Adolescent drug and alcohol use linked to mental distress
Adolescent substance use may be useful in identifying the presence of underlying disorders, a new study suggests.
The NewsAdolescents who use cannabis, alcohol and nicotine are more likely to have underlying psychiatric symptoms, and more severe symptoms, than their peers who do not do not use substances regularly, according to new research.
The research, published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics, found that these substances are linked to a range of symptoms and conditions including anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that asking adolescents about their substance use may be a powerful screening tool when looking for underlying mental health issues, the researchers said.
"Universal screening for psychiatric symptoms in the context of all types of substance use is what we think might be most important,” said Brenden Tervo-Clemmens, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota and lead author of the paper.
“All the mental health symptoms we looked at, whether it was depression, suicidal thoughts , ADHD, were elevated regardless of substance,” he added.
The study authors found that some adolescents may use substances to self-medicate while also experiencing worsening symptoms because of such use.Credit...Jenna Schoenefeld for The New York TimesThe article found that the The link between substance use and mental health existed even at low levels of drugs and alcohol. to use. Dr Tervo-Clemmens said adolescents with low levels of substance use can self-medicate and their relatively modest substance use is not likely to be the cause of mental health problems under -jacent.
Adolescent substance use may be useful in identifying the presence of underlying disorders, a new study suggests.
The NewsAdolescents who use cannabis, alcohol and nicotine are more likely to have underlying psychiatric symptoms, and more severe symptoms, than their peers who do not do not use substances regularly, according to new research.
The research, published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics, found that these substances are linked to a range of symptoms and conditions including anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that asking adolescents about their substance use may be a powerful screening tool when looking for underlying mental health issues, the researchers said.
"Universal screening for psychiatric symptoms in the context of all types of substance use is what we think might be most important,” said Brenden Tervo-Clemmens, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota and lead author of the paper.
“All the mental health symptoms we looked at, whether it was depression, suicidal thoughts , ADHD, were elevated regardless of substance,” he added.
The study authors found that some adolescents may use substances to self-medicate while also experiencing worsening symptoms because of such use.Credit...Jenna Schoenefeld for The New York TimesThe article found that the The link between substance use and mental health existed even at low levels of drugs and alcohol. to use. Dr Tervo-Clemmens said adolescents with low levels of substance use can self-medicate and their relatively modest substance use is not likely to be the cause of mental health problems under -jacent.
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