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Continued Decline in Youth Substance Abuse

Current illicit drug use among teens is continuing to decline, according to a new report by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released today. The study also shows positive signs that teens are seeing the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and methamphetamine and are pushing back. Among youth ages 12-17, the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Nation's largest substance use survey, shows that the significant decline in overall past month illicit drug use that began in 2002 continued through 2007, from 11.6 percent to 9.5 percent.

The survey, released at the start of the 19th Annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, shows that the reductions in youth drug use occurred for nearly every type of illicit drug including marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, LSD, and Ecstasy. The survey also shows dramatic declines in meth use, down by 67 percent (from 0.3% to 0.1%) and prescription drug abuse among teens, which declined overall by 18 percent, from 4 percent to 3.3 percent between 2002-2007.

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From the Editor October 2006

From the Editor - From the Editor

Saturday, 30 September 2006

Dear Readers,

As the whimsical days of summer come to end and we approach the changes that come with the fall season, I am reminded that while we at Counselor Magazine are constantly changing to adapt to the needs of addiction professionals, some things remain the same - articles with quality content written by the foremost experts in the field.

So, it is with great pleasure that I bring you this month's lineup of articles, packed with the latest information on successful treatment strategies and methodologies.

The first article this month delves into a subject that many people - even some counselors - feel uncomfortable with. In her article, "Working with Clients Who Self Injure," Wendy Lader, PhD, discusses the challenges and rewards of working with this often misunderstood population of clients. She draws on more than 20 years experience working with self-abusing clients to provide some insight into where these clients are coming from and how counselors can help them find other coping mechanisms.

Last month I brought you the first in an ongoing series of articles that are being brought to you as part of a collaborative effort between the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment and Counselor, The Magazine for Addiction Professionals to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. I know you will enjoy this next article as much as you did the first.

Authors James A. Inciardi, PhD, Steven S. Martin, MA, Clifford A. Butzin, PhD, Ronald A. Beard PhD, and Daniel J. O'Connell, PhD evaluate successful treatment approaches that have been implemented in a prison setting in their article, "A Model for Successful Correctional Drug Treatment." The article points to the importance and potential gains of substance abuse treatment for prisoners as they make the transition from prison back into a community setting.

You will recall that the June 2006 issue of Counselor dealt primarily with addiction treatment for women. Therefore, we found it only fitting to feature an article this month on treatment that is tailored to men. In his article, "Out of the Box" Male-Specific Treatment for Chemical Dependency," Alan Lyme, LCSW, CAP, discusses a variety of educational modules that focus on improving experiences of men in treatment, and achieving successful long-term outcomes for these clients.

Regular readers of Counselor Magazine are familiar with author and columnist John Newport, PhD, who in each issue, provides readers with practical tips and advice on the importance of achieving and maintaining good health as part of an overall recovery plan. We have a special treat for you this month with a Wellness feature entitled, "Healthy Lifestyle - Key to Breaking Free From Meth's Deadly Grip." Dr. Newport explains how a wellness oriented lifestyle can help get your clients through the long and difficult process of recovery from meth addiction.

Turning to some of the historical roots of recovery, authors William L. White, MA, Tanya Sanders, MSW, and Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, explore the lives of two legendary Americans and their contributions to addiction recovery in African American communities. In their article, "Addiction in the African American Community: The Recovery Legacies of Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X," the authors show us how these two individuals fought to empower and liberate African Americans from their addictions.

Our final feature this month is the third installment in a series of articles by William A. Howatt, PhD, EdD, ICADC, RSW, RPC, titled: "The Rubik's Cube of Addiction Counseling -Aligning Treatment Planning, Recovery Tools and Recovery Contracts."

This article provides counselors with strategies for aligning treatment plans, recovery tools and recovery contracts to fit the client's specific needs and readiness.

As always, I encourage you to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns regarding the content of Counselor.

I can be reached by phone at (800) 851-9100, ext. 258, email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by mail.

Sincerely,

Stephanie L. Muller
Editor

Counselor,
The Magazine for Addiction Professionals
A Health Communications, Inc. Publication