The Significance of Marijuana Use Among Alcohol‐using Adolescent Emergency Department Patients

Objectives:  The objective was to determine if adolescents presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) for an alcohol‐related event requiring medical care differ in terms of substance use, behavioral and mental health problems, peer relationships, and parental monitoring based on their hist...

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Published inAcademic emergency medicine Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 63 - 71
Main Authors Chun, Thomas H., Spirito, Anthony, Hernández, Lynn, Fairlie, Anne M., Sindelar‐Manning, Holly, Eaton, Cheryl A., Lewander, William J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2010
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
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Summary:Objectives:  The objective was to determine if adolescents presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) for an alcohol‐related event requiring medical care differ in terms of substance use, behavioral and mental health problems, peer relationships, and parental monitoring based on their history of marijuana use. Methods:  This was a cross‐sectional comparison of adolescents 13–17 years old, with evidence of recent alcohol use, presenting to a PED with a self‐reported history of marijuana use. Assessment tools included the Adolescent Drinking Inventory, Adolescent Drinking Questionnaire, Young Adult Drinking and Driving Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Behavioral Assessment System for Children, and Peer Substance Use and Tolerance of Substance Use Scale. Results:  Compared to adolescents using alcohol only (AO), adolescents who use alcohol and marijuana (A+M) have higher rates of smoking (F = 23.62) and binge drinking (F = 11.56), consume more drinks per sitting (F = 9.03), have more externalizing behavior problems (F = 12.53), and report both greater peer tolerance of substance use (F = 12.99) and lower parental monitoring (F = 7.12). Conclusions:  Adolescents who use A+M report greater substance use and more risk factors for substance abuse than AO‐using adolescents. Screening for a history of marijuana use may be important when treating adolescents presenting with an alcohol‐related event. A+M co‐use may identify a high‐risk population, which may have important implications for ED clinicians in the care of these patients, providing parental guidance, and planning follow‐up care. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:63–71 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Bibliography:Presented at the Research Society on Alcohol Annual Meeting, June 21, 2009, San Diego, CA.
Supported by grants from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, R01 AA013385, $2,146,600, 8/02–7/07, and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, K23 AA014934, $953,800, 3/05–2/10.
ISSN:1069-6563
1553-2712
DOI:10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00615.x