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Adolescents with Co‐Occurring Substance Use and Mental Conditions in a Private Managed Care Health Plan: Prevalence, Patient Characteristics and Treatment Initiation and Engagement
Author(s) -
Chi Felicia W.,
Sterling Stacy,
Weisner Constance
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490601006022
Subject(s) - medical diagnosis , medicine , mental health , health plan , managed care , specialty , psychiatry , substance use , family medicine , health care , pathology , economics , economic growth
This study examined the prevalence, patient characteristics, and treatment initiation and engagement of adolescents with co‐occurring substance use (SU) and serious mental health (MH) diagnoses in a private, managed care health plan. We identified 2,005 adolescents aged 12–17, who received both SU and MH diagnoses within a 1‐year window between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2002; 57% were girls. Gender variations were found in diagnoses received and point of identification. Being dually diagnosed in specialty departments (rather than Primary Care and Emergency) and receiving both diagnoses within a shorter time period were associated with treatment initiation and engagement.