Adolescence and young adulthood risk factors for drug crime offending. A follow up study of former adolescent psychiatric inpatients
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Auditorium 1, Building PT1 of the Department of Psychiatry (Peltolantie 17)
Topic of the dissertation
Adolescence and young adulthood risk factors for drug crime offending. A follow up study of former adolescent psychiatric inpatients
Doctoral candidate
Licenciate of Medicine Mikaela Kontu
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Clinical Neuroscience
Subject of study
Psychiatry
Opponent
Docent Markku Lähteenvuo, Niuvanniemi Hospital
Custos
Professor Kaisa Riala, University of Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine
Risk factors for drug crime offending among adolescent psychiatric inpatients
Drug crime offending is an increasing concern nationally and worldwide.
This thesis examined the risk factors in adolescence and young adulthood for drug crime offending among former adolescent psychiatric inpatients. The study population consisted of 508 adolescents aged between 13–17 years, who were treated in adolescent psychiatric inpatient care unit at the Oulu University Hospital between 2001 and 2006. After the hospitalization, follow-up information on criminality, prescription medication use, and treatment events due to injuries and/or poisonings in specialized health care were gathered from national registers for following 10–15 years.
The results revealed that one in ten of the former adolescent psychiatric inpatients had committed a drug crime. Distant relationship to the father, regular tobacco smoking and weekly use of stimulants in adolescence and lying and thieving at a school-age were significant risk factors for drug crime offending. Lifetime use of clonazepam and gabapentinoids associated to drug crime offending. Drug crime offenders were more likely to be treated in specialized health care due to injuries and poisonings than the controls.
The study findings highlight the importance of family-centered strategies when preventing later drug crime offending and holistic psychosocial interventions should be preferred when treating patients with substance use disorder or history of drug crime offending.
This thesis examined the risk factors in adolescence and young adulthood for drug crime offending among former adolescent psychiatric inpatients. The study population consisted of 508 adolescents aged between 13–17 years, who were treated in adolescent psychiatric inpatient care unit at the Oulu University Hospital between 2001 and 2006. After the hospitalization, follow-up information on criminality, prescription medication use, and treatment events due to injuries and/or poisonings in specialized health care were gathered from national registers for following 10–15 years.
The results revealed that one in ten of the former adolescent psychiatric inpatients had committed a drug crime. Distant relationship to the father, regular tobacco smoking and weekly use of stimulants in adolescence and lying and thieving at a school-age were significant risk factors for drug crime offending. Lifetime use of clonazepam and gabapentinoids associated to drug crime offending. Drug crime offenders were more likely to be treated in specialized health care due to injuries and poisonings than the controls.
The study findings highlight the importance of family-centered strategies when preventing later drug crime offending and holistic psychosocial interventions should be preferred when treating patients with substance use disorder or history of drug crime offending.
Last updated: 23.1.2024