Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders by Time Since First Substance Use Among Young People in the US

Source:

Volkow ND, Han B, Einstein EB, Compton WM. Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders by Time Since First Substance Use Among Young People in the US. JAMA Pediatr. Published online March 29, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.6981

This study found higher prevalence of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) within 12 months of cannabis and prescription misuse initiation among adolescents than among young adults (eg, cannabis use disorder: 10.7% vs 6.4% within 12 months; 20.1% vs 10.9% at more than 36 months), consistent with the association of faster transition to SUDs with younger age at drug initiation.

The results underscore the vulnerability of adolescents to SUDs and the importance of screening for substance misuse among adolescents.