Methamphetamine Use Among Adolescents

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Methamphetamine Use Among Adolescents

• Rachel Gonzales, Ph.D.
• UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
• Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human
  Behavior
• David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
• www.methamphetamine.org

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Presentation Objectives

• Examine scope of MA use among adolescents around
  the country, with focus on the U.S.
• Highlight unique trends
• Review research on treatment outcome studies
  specific to MA-abusing adolescents

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Global Snapshot

• European National Survey prevalence of MA use
  among adolescents has been on the rise since
  1990.
• Czech Republic Survey 10 of youth had used MA
  (Pervitin) in their lifetime.
• Taiwan northern Thailand data MA use is highly
  problematic among adolescents.
• Australian Survey MA use among adolescents is
  not uncommon - prevalence is 7.
• Canadian Survey lifetime MA use (prevalence) is
  high among Canadian adolescents (11.2).
• Cape Town, South Africa Survey 42 of adolescent
  treatment admissions were for MA dependence.

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National Picture Current Use
Past Month Drug Use
Source NIDA, MTF, 2007.
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National Measurement Challenges

• While beneficial, national surveys tend to
  underrepresent adolescent illicit drug use
• Dropouts and delinquent youth
• Homeless and runaways
• Foster care youth
• Other Sources
• Juvenile Justice Data High rates of MA use among
  juvenile arrestees in Western US (Pennell et al.,
  2000) Recent study found MA more common among
  females in juvenile detention (30) in
  California (McDonnell et al, 2008).
• Emergency Room Data MA is commonly detected in
  most adolescent cases (especially in CA)
• Treatment Admission Data

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Treatment Admissions in California
SOURCE California Alcohol and Drug Data System
2001-06
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Adolescent Treatment Admissions in Los Angeles
17 years and under
18-25 years old
Source LA County, 2004-05
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Treatment Outcome Studies

• Very few published on MA and youth in the U.S.
• Research literature is growing with a heavy
  emphasis on MA and Taiwanese/ Japanese youth.

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Treatment Study 305 Adolescents 13-18
90 dependent on MA
N90
N215
Source Rawson et al., 2005
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• Treatment Study found
• Older teens (ages 17-18) more likely to use than
  younger adolescents.
• Greater psychological legal dysfunction than
  non-MA users.
• More alcohol drug use during treatment than
  non-MA users.
• Greater drop out rates than non-MA users.
• No injectors (14 smoke, 12 smoke/snort, 4
  snort)

Source Rawson et al., 2005
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LA County Treatment Study (N4,430)

• Examined data from outpatient and residential
  treatment from 2000-05.
• Compared treatment response of Marijuana users to
  MA users aged 12-24.

Source Gonzales et al., 2008
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LA County Youth Treatment Admissions for MA and MJ
Source Gonzales et al., 2008
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• LA County Study found
• Compared to MJ users MA users more likely to be
• Female
• On probation/parole
• Older aged (gt17)
• Have previous treatment episodes
• Enrolled in residential settings
• Adherent to treatment poorer retention

Source Gonzales et al., 2008
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Ethnic Differences among MA using Females in
Treatment
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LA County Treatment Patterns

• 89 of MJ users in outpatient treatment
• 46 of MA users in residential treatment

Source Gonzales et al., 2008
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Research on Risk Factors

• A 3-year CASA study on adolescents (8-22) found
  that clinically, MA users are symptomatic of low
  self-esteem, mood anxiety disorders, and past
  victims of physical/sexual abuse
• MA using females became dependent faster and
  suffered adverse affects sooner than males
• Research from Taiwan indicate that MA using males
  exhibit more deviant behavioral problems ASPD,
  ADHD and females have more emotional/mood
  problems (Yen Chung, 2006)
• Study on 18-24 year olds found that MA use
  heightens risk for engaging risky behaviors
  violence, multiple sex partners, unprotected
  sex (Baskin-Sommers Sommers, 2006)

Source National Center on Addiction and
Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2003
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Risk Factors for Relapse among MA Using
Adolescents

• Psychiatric Disorder Status
• Lack of emotional stability
• Low educational level
• Social pressure Social in-adaptation

Yen Chang, 2005 (Taiwanese sample, N60)
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Summary

• Need to consider all critical data sources to
  understand the scope of MA use among adolescents.
• Need to pay attention to gender and ethnic
  differences and other risk factors for MA use
  relapse among adolescents to tailor treatment
  appropriately.

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Acknowledgements

• Richard Rawson, Ph.D., UCLA ISAP
• Michael McCann, M.A., Matrix Institute
• Jeanne Obert, M.A., Matrix Institute

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Contact Information

• Rachel Gonzales, Ph.D.
• rachelmg_at_ucla.edu
• www.uclaisap.org
• www.methamphetamine.org