William E. McAuliffe, Ph D, Psychiatry, Harvard University Medical School, 875 Massachusetts Avenue, 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-864-9115, wmcauliffe@ntc.org

State rates of adolescent alcohol treatment vary widely. A key policy issue is whether these variations represent interstate differences in adolescent alcohol problems or to disparities in access to treatment services. The present study describes an index of adolescent treatment needs based on survey estimates of adolescent alcohol use disorders, alcohol-related mortality, alcohol arrest rates (DUI and liquor law violations), and alcohol-related fatal accidents. The reliability and validity of the index is assessed. States with the most severe adolescent alcohol problems are in the West. The index is regressed on state adolescent alcohol treatment admission rates. The differences between observed adolescent treatment rates and those predicted by the need index indicate that the states with the least adequate adolescent alcohol treatment services are in the South and Southwest. Empirical links are also established between the geographic disparities in adolescent alcohol treatment services and disparities in minority access to treatment.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to

• Recognize which states lack sufficient adolescent alcohol treatment services to meet current indications of need.
• Construct index of adolescent treatment needs.
• Recommend to state officials the extent to which state adolescent treatment services that should be increased to meet current needs.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Adolescents

Related Web page: www.ntc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.