The early detection method of substance abuse risk in adolescents
One of the most important factors of successful substance abuse treatment is the early start. In Croatia adolescents start with substance abuse approximately at age of 16. Recent selection method for identification of adolescents in the substance abuse risk (drug tests from urine samples), was simple and exact method but used very rare, usually guided by the pressure of parents or the court. Also, such method presented the source of legal and ethical questions. So, the application of standardized psychological tests, the measued relevant aspects of personality, during systematic medical exams of adolescents could hep with this early detection. These aspects are: a) the level of life quality in the light of perception of adolescent interaction with his/her environment, their personality traits and cognitive functioning b)the amount of given support in the process of psychosocial development of adolescent, which is very important in that development period, and the level of adolescent self-esteem c)the characteristics of family dynamic, social status, communication styles and parenting styles First, standardized psychological tests would be used and also the validation of the new ones would be carried. Second, the screenig would be done. Finally, the adolescents in the risk would be directed to the conseling centers. Their attitudes and behaviour could be modified if they have been involved in different psychotherapeutic/counseling processes.Considering ethical and legal questions, described detection method presented here was more suitable one than the others.