NCJ Number: 218999
Title: Depression and the Initiation of Alcohol and Other Drug Use Among Youths Aged 12 to 17
Corporate Author: RTI International
Date Published: May 2007
Page Count: 4
Sponsoring Agency: RTI International
Sale Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies
Document: PDF
Type: Survey
Format: Document (Online)
Language: English
Country: United States of America
Annotation: Based on the results of the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this study examined youths' (ages 12-17) past-year major depressive episodes (MDE), past year initiation of alcohol and illicit drug use, and the association between MDE and the initiation of alcohol or other drug use.
Abstract: In 2005, 8.8 percent of youths ages 12-17 (2.2 million) experienced at least one MDE in the past year. Among youths who were at risk for initiating alcohol use (those who had not used alcohol previously), those who experienced a past-year MDE were twice as likely to have started alcohol use in the past year compared to those youth who did not have a past-year MDE (29.2 percent and 14.5 percent, respectively). Among youths who were at risk for initiating illicit drug use, those who experienced a past-year MDE were over twice as likely to have started using an illicit drug compared with those who had not experienced a past-year MDE (16.1 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively). This pattern was relatively consistent across drug types. For these estimates, MDE was defined according to the diagnostic criteria of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This definition specified a period of 2 weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, along with at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, and self-image. The "illicit drugs" covered in the survey were marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin, or prescription drugs used nonmedically. 3 figures and 1 table
Main Term(s): Juvenile drug use
Index Term(s): Drug abuse causes; Juvenile mental health services; Mental disorders; Underage Drinking
Note: The NSDUH Report, May 3, 2007; downloaded June 26, 2007.
To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=240754
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