ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Substance Abuse Prevalence and Comorbidity with Other Psychiatric Disorders among Adolescents with Severe Emotional Disturbances

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Abstract

Among 547 adolescents with serious emotional disturbances, ages 12 to 18, this study assessed (1) prevalence of DSM-III substance use disorders (i.e., alcohol and marijuana abuse/dependence), and (2) comorbidity with DSM-III Axis I disorders. Factors of age, sex, state location, and type of treatment program also were examined. Data were analyzed by logistic regression. Significant factors (p < 0.05) associated with severe alcohol or marijuana abuse/dependency diagnoses included (1) residential mental health treatment program, 2.37 Odds Ratio (OR); (2) conduct disorder diagnosis, 2.18 OR; (3) depression diagnosis, 1.75 OR; (4) states, 1.43 OR; (5) age, 1.29 OR; and (6) a depression X facility intcraction, 1.91 OR.

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Supported by Grant H133B90004-01 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the National Institute of Mental Health. The authors thank Eric C. Brown for assistance in data analysis and Sharon P. Lardieri, Mike Bevill, Aaron Brie, AI Duchnowski, Maria Duchnowski, Marvin Eisen, Kelly Enzor-Kise, Sue Greer, Bob Haas, Jini Hanjian, Holly Hons, Krista Kutash, and Bradley Sickles for assistance in data collection.

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