ABSTRACT
This study examined racial and ethnic differences in admissions to substance abuse treatment and in the referral source in admissions to treatment. The 2012 Treatment Episode Data Set (N = 117,862) was used and included African-American, Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and other racial/ethnic youths, ages 12 to 17. Age at admission to treatment, racial and ethnic differences in primary substance used, and co-occurrence of a psychiatric problem were found to be statistically significant. Health care providers were 3 times more likely to refer youths with psychiatric problems and the school system was 2 times more likely to refer Hispanic youths to treatment. Implications are discussed.