In 2006, nearly 10 percent of young people ages 12 to 17 were current drug users.^F1

Nearly two million children under age 18 were arrested in 2006. ^F2

More than 95,000 children were in juvenile correction facilities in 2003.^F3

The Problem

Four out of five teens in the juvenile justice system are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while committing their crimes.
Four out of five teens in the juvenile justice system test positive for drugs.
Four out of five teens in the juvenile justice system are arrested for committing an alcohol or drug offense.
Four out of five teens in the juvenile justice system admit having substance abuse problems. ^P1

Nearly 85 percent of youth treated for substance abuse problems, also have a mental health disorder. ^P2

In 2006, 21.1 million people ages 12 or older needed treatment for a drug or alcohol problem and did not receive it at a specialty substance abuse facility. ^LT1

Half of all prison inmates are dependent on drugs but less than 20 percent get the treatment they need.^LT2

Research suggests that treatment can cut drug abuse in half, drastically decrease criminal activity, and significantly reduce arrests.^TW1

Youth participating in the national Adolescent Treatment Models initiative showed reduction in substance abuse three months following treatment, particularly among youth in residential treatment.^TW2

For every dollar spent on addiction treatment programs, $4 to $7 is saved on drug-related crimes.^TS1

Every dollar spent on drug treatment is estimated to return more than $18 in benefits to the community. ^TS2

Communities that piloted the Reclaiming Futures approach to helping teens overcome drugs, alcohol and crime reported significant improvements in juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment.^RF1

Eight communities that piloted the Reclaiming Futures model have improved the social networks that that juvenile justice and substance abuse agencies use to communicate and cooperate with one another. ^RF2

^F1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2007). Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-32, DHHS Publication No. SMA 07-4293). Rockville, MD.

^F2 (Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2007). Crime in the United States 2006, [Table 38]. Available online. Washington, DC: Author.)

^F3 (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (2003). Census of juveniles in residential placement databook. Available online. Washington, DC: Author.) 

^P1 (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. (2004). Criminal Neglect: Substance Abuse, Juvenile Justice and The Children Left Behind. [On-line]. Retrieved July 8, 2008 from the World Wide Web:
http://www.casacolumbia.org/ViewProduct.aspx?PRODUCTID={5E764135-2E2E-449c-9BDB-4075D2B6CB64)

^P2 Huang, L.N. (2004). Transforming mental health care for children and families, [Networks. Special Edition, Volume 8, Issues 3 & 4]. Available online. Alexandria, VA: National Technical Assistance Center for State Mental Health Planning.)

^LT1 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2007). Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-32, DHHS Publication No. SMA 07-4293). Rockville, MD.)

^LT2 National Institutes of Health. July 2006. Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations. Available online at http://www.drugabuse.gov/PODAT_CJ/principles/

^TW1 The National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES): Highlights. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 97-3159. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Office of Evaluation, Scientific Analysis and Synthesis, pp. 241–242. 1997.

^TW2 Dasinger, L, Shane P, Martinovich Z. Assessing the Effectiveness of Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 36(1): 85-94, 2004.

^TS1 National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2006. NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment approaches for drug addiction. pgs 1-2.Online at www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/InfoFacts/Treatment06.pdf

^TS2 Aos, Steve, Marna Miller, and Elizabeth Drake. 2006. Evidence-based public policy options to reduce future prison construction, criminal justice costs, and crime rates. Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy. Online at www.wsipp.wa.gov; Aos, Steve. 2003. The criminal justice system in Washington State: Incarceration rates, taxpayer costs, crime rates and prison economics. Olympia: Washington State Institute of Public Policy.

^RF1 Butts, Jeffrey A. and Roman, John. Changing Systems: Outcomes from the RWJF Reclaiming Futures Initiative on Juvenile Justice and Substance Abuse. A Reclaiming Futures National Evaluation Report. Portland, OR: Reclaiming Futures National Program Office, Portland State University, 2007.

^RF2 Yahner, Jennifer and Jeffrey A. Butts. Agency Relations: Social Network Dynamics and the RWJF Reclaiming Futures Initiative. A Reclaiming Futures National Evaluation Report. Portland, OR: Reclaiming Futures National Program Office, Portland State University, 2007.