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Substance Abuse and Anxiety in Children

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Anxiety Management in Children with Mental and Physical Health Problems

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Child and Family Studies ((SSCFS))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on substance use as a significant health problem, with anxiety as a comorbid problem that can result either after or before the substance use problem. There is an emphasis on description of risk factors for substance use. Family and peer substance use are environmental risk factors. However, family cohesion and positive social as well as school involvement are protective factors. Adolescents with social anxiety may be at risk for substance use problems. They may use substances to reduce feelings of anxiety. Alternately, they may fall into a high-risk peer group because they lack friends and are unpopular at school. Addressing substance use problems may need to occur before anxiety can be treated. This may need to occur on an inpatient basis, with intensive outpatient services (e.g., individual, group, psychiatric referral, and other recovery services) after the youth has been released from inpatient services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Laura Nabors

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  1. Laura Nabors
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Nabors, L. (2020). Substance Abuse and Anxiety in Children. In: Anxiety Management in Children with Mental and Physical Health Problems. Springer Series on Child and Family Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35606-4_4

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