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Teen alcohol abuse and drug abuse can lead to future problems with alcohol dependence and drug addiction. The upward trend of alcohol and drug use among adolescents is well covered, but until now there has not been a comprehensive, state-by-state report. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has provided these reports.

These reports should be of interest to parents and professionals alike. Since the reports are based on nationwide polls that include data from each state and the District of Columbia, they provide good local and comparative national information.

Parents, for example, can learn whether alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs or methamphetamine are the concern in their respective states. This, along with stats on youth perceptions of risk, can help parents to prioritize discussions within the family. They can also learn about substance abuse and mental health treatment resources that are available locally.

Professionals can use the reports for hints on where their continuing education should be focused. If the youth drug abuse problem in a particular state is with prescription drugs, it is important for counselors, mental health and medical professionals to learn as much about them as possible.

The Treatment Needs section of the reports may also be some good reading for government officials. California, for example, is below the national average in meeting treatment needs. But overall drug use trends are at or better than the national average over the past few years. This can likely be attributed to the success of Prop 36 and offering treatment instead of incarceration. This has reduced the amount of non-violent drug offenders from returning to a life of drugs and crime.

However it is that alcohol abuse or drug abuse is a part of your life, these reports provide some very helpful information. The excerpt from SAMHSAs introduction to the reports below shows some of the general topics covered. It is followed by links to the map of state reports and the national report.

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Entitled Adolescent Behavioral Health: States in Brief, the reports provide the following information for each individual state, the District of Columbia and the country as a whole through a variety of charts, graphs and accompanying text:

• Adolescents’ risk perceptions associated with substance use
• Prevalence of illicit substance and alcohol use
• Number and type of substance abuse treatment facilities
• Numbers and trends on those seeking treatment for substance abuse
• Levels of those needing, but not receiving substance abuse treatment
• Levels of underage smoking
• Mental health indicators

The data included in these States in Brief reports are drawn from three large national surveys sponsored by SAMHSA – the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the Treatment Episode Data Set and the National Survey on Substance Abuse Treatment Services.

— Source: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0911121635.aspx —
— State Reports Map: http://samhsa.gov/statesinbrief/ —
— National Report: http://samhsa.gov/StatesInBrief/2009/teens/OASTeenReportUS.pdf —

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment. If you or a loved one needs help with alcoholism or drug addiction, please call us now at 888-777-8565 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.