Alcohol and drug abuse in children and adolescents

Adolescents with substance abuse disorders: Epidemiology, treatment and prevention

10th Annual Conference of the McGill University Division of Child Psychiatry

Journalists who wish to cover the conference are invited to contact Mrs Nicole Prud’homme

Friday, April 16, 1999
8:15 am to 5:00 pm
The Westin Mont-Royal, Montreal
1050 Sherbrooke Street West

Chairman: Dr Klaus Minde

Presented in English and French with simultaneous translation

Recent studies suggest that children and adolescents today begin to experiment with alcohol and drugs at a younger age than a decade ago. They more frequently ingest these substances to the point of intoxication, and they have increased their consumption of the more dangerous drugs. Adolescents with substance abuse disorders have often other psychiatric diagnoses, including various internalizing and externalizing behavioral disorders, which may in themselves be life threatening. As mental health professionals, we have been increasingly challenged both to develop early preventative programs identifying children at risk for future drug abuse and delinquency, and to devise useful clinical interventions and treatment programs for our drug and/or alcohol-abusing adolescents. The invited speakers at this conference will discuss their extensive experience in the field of child and adolescent substance abuse, focusing on the need for early identification and treatment of children at risk, as well as their clinical experience in working with these adolescents and their families. This conference is of interest to all professionals who work with children and their families.

Program

8:30 Opening and Welcome: Dr Joel Paris, Dr Klaus Minde

Moderator for the morning: Dr Kathryn Gill

8:45 Identifying Risk Factors for Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Early Childhood: Dr Sheppard Kellam

10:45 Patterns of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Adolescents: Integrating Evaluation with Specific Interventions: Dr Ralph E. Tarter

1:30 Problem Drug and Alcohol Use in Quebec Teenagers: What to Do: Dr Mark Zoccolillo

Moderator for the afternoon: Mr. Pierre Lamarche

3:15 Preventive Intervention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Their Effectiveness: Dr Sheppard Kellam

4:45 Closing Remarks: Dr Klaus Minde

Invited speakers

Sheppard Kellam, MD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, The John Hopkins University. He serves as Director of the John Hopkins Prevention Research Center and the World Health Organization Collaborating Research Center. Dr Kellam is highly recognized for his longitudinal studies of depression and aggression in school children, and the identification of risk factors for smoking, drug, alcohol abuse, and anti-social behavior. He has developed models for intervention in the school and family with the hope of preventing substance abuse and violent behavior.

Ralph Tarter, PhD. is Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is an internationally recognized authority in the field of drug abuse and prevention. He has 3 textbooks in press, including Handbook of Substance Abuse: Neurobehavioral Pharmacology. He has done extensive long-term research with children at high risk for the later development of substance abuse disorder. On the basis of this research he has developed cognitive behavioral treatment programs to reduce impulsivity and enhance competence in this population.

Mark Zoccolillo, MD, F.R.C.P.(C), is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at McGill University. He is the Director of the Montreal Children’s Hospital’s Day and Evening Treatment Programs for troubled adolescents. He is involved in research studies which follow children at risk for later substance abuse and deals with many of them in his clinical activities.

Guest moderators

Kathryn Gill PhD, is Director of Research, the Addictions Unit, the Montreal General Hospital and Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University.

Pierre Lamarche is Director General of L’Association des centres jeunesse du Québec.

McGill Faculty

Klaus Minde, MD, F.R.C.P.(C), is Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Chairman, Division of Child Psychiatry, McGill University and Director of the Department of Psychiatry, Montreal Children’s Hospital

Joel Paris, MD, F.R.C.P.(C), is Professor of Psychiatry, Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University.

Organizing Committee

The Education and Training Committee of the Division of Child Psychiatry of McGill University
Judy Vogel MD, Chairperson, Jewish General Hospital
Fern Cramer Azima PhD., Allan Memorial Institute
Suzanne Dongier MD, Douglas Hospital
Klaus Minde MD, Montreal Children’s Hospital
Ruth Russell MD, Montreal Children’s Hospital
Mounir Samy MD, Montreal Children’s Hospital
Nicole Prud’homme, Administrative Assistant

Public lecture

"How does substance abuse develop over time? What can we do about it at different ages?"
with Dr Ralph E. Tarter

April 15,1999
8:00 pm
Leacock Building (L-26), McGill Campus