Adli Tıp Bülteni (Dec 2023)

Factors Associated with Substance Use in Adolescents Under Legally Required Health Care

  • Ömer Kardaş,
  • Ahmet Sefa Gümüşsoy,
  • Ayşe Merve Benk Ayaz,
  • Burcu Kardaş,
  • İrem Damla Çimen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.17986/blm.1673
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 3
pp. 259 – 266

Abstract

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Objective:In this study, cases who applied to the polyclinic, where we followed the patients under legally required health care clinic in the last year, were evaluated. It was aimed to compare the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who use and do not use substances.Methods:Between September 2021 and August 2022, the files of cases aged 14-18 years with health precautions were reviewed retrospectively. Data of 75 cases with complete file information were recorded and analyzed.Results:Seventy-five patients (47 girls, 28 boys) were included in the study. Thirty four patients (21 girls, 13 boys) had substanceuse. The mean age was 15.9±1.2 years and the mean duration of education was 9.5±1.9 years. Legally required counseling was 72% (n=54), education was 29.3% (n=22), institutional care was 22.7% (n=17) Smoking and alcohol use (p=0.001) school absenteeism (p=0.002), criminal behavior (p=0.012), number of negative life events (p=0.025), exposure to emotional abuse (p=0.025) and care measures (p=0.017) were found to be higher in patients with substance use. Academic achievement was lower in patients using substance (p=0.001). Substance use was found to be higher in those residing in the city center than in the districts and rural areas (p=0.002). At least one psychiatric diagnosis (p=0.001), more than one psychiatric diagnosis (p=0.001) and conduct disorder (p=0.016) were detected more frequently in the substance abuser group. Cannabis was the most frequently used substance (79.4%) in the group using drugs.Conclusion:Adolescents who are monitored with in the scope of under legally required health care and who use substances are different from the non-substance use group in terms of some socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Knowing these features can contribute to the prevention and treatment studies of forensic medicine and child and adolescent mental health clinics working with patients who receive legally required treatment. Therefore, it is recommended to increase cooperation between the clinics.

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