OBJECTIVES: To conduct exploratory data analysis on DRG 521: alcohol/drug abuse or dependence with complications and comorbidities.  Comparing DRG 521 to a control group will provide insights into statistical trends relating to this particular diagnosis. METHODS: The data used for this statistical analysis were obtained from The Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) from 2007.  KID is a national database containing information on hospital inpatient stays for children twenty years old and younger.  In this database, there are 1,447 cases of DRG 521.  For comparison purposes, a random sample equal in size was drawn from all DRG codes other than DRG 521.  The statistical software, SAS, is used to analyze this data set.  RESULTS: Initial statistical analyses have shown a greater proportion of whites in the experimental group (DRG 521), 72%, compared to the control group with 61%.  The overwhelming majority of the experimental group is in the higher age range of fifteen to twenty years old, compared to the control group which has a uniform distribution across all ages.  In addition, the experimental group contains a higher proportion of males, 55.8%, compared to the control group, 52%.  CONCLUSIONS:   Previous research has indicated that when individuals have comorbid conditions including drug/alcohol dependence and mental illnesses, males are more likely to be treated and seek treatment for substance dependence whereas females are more likely to seek treatment for mental illnesses.  This information could explain why more males are present in the experimental group,compared to the control group.  In addition, adolescence and young adults are more likely to engage in risky behavior, which would explain the concentration of older individuals in the experimental group.