LAUSR

Substance-related disorders in adolescence and young adulthood Abstract. Adolescence is a critical period for the onset of addiction and comorbid psychological disorders. Although substance use disorders (SUD) are among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions and a leading cause for hospitalization in the young population, young people with SUD can be considered an underserved population. Existing capacities for the provision of specific health services including withdrawal treatment for young SUD patients are inadequate, and medical rehabilitation facilities are lacking almost completely. Because SUD often becomes a chronic condition with high degree of relapse, from a life-course perspective this demands a highly connected healthcare structure at the intersection of child and adolescent and adult psychiatry as well as other health services. These interconnected services must be sensitive to the developmental needs and aspects of adolescent SUD, such as motivational, social, and educational factors. Moreover, there is a need for ongoing and often multidisciplinary support during the transition from child and adolescent to adult psychiatry with a transparent medical documentation and clear allocation of costs. The establishment and formative evaluation of (specific) medical rehabilitation facilities for children, adolescents, and young adults is highly recommended to improve the current healthcare situation for young SUD patients.