King County Legislative Forum December 15

King County Legislative Forum: Issues for 2011 Related to Mental Health & Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

St. Marks Cathedral, Bloedel Hall

Agenda:

1. Light refreshments followed by program to begin promptly at 7 p.m.

2. Keynote from King County Executive Dow Constantine (Invited)

3. Presentations by Consumers and Family Members

4. Legislative Priorities for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention, Community Organizing, Treatment and Recovery

5. Legislative Roundtable with King County Legislators and United States Congress Representatives (Invited)

Data about youth treatment and marijuana

As I was going through my old files today, I came across a report on substance abuse treatment in the Seattle area. I remember when I first read the report, what struck me was that marijuana is the primary reason, by far, that people under the age of 18 are admitted into substance abuse treatment programs even though alcohol is the primary substance abused by youth.

It reminded me of something I had read recently about the younger a person starts smoking marijuana the higher the likelihood of addiction. The effects of marijuana on youth differ from the effects on adults.

It also reminded me that I wanted to create a link to the presentation that Stephen Bogan gave at this year's Prevention Summit: Getting High to Not Be Low - Adolescent Marijuana Abuse, Addiction, and Mental Health.

As we continue our discussion about the legal status of marijuana, it's important we include conversations about youth substance abuse prevention and treatment.

Juvenile justice links adolescents to substance abuse treatment

What are the top two ways youth with substance abuse problems access treatment?

1. Juvenile Justice (in orange)
2. Self/Family (in pink)

Source: Office of Applied Studies 1992-2007 Treatment Episode Data Set, SAMHSA
Slide from Michael Dennis, PhD for a presentation for the SAPISP providers at the Puget Sound Educational Service District.