Analysis of service-users attending Matt Talbot Services (MTS) from 2007-2010

Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of service-users who attended Matt Talbot Services (MTS). MTS is a day treatment service for predominantly male substance-users aged between 14 and 23 years within the Cork/ Kerry area of Ireland. This exploratory work will serve as a base for future pharmaceutical care interventions and research on adolescent use of illegal and prescription substances. Settings and methods: A research pharmacist with a special interest in substance use collected data from the records of entrants to the service between 2007 and 2010 (n = 291). They were compiled from interviews conducted during initial and follow-up meetings. General demographic data on service-users; gender, age and information pertaining to education, current and past substance use, and treatment details, were recorded. Predictive Analytics SoftWare Statistics (PASW; SPSS Inc. Chicago, Ill.) version 18.0 was used for data analysis. Results: The sample population was predominantly male (97.2 %) with a mean age at entrance of 16.7 years (SD ± 2.1 years). 252 service-users admitted to cannabis use and 240 reported having consumed alcohol in their lifetime. The median number of substances regularly used was 3 (IQR = 2–4). The mean age of first substance use was 12.6 years (SD ± 1.8 years). Cannabis was the first substance used by 73.5 % of service-users. There was a marked increase in the percentage of those who had used benzodiazepines in the 2007 (10.3 %) versus 2010 (43.0 %) data. Conclusion: Substance use by adolescents in the Cork/Kerry area is a serious issue. Pharmacists possess the ideal background and knowledge to develop interventions which will form part of a substance withdrawal algorithm in the wider challenge of service-user rehabilitation. Recognition of the problem and establishing the level of substance use is the first step towards meaningful resolution which will require all stakeholders’ input.