Affiliation:
1. Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
2. Merit Health Wesley Emergency Medicine Residency, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
Abstract
Background:
Adolescent substance use is a dynamic public health problem.
Adolescence is a unique developmental period involving overlapping biological,
psychological, and social factors which increase the rates of initiation of substance use. The
developing adolescent brain is particularly susceptible to the effects of substances and most
adults with substance use disorders began to have symptoms and problems in their
adolescent years. Yet, for various reasons, most adolescents who use, misuse, abuse, or are
addicted to substances do not perceive the need for treatment.
Objective:
Drug and alcohol use among adolescents is a common presentation in hospital
Emergency Departments (EDs) and presents in different forms including in association with
intoxication, withdrawal states, or trauma associated with drug-related events. For many
adolescents with substance use, the Emergency Department (ED) is the first point of contact
with medical personnel and thus also serves as a potential entry point into treatment.
Methods:
This article reviews the common ways drug and alcohol problems present in the
ED, clinical assessment of the patient and family, screening, laboratory testing, brief
interventions in the ED, and referral to treatment beyond the ED.
Conclusion:
Guidelines on how to manage the shifting terrain of adolescent substance use
presenting in EDs across the nation continue to evolve. We highlight that considerable
further research is needed to inform effective ED protocols to address this important
individual and public health safety concern. Systems of care models which include
collaborative teams of diverse stake holders are needed to effectively manage adolescents
with substance use disorders.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Reference108 articles.
1. Abraham Z.K.; Sher L.; Adolescent suicide as a global public health issue. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health 2017
2. Aghajanian G.K.; Wang Y.Y.; Common alpha 2- and opiate effector mechanisms in the locus coeruleus: intracellular studies in brain slices. Neuropharmacology 1987,26(7B),793-799
3. Ali S.; Mouton C.P.; Jabeen S.; Ofoemezie E.K.; Bailey R.K.; Shahid M.; Zeng Q.; Early Detection of Illicit Drug Use in Teenagers. Innov Clin Neurosci 2011,8(12),24-28
4. Armstrong T.D.; Costello E.J.; Community studies on adolescent substance use, abuse, or dependence and psychiatric comorbidity. J Consult Clin Psychol 2002,70(6),1224-1239
5. Arria A.M.; Yacoubian G.S.; Fost E.; Wish E.D.; The pediatric forum: Ecstasy use among club rave attendees. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002,156(3),295-296
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献