Consumption profiles of adolescents (boys and girls) who receive services from youth centres
Policymakers and educators from youth centres in Quebec have often emphasized the challenge represented by substance users in their treatment programs. In order to determine the extent to which their consumption represents a problem and to better identify those in need of urgent intervention, this study established consumption profiles and examined the associated personal, family and social correlates. The sample was composed of 408 adolescents (127 girls), aged 12 to 17 years old, who received services from Quebec’s youth centres (Montreal, Quebec City, the Eastern Townships, and the North Shore). Three groups of substance users were identified using the Addiction Severity Index for Youth (Germain et al., 1998): 1) light consumption (28.9%), 2) moderate consumption (37.3%), and 3) severe consumption (33.8%). A similar proportion of boys and girls were found within each group. Youth who had a severe consumption profile were older and had more substance users as friends than youth in the other profiles. Implications for substance use treatment in youth centres are discussed.