Overdose Risk Factors in Youth
Very little research exists on risk factors associated
with overdose in young people presenting for substance use disorder treatment. In
addition to screening for substance-specific risk factors, it is important that
providers systematically screen young patients for overdose histories and for
psychiatric factors that may increase overdose risk.
Most studies of overdose risk among individuals with substance use
disorders have focused on adults, and the few that specifically studied youngpeople only assessed substance-related risk factors and not psychiatric
symptoms. Since substance use patterns are known to differ between youth and
adults, and since brain regions important to decision making do not fully
mature until the 20s, it is important to investigate whether risk factors
differ between the two age groups.
The research team conducted a retrospective analysis of deidentified
data from intake assessments conducted at Addiction Recovery Management Service
from January 2012 through June 2013. These comprehensive assessments include
details of both substance use and psychiatric histories and are conducted by
social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists with additional training in
addiction medicine.
It's going to be helpful to assess overdose risk among young people with
substance use disorders over a longer period of time and to examine whether
treatment mitigates the risk for subsequent overdose
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