Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42698081›Full record

SynthesisBMC psychiatry2026

Substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions among adolescents and young adults in North America: a systematic review.

Gemy Kuriakose, Jenny Seo, Negar Asgharipourzahmati, Ashley Lew, Rishika Daswani, Martha J Ignaszewski, Roberto Sassi, Fiona Choi, Vijay Seethapathy, Reinhard Michael Krausz

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Gemy Kuriakose *Faculty of Medical Sciences, Private University in the Principality of Liechtenstein (UFL), Triesen, Principality of Liechtenstein. gowarth@uni-bonn.de.
Jenny Seo *Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada. hoyeon10@student.ubc.ca.
Negar AsgharipourzahmatiDepartment of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Ashley LewDepartment of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada. alew423@gmail.com.
Rishika DaswaniDepartment of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Martha J IgnaszewskiDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Roberto SassiDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Fiona ChoiDepartment of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Vijay SeethapathyDepartment of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Reinhard Michael KrauszDepartment of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSubstance use and co-occurring mental health conditions are common among adolescents and young adults and represent an important clinical and public health concern in North America. Trauma exposure, psychiatric symptoms, and social adversity frequently co-occur with substance-related problems in this population. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on prevalence patterns, associated clinical and psychosocial factors, and care-related implications described in the literature on adolescents and young adults with substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions.

methodsThis systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42024581685). A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies examined adolescents and young adults (≤ 25 years) in North America. A combination of subject headings, keywords, and synonyms for the concepts "adolescents," "young adults," "substance use disorders," and "co-occurring mental health conditions" was used. Of 1,882 records identified, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Given the heterogeneity of the literature, findings were synthesized narratively.

resultsThe included studies showed heterogeneity in population, setting, denominator, and ascertainment method. Across the literature, depressive, anxiety-related, trauma-related, and externalizing mental health presentations were frequently reported alongside substance-related problems in adolescents and young adults. Trauma exposure, adverse childhood experiences, and broader social adversity were also commonly reported in association with substance-related problems across studies. Care-related implications were more limited and were largely derived as future directions mentioned across studies rather than direct evaluations of youth-specific service models.

conclusionCo-occurring mental health and substance-related problems were frequently reported among adolescents and young adults in high-risk and service-engaged populations in North America. Trauma and social adversity were prominent across the reviewed literature, while direct evidence for evaluated, integrated, youth-specific care models remains limited. These findings support the relevance of developmentally appropriate, integrated, and trauma-informed approaches to care and highlight the need for further research directly evaluating improved service delivery models for this population. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersSubstance-Related DisordersAdolescentComorbidityHumansNorth AmericaYoung AdultAdolescents and young adultsCare-related implicationsCo-occurring mental health conditionsNorth AmericaSubstance use

Identifiers

PMID42698081
PMCPMC13543466

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.