
Early-onset heroin use and its link to conduct disorder: Clinical and management challenges
Author(s) -
Shobhit Jain,
Raman Deep Pattanayak,
Rachna Bhargava,
Anju Dhawan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of mental health and human behaviour/journal of mental health and human behaviour
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2543-1897
pISSN - 0971-8990
DOI - 10.4103/0971-8990.193434
Subject(s) - psychosocial , substance abuse , juvenile delinquency , population , psychiatry , conduct disorder , heroin , psychology , specialty , risk management , medicine , drug , environmental health , business , finance
Childhood substance abuse and delinquency often progress to harder substances and antisocial personality disorder and carries deleterious consequences for self, family and community at large. Early management of such cases poses several clinical and management challenges, as highlighted in the present case. The treatment seeking for this sub-population is very low in spite of community surveys showing a worrisome pattern of substance use among younger population. Further, very few specialty clinics and trained manpower exist in the country to manage early onset substance use. Whether conduct disorder be cause or consequence for drug use is debatable, in view of shared risk factors. The present case helps to understand need for comprehensive assessment for identifying risk factors and comorbid conditions. Only pharmacological management does not help, psychosocial management must be delivered. Several prevention strategies may also help if these risk factors are identified before progression to illicit substance use disorder