GUEST OPINION by Scott Sechrist
Alcohol and substance abuse is a major public health problem in the United States. In fact, in 1999, more than half of our nation’s 12th-graders tried drugs and more than one quarter tried a drug other than marijuana. And, although the consumption of alcohol is illegal for those under 21 years of age, more than 10 million current drinkers are between the ages of 12 and 20.
Never before in our nation’s history have alcohol and so many illicit drugs been so widely available to our youth. Although national surveys indicate that the use of illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin and inhalants has held steady, the same surveys report that the use of the dangerous club drug MDMA (ecstasy) appears to be increasing among older teens. In addition, in 1999, alcohol was reported fairly easy or very easy to get by 72.3 percent of eighth-graders and 88.2 percent of 10th-graders.
Substance abuse puts millions of adolescents at increased risk for alcohol-related and drug-related traffic accidents and other unintentional injuries, delinquent and criminal behavior, mental health problems, and sexual practices that place them at increased risk of unplanned pregnancies, as well as AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Susbstance abuse treatment is effective. A national study of community-based treatment programs for adolescents found that reported weekly marijuana use dropped by more than half in the year following treatment. Treatment for adolescent substance abuse can also reduce heavy drinking and criminal behavior, and improve psychological adjustment and school performance.
An investment in substance abuse treatment yields a greater than 2-to-1 return on taxpayers’ investment because of post-treatment reduction in costs associated with medical care and crimes related to alcohol and drugs. Despite the benefits of treatment a significant gap exists between the number of adolescents who need substance abuse treatment and those who receive it. According to a study in Minnesota, only one fourth of youth aged 14 to 17 who need substance abuse treatment were able to receive it.
There are a number of ways to find out about substance abuse treatment programs in your local area. Local sources of referral could include your school district’s nursing staff, psychologist, or substance abuse coordinator or counselor, your doctor, local hospital or county mental health society. Public and private agencies, such as local health departments or state alcohol and drug authorities may compile directories that can help you locate treatment programs.
This September, as we observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, let us help our adolescents with substance abuse problems get their lives back on track through treatment and recovery. People who interact with adolescents in the home or community need to be alert to changes in behavior and appearance that may signal drug abuse. By recognizing the potential signs and symptoms of drug use, you may be able to get help for a teenager in need of treatment. Family and community members need to stay informed about available local resources and be involved in organizations that advocate for public policies and funding that support substance abuse treatment and recovery programs. Getting help for teens with substance abuse problems early in life can ensure healthy and successful futures.
The time is now for the community at large to join with the treatment and recovery community to remove the stigma of substance abuse treatment and help our teens with substance abuse problems get on the road to recovery. Decreasing adolescent substance use is not an easy task. There are no easy answers. Yet, research has found that substance abuse treatment is effective for adolescents. As a community, we must work together as a team to assist teens in getting the help they need. We must also work towards securing policies and funding for treatment programs.
Scott Sechrist is executive director of Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction.