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Published in: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 4/2011

01-10-2011

Help-Seeking Behaviors in a Community Sample of Young Adults with Substance Use Disorders

Authors: Mathew D. Gayman, PhD, Gary S. Cuddeback, PhD, Joseph P. Morrissey, PhD

Published in: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research | Issue 4/2011

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Abstract

Despite the high prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the U.S., many with a SUD go untreated and/or report lengthy delays to help-seeking initiation. From a public health standpoint, because SUDs often emerge in early adulthood, information on help-seeking behaviors among young adults is important. Using data from young adults ages 18–23 years with a history of a SUD (n = 672) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, this study estimates the prevalence of lifetime help-seeking initiation and examines factors related to help seeking and delays to help-seeking initiation. The majority (68%) of young adults with a history of a SUD reported never having sought help, and those who reported help seeking experienced relatively lengthy delays (1–7 years) to help-seeking initiation. These findings underscore the need for both timely substance abuse treatment and for accelerated research on successful outreach strategies for young adults with SUDs.
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Metadata
Title
Help-Seeking Behaviors in a Community Sample of Young Adults with Substance Use Disorders
Authors
Mathew D. Gayman, PhD
Gary S. Cuddeback, PhD
Joseph P. Morrissey, PhD
Publication date
01-10-2011
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 1094-3412
Electronic ISSN: 2168-6793
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-011-9243-1

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