Brief Communication Behavioural and Substance Use Problems in Rural and Urban

Compared with youths from the community, a dispropor-tionate number of juvenile delinquent individuals from urban environments suffer from behavioural and substance use problems (1). Studies have found elevated rates of DSM Axis I and II disorders among juvenile delinquent youths (2)—especially conduct disorder (CD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (3–5). One study that in-cluded 108 Dutch juvenile delinquent individuals found ele-vated rates of ADHD (28%) and CD (76%) (6). In another study that involved 1956 American delinquent youths, 55% were diagnosed with ADHD (7). Substance use disorder (SUD) is also common among these youths (8). A study in-volving 118 Australian delinquent youths found that over 90 % had used either pain relievers, other medicines, cannabis, alcohol, or tobacco (9). This study also found a high use of Can J Psychiatry, Vol 48, No 9, October 2003 633 Objective: To examine rates of behavioural and substance use problems in incarcerated young offenders and to explore rural and urban differences in the expression and severity of these problems. Method: We assessed a sample of 68 confined male young offenders (63.3 % rural and 35.3 % urban), using the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) and the Youth Self-Report (YSR). Results: Based on clinical cut-offs, data showed high rates of externalizing behavioural problems (75.4%) and substance use problems (95.7%). Urban delinquent youths showed higher rates of attention problems, delinquent behaviours, and externalizing behaviours than those in rural communities. Conclusions: Incarcerated young offenders show elevated rates of psychological problems that require treatment. Rural and urban differences in the rates of these problems may re-flect differences in community service availability in these areas or in environmental influ-ences on the development of child behavioural problems. (Can J Psychiatry 2003;48:633–636) Information on funding and support and author affiliations appears at the end of the article