Substance-Use Disorders in Children and Adolescents

The most common substance use disorders in childhood and adolescence have to do with alcohol and cannabis. These disorders begin as early as puberty, are often accompanied by other mental disorders, and, if untreated, very frequently persist into adulthood.

This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed on substance use disorders in children and adolescents.

Substance use disorders are among the commonest mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. In Germany, approximately 10% of adolescents have tried cannabis at least once. The prognosis is negatively affected by individual (bio-)psychological traits, mental comorbidities, laws that facilitate consumption, socioeconomic disadvantage, consuming peers, and parental substance use disorders. A timely diagnosis, motivation by the pediatrician, and referral to specialized child and adolescent psychiatric services helps assure that those affected receive appropriate treatment, with the goal of abstinence from the substance as well as improvement in emotional regulation, affectivity, and attention. According to studies from the English-speaking countries and considering all treatment forms, treatment is completed by approximately 60% to 65% of children and adolescents; 20% to 40% of these patients are abstinent six months after the end of treatment. No studies of this type have been carried out to date in Germany.

As the results of treatment are generally poor, there is a major need for research on the treatment and care of children and adolescents with substance use disorders. In particular, the interfaces between outpatient and inpatient care need further improvement.