Adolescent boys with addictive disorders in an Indian rehabilitation centre: profiles and correlates

Background: No Indian study has profiled adolescents with addictive disorders in rehabilitation. Aim: Hence, this study aimed to describe sociodemographic and clinical profiles of adolescent boys in short-term rehabilitation. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted, including the scores on Disruptive Behaviour Disorders (DBDs) Rating Scale, for 59 patients, over 16 months. Results: Mean age of first use of nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis was 12.1 ± 2.7, 13.6 ± 1.7, and 14.3 ± 1.4 years, respectively. Of the patients, 57.6% were from broken families, 59.3% had experienced childhood adversities, 49.2% had parental psychiatric history, 10.2% had only behavioural addictions, 84.7% had dual diagnosis, and 79.7% had comorbid DBD, the commonest being conduct-dissocial disorder (in 47.5%). Conclusion: Earlier onset of substance use was associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES) ( P = 0.003) and poor parental supervision ( P = 0.017). Clinicians should screen for dual diagnoses and target prevention for broken families, childhood adversities, poor parental supervision, and low SES.