Substance Use Trends in an Adolescent Inpatient Unit in the South Bronx

Abstract

Objective: Adolescent’s substance use can result in addiction in adulthood, concurrent mental illness, selfdestructive behaviors, multiple hospitalizations, and sudden death. The aim of our study was to analyze the substance use trends in an adolescent inpatient unit, and to understand the predisposing and perpetuating factors associated with use of illicit substances in adolescents in the South Bronx. Methods: This is an IRB (Institutional Review Board) approved retrospective chart review study of adolescents aged 12-18 years admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit in a community hospital in the South Bronx in the years of 2011 and 2015. The sample size (300) was randomly selected to compare 150 subjects from each year. Results: No statistically significant difference was found in the prevalence of illicit substance use in adolescents admitted to inpatient unit in the years of 2011 and 2015. However, there was a positive correlation between urine toxicology results and age. Additionally, the urine toxicology results were correlated positively with the longer length of stay, but not with gender, seclusion/restraint incidence, suicide risk, and 30-day readmission. Conclusion: This study results are in-line with the existing literature which elucidate decreasing prevalence trends of substance use, particularly in adolescents over the decade.