Substance abuse after foster care: a comparison of those leaving institutional and family placements
Substance abuse after foster care: a comparison of those leaving institutional and family placements

Summary/Abstract: The present study is a part of the international project “Aging out study” describing the functioning of the people growing up outside their own family, in a foster care system. The aim of the current study was to examine substance abuse (alcohol, marijuana and other drugs) by the youth leaving foster care in Poland. The study involved 134 respondents, including 58 leaving institutional placements and 76 leaving family placements. Substance abuse was measured using key items from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). The results showed that over 80% of the youth reported one or more symptom of alcohol abuse/dependence, about 8% had a DIS diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence, and about 20% had a diagnosis of marijuana or other drug abuse/dependence. No significant differences in rates of diagnosis for substance abuse/dependence were found when comparing the youth leaving orphanages and those leaving foster families.

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