County Department of Alcohol & Drugs

  34. Questions? For copies of slides or a reference list, please contact me at: rachelmg@ucla.edu (310) 445-0874 ext. 346

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