Curt VanderWaal, PhD¹, Duane C. McBride, PhD², Mark D. Boward, MA², and Yvonne Terry-McElrath, MSA³. (1) The Institute for the Prevention of Addictions, Andrews University, 123 Nethery Hall, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, 269-471-6005, vanderwa@andrews.edu, (2) Department of Behavioral Science, Andrews University, 123 Nethery Hall, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, (3) Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Survey Research Center, Room 2341, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2321

Twelve percent of all children in the U.S. lack health insurance, with an additional 16% receiving limited coverage through state Medicaid and SCHIP programs. Research indicates that individuals with no insurance are more likely to suffer from substance abuse and to face barriers to drug treatment. Those with limited public coverage experience high cost sharing and restrictions on treatment visits, provider type, and reimbursements. Community health agencies may help bridge gaps between treatment need and service provision for adolescents with minimal or no health insurance. Using a national sample of health agency key informants from communities surrounding schools in the Monitoring the Future study sample from 1999-2002, this ImpacTeen Project analysis examines the extent of health agency planning and provision of adolescent drug treatment services. Initial findings indicate that approximately half of all surveyed health agencies reported being responsible for or were currently providing resources for community-based adolescent drug treatment and around a third of health agencies provided these same services in school-based settings. In addition, one-fourth of all agencies were involved in juvenile drug court programs, with approximately half of that number providing direct drug assessment, treatment and monitoring services. Additional findings will highlight agency planning, funding, and referral patterns, including socio-demographic and regional variations. The extent to which health agencies are involved in drug treatment planning, capacity building, and service provision may suggest that possibilities exist for improving overall adolescent access to such services by building drug treatment capacity and strengthening connections with other community service providers.

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

• Identify barriers that low-income adolescents face in obtaining substance abuse treatment
• Describe the extent to which health agencies are involved in adolescent drug treatment planning and service provision
• Discuss the importance of health agencies in building drug treatment capacity and strengthening connections with other providers

Keywords: Adolescents, Drug Abuse Treatment

Related Web page: www.impacteen.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.