SAMHSA 2004 Press Releases


	News Release

	Date:	January 29, 2004
	Media Contact:	SAMHSA Media
	Phone:	301-443-8956



	More Youth Entered Substance Abuse Treatment in 2001 Followed 1990’s Rise in Marijuana Use

	More youth entered substance abuse treatment facilities in 2001, with most of the increase due to abuse of marijuana, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced today. The data is part of the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) for 2001, the most recent complete year of data on admissions to substance abuse treatment at facilities that receive public funding. There was a 49 percent increase in adolescent admissions to treatment between 1992 and 2001, with 141,403 children aged 12-17 admitted to treatment in 2001 compared to 95,000 in 1992. Marijuana abuse was responsible for 23 percent of adolescent admissions in 1992. This rose to 62 percent in 2001 and largely accounted for the total increase of adolescents in treatment between 1992 and 2001. Fifty-two percent of adolescent admissions for all substances were referred from the juvenile justice system in 2001, and 54 percent of adolescent marijuana admissions were referred through juvenile justice. Total admissions to substance abuse treatment increased from 1.5 million in 1992 to 1.7 million in 2001. SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said: “The increase in youth admissions to drug treatment is the continued fallout from the rise in marijuana use by young people in the 1990’s. Unfortunately, many of these young people are not getting help until they become entangled in the criminal justice system. All Americans must begin to confront drug use B and drug users B honestly and directly. We must provide people in need an opportunity for recovery by encouraging them to enter and remain in drug treatment. To get them that help, the President has committed to supporting a $1.6 billion expansion in federal treatment aid over 5 years.” John Walters, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, stated: “This report shows us yet again that we must not let our guard down when it comes to educating teens and parents about the dangers of marijuana. Many people will no doubt be surprised to learn how large a role marijuana plays in the demand for drug treatment for teens. It is time for the rest of America to catch up with what experts have now known for the past few years. Marijuana is a serious source of dependency and harm. While treatment is key to helping addicted youth get off of drugs, we all have a responsibility to reach out to those who are experimenting with drugs or alcohol before it becomes a problem. Encouraging parents and teens to use the power of their influence is crucial if we are to continue our progress in reducing underage drinking and illicit drug use in America.” TEDS showed that: Marijuana use began at an early age among primary marijuana admissions – 26 percent had first used marijuana by the age of 12 and 56 percent by the age of 14. More than half of marijuana admissions of all ages (57 percent) were referred to treatment through the criminal justice system. TEDS admissions for primary opiate abuse (heroin or narcotic pain medications) increased from 12 percent of admissions in 1992 to 18 percent in 2001. In 2001, 88 percent of admissions for primary opiate abuse were for abuse of heroin and 12 percent for abuse of other opiates, primarily prescription painkillers. There were 45,060 young adults 18-24 admitted for heroin and other opioid abuse. Of these, 39,685 were admitted for heroin abuse and 5,375 were admitted for abuse of narcotic pain medications. Five substances accounted for 96 percent of admissions in 2001 – alcohol, opiates including heroin and prescription drugs, marijuana/hashish, cocaine and stimulants, primarily methamphetamine. More than one drug of abuse was reported by 54 percent of all TEDS admissions. Admissions for alcohol abuse, while still 44 percent of admissions, were down from 59 percent in 1992. Of these alcohol admissions, 45 percent reported secondary drug abuse, as well. Cocaine admissions declined from 18 percent of admissions in 1992 to 13 percent in 2001. Admissions for methamphetamine/amphetamine and other stimulants increased from 2 percent of admissions to 6 percent between 1992 and 2001. About half of discharges represented positive treatment outcomes, defined as completed treatment (39 percent) or transferred to another level of treatment program (11 percent). One in four (24 percent) left treatment against professional advice, and 19 percent were terminated by facilities.



	SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States.