Blog: Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment

Today, we're joining teens, parents, teachers, and scientists across America to kick off National Drug Facts Week by offering up our own shoutout for educating teens (and adults) about drug abuse. Here at Reclaiming Futures, of course, we're especially concerned about adolescent substance abuse among teens in the juvenile justice system, and so we've collected a few items from the "Quick Facts" section of our new website -- chances are, at least some of them will surprise you. (Click on the reference numbers for the citations.)
 

• For four out of five kids aged 10-17 in the juvenile justice system, one or more of the following is true: they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while committing their crimes; they test positive for drugs; they are arrested for committing an alcohol or drug offense; or they admit to having substance abuse problems.P1

It's been nearly 10 years since Reclaiming Futures first launched its website focused on its six-step model promoting juvenile justice reform and adolescent substance abuse treatment.
A lot has changed since then. Which is why we've revamped our website at http://www.reclaimingfutures.org/ to help you find what you're looking for more easily.
For example, you can:

Believe in juvenile justice reform? Want to lead a national initiative to disseminate a proven six-step model that allows communities to help teens break the cycle of drugs, alcohol and crime?
Now's your chance.
Back in June, Laura Burney Nissen announced that she would be stepping down as national director of Reclaiming Futures. The job opening has now been posted, and a national search is under way for a new national executive director.  >>Download the application.
P.S. Please share with friends and colleagues you think might be interested. 
 
Photo: capturingJenna.

It's quite common for youth who are put on probation in juvenile court to switch from their drug of choice to alcohol because it's much harder to catch on drug tests.
Why does this matter? Drunk driving, of course. But there's another reason: the younger kids start using alcohol, the more likely they are to develop alcohol dependence as adults. New data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and presented by the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) shows that youth who begin drinking at 14 or younger are nearly twice as likely to be dependent on alcohol as adults than youth who begin drinking between 15 and 17, almost four times as likely as youth who begin between 18 and 20, and over six times as likely as young adults who begin drinking past 21. 
There's no question many youth on probation have already been exposed to alcohol by the time they get to court. But this data is all the more reason that it's imperative to help them get treatment.

I've already posted about the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) call for public input on its eight strategies.
The agency plans to organize its work and funding priorities around these strategies, and wants input (and your votes on input from others) by October 22, 2010. 
I included links in my previous post to information online about the strategies, but here's something else you might find useful: the agency held an open house to talk about the initiatives last Friday. Video of that meeting has been archived, so you can review Q&A about SAMHSA's eight strategic initiatives, which made up a large portion of the event.

I mentioned this in last week's roundup of news on the juvenile justice system and adolescent substance abuse treatment, but this deserves to be highlighted because it will guide the agency's work and funding priorities for years to come:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) plans to organize its work into eight strategic initiatives, and you have the chance to give your own input (and vote on the merit of others' ideas) until October 22, 2010.  Here's the eight areas:

Juvenile Justice System News and Speculation

For sheer breadth of coverage in the juvenile justice arena this week, you couldn't beat John Kelly of Youth Today.

1. First, Kelly covered a year-long, national survey on the use of psychotropic meds in juvenile justice facilities. Sixteen states participated; 17 didn't reply; the remainder did not comply for a variety of reasons, although it appeared that  many states did not track the drugs, or the diagnoses for which they were prescribed. Youth Today's coverage offered useful background on several of the most commonly-used drugs, and a point/counterpoint on whether they should be used as a first resort for behavior management, or whether their use helps make youth "treatment-ready."

Work for an adolescent substance abuse treatment and/or mental health treatment agency? Work with people who do? The training series described below from NIATx is not to be missed.  So pass it on! 
(Copy below taken with minor changes from the NIATx website.)
 

Will your Behavioral Health Organization Be Ready to Serve Patients in the New Environment Created by Health Reform?
The NIATx Accelerating Reform Collaborative (ARC) is a coaching/web-based learning program to help behavioral health providers prepare for health reform. It will help you:

• Assess your organization's readiness for health reform
• Fast track your thinking to plan for the future
• Find out what peers and experts are thinking and doing regarding health reform
• Receive valuable feedback from peers and experts on ideas you are considering
• Create a short/medium range action plan to help your organization adapt to a new way of doing business

Improving the Substance Abuse Treatment System for Young People

What does it take to build a system of care for teens and young adults that's recovery-oriented? 
A few days ago, I posted about what the adults think it should like.  Now Uncle Sam wants to hear from young people. 
In fact, Uncle Sam -- in the form of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - is inviting up to 50 young aduilts aged 18-25 to attend a Young People's Networking Dialogue on Recovery on December 13, 2010 in Baltimore.
All they need to do is follow the link and complete the application form. If their application is successful, their transportation and lodging will be covered. But hurry! Deadline to apply is October 13, 2010.