Alarming Increase in Heroin Use by Young Girls Cited in Study by Caron Foundation.

Health & Medical Editors/Lifestyle Writers

WERNERSVILLE, Pa.--(BW HealthWire)--April 24, 2000

Risk factors Identified At End of Press Release

An upward trend in heroin use by adolescent girls over the past decade is one of the many disturbing trends chronicled in a new report released today by the Caron Foundation, recognized as one of the best and oldest drug and alcohol treatment centers in the country.

The findings are included in "Adolescent Drug Use: Trends in Abuse, Treatment and Prevention," which draws on data from programs at Caron and from a number of national adolescent drug studies. Authored by Dr. Susan M. Gordon, Caron director of research, the report also details the use and abuse of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, cocaine, heroin, inhalants and so-called "club drugs," such as ecstasy and speed.

Regarding heroin, Dr. Gordon concludes that despite a recent leveling off in the drug's use among adolescent males, evidence suggests adolescent females increasingly are using it to lose weight, possibly influenced by the "heroin chic" look - the emaciated, sunken-eyed and pale-skinned appearance popularized by young models.

The report noted that one female adolescent in treatment, who had started using marijuana and alcohol at the age of 10, progressed to cocaine and acid, and then to heroin. By the time she entered Caron, she had developed a $300 a day heroin habit, supported through theft and prostitution.

The report also indicates that adolescents in general, under attack from all sides by the multi-tentacled specter of drugs, are finding illicit substances easier to access - and at younger ages - and increasingly are using tobacco, alcohol and marijuana as gateway drugs toward harder substances.

However, contemporary youth are not necessarily fated to be devastated by drug addiction or related problems, for risk factors leading to abuse and methods of successful treatment have become more readily identifiable.

Dr. Gordon noted that the special treatment needs of young women are often addressed in gender-separate and gender-specific programs at Caron. "For example, young women are at risk for eating disorders," she states. "Treatment components that address body image and nutritional issues may reduce the abuse of substances for dieting."

"The 1990s have taught us much about the backgrounds of adolescents who abuse drugs and alcohol," Dr. Gordon states. "We can now identify risk factors that may predict addiction."

Those factors include behavioral indicators, such as poor school performance, violence, delinquency, sexual promiscuity and lack of spirituality; social indicators, such as family tolerance of substance use and abuse, inadequate parental guidance and negative peer influences; and psychological and genetic predisposition to alcoholism and addictive disorders.

"If these risk factors are identified and addressed early, adolescents have a better chance of leading drug-free lives," Dr. Gordon states.

Despite recognition of risk factors, Dr. Gordon detailed strongly contrasting attitudes between adults and teenagers over the severity of drug problems.

Referring to a 1998 four-year study by Luntz Research Companies on marijuana availability in schools, Dr. Gordon noted that while the overwhelming majority of principals and teachers surveyed believed that most of their students had not tried marijuana, one-fourth of the adolescents surveyed reported observing drug transactions at their schools. And a 1997 Columbia University study found that 70 percent of students surveyed reported it was easy to buy drugs at their schools.

"There appears to be a significant disparity between adolescents and their educators in their perceptions of the danger of drug use," Dr. Gordon concludes. "The trend toward increased availability of illicit drugs to our young people is disturbing."

At the Caron Foundation in 1998, marijuana was the primary drug used by 42 percent of the adolescents in treatment. Alcohol and heroin abuse each accounted for 21 percent of that total, with cocaine used by 10 percent and other drugs - including inhalants - by 6 percent.

The report also implicated marijuana, as well as cigarettes and alcohol, as primary adolescent gateway drugs - substances that serve as precursors for the abuse of more serious drugs.

"People who are able to go through adolescence to age 21 without smoking, using drugs or abusing alcohol have a very good chance of never abusing drugs," Dr. Gordon states. "During this critical time, adolescents have much greater access to marijuana and other illegal drugs. Thirteen-year olds are three times more likely than 12-year olds to be acquainted with someone who sells or uses drugs."

Treatment for adolescents differs from adult-focused treatment in a number of ways, including a less confrontational approach that may help increase their motivation and commitment to recovery, Dr. Gordon said. "They (adolescents) often are less motivated for treatment than adults and more often enter treatment due to an external force, such as pressure from their parents, school or the juvenile justice system," she states. "Adolescent treatment also needs to focus on developmental issues, such as educational and career goals."

Dr. Gordon cautioned that adolescent substance abuse treatment should not be seen as a one-step cure. Adolescents who completed a rehabilitation program, continued with an outpatient treatment program and had parents who participated in the treatment process were more likely to maintain long-term drug abstinence, she concluded.

"There is no single treatment program that is effective for all adolescents," Dr. Gordon states. "Research and practice have consistently shown that effective treatment focuses on the specific needs of the individual."

The report also noted that:

- The largest increase in adolescent use of addictive substances

occurs between the ages of 12 and 15.

- Adolescent girls appear more vulnerable to developing

substance dependence than do boys who use drugs and alcohol.

- Female heroin users are coming from higher socioeconomic and

suburban communities.

- Adolescent white females have more severe drug use than do

African-American or Hispanic girls.

- African-Americans use illicit substances at slightly higher

rates than whites or Hispanics.

- One-third of high school seniors reported being drunk at least

one time in the month prior to being interviewed and two

million young people can be categorized as heavy drinkers

(consuming at least five drinks at a time, five or more times

per month).

- In 1997, new adolescent cocaine users rose to their highest

numbers in 30 years.

- Tobacco use may be decreasing among adolescents, although

almost one-fifth of eight graders, more than one-fourth of

tenth graders and more than one-third of twelfth-graders

smoke.

- The prevalence and dangers of inhalants, abused by more than

15 percent of adolescents, is underestimated, leading to

smaller treatment populations.

- Club drugs have unpredictable consequences because many of

them are made in small illegal laboratories or home kitchens,

using unregulated chemicals.

SIDEBAR #1

PARENTS: DON'T IGNORE THE SIGNS

CARON FOUNDATION OFFERS SUGGESTIONS TO CONCERNED PARENTS

Suspecting that your son/daughter may have a substance abuse problem is a difficult situation for any parent. Admitting that there is a problem is more difficult. When you compound that with trying to decipher the many pieces of information about substance abuse, it can create even more stress.

1. If you are concerned about your son/daughter's use and you

believe that they would be unwilling to seek help through

pressure from you, then we would suggest going forward with a

professional intervention. An intervention is a very

sophisticated process that involves persons that are significant

to your son/daughter. They may include representatives from

his/her school, friends, brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts,

uncles, etc. The intervention is well planned through thorough

preparation on the part of the family, then implemented with a

professional counselor to help you through the process. 2. Contact your son/daughter's school. Many school districts have

what is called a student assistance team. These teams are

specifically designed to address the needs of students with

suspected drug and alcohol issues, as well as mental health

disorders. They can help walk you through the process to get

help. In some cases, they can utilize pressure from the school to

encourage your son/daughter to get help. 3. Contact Caron's Parent Network. Visit our web site

(www.caron.org), click on the Parent Network button and request

to talk to other parents, via e-mail, that have been in similar

situations with their kids. They can help walk you through the

process of identifying whether your son/daughter has a problem,

how to pick a facility, how to intervene on your son/daughter.

You may communicate with these volunteer parents as often as you

like. You may also contact a staff member from our adolescent

services through this same web site location.

Above all - ask for help. It the most helpful and empowering thing any parent can do.

SIDEBAR #2

DOES YOUR CHILD NEED TREATMENT?

CARON LISTS RISK FACTORS TO HELP IDENTIFY ABUSE AMONG ADOLESCENTS

- Use of substances during childhood or early childhood years.

- Substance use before or during school

- Peer involvement in substance use

- Daily use of one of more substances

- Physical or sexual abuse

- Sudden downturns in school performance or attendance

- Serious delinquency or involvement in crime

- Peer involvement in serious delinquency or crime

- Marked change in physical health

- HIV high-risk activities (such as intravenous drug use or sex

with an intravenous drug-user)

- Serious psychological problems (such as suicidal ideas or

severe depression)

- Parental substance abuse (including driving under the

influence or driving while intoxicated)

Editors/producers:

- Charts/graphics available upon request.

- For a copy of "Adolescent Drug Use: Trends in Abuse, Treatment

and Prevention," call 1.800.678.2332, ext. 2334, or visit our

web site at www.caron.org and click on On-Line Resource

Center, then click on Published Materials.

- For an interview with Dr. Susan M. Gordon or a Caron

therapist, call Sally Orth at 610/678-2332, ext. 3245 or Dawn

Maurer at 610/378-1835

Caron Foundation, which since 1957 has helped more than 60,000 adults and adolescents recover from addiction, is not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide an enlightened and caring treatment community in which those affected by the disease of addiction may begin a new life. Based in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, Caron operates a full spectrum of chemical dependency and co-dependency treatment programs for adults, adolescents and families. Caron has been listed as a "best" treatment center in the country by New York Times, Forbes, Self, REHAB, Town & Country, and 100 Best Treatment Centers.