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Psychopharmacological treatment of young people with substance dependence: a survey of prescribing practices in England
Author(s) -
Bateman Johanna,
Gilvarry Eilish,
Tziggili Maria,
Crome Ilana B,
Mirza Kah,
McArdle Paul
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
child and adolescent mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1475-3588
pISSN - 1475-357X
DOI - 10.1111/camh.12013
Subject(s) - medicine , addiction , opiate , psychiatry , comorbidity , medical prescription , alcohol dependence , drug , substance use , benzodiazepine , family medicine , alcohol , pharmacology , biochemistry , chemistry , receptor
Backround Prescribing for substance‐dependent youth requires expert knowledge of developmental and contextual issues and use of largely unlicensed medicines. This first national survey aimed to determine the nature of pharmacological treatments delivered in England including the extent of maintenance therapy, supervised consumption and specialties prescribing. Method Data were gathered regarding opiate substitutes & other medications prescribed for opiate, alcohol & benzodiazepine dependence, drug & alcohol relapse prevention and comorbidities. Evidence of distinct approaches to younger compared with older adolescents was sought. Results The overall response rate was 73%. The majority treated were over 16 years. 85% treatments were opiate substitute therapies; many received longer term maintenance therapy. Prescribing for alcohol dependence & comorbidity was low; the largest prescribing group were G eneral P ractitioners. Conclusions Questions remain about the scale of youth dependence, the use of substitute agents in maintenance treatment and the number of adolescent addiction specialists in the treatment cadre.