| Abstract [eng] |
Thesis author: Gabrielė Ziminskytė Thesis title: Psychoactive Substance Use and Addiction in Children and Adolescents The aim of this thesis: to examine the risk and protective factors of psychoactive substance use, the tendencies of psychoactive substance use among young people, the risks and harm caused by psychoactive substance use, and to review the literature on new psychoactive substances. Examine a clinical case of an adolescent using psychoactive substances. Materials and methods. Conducted a literature review and analysis of a clinical case. The study subject was a patient who was receiving outpatient treatment for substance use at the Republican Center for Addictive Disorders (RPLC). Performed a search of relevant literature sources using available databases, including the EMCDDA Best Practice Portal and PubMed. Selected the latest research conducted by the National Drug, Tobacco, and Alcohol Control Department (NTAKD), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), along with information summarized within them. Identified published sources in Lithuanian and English languages. Conclusions. Various biological and psychosocial risk factors, such as adverse childhood experiences, an unstable family environment, and comorbid mental disorders, increase the risk of psychoactive substance use and addiction development, the likelihood of relapse, and worsen treatment outcomes. The most popular psychoactive substances among young people are alcohol, tobacco products (especially e-cigarettes), and cannabis. The use of these substances is typically initiated the earliest, they are the most easily accessible to adolescents, and are perceived as less harmful. The use of psychoactive substances at a young age is associated with negative cognitive, behavioral, social, physical, and mental health consequences, including overdose, addiction, suicidal behavior, other mental disorders, violence, and poorer academic performance. New psychoactive substances pose a significant threat as they are appealing to young people, but they are also dangerous due to lacking production control, deceptive distribution practices, and a lack of public knowledge about them. It is crucial to treat not only the psychoactive substance use disorder but also the comorbid disorders that may influence a person's psychoactive substance use. It is recommended to involve family members and apply family therapy methods in the treatment of individuals using psychoactive substances. It is important to find the most suitable personal healthcare and social rehabilitation services for the individual patient. In the case of severe patients experiencing frequent relapses, outpatient treatment services may be insufficiently effective. To achieve appropriate mental and social adaptation in patients and prevent relapses, it is important to ensure regular consultations with specialists, long-term outpatient psychological assistance, and a safe environment post-consultation. Case management is recommended when multiple healthcare institutions are providing assistance. |
