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Supporting the Need for an Integrated System of Care for Youth with Co-occurring Traumatic Stress and Substance Abuse Problems

  • Original Article
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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Adolescents are at high risk for violence exposure and initiation of drug use. Co-occurring substance use and trauma exposure are associated with increased risk of mental health disorders, school underachievement, and involvement with multiple systems of care. Coordination and integration of systems of care are of utmost importance for these vulnerable youth. This study delineates the negative sequelae and increased service utilization patterns of adolescents with a history of trauma, substance abuse, and co-occurring trauma and substance abuse to support the need for integrated mental health and substance abuse services for youth. Data from two national sources, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment demonstrate the increased clinical severity (measured by reports of emotional and behavioral problems), dysfunction, and service utilization patterns for youth with co-occurring trauma exposure and substance abuse. We conclude with recommendations for an integrated system of care that includes trauma-informed mental health treatment and substance abuse services aimed at reducing the morbidity and relapse probability of this high-risk group.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the youth and families that participated in the NCTSN and CSAT programs. The authors wish to express their appreciation for Judit Beres and Elizabeth Johnson for their assistance with this manuscript. The manuscript was supported by the following SAMHSA grants (1U79SM059297-01, 2U79SM056215, SM 3530249) and contract (Ref No. 270-07-0191). Analysis of the GAIN data reported in this paper was supported by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) using data provided by 119 grantees: TI16386, TI16400, TI16414, TI16904, TI16928, TI16939, TI16961, TI16984, TI16992, TI17046, TI17070, TI17433, TI17434, TI17446, TI17475, TI17484, TI17486, TI17490, TI17517, TI17523, TI17535, TI17604, TI17605, TI17638, TI17728, TI17755, TI17761, TI17763, TI17765, TI17769, TI17779, TI17786, TI17788, TI17812, TI17825, TI17830, TI13313, TI13344, TI13354, TI13356, TI13305, TI13322, TI13345, TI13308, TI13323, TI15678, TI15670, TI15486, TI15511, TI15433, TI15479, TI15682, TI15483, TI15674, TI15467, TI15686, TI15481, TI15461, TI15475, TI15413, TI15562, TI15514, TI15672, TI14376, TI14261, TI14189, TI14252, TI14315, TI14283, TI14267, TI14188, TI14272, TI14090, TI14271, TI14196, TI14311, TI15478, TI15447, TI15545, TI15671, TI15527, TI15489, TI15485, TI15524, TI15446, TI15466, TI15584, TI15438, TI15415, TI15421, TI15586, TI15469, TI15577, TI15458, TI15677, TI13601, TI13190, TI17476, TI17589, TI17646, TI17648, TI17673, TI17702, TI17719, TI17724, TI17742, TI17744, TI17751, TI17775, TI17817, TI17831, TI17864, TI18406, TI18587, TI18671, TI18723, TI19313, TI19323, and 655374.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Liza M. Suarez

  2. Family Center at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Harolyn M. E. Belcher

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Harolyn M. E. Belcher

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Ernestine C. Briggs

  5. Lighthouse Institute, Chestnut Health Systems, Bloomington, IL, 61701, USA

    Janet C. Titus

  6. Department of Psychiatry (MC 747), Institute for Juvenile Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 W. Roosevelt Rd, 1st Floor, Chicago, IL, 60608, USA

    Liza M. Suarez

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  1. Liza M. Suarez
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  2. Harolyn M. E. Belcher
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  3. Ernestine C. Briggs
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  4. Janet C. Titus
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Correspondence to Liza M. Suarez.

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Suarez, L.M., Belcher, H.M.E., Briggs, E.C. et al. Supporting the Need for an Integrated System of Care for Youth with Co-occurring Traumatic Stress and Substance Abuse Problems. Am J Community Psychol 49, 430–440 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-011-9464-8

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