Substance-use Disorders Among Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Adolescents in Residential Care: The Role of Childhood Adversities and Impulsive Behavior

Abstract Background Adolescents in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems show high rates of substance-use disorders. Yet, little is known about the association between childhood adversities and impulsive behavior involving substance-use disorders in shared residential care in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of substance-use disorders and their association with childhood adversities and impulsive behavior among child welfare-and juvenile justice-involved adolescents in residential care. Method: A total of 386 adolescents placed into Swiss residential care by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems (37.0% girls; age range = 10-18 years; mean age = 15.41 years) were studied. Substance-use disorders and childhood adversities were categorically assessed using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia – Present and Lifetime Version. Impulsive behavior was dimensionally measured with the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory. Statistical methods included descriptive analyses and logistic regression analyses. Results: Juvenile justice-involved adolescents showed higher rates of any substance-use disorder compared to child welfare-involved counterparts (38% vs. 20%; χ2(1) = 22.21, p