Only 10% of teens who need help for alcohol and drug problems actually enter treatment programs due in part to a lack of adolescent-only services and the poor quality of the teen treatment services that are available. Less that one-third of substance abuse programs in the U.S. offer specialized programs for teens.A new study shows that 1.4 million teens need help for addictions each year, but only about one-tenth receive it.
"We have known that out of 1.4 million teens needing help for substance abuse, one-tenth of those get treatment, said author Hannah Knudsen, PhD, with the University of Kentucky, in a news release. "Part of this treatment gap may be driven by the limited availability of adolescent-only treatment services. Less than one-third of addiction programs in the U.S. have a specialized program for adolescents."
Because of the lack of publicly funded adolescent programs, the opportunity to intervene early in teen substance abuse is lost, the authors said. Many families seeking help for their children are unable to find treatment in their communities.
The study also found:
- Most of the available programs treat teens only on an outpatient basis.
- Facilities that offer teens residential or inpatient treatment rank higher in quality.
- Many governmental-funded programs and hospital-based programs are more likely to exclude adolescents from admission.
- Programs accredited by an outside organization were more likely to offer treatment to teens.
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There is a new adolescent substance abuse program 6/08 in Brockton, Mass. It is called the CASTLE Program ( Clean And Sober Teens Living Empowered). The clinicians, recovery specialists and medical staff are dedicated to helping adolescents obtain and continue clean and sober living.