Thanks to SAMHSA researchers for highlighting the fact that substance use and related problems are high and perceived need for help is low among young adults. Congrats also to JT for displaying the HBO Addiction series on CRAFT next to this story--the effectiveness research behind this approach merits the serious attention of clinicians who need to help families and others concerned about a loved ones' substance use problem.

Raising this awareness is so important given the critical brain development that occurs during ages 12 - 25 and the impact of alcohol abuse on that development.

Unfortunately, the only criteria cited in SAMHSA's report (for determining who "needs" drug treatment was a footnote that stated "NSDUH defines substance dependence or abuse using criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), including symptoms such as withdrawal, tolerance, use in dangerous situations, trouble with the law, and interference in major obligations at work, school, or home during the past year." So it appears that SAMHSA believes that drug treatment is needed for everyone who has ever been arrested for any offense involving illegal drugs or alcohol, as well as for everyone who has ever driven a car or done any other activity involving injury risk after have more than one drink of alcohol.

Bill, the report also advises those who want more details, to refer to the DSM-IV itself. This widely used reference book has quite a few pages detailing what constitutes a diagnosis of dependence or abuse. If you read these pages, you'd see that a single episode is not sufficient for such a diagnosis.

The young ones know that the treatment for addiction that the health care providers are offering them is a sham--that it is practically useless. Do you think they are fools to get into treatment so that the grown ups who treat them can make their billions by getting them admitted and treating them as guinea-pigs?

Thank you Anonymous. This is going too far for the sake of a few so called "alcoholic experts" because they are also "so called alcoholics" getting rich off this industry which they invented, controls and be damned if anyone is going to look at this think from a common sense perspective. If taxpayers weren't so affraid of becoming caught up in the web of deception if they get caught out one night with one too many drinks and need a get out of jail free card, (AA) (12 steps)maybe something would be done to correct this mess.Samhsa is part of the problem because they are managed by this same bunch of drunks and users. Duh,(one day at a time) qualifies you as being still on active duty, you just haven't gone awol in a while.

This is so interesting,I have worked in the field of addictions since 1980 and never made millions. I have sat with parents who said their children didn't need treatment because "they only had alcohol poisoning once" and didn't consider it a problem - after sitting by the gurney in the emergency room and hoping that their 19 year old would not die. I have met with the parents of a heroin using teen who thought that it was inappropriate to get them inpatient treatment because "they would be mad & it wasn't that bad", and then read about the overdose in the papers. I am not an expert, I am a person who believes that we don't know all the answers - but we do know if we do nothing, young people: lose their chance at education, meaningful relationships, and a career; maim themselves(TBI): or die while we sit back and let them "experiment". Not every young person needs treatment for addiction, but consequential thinking is mecessary for living.

Kids make bad choices because their make bad choices. Bad choices can kill you, it happens all the time, but it's still a choice. Not a choice taxpayers should be wasting millions of dollars puting these these kids in a cult like mentallity of " one day at a time". Maybe some of you in the addiction field are in the wrong field if you really believe "addiction is a desease" and not a "choice" one makes. We live in a free will society the key words are "free will" or (your choice. Wake up America, Addiction is a Choice. Don't let the "12Steppers" get your kids, they will never be the same again.

Yes, it's certainly true that some of my young patients will never be the same again, and I'm grateful everyday that Twelve Step recovery is available to them. Free will is a very over-rated concept. Few of use believe that 14 year olds have brains mature enough to allow them to restrain harmful impulses activated at puberty. For many, the prefrontal cortex, that provides our brake system, doesn't finish hard-wiring into the brain until the mid-twenties. A lot of damage can happen before then.

Just to prove a point, it's people like Mark who are waiting to get their hands on your kids by using big words and mombo, jumbo language to convince parents that their kids have something wrong with thier brains. What's usually wrong with kids is their parents permissiveness. Most of these kids simply need love and a good old fashion up bringing. And, if they gotten to the point of where they have to use the excuse of "one day at a time", they already been prgramed and condemned into the "steppers cult life". It's a sad day for us all when that happens because now they get to use the lame excuse of "one day at a time", it's wasn't my fault I got high, my brain don't work right. It worked ok until you got caught. Please get your child help if they need it but beware of the type of help. You may just do your child more harm than good if you choose the wrong path or let the courts choose for you. You may have to pay $$$ out your own pocket, just because a program may be free it may not be right for your child. Don't be folled!