This chapter highlights topics that are of current or special interest:

• Adolescent substance abuse
  
• Changes in the route of heroin administration
  
• Polydrug abuse
  
• Racial/ethnic sub-groups

Adolescent Substance Abuse

TEDS data indicate an increase in adolescent admissions for substance abuse treatment between 1994 and 1999. This was attributable to increased admissions involving marijuana and increased referral to treatment through the criminal justice system.

Table 5.1. The number of adolescents aged 12-17 admitted to substance abuse treatment showed a net increase of 20 percent between 1994 and 1999. Admissions for marijuana abuse grew from 43 percent of adolescent admissions in 1994 to 60 percent in 1999, and accounted for most of the overall increase in adolescent admissions from 1994 to 1999.

Tables 5.2a and 5.2b. Overall, 71 percent of adolescent admissions were male. However, this proportion was heavily influenced by marijuana admissions, where 76 percent were male. The male:female ratio was much closer for most other substances. For heroin and cocaine, the numbers of male and female adolescent admissions were similar.

Tables 5.2a and 5.2b and Figure 27. In 1999, more than half (51 percent) of adolescent admissions were referred to treatment through the criminal justice system. Seventeen percent were self- or individual referrals, and 11 percent were referred through schools. These referral sources together accounted for about three quarters of all youth admissions. The number of admissions from the criminal justice system increased every year from 1994 to 1999. However, admissions from other referral sources were relatively stable.