Pubdate: Sun, 06 Apr 2014
Source: Claremore Daily Progress, The (OK)
Copyright: 2014, The Claremore Daily Progress
Contact:  http://www.claremoreprogress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2044
Author: Rebecca Hattaway, Claremore Progress

ADDRESSING TEEN DRUG USE

Report Shows Wide Gap Between Number Of Youth With Substance Abuse
Problems And Those Receiving Treatment

CLAREMORE - When Daniel Morris saw a picture of a local drug bust in
the news recently, something heartbreaking stood out to him about the
people in the image: they looked so young.

"I said to myself, 'those are just kids and they're involved in
something as serious as heroin distribution,'" Morris said. "These
problems don't start at age 18; they start at 12 or 13."

And, just as heartbreaking for Morris, is that the vast majority of
youth drug users don't receive treatment, so the problems continue
into adulthood.

Morris, who is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Licensed
Professional Counselor, serves as the clinical director of Human
Skills & Resources in Claremore.

With a majority of his clients being adults, Morris decided to
research the issue of adolescent substance use and treatment further
and has released a report on his findings.

"The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
(ODMHSAS) makes available statistics of services provided across the
state," he said. "A review of that information led me to search out
how many adolescents received treatment for substance use disorders in
Rogers County in 2013."

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), nationally, around 7 percent of children
between ages 12 and 17 have a diagnosable substance abuse disorder.

"With an estimated 8,000 children between age 12 and 17 in Rogers
County, we would expect around 500 to 600 diagnosable cases in any
year," Morris said.

But statistics show less than 20 children in that age range received
treatment for a primary substance use disorder last year.

That's less than 4 percent of the estimated number needing
services.

"Why such a large discrepancy?," Morris asked. "Some may be receiving
counseling from individual or tribal providers but the fact is, most
are not receiving any type of treatment whatsoever."

In Rogers County, the majority of adults receiving treatment for
substance abuse report their first use occurred before they were 18,
according to ODMHSAS.

"Those developmental years are very important and the more help we can
give them during those years, the better off they'll be as adults," he
said. "It would be nice to prevent the problems instead of correct
them. There is help to address these problems, but I think a lot of
school officials and parents don't know what their options are."

That's why awareness and education are key, he said.

"We need to know the warning signs and what the response should be
when we see those warning signs," he said. "We shouldn't ignore the
problem or act as though alcohol use is a 'right of passage' or
experimenting with marijuana is normal part of growing up."

Morris has sent his report to the District Attorney's office, as well
as several judges and school officials in Rogers County in hopes of
generating ideas and discussion about how to address these issues.

"I believe we can make a significant difference in the future of
Rogers County if we can identify and address these problems when they
start," he said. "If we could identify the problems at home or school
before the kids get into the criminal justice system, we'd be much
better off."

For information on drug testing and outpatient adolescent substance
abuse treatment, call the non profit Human Skills and Resources at
(918) 283-1423.
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