Young chronic patients and substance abuse

The prevalence of substance abuse was investigated in 100 young chronic patients consecutively admitted to a long-term private psychiatric hospital. Data were obtained from diagnostic research interviews with each subject at admission. Half of the subjects had concurrent diagnoses of psychiatric disorder and substance abuse. One-third of the dual-diagnosis patients began using substances before the onset of a diagnosable psychiatric disorder, and they more often had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Half of the dual-diagnosis patients abused three or more drugs. Implications of the findings for treatment and community management of dual-diagnosis patients are discussed.