Legal Challenges and Alcohol Use Among Rural Youth

Join the Providers Clinical Support System — Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (PCSS-MAUD) National Council for Mental Wellbeing on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 3:30-5 p.m. ET, for Legal Challenges and Alcohol Use Among Rural Youth. This case-based discussion will cover alcohol use and AUD among youth in rural areas. It will also discuss related legal challenges, including the role of the justice and child welfare systems and MAUD. Attendees will learn from a respected public health leader with expertise in mental health and justice system reform, before diving into topical discussions of case scenarios.

The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and other studies have uncovered alarming data about youth alcohol use and justice system involvement:

• 3.3 million youth (12-20 years old) reported binge drinking at least once in the past month.
• Rates of alcohol use are higher for rural youth (37.8%) than for urban youth (34.3%).
• In 2020, over 400,000 youth under 18 were arrested in the U.S.
• 80% of minors in state juvenile justice systems were arrested while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or for a drug or alcohol offense, tested positive for drugs, disclosed self-reported substance use challenges or some combination of these.
• Higher rates of alcohol use among rural youth and alcohol-related juvenile justice involvement may in part be due to family and peer influence, as well as overall limited access to MAUD and alcohol treatment among youth.
• Fewer than 10% of youth in need of substance use treatment receive it, particularly in rural communities.

Staff from juvenile justice, child welfare, clinical, health care and other settings can provide effective, coordinated, trauma-informed care in tandem with MAUD. This care can be a pathway to more engaged youth and better health and legal outcomes for youth in rural areas.

Educational objectives:

• Identify legal and other challenges related to youth alcohol use in rural settings.
• Explore the ways juvenile justice and child welfare can work together to manage youth drinking and post-release care.
• Apply trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate strategies to real-world case scenarios.

Presenter:

• Domonique Rice, PhD, IMFT-S, Director, Practice Improvement and Consulting, National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Questions? Contact RachelP@TheNationalCouncil.org.

Funding for this initiative was made possible by cooperative agreement no. 1H79TI086771-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.