Substance use as a risk factor for sleep problems among adolescents presenting to the emergency department

Olena Zhabenko, Elizabeth Austic, Deirdre A. Conroy, Peter Ehrlich, Vijay Singh, Quyen Epstein-Ngo, Rebecca M. Cunningham, Maureen A. Walton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To determine correlates of sleep problems among adolescents. Specifically, to assess the relative strength of associations between sleep problems and dating victimization, reasons for emergency department (ED) visit, depression, unhealthy alcohol use, and other drug use (marijuana, nonmedical use of prescription opioids, stimulants, and tranquilizers). Methods: A total of 1852 adolescents aged 14 to 20 years presenting for care to the University of Michigan Emergency Department, Ann Arbor, Michigan, during 2011-2012, self-administered a computerized health survey. Sleep problems were identified if any of the 4 items on the Sleep Problems Questionnaire were rated by a patient as greater than 3 on a 0 to 5 scale. Adolescents who were too sick to be screened in the ED were eligible to participate in the study during their inpatient stay. Exclusion criteria for baseline included insufficient cognitive orientation precluding informed consent, not having parent/guardian present if younger than 18 years, medical severity precluding participation, active suicidal/homicidal ideation, non-English-speaking, deaf/visually impaired, or already participated in this study on a prior visit. Results: 23.5% of adolescents reported clinically significant sleep problems. Female gender, depression, dating victimization, tobacco use, nonmedical use of prescription medication, and an ED visit for medical reasons were each associated with sleep problems among adolescents, even while controlling for age, other types of drug use, receiving public assistance, and dropping out of school. Conclusions: These exploratory findings indicate that ED-based screening and brief intervention approaches addressing substance use and/or dating victimization may need to account for previously undiagnosed sleep problems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)331-338
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of addiction medicine
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2016 American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Keywords

  • Dating victimization
  • Emergency department
  • Sleep
  • Substance use
  • Youth

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