Prevalence and Correlates of Substance Use Disorders among Youths in Retained House in Taiwan

Abstract Objectives: In this study, we used the Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, and Trouble (CRAFFT) screening tool to examine substance use disorder (SUD) in youths in retained house. Method: A cross-sectional, anonymous survey was conducted from April 2019 to May 2020 at the Taipei Juvenile Detention House in Taiwan, involving 779 detained youths. SUD was defined as a CRAFFT score of ≥ 5. Results: Among participants, 71% screened positive for problematic substance use (CRAFFT ≥ 2) and 23.1% for SUD. Nearly half (49.4%) reported past-year illegal substance use. Factors associated with SUD included significantly earlier initiation (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 0.78 [0.85–0.95], p < 0.05), significantly higher frequency of use (OR [95% CI] = 2.30 [1.08–4.88], p < 0.05), and significantly more multiple illegal substance use (OR [95% CI] = 5.45 [1.14–25.99], p < 0.01). Conclusion: The high prevalence of substance-related problems highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions.