Prevention of substance use in children/adolescents with mental disorders: a systematic review.

Objective: WE CONDUCTED A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW TO ANSWER THE QUESTION: Among youth ≤18 years of age with a mental disorder, does substance use prevention compared to no prevention result in reduced rates of substance use/abuse/disorder (SUD)? The review was requested by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care through the Canadian Institutes for Health Research Evidence on Tap program.

Methods: A four-step search process was used: Search 1 and 2: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated a SUD prevention intervention in individuals with a mental disorder who were: 1) ≤18 years; or, 2) any age. Search 3: Observational studies of an intervention to prevent SUD in those with mental disorder.