Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders as Foster Youth Transition to Adulthood

Date

01/01/10

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Children and Youth Services Review

Abstract

Little research has previously examined substance use and substance use disorders as youth age out of foster care. This study examined rates of getting drunk, marijuana use, and substance use disorders over time for a cohort of 325 older youth in foster care in Missouri. Rates of past month marijuana use increased from 9% at age 17 to 20% at age 19. Rates of getting drunk in past year increased from 18% at age 18 to 31% at age 19. Compared to the general population, older foster youth had lower rates of substance use but higher rates of substance use disorders (SUD), with 15% of youth meeting criteria for a SUD at age 19. Youth who had left the custody of the state had significantly higher rates of alcohol and marijuana use at ages 18 and 19. Transitions out of residential care and into independent living situations were associated with use of substances at age 18. Different risk factors were associated with substance use at ages 18 and age 19 while risk factors for SUDs were more stable over time. Findings highlight the need to screen and provide treatment for SUDs before youth leave state custody and to consider substance abuse treatment in decisions to extend care beyond age 18.

Description

Keywords

Adolescents, Foster care, Transition, Older youth, Substance use, Substance use disorders

Citation

Copyright 2010 Children and Youth Services Review. This is a post-print version of a published paper that is available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740909002023. Recommended citation: Narendorf, Sarah Carter, and J. Curtis McMillen. "Substance use and substance use disorders as foster youth transition to adulthood." Children and youth services review 32, no. 1 (2010): 113-119. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.07.021. This item has been deposited in accordance with publisher copyright and licensing terms and with the author’s permission.