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Aims: This study explored the prevalence and patterns of cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use among adolescents with mild intellectual disability (ID) residing in different types of living arrangements in Serbia. Methods: A total of 100 male and female adolescents, aged 13-20 years, attending special schools for students with ID completed a self-report measure on drug use. Fifty adolescents lived with their parents, and the other fifty lived at residential schools. Findings: Overall, the prevalence rates of having ever used cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana were 63%, 49% and 4%, respectively. Boys were more likely to use drugs than girls. The higher prevalence and more severe patterns of drug use were found in adolescents living in residential settings. The significant differences were mainly related to smoking. Conclusions: The findings from the present study suggest that a substantial number of adolescents with ID had experienced drug use. Implications for future research and prevention practice were discussed.

This study was conducted with the aim to determine the frequency and predictors of problematic mobile phone use in adolescents with mild intellectual disability (MID) and typically developing adolescents (TDA). The sample included 623 TDA and 67 adolescents with MID. The Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale, Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used as primary outcome measures. The percentage of MID and TDA participants with problematic mobile phone use was 11.9% and 9.8% respectively, but there were twice as many participants who belong to the risk group among the participants with MID (20.9%) than among TDA ones (10.2%). Problematic use of mobile phones was related to the number of years of mobile phone usage, more frequent use, female gender, younger age, as well as with a lower level of self-esteem, and a higher level of loneliness. This study showed that almost every third adolescent with MID is having problematic or risky mobile phone use.

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This article reports the results of the first study in Serbia on factors (child, family and case) for different exit types for children admitted to out-of-home care. Case files of 154 children admitted to the Shelter for Urgent Protection of Children from Abuse and Neglect over a 5-year period were analysed. After the shelter, less than a third of the children returned to their biological parents. The findings revealed that different constellations of child, family and case characteristics predict reunification and placement in a relative or foster family or in a group home. No significant predictors were noted for inadequate accommodation. The results of this study showed that although the patterns of reunification were very similar to those in other countries, there were differences that reflected the specifics of child welfare policy in Serbia.