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Youths in therapeutic foster care at elevated risk for substance use

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality – 2012

A data fact sheet from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Reports that youth who are unable to live at home or in traditional foster care, and who are placed in therapeutic foster care, are more likely to use alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs than both youth in traditional foster care and those in the general population. Suggests that this is because youth in therapeutic foster care have family backgrounds and emotional/behavioral characteristics that put them at higher risk for negative outcomes. Recommends that therapeutic foster care parents should be trained in substance abuse prevention and intervention.