Youth Treatment

Current Community Youth Treatment

In Texas, TCADA (2000) reports that during Fiscal Year 1998 there were 502 adolescent admissions to TCADA-funded treatment programs in Travis County. TCADA's data reflect the following trends:

• Male adolescents receiving services was 67.7 percent;
• The average age of those receiving treatment was fifteen years;
• The average age of first use of substances was 12.9 years;
• The average time span from first use to admission to treatment was 3 years;
• Services were received for the first time by sixty-two percent of the adolescents;
• Eighty percent of those treated were criminal justice referred;
• The average education level was 8th grade;
• Adolescents using needles was 2.2 percent; and
• In 1998, the number of children and adolescents who were uninsured in Travis County was 41,727. Hispanics were the highest population group at 50.5 percent, followed by Anglo/Others at 34.9 percent and African Americans at 14.6 percent (Texas Department of Health and Human Services [TDHHSC], 1999).

In summary, adolescents who use substances will enter treatment services and the criminal justice system at a much higher rate than adolescents who do not use substances. The adolescents who use substances at an early age tend to develop problematic and high-risk behaviors, such as drug injection, criminal behavior, and lowered education level.

Top Of Page

 

University Students

In 1997, the first statewide survey of college students was conducted by TCADA with the Public Policy Research Institute. The University of Texas at Austin was included in the survey. Table 8-7: reports the prevalence of substance use among Texas university students (Kerber, L., and Wallisch, L. S., 1997).

The highlights of the survey indicate that 88 percent of the students have consumed at least one alcoholic beverage in their lifetimes, 82 percent reported drinking alcohol in the past year, and 69 percent during the past month. Forty-seven percent of the students reported that they believed alcohol was much more of a problem on campus than other drugs.

Forty-five percent of the surveyed students reported using tobacco in their lifetime with 26 percent using in the past month. Twenty-three percent of the students surveyed reported using an illicit drug in the past year with 14 percent using in the past month. Marijuana was reported as the most popular illicit drug with 29 percent using in their lifetimes and 11 percent using in the past month.

Under half of all students surveyed reported that they have received information from their school regarding the dangers of drinking, alcohol overdose, long-term health effects, or information on how to recognize a drinking problem.

Sixteen percent of the students surveyed reported abusing alcohol and/or drugs. Only 2.6 percent of these students believe they have a problem. Findings of the survey suggest the following specific policy issues need to be addressed:

• Need for increased focus on prevention and intervention programs;
• Increased public awareness initiatives;
• Enforcement of legal drinking age;
• Enhance high school prevention and intervention programs;
• Target high risk students (males, Anglos, Hispanics, and the more affluent) abusing alcohol;
• Promote designated drivers on campus; and
• Utilize educational programs emphasizing misuse of alcohol.

Travis County is a unique area in which to live, with unique opportunities: rural and urban lifestyles connect; education and high technology fields lead to a stronger workforce; and the Capitol of Texas in Austin maintains Travis County in the political and policy limelight that adds to a diverse population. Yet, these opportunities are accompanied by challenges. Specific challenges relate to our youth and substance use. Substance use by children, adolescents, and college students is present in our community and is likely to rise as the county population continues to expand. Prevention, intervention, and treatment are needed to face these challenges and reduce the obstacles that confront our youth. The preceding data will be helpful to decision makers as they judiciously invest in the development and continuation of effective treatment resources.

Top Of Page

Current Community Youth Treatment

Table 8-9 identifies Travis County community youth treatment resources by type and provider. For a recent survey of local providers, see Appendix G.

Type	Provider
Outreach, Screening, Assessment, and Referral	Austin Travis County MHMR Center Austin Independent School Districts American YouthWorks LifeWorks Youth Advocacy YWCA
Residential	Phoenix Academy Austin Recovery, Inc.
Day Treatment	Austin Recovery, Inc. Phoenix Academy
Intensive Outpatient	Austin Recovery, Inc. Phoenix Academy
Supportive Outpatient	American YouthWorks Phoenix Academy

 

Top Of Page

 

Current Criminal Justice Youth Treatment

An Austin American-Statesman article (Thakkar, 2001) reported on the complex growth issues related to a thriving city highlighted by a growing number of juvenile offenses. Since 1992, the average daily population at the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Justice Center has doubled to 85. About 60 percent of the teens entering juvenile court are using drugs. Many of these teens have "severe drug addiction or abuse problems" (Thakkar, 2001). The number of females is increasing. In 1992, approximately five girls were detained at the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Justice Center. Currently, about five times the number of females held in 1992 are now being detained (Thakkar, 2001). Table 8-10 identifies Travis County criminal justice youth treatment resources by type and provider.

Top Of Page
Substance Abuse Treatment Home Page
Description of Substance Abuse Home Page