Role of attachment in the development of substance use disorders among adopted youth

Abstract

Background: adolescence is a period in life characterized by the seeking of new experiences, and it tends to be the initiation point of substance use among youth. Many factors intervene in the development of substance use disorders among adolescent population, and studies have demonstrated the importance of secure attachment patterns as a protective factor against substance use. On another note, adopted children have different proportions of attachment patterns compared to non-adopted youth. The percentage of insecure attachment (especially avoidant) among adoptees is relatively higher than the one in non-adoptees, which is important in terms of substance use because insecure youth (particularly avoidant youth) has higher rates of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use among teenagers. Objective: the main objective of this study is to analyse the importance of attachment in adopted children, and whether the pattern of attachment can predict or affect the development of substance use disorders. If a correlation between these elements were to be found, it would enhance the importance of taking attachment into consideration when working with adopted youth and their mental health. Study design: this work will perform an observational, prospective, longitudinal cohort study performed between the pediatricians from the Centres d’Atenció Primària (CAPs) and the mental health professionals from the Xarxa de Salut Mental i Addicions (XSMA) of the region of Girona. Participants: the participants will be adopted children between 4 and 8 years old who have already lived at least a year with their adoptive family and that are assisted by their pediatrician in the region of Girona. The participants will be followed-up until they turn 16 years old