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Where have they been? Service use of regular substance users with and without abuse and dependence

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To present lifetime rates of service use for psychological and substance use related problems among regular substance users and to examine factors associated with service use.

Method

Data come from a prospective-longitudinal, epidemiological study of a community sample of adolescents and young adults (n = 2548, age 14–24 years at baseline) in Munich, Germany. The Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) was used at baseline and at two follow-ups to assess substance use and service use.

Results

Cumulated lifetime incidence of any substance abuse or dependence was 43.7%. Of those with abuse and dependence 23% had ever used any services for psychological or substance use related problems. Illicit substance users especially those with dependence had the highest rates of lifetime service use (52.1%). Psychotherapists and counseling services were contacted most frequently among regular substance users over their lifetimes. Utlilisation rates of substance abuse services were low (2%). Comorbid anxiety disorders and distressing life events were associated with increased lifetime service use.

Conclusions

Only a minority of adolescents and young adults with substance use disorders have ever sought professional help. Specialized substance abuse services play only a minor role. The core role of psychotherapists and non-substance abuse specialized services needs critical research attention. Linkages between psychotherapists and the substance use service system should be strengthened to detect and intervene at early developmental stages of abuse and dependence.

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Acknowledgments

This paper has been prepared in the context of the project “Community based need evaluation II & allocation and transfer” (PI: Hans-Ulrich Wittchen) of the Addiction Research Network ASAT (Allocating Substance Abuse Treatments to Patient Heterogeneity). Contact information: e-mail: asatkoordination@ mpipsykl.mpg.de (http://www.asat-verbund.de). ASAT is sponsored by a federal grant of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (01EB9405/06, 01EB9901/6, 01EB0140–0142, 01EB0440).

The authors thank Dr. Renee Goodwin for her valuable language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Axel Perkonigg PhD, Angela Settele Dipl. Soz., MPH, Christine Fröhlich Dipl. Psych, Petra Zimmermann Dr. rer. nat & Hans-Ulrich Wittchen PhD

  2. Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, Kraepelinstraße 2-10, 80804, Munich, Germany

    Axel Perkonigg PhD, Hildegard Pfister Dipl. Inf., Michael Höfler Dipl. Stat, Roselind Lieb PhD & Hans-Ulrich Wittchen PhD

Authors
  1. Axel Perkonigg PhD
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  2. Angela Settele Dipl. Soz., MPH
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  3. Hildegard Pfister Dipl. Inf.
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  4. Michael Höfler Dipl. Stat
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  5. Christine Fröhlich Dipl. Psych
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  6. Petra Zimmermann Dr. rer. nat
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  8. Hans-Ulrich Wittchen PhD
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Correspondence to Axel Perkonigg PhD.

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Perkonigg, A., Settele, A., Pfister, H. et al. Where have they been? Service use of regular substance users with and without abuse and dependence. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 41, 470–479 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0044-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0044-4

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