Teen substance abuse: treatment lessons learned from TennCare

Four studies performed recently in Tennessee focusing on teen access to publicly funded substance abuse treatment indicated that 21 to 31% of Tennessee's youth were using or dependent on substances and potentially in need of treatment or screening. Translated into sheer numbers, the state Alcohol and Drug Administrative Service estimated that 60,297 (26%) male and 46,552 (21%) female adolescents in the state need treatment.

Other findings show a similar high need for services, yet indicates a gap between need and access. For example, the IMPACT Study (see sidebar) found that although 24,000+ youth in TennCare, the state's integrated health plan, were in need of a substance abuse assessment in 1999, only 1,227 youths received treatment.

Some basic structural facts: Tennessee's publicly funded substance abuse treatment system is supported by both state and federal funds. Federal funding includes the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant (SAPT) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (part of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services [USDHHS]); Medicaid dollars; the ChildrenHealth Insurance Plan (CHIP), a Medicaid expansion plan; and Title IV-E funds provided to the state Department of Children Services (DCS) for services to children in state custody. The state of Tennessee provides matching funds to TeenCare and CHIP, and additional dollars to DCS.continue reading...!