| |
Substance
Abuse
A. ISSUE SUMMARY
Vision Statement: "Travis County will reduce substance abuse"
Strategies for Building a Stronger Community: A Community Guide
The key findings regarding substance abuse outcomes from the CAN Community Guide are
set forth below.
Drug and Alcohol Problems in Central Texas
Substance abuse, whether it involves alcohol, illicit drugs, or tobacco,
both creates and aggravates problems in the community.
- A 1996 survey of alcohol and drug use reported that Central Texas had
the highest incidence of both alcohol and drug abuse in Texas.
- Alcohol and drug abuse cost the community dearly, not only in direct health
care costs, but also in lost earnings from reduced productivity and longevity
and increased crime and health problems.
- Thirty percent of the arrests made by Austin police in 1995 resulted directly
from alcohol or drug use. Many more arrests involved individuals who were
seeking the money to obtain drugs.
- Seventy-five percent of individuals arrested in Travis County are either
under the influence of drugs or committing crimes to obtain drugs. In 1996,
over thirty-three percent of the adults referred to TCADA funded treatment
facilities were from the criminal justice system.
- Based on 1996 demographics, seventy six million Americans, about 43% of
the U.S. population (266,420 Travis County residents), have experienced
alcoholism in the family. There are an estimated 26.8 million children of
alcoholics in the United States. Preliminary research suggests that over
11 million (41%) are under the age of 18.
- Alcohol use is a major cause of motor vehicle and boating accidents. Drunk
drivers can destroy not only their own lives but the lives and families
of the innocent people whom they hurt and kill.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Related Problems Among Youth
- 24% of AISD students report using an illegal drug in the last 30 days
(18% in Central Texas).
- 40% of AISD students report using alcohol in the last 30 days (37% statewide).
- More than 50% of all 9th grade AISD students report having used marijuana
in their lifetime.
- More than 33% of AISD seniors report using tobacco products in the last
30 days.
- Alcohol was the most commonly used substance across all grade levels,
based on a 1997 survey of AISD students.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Related Problems Among Adults
- About 27% of persons ages 15 to 54 (approximately 105,500 Travis County
residents) will experience substance abuse/ dependence in their lifetime.
- Substance abuse and mental disorders are often linked together. About
35% of the population, aged 15 to 54 years, have had a mental disorder in
their lifetime; 39% of these people also had substance abuse/dependence.
Almost 50% of persons ages 15 to 54 who had substance/abuse dependence in
their lifetime also had a mental disorder.
- Five to ten percent of older adults abuse alcohol or medications and between
20% to 30% of elderly psychiatric clients have problems with alcohol use.
- About 39% of persons treated for drug abuse with family incomes below
$10,000 lack health insurance.
Return to Top of Page
B. BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCING FACTORS
Effective prevention, intervention, and treatment services minimize the ill
effects of substance abuse. However, changes in the health and human services
arena have reduced the availability of these programs, and managed care restrictions
have also limited access. In 1995, Funding from the Texas
Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse for Travis County substance prevention
and treatment was reduced by 30%.
In view of the critical nature of the substance abuse problem in Travis County,
CAN agreed to sponsor a committee composed of members of the Task Force and
other representatives to examine existing programs, identify problems, and
develop solutions. As a result, the CAN Substance Abuse Planning Partnership
(SAPP) was established. SAPP's main goal is to plan for a client-focused continuum
of care that includes prevention, assessment, intervention, detoxification,
treatment, and continuing care services that are
- delivered holistically so that the physical, mental, and spiritual needs
of individuals and families are addressed;
- culturally and linguistically appropriate;
- age appropriate;
- family focused;
- consumer driven (with special needs of clients and families considered);
and,
- respectful of clients’ rights and capacities.
In addition to the planning activities of the SAPP the providers of publicly
funded substance abuse treatment and prevention services formed the Austin
Chemical Dependency Alliance in l996. The Alliance aims to provide effective,
affordable care for those with chemical dependencies. The Alliance has been
selected by TCADA to implement a substance abuse service network in part of
Region 7 and is working toward a January 1, 1999 startup date for this initiative.
Importance to the Community
The social cost of substance abuse is substantial. Substance abuse is associated
with many other social pathologies including crimes, emergency room admissions,
domestic violence, child abuse, disabilities, homelessness, truancy and school
dropout rates, illness, death, motor vehicle accidents, problem births, decreased
worker productivity and related costs to local industry, HIV/AIDS cases, psychiatric
admissions, and economic viability of neighborhoods. In 1990 alone, alcohol
and dug problems nationwide cost an estimated 166 billion dollars. About 37%
of these costs were related to crime and property damage; 27% to lost productivity
from injury or illness; 22% to loss of productivity due to premature death;
8% to health care costs for treatment and their medical consequences; and
5% to AIDS and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. (SAMHSA,
1995, Statistics Sourcebook.)
Return to Top of Page
C. OUTCOMES AND KEY INDICATORS
Outcomes selected from the Community
Guide and discussed in this chapter are
- decreased rate of persons reporting alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse;
- increased rate of persons receiving effective substance abuse treatment;
- increased productivity of substance abusers;
- decreased health problems related to substance abuse, such as vehicular
accidents, babies prenatally exposed to substances, etc.;
- decreased rate of criminal charges or arrests linked to substance use;
and,
- decreased rate of persons relapsing after completion of treatment;
OUTCOME: Decreased rate of persons reporting alcohol,
tobacco, and other drug use
Crime, unstable employment, broken homes, and a generally poor quality of
life have been related to drug abuse in late adolescence and young adulthood
(Farrington, 1990).T
Figure 4.11.1
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use Among AISD Students within the Last 30
Days
Grade |
Alcohol |
Tobacco |
Drug |
--- |
‘96 |
‘97 |
‘96 |
‘97 |
‘96 |
‘97 |
7 |
22% |
31% |
17% |
20% |
13% |
17% |
8 |
36% |
37% |
24% |
29% |
21% |
23% |
9 |
44% |
45% |
30% |
30% |
31% |
31% |
10 |
44% |
49% |
27% |
26% |
24% |
22% |
11 |
47% |
46% |
31% |
26% |
25% |
28% |
12 |
58% |
56% |
36% |
32% |
28% |
29% |
Source: Austin Independent School District, Texas School Survey of Drug and
Alcohol 1996 and 1997.
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance across all grade levels in Austin
ISD and beer the most commonly abused alcoholic beverage. Tobacco is the second
most used substance in all grades; other drugs are third. In 1997, 56% of
12 graders surveyed had used alcohol in the last 30 days, 32% had used tobacco,
and 29% had used illicit drugs during that time period.
Figure 4.11.2
Alcohol Consumption Among AISD Students in the Last 30 Days
|
SY93 |
SY94 |
SY95 |
SY96 |
SY97 |
| Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
| Male |
40% |
42% |
39% |
38% |
41% |
| Female |
37% |
38% |
39% |
42% |
40% |
| Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
| African American |
37% |
31% |
32% |
30% |
32% |
| Hispanic |
48% |
40% |
42% |
43% |
42% |
| White |
49% |
44% |
42% |
44% |
43% |
| Asian/Indian |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
29% |
| Multiracial |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
45% |
| Grade |
|
|
|
|
|
| 7th |
25% |
24% |
26% |
22% |
31% |
| 8th |
38% |
33% |
38% |
36% |
37% |
| 9th |
41% |
37% |
47% |
44% |
45% |
| 10th |
44% |
44% |
44% |
44% |
49% |
| 11th |
55% |
50% |
54% |
47% |
46% |
| 12th |
52% |
59% |
54% |
58% |
56% |
Source: Austin
Independent School District, Department of Accountability, Student Services
and Research, Office of Program Evaluation, October, 1997 Report, "Planning:
A comprehensive approach to safe and drug free schools and communities, Title
IV Evaluation Report, 1996-1997".
Figure 4.11.3
Drug Use Among AISD Students in the Last 30 Days
|
SY93 |
SY94 |
SY95 |
SY96 |
SY97 |
| Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
| Male |
21% |
22% |
27% |
26% |
25% |
| Female |
16% |
17% |
19% |
22% |
20% |
| Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
| African American |
9% |
17% |
18% |
20% |
20% |
| Hispanic |
23% |
22% |
25% |
28% |
26% |
| White |
28% |
18% |
24% |
23% |
21% |
| Asian/Indian |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Multiracial |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Grade |
|
|
|
|
|
| 7th |
14% |
11% |
17% |
13% |
17% |
| 8th |
19% |
17% |
25% |
21% |
23% |
| 9th |
17% |
22% |
25% |
31% |
31% |
| 10th |
22% |
20% |
25% |
24% |
22% |
| 11th |
23% |
22% |
31% |
25% |
28% |
| 12th |
22% |
24% |
29% |
28% |
29% |
Source: Austin
Independent School District, Department of Accountability, Student Services
and Research, Office of Program Evaluation, October, 1997 Report, "Planning:
A comprehensive approach to safe and drug free schools and communities,
Title IV Evaluation Report, 1996-1997".
Figure 4.11.4
Marijuana Use Among AISD Students in the Past 30 Days
|
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Grade 4 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
| Grade 5 |
2% |
2% |
2% |
| Grade 6 |
6% |
10% |
9% |
| Grade 7 |
13% |
11% |
16% |
| Grade 8 |
21% |
20% |
22% |
| Grade 9 |
23% |
30% |
30% |
| Grade 10 |
22% |
23% |
22% |
| Grade 11 |
29% |
24% |
28% |
| Grade 12 |
26% |
26% |
27% |
Source: Austin
Independent School District, Department of Accountability, Student Services
and Research, Office of Program Evaluation, October, 1997 Report, "Planning:
A comprehensive approach to safe and drug free schools and communities, Title
IV Evaluation Report, 1996-1997".
Figure 4.11.5
Lifetime Marijuana Use Among AISD Students
|
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Grade 4 |
3% |
2% |
2% |
| Grade 5 |
4% |
3% |
3% |
| Grade 6 |
10% |
13% |
16% |
| Grade 7 |
19% |
23% |
27% |
| Grade 8 |
28% |
37% |
36% |
| Grade 9 |
40% |
51% |
51% |
| Grade 10 |
38% |
44% |
42% |
| Grade 11 |
48% |
51% |
40% |
| Grade 12 |
46% |
54% |
50% |
Source: Austin
Independent School District, Department of Accountability, Student Services
and Research, Office of Program Evaluation, October, 1997 Report, "Planning:
A comprehensive approach to safe and drug free schools and communities,
Title IV Evaluation Report, 1996-1997".
Over one fourth of 12th graders used marijuana in the month prior to the
survey. The use of marijuana is more frequent among grades 9-12. The highest
use was the 9th grade. Thirty percent of that population reported using marijuana
in the past 30 days.
Between 40 and 50% of High School students report consuming marijuana at
some point in their lifetime. More than 50% of ninth graders have consumed
marijuana at some point in their lives.
According to the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, adolescents
who feel loved and nurtured are far less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs.
The study confirms the importance of parental care. The study also found that
certain factors, other than a lack of nurturance, can lead to the use of alcohol,
drugs, and cigarettes. For example, teens were more likely to engage in these
behaviors if they had jobs working 20 or more hours a week, regardless of
their families' economic status. Children are also at risk if they repeat
a grade in school, are attracted to persons of the same sex, or believe that
they may face an early death because of health, violence, or other reasons.
Figure 4.11.6
Past Year Alcohol and Drug Use Among Adults, 1996
Selected Metropolitan Areas
Source: Texas Commission
on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Figure 4.11.6 shows that Austin has the largest percentage of adults who
use alcohol, drugs, or illicit drugs when compared with other metropolitan
areas in the state of Texas.
Figure 4.11.7
Prevalence of Alcohol and Drug Problems in Texas Adults
| |
Alcohol Problems |
Drug Problems |
| Region 1 |
14.9% |
2.1% |
| Region 2 |
11.9% |
1.9% |
| Region 3 |
17.0% |
5.6% |
| Region4 |
15.4% |
2.7% |
| Region 5 |
11.1% |
3.5% |
| Region 6 |
17.7% |
3.8% |
| Region 7 |
20.6% |
6.0% |
| Region 8 |
17.2% |
4.3% |
| Region 9 |
16.4% |
3.3% |
| Region 10 |
15.3% |
2.4% |
| Region 11 |
14.8% |
1.7% |
Source Texas Commission on Drug and
Alcohol Abuse.
As Figure 4.11.7 illustrates, approximately 21% of adults surveyed in the
Central Texas Region including Waco, Austin, Bryan College Station, Killeen
and Temple had an alcohol problem (14.2% of the population abused alcohol
and 6.4% were dependent). Furthermore, 6.0% had a problem with drugs other
than alcohol (3.5% abused and 2.6% were dependent on drugs).
Return to Top of Page
OUTCOME: Increased rate of persons receiving effective
substance abuse treatment
Figure 4.11.8
Travis County Demographics in 1996
| |
Total Population |
Adults (18 and up) Presenting at Substance
Abuse Treatment Facilities |
Youths (0 to 17) Presenting at Substance
Abuse Treatment Facilities |
| Total Population |
619,582 |
- |
- |
| Adult (18 and Up) |
453,671 |
2,806 |
- |
| Youth (0 to 17) |
165,911 |
- |
284 |
| Gender (percent) |
|
|
|
| Male |
50% |
57.4% |
64.1% |
| Female |
50% |
42.6% |
36.9% |
| Ethnicity (percent) |
|
|
|
| White |
61% |
54.4% |
34.9% |
| African American |
11% |
21.0% |
15.9% |
| Hispanic |
24% |
23.3% |
48.9% |
| Other |
4% |
- |
- |
Source: TCADA, Texas County Databook
of Substance Related Statistics, 1996.
Figure 4.11.9
Travis County Youth (0 to 17) Presenting at Substance Abuse Treatment
Facilities
| |
1995 |
1996 |
| Average Age Upon Admission |
15 |
15 |
| Average Age of First Use |
12 |
13 |
| Percent First Admission |
90% |
80% |
| Average Lag Time Between First Use and Admission
(in years) |
4 |
3 |
| Percent Referred From Criminal Justice |
73% |
77% |
| Percent Using Needles |
4% |
2% |
| Average Years of Education |
8.2 |
8.2 |
Source: TCADA, CODAP, 1995, 1996.
Figure 4.11.10
Travis County Adults (18 and Up) Presenting at Substance Abuse Treatment
Facilities
| |
1995 |
1996 |
| Average Age Upon Admission |
33 |
33 |
| Average Age of First Use |
19 |
19 |
| Average Lag Time Between First Use and Admission
(in years) |
14 |
15 |
| Percent referred from Criminal Justice |
60% |
35.2% |
| Percent married |
18% |
18% |
| Percent using needles |
22% |
23% |
| Percent employed |
39% |
28% |
| Average years of education |
11.5 |
11.6 |
| Percent living with family |
48% |
60% |
| Percent homeless |
9% |
10% |
| Average annual income at admission |
$7,300 |
$6,697 |
Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol
and Drug Abuse, CODAP 1995, 1996.
The overwhelming majority of referrals to TCADA-funded programs were for
alcoholism. Cocaine addiction was the second most common reason, while opiate
abuse was a distant third.
Return to Top of Page
OUTCOME: Increased productivity of substance abusers
- A study of 6,400 employees in an Employee Assistance Program showed that
persons who abused alcohol were more likely to have attendance problems
and accidents on and off the job. While only about 19% of persons without
alcohol problems suffered absenteeism or lateness to the job, 34% of persons
with alcohol problems had these attendance issues. (Blum, T. and Roman P.,
1992, "A description of clients using employee assistance programs", Alcohol
Health and Research World 16(2).)
- Morbidity costs, which reflect the reduction in productivity of workers
with alcohol and drug disorders, accounted for $7.0 billion (41percent)
of total substance abuse costs in 1994. (TCADA Research Publications, Fact Sheet, Economic Costs of Substance Abuse Costs
in Texas: 1994.)
Return to Top of Page
OUTCOME: Decreased health problems related to
substance abuse, such as vehicular accidents, babies prenatally exposed to
substances, etc.
Substance abuse greatly aggravates other social problems, including the spread
of the HIV virus, emergency room visits from motor vehicle accidents while
under the influence of a substance, and disabilities resulting from babies
prenatally exposed to substances.
Figure 4.11.11
Travis County Substance Related Deaths, Adults, Youth, Combined, 1994-1995
Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol
and Drug Abuse.
Figure 4.11.11 presents Travis County data for 1994 and 1995. Statistics
include both direct and indirect alcohol and drug mortalities. Deaths caused
by alcohol consumption occur more often than deaths caused by drug use for
both adults and youth.
- The estimated total economic costs of substance abuse in Texas rose from
$12.6 billion in 1989 to $17.2 billion in 1994. (TCADA,
Research Publications, FACT SHEET, Economic Costs of Substance Abuse
in Texas:1994.)
- In 1990, TCADA estimated that approximately 2,940 of 14,464 (20%) of pregnant
women in Travis County used legal or illegal substances during pregnancy.
(Community Action Network, 1995, A snapshot of our community.) Nationally,
an estimated 5.5% of all women delivering live births used illicit drugs
during their pregnancy while 19% used alcohol and 20 % smoked cigarettes
during pregnancy. (NIDA, 1996, National pregnancy and health survey.)
- In Texas each year, an estimated 600 children are born with Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome. The lifetime health-related cost per child with FAS is estimated
at $240,000. (TDH)
- Females within the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice were almost four times as likely to report any illicit
drug use in their lifetimes than females outside the criminal justice system,
five times more likely to report lifetime use of inhalants, 14 times more
likely to report lifetime use of cocaine, and 55 times more likely to have
ever used crack. (TCADA, Lifetime substance use among female TDCJ-ID inmates.)
- In more than 40% of confirmed cases of child abuse by the Texas Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services (Child Protective Services), parental substance
abuse was a contributing factor. (Child Protective Services, August 1995.)
- Nearly 30% of all AIDS cases reported in a 10 county area in 1995 were
associated with intravenous (injecting) drug use; 93% of these cases are
in Travis County. (1996 community HIV/AIDS needs assessment: A report
and analysis of data and trends.)
- The Austin-Travis County Homeless Coalition estimates that there are 6,000
homeless in Travis County. (Austin Area Homeless Coalition, 1996). Over
half of all single homeless adults are estimated to need substance abuse
treatment. (ACCESS, ATCMHMR, 1997.)
- Approximately 36% of all fatal injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents
in Travis County in 1995 were related to alcohol or other drug use. (Texas
Department of Public Safety, 1996, 1995 Texas motor vehicle accidents in
which alcohol and drugs were contributing factors by county.)
Figure 4.11.12
Substance-Related Motor Vehicle Accidents, Travis County, 1995-1996
Motor Vehicle Accidents Related to Alcohol |
|
1995 |
1996 |
Change |
| Number of fatal accidents |
24 |
25 |
1 |
| Number of all non-fatal accidents |
777 |
754 |
-23 |
| Total fatal and non-fatal accidents |
801 |
779 |
-22 |
Motor Vehicle Accidents Related to Drugs |
|
1995 |
1996 |
Change |
| Number of fatal accidents |
6 |
3 |
-3 |
| Number of all non-fatal accidents |
43 |
36 |
-7 |
| Total fatal and non-fatal accidents |
49 |
39 |
-10 |
Source: Texas Department of Public
Safety, Analysis by Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Figure 4.11.12 shows that the total number of fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle
accidents caused under the influence of alcohol or drugs has decreased from
1995 to 1996 despite rapid community growth which added more drivers to the
area’s streets and highways. Among motor vehicle accidents involving
alcohol abuse, non-fatal accidents decreased by 23 incidents and fatal accidents
increased by only one from 1995 to 1996. Drug related fatal accidents decreased
by three from 1995 to 1996, while non-fatal accidents decreased by seven.
- Nationwide, illegal drugs and alcohol together account for 11.3% of preventable
deaths. Nationally, 57% of deaths related to alcohol abuse involve cancer,
stroke, cirrhosis of the liver, and other illnesses. Homicides and suicides
comprise 19% of deaths related to excessive alcohol consumption. (Doyle,
R., 1997, Deaths due to alcohol, Scientific American.)
- There were 396 deaths directly or indirectly related to alcohol or other
drug use in Travis County in 1994.(TCADA, 1995 indicators of alcohol
and drug abuse in Texas.)
- Tobacco use accounted for 38% of preventable deaths nationwide in
1990. (McGinnis and Foege, 1993, Actual causes of death in the United
States, JAMA, 270.) The smoking related death rate in Travis
County was 284.9 per 100,000 in 1993. (TDH in CAN 1995 A snapshot
of our community, 6.13.)
- There were 279,100 drug-related hospital emergency department episodes
nationwide in the first 6 months of 1995, an increase of ten percent
from 1994. (SAMHSA, 1997, Feb. 27, Drug abuse warning network survey.)
Return to Top of Page
OUTCOME: Decreased rate of criminal charges or
arrests linked to substance use
The latest available statistics from the Austin Police Department (1995)
for the number of arrests related to substance abuse are shown in the following
tables. Note: The tables do not show arrests for other crimes in which the
suspect was under the influence of a substance at the time the crime was committed.
Figure 4.11.13
Austin Arrests Related to Controlled Substances, 1995
Type of Violation |
Number |
Percent |
| Possession of Controlled Substance |
1,647 |
55% |
| Possession of Marijuana |
1,176 |
39% |
| Delivery of Controlled Substance |
136 |
5% |
| Delivery of Marijuana |
14 |
<1% |
| Inhalant Abuse |
28 |
1% |
| Driving under the Influence of
Drugs |
13 |
<1% |
| Total Violations Related to Drugs |
3,014 |
100% |
Source: Austin Police Special Investigation and Organized Crime Division,
March 97.
Figure 4.11.14
Austin Arrests Related to Alcohol, 1995
Type of Violation |
Number |
Percent |
| Public Intoxication |
3,050 |
55% |
| Driving While Intoxicated |
2,082 |
38% |
| Other Liquor Violations |
366 |
7% |
| Total Violations Related to Alcohol |
5,498 |
100% |
Source: Austin Police Special Investigation and Organized Crime Division,
March 97.
Figure 4.11.15
Arrests Related to Controlled Substances , 1995
Type of Violation |
Number |
Percent of all Arrests |
| Violations Related to Alcohol |
5,498 |
19.5% |
| Violations Related to Drugs |
3,014 |
10.7% |
| Total Arrests Related to Substance
Use |
8,512 |
30.1% |
| Total Arrests For All Offenses |
28,246 |
|
Note: Percentages do not consider persons arrested for other offenses that
were intoxicated at the time. The total figure includes multiple charges of
suspects arrested for violations in two or more categories.
Source: Austin Police Special Investigation and Organized Crime Division,
March 97.
Arrests related to the use of drugs accounted for 10.7 percent of the total
in 1995. Arrests related to the use of alcohol accounted for 19.5 percent
of all arrests in 1995. Arrests directly attributable to substance use accounted
for a full 30.1 percent of all arrests in 1995. These figures do not include
arrests for property crimes committed in an effort to obtain drugs, nor do
they include arrests in which an individual's substance abuse motivates him
or her to commit a crime. If effective drug and/or alcohol treatment were
available to all of the individuals arrested for substance use, crime could
drop as much as 30 percent. This would allow police to focus on other types
of crime and increase the safety of the city, while reducing the costs of
incarcerating individuals arrested for substance use.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) collects data on Texas arrests
for alcohol, drug and violent crimes committed in Texas. DWI, liquor law violations,
drug possession, and other related violations are recorded for the Texas population
at large by county. The DPS data is not presented in this report for two main
reasons: 1) State figures tend to exclude cases within cities and concentrate
on highways and intercity roads; 2) DPS statistics show arrests that are not
comparable to those compiled by Austin Police Department.
Figure 4.11.16
TCADA Admissions - Travis County Youth Statistics 1996
|
All Drugs |
Heroin |
Alcohol |
Cocaine |
Marijuana/ Hash |
Inhalants |
Ecstasy |
| Total Admissions |
282 |
*** |
43 |
23 |
193 |
13 |
*** |
| % of all Admissions |
100% |
*** |
15% |
8% |
68% |
*** |
*** |
| % Juvenile Justice System Referred |
77% |
*** |
84% |
39% |
82% |
46% |
*** |
*** Where the number of admissions is less than 4, the data has been removed
to protect the identities of those in treatment.
Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol
and Drug Abuse.
Over three fourths of TCADA-funded program youth admissions were referred
from the criminal justice system. The large number of criminal justice referrals
makes it difficult for non-criminal justice addicts and alcoholics to obtain
treatment before they get into trouble with the law.
For youth, marijuana use was the most common reason for referral, followed
by alcoholism and cocaine use.
Figure 4.11.17
TCADA-Funded Program Admissions - Travis County Adult Statistics 1996
|
All Drugs |
Opiates |
Alcohol |
Amphet. |
Cocaine |
Marijuana/ Hash |
Inhal. |
Ecstasy |
Hallucin. |
Depress. |
| Total Admissions |
2,808 |
401 |
1,286 |
49 |
835 |
215 |
*** |
5 |
9 |
*** |
| % Arrested |
31% |
23% |
37% |
24% |
25% |
33% |
*** |
60% |
0% |
22% |
| % Criminal Justice Referred |
35% |
19% |
39% |
33% |
32% |
55% |
*** |
40% |
33% |
11% |
| % of County Admissions |
100% |
14% |
46% |
2% |
30% |
8% |
*** |
0% |
0% |
0% |
*** Where the number of admissions is less than 4, the data has been removed
to protect the identities of those in treatment.
Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol
and Drug Abuse.
Over one third of adult admissions referred to TCADA- funded programs were
referred from the criminal justice system. Again, this limits the number of
treatment slots available to non-criminals and makes it difficult for individuals
to get treatment before they become a criminal justice problem.
- Females within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice were almost four
times as likely to report any illicit drug use in their lifetimes as females
outside the criminal justice system, five times more likely to report lifetime
use of inhalants, 14 times more likely to report lifetime use of cocaine,
and 55 times more likely to have ever used crack. (TCADA, lifetime substance
use among female TDCJ-ID inmates.)
- The Austin Police Department reported that 30% of arrests were drug/alcohol
related in 1995. About 19% of arrests involved public intoxication, driving
while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, and other liquor violations.
Another 11% involved inhalant abuse and possession or delivery of controlled
substances/marijuana. (Austin Police Department, 1996, March.)
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OUTCOME: Decreased rate of persons relapsing after
completion of treatment
Two indicators have been identified to evaluate the number of persons relapsing
after completion of treatment: 1) the percentage of TCADA clients treated
and contacted after treatment that report relapses, and 2) recidivism rates
for youth from Travis County who were released from a secure program between
1992 and 1996 and who had previously received chemical dependency (CD) treatment.
Figure 4.11.18
Travis County Abstinence Data, Percent of Clients Treated and Contacted
for Follow-up
Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol
and Drug Abuse.
Abstinence rates for TCADA clients have gone up and the percentage of clients
relapsing after treatment has decreased from 1997 to 1998.
Figure 4.11.19
Recidivism Rates for Re-arrests for Youth, Travis County and State of
Texas
|
1996 |
| Rate of re-arrests for youth in
Travis County who received CD treatment * |
70% |
| Rate of re-arrests for youth in
Texas who received CD treatment * |
59% |
| Number of youth in Travis County
who received CD treatment and were re-arrested within one year of that treatment |
37.5% |
| Number of youth in Texas who received
CD treatment and were re-arrested within one year of that treatment |
50% |
* Total number of youth released between 1992 and 1996
Source: Texas Youth
Commission.
Between 1992 and 1996, 70% of youth treated at the Texas Youth Commission
(TYC) from Travis County were re-arrested. Approximately 38 percent of youth
treated at TYC from Travis County were re-arrested witin one year of their
treatment. The overall re-arrest rate for Travis County is higher than that
for Texas in general. However, the 1996 rate of youth being re-arrested within
one year of treatment is lower for Travis County than for Texas as a whole.
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D. OTHER KEY OUTCOMES AND STATUS
The Community Guide identified other outcomes that are not being addressed in this chapter. For
most of these outcomes, the data does not currently exist or is not readily
available. This does not mean that the outcomes are not meaningful or worthwhile.
Mechanisms to collect the data will need to be researched and prioritized.
These additional outcomes are listed below:
- increase service coordination to facilitate transition within the continuum
of care.
- increase the effectiveness of the continuum of care
- increase effective family involvement in the continuum of care
- increase the rate of persons securing decent and affordable housing
- increase life skills training
- increase the rate of youth who benefit from effective training activities
- increase the number of responsible parents
- increase the number of children/youth and young parents with positive
role models
- increase participation of community members in peer group activities that
do not involve drugs
- increase community-wide education and awareness about substance use and
abuse
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E. TERMS, CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS
Continuum of Care A comprehensive array of services that addresses
the needs of an individual so that they may reach their maximum potential.
Substance Any legal or illegal material that may impair health or
decision-making ability.
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