Adolescent Marijuana Abusers and Access to Family-Based Services

ABSTRACT

This study describes family-based therapy utilization patterns by the entire population of marijuana-abusing adolescents that received services in the State of Florida in 1997 through 1999, using data from the statewide Florida Mental Health and Substance Abuse Measurement Data. The population consisted of 38,281 adolescent admissions. The results of the logistic regression analyses indicate that family-based therapy utilization was more likely among adolescents who were unemployed at the time of treatment, of white, non-Hispanic background, 13 years old or younger, living in urban areas, experienced in marijuana use, and with a comorbid diagnosis. Insurance coverage or gender did not influence the likelihood for adolescents to receive family-based therapy.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• marijuana abuse
• family-based therapy
• services research
• substance abuse intervention