Families of Youth with Substance Use Addiction: A National Dialogue

Substance use disorders are problems that affected over 22 million people in the United States (SAMHSA, 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health). The financial costs of this disease are not only for treatment and health care, but also for legal and incarceration costs, and for the loss of productivity.

These costs have grown to approximately $1 trillion dollars per year in the United States (Alcohol Abuse, December 2008). We all pay whether or not someone in our family has the disease.

Substance abuse and dependence are enormous problems, but there is hope. Studies have shown that for youth with substance use disorders, addiction treatment, using methods that have been proven to be effective, and that include the family, result in excellent chances of recovery from the disease.

A national dialogue took place in Rockville, MD March 27-28. The meeting included 65 members of families of youth impacted by the disease of substance abuse addiction from 34 states and tribes across the United States, along with representatives from Georgetown University, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Family members identified several challenge areas in treatment and recovery for youth with substance use disorders. The top two challenges are 1) a lack of education and information support for family members and 2) a lack of access to substance abuse treatment for youth and their families.

Other challenges include 3) a lack of integrated treatment for youth with both, substance abuse and mental health disorders, 4) the stigma and misunderstanding of the disease of substance abuse and addiction, and 5) the quality of treatment for youth with the disease.

Work was begun at the conference to build a national clearinghouse to contain a centralized repository of information for families and others who need this information. Also, web accessible training will occur on topics such as financial strategies for providing treatment, recovery services, and education on addiction issues.

Family representatives from the states and tribes developed a plan to immediately begin working on the major issues in their state/tribe, to meet with state/tribe substance abuse agency heads and other parent organizations, and to make affirmative changes in the challenge areas not only in their state/tribe, but also in the nation.

Attendees will continue to work as a group, and will be joined by others to fight this disease. Sharon Smith, one of the conference organizers, said, “We are building a national voice for positive change in youth substance abuse treatment and recovery.”

Cities and States Represented:

Anchorage, AK (2 people), Sacaton, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Peoria, AZ, San Jose, CA, Santa Cruz, CA, Marlborough, CT, Southbury, CT, Washington, DC, Wilmington, DE, Clearwater, FL, Tallahassee, FL, Columbus, GA (2 people), Roswell, GA, Highland, IL, Saunemin, IL, Indianapolis, IN (2 people), Frankfort, KY, Shelbyville, KY, Boston, MA, Raynham, MA, Monrovia, MD, Chesterfield, MI, Kinchelow, MI, Hovland, MN, Minneapolis, MN, Sophia, NC, Wilmington, NC, Upland, NE, Lincoln, NE, Allison, NH, Gilmanton, NH, Barrington, NJ, National Park, NJ, Albuquerque, NM (2 people), Reno, NV, Las Vegas, NV, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, Albany, NY, Rocky River, OH, Bay Village, OH, Corvalis, OR, Philomath, OR, Mechanicsburg, PA, Carroltown, PA, Lewistown, PA, Columbia, SC, Donalds, SC, Rosebud, SD, Brentwood, TN, Nashville, TN, Mesquite, TX. Midway, UT, Montezuma, UT, Richmond, VA, Addison, VT, South Burlington, VT, Lake Forest, WA, Lynnwood, WA, Seattle, WA, Fitchburg, WI, Middleton, WI, Cheyenne, WY.

For more information contact Sharon Smith at:

P.O. Box 450
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
717-730-2020
717-512-3126 (mobile)
momstell@verizon.net