Why Teens Need You

Quick Facts about Teens and Drugs in Multnomah County

• Multnomah County is home to 66,400 youth 10-17.
• Nearly 1,000 teens receive County-funded alcohol and drug treatment; of these, about 500 are in the juvenile justice system.
• 2,727 teens were in trouble with the law in 2004.
• 82% of teens screened by juvenile justice in 2004 were regularly using alcohol and drugs.
• In general, these youth are not “experimenting” with drugs and alcohol. One-third of youth in the justice system given a thorough assessment by experts were addicted to drugs or alcohol. They're using frequently or in large quantities, and can't stop.

Teens are Not “Little Adults”

Teenagers may look fully grown, but their brains are still developing. Unlike adults, they have limited access to a region of the brain called the “pre-frontal cortex.” This part of the brain is responsible for “adult behavior” like planning ahead, foreseeing consequences, decision-making, and suppressing impulsive behavior. It's even been connected with a longer attention span.

As a result, substance abuse treatment developed for adults isn't effective for youth. Adults are motivated by long-term consequences, such as the threat of losing their jobs if they don't get clean. Most teens – many of whom are not employed, anyhow – don't think that far ahead. Furthermore, they believe they're in control of their addiction and can stop using any time they want. (Adults do too, but they've usually been using long enough to have plenty of evidence to the contrary.) Finally, teens are more likely to care what their peers think of their drug use than what adults think of it.

We're Still Learning What Works for Teens

Solid scientific research on what works in teen treatment has only begun in the last decade. It's beginning to bear fruit. Thanks in part to Reclaiming Futures, several treatment models are now widely used throughout Multnomah County that result in better outcomes.

Treatment Makes Economic Sense

National figures show that treatment can cost as little as $3,000, while incarceration can cost $40,000 a year. Research has shown that investing in treatment for youth reduces crime, saves money and creates safer communities. So teen drug and alcohol use is not just a problem for the youth or their families – it's a problem for all of us.

You Can Make a Difference

Many people think that teens don't want adults around – but this isn't really true. Most teens crave adult attention, and this is particularly true of youth in the justice system. Their number one complaint is boredom. Hanging out with responsible, caring adults can help motivate youth to succeed in treatment and live crime-free, drug-free lives. This is why people like you can make a difference in whether a youth succeeds.