Maximizing Potential: Federal Financing for Treatment of Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders†

Abstract

The federal government is making a significant contribution to the treatment of adolescents with substance use disorders. However, funds are scattered across a number of policy domains. While some federal policies are complementary, many overlap, illustrating not only the complexity of collaborative efforts on the part of the implementing federal agencies but also the diversity of partnerships supporting adolescent substance use treatment. Changes in the organization and financing of health care delivery, coupled with the complex interaction of federal policies that address this population, affect the efficiency and effectiveness of federal policy responses to the problem. Equally important are the gaps in federal policy and the inadequacy of federal programs to reach all youth in need. This article analyses existing federal policies and programs and concludes that a seamless, multidisciplinary system that transcends traditional federal policy boundaries must be designed and implemented. †This work is supported by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It is based on a monograph prepared for CSAT that was used as a white paper for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation National Summit on Adolescent Substance Use Treatment held in the fall of 2002. The opinions expressed in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA or any other organization. The author acknowledges the significant contributions of Steven A. Carreras, Ph.D., M.S.W.; Sean J. Haley, M.P.H.; R. William Lusenhop, LICSW, M.S.W.; Wendy A. Vaulton, M.P.H.; Tamera L. Cadet, M.S.W., M.P.H.; and Margaret T. Lee, Ph.D. in the research and development of this manuscript, and thanks Clare Hurley and Lisa Ellis, MS, for their excellent work in the preparation of this document.