A descriptive comparison of substance use characteristics, psychosocial and socioeconomic problems among boys and girls entering a long-term residential substance use treatment institution in Norway. Preliminary results.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the substance use, psychosocial and socioeconomic profiles of young adults entering a residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and to investigate their trajectories of criminal offending.

Research questions: What characterize young adults in SUD treatment regarding substance use characteristics, mental health problems, education and employment status, main source of income, criminal thinking and general adaptive functioning? Moreover, do we find gender differences in these patient characteristics?

Methods: The sample included young adults aged 16-29 years who underwent an entry assessment between January 2011 and December 2016 at a long-term residential SUD treatment institution in Norway (N=407). All study data were extracted from electronic health records, including information from the self-report questionnaires the Achenbach System of Empirically based Assessment (ASEBA) and the Psychologically Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS).

Results: Average age at treatment admission was 20.7 years, SD=3.23. 67% of the patients were committed to voluntary treatment. 65% of the sample were boys. 21.62% were admitted to a dual diagnosis unit. Girls reported older age of substance use initiation (14.3,SD=0.29) than boys did (13.7, SD=0.19). More girls than boys reported to have stimulants/opioids as primary drug. 85% of the sample reported polysubstance use. Regarding general psychopathology both gender reported clinical levels, girls 70.72 (SD=9.41), boys 66.09(SD=10.78). Both genders showed elevated criminal thinking, girls 61.37(10.64), boys 68.41(12.39). Adaptive functions were commonly reported in the normal range. Socioeconomic levels were reported as low.

Conclusion: The preliminary results demonstrate that young adults entering a residential long-term SUD treatment institution display a spectrum of problems in many areas of life. However, the profiles of girls and boys with SUD are not necessarily the same despite several similarities. Clarifying these differences may contribute to the future development of more effective treatment strategies.