Substance use disorders in adolescents with psychiatric comorbidity: When to screen and how to treat

Bottom Line
It is important to screen for substance use in adolescents with co-occurring
psychiatric illness and vice versa. When at-risk or hazardous substance use is
detected there are effective psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions that
can be used to treat adolescent substance use disorders alone and in combination
with certain psychiatric disorders.

Related Resources
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. www.drugabuse.gov.
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. www.niaaa.nih.gov.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. www.samhsa.gov.

Drug Brand Names
Acamprosate • Campral
Atomoxetine • Strattera
Buprenorphine• Subutex
Buprenorphine/naloxone • Suboxone
Buspirone • Buspar
Clonidine • Catapres
Disulfiram • Antabuse
Fluoxetine • Prozac
Lithium • Lithobid, Eskalith
Methadone • Dolophine
Naltrexone • ReVia, Vivitrol
Osmotic (extended) release methylphenidate • Concerta
Sertraline • Zoloft
Topiramate • Topamax
Quetiapine • Seroquel
Valproic acid • Depakote

Disclosures
Dr. Yule received grant support from the 2012 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Pilot Research Award for Junior Faculty supported by Lilly USA, LLC, and receives grant support from the 2014 Louis V. Gerstner III Research Scholar Award. Dr. Wilens has received grant support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); has been a consultant for Euthymics/Neurovance, NIDA, Ironshore Pharmaceuticals and Development, Theravance Biopharma, Tris Pharma, the U.S. National Football League (ERM Associates), U.S. Minor/Major League Baseball, and Bay Cove Human Services (Clinical Services).