Drug Problems in Children of the Wealthy and Famous

Abstract

The literature on the association of social class and adolescent drug use reveals generally that children of the well educated and affluent are at an increased risk for drug abuse. This is probably most true for non-opiate drugs. This is an unsettled question in present studies, with the position taken in this paper that adolescent drug use is a multi-determined phenomenon with socioeconomic status being one important variable, especially with children of the wealthy or famous. Special developmental issues in these children can make them ultra vulnerable to drug abuse, especially parental absence or deprivation, lack of inculcation of intact self-esteem or frustration tolerance and especially lack of goal-orientation. “Neuroses of mobility” or rapid changes of family status are related to adolescent drug use vulnerability as well as “old money” family patterns leading to increased risk for adolescents. Case examples and special therapeutic considerations for this population are discussed.