Nevada is woefully lacking in treatment programs for adolescent substance abusers, according to a study conducted recently on behalf of the Nevada Institute for Children.

In a report titled "Helping Kids Kick Drugs: Residential and Outpatient Treatment Services for Adolescents," the institute, which is based at UNLV, calls for the state to improve and increase programs designed to help adolescents from ages 15 though 19 who are struggling with alcohol and drug abuse problems.

"We'll be using this report at the Legislature to help convince lawmakers that Nevada needs to make changes that will allow more of our teens to receive the treatment they desperately need," said Vince Juaristi, executive director of the institute. Some legislators already have asked for a bill to be drafted that will address the problem and are planning to use the report to help them make their case to their fellow lawmakers, he said.

The report estimates that more than $2.7 million would be necessary to provide the residential treatment, outpatient treatment, comprehensive evaluations, transitional housing, startup costs, accountability costs, and family resource center pilot projects recommended in the report.

The study is based on a survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research at the University of Nevada, Reno. Juaristi said the study was commissioned based on growing evidence from parents and substance abuse professionals that chemically addicted Nevada youths who need treatment are being placed on waiting lists or sent out of state for treatment.

The survey, which recorded results from 5,482 families, showed that where adolescents are concerned, about 12 percent of those in Clark County, 15.7 percent of those in Washoe County, and 12 percent of those in the rest of the state were in need of some form of substance abuse prevention, intervention, or treatment.

Among those in need, according to the study, about 5 percent require either residential or outpatient treatment services. The study also found a strong connection between mental illness and substance abuse.

The findings of the study show that:
-- State funds provide 16 residential treatment beds and 39 outpatient treatment slots in Clark County, no residential treatment beds and 56 outpatient treatment slots in Washoe County, and 15 residential treatment beds and 61 outpatient treatment slots throughout the rest of the state.
-- Adolescents who need and would seek intensive services including residential or outpatient treatment, evaluations, detoxification, and transitional housing total 469 in Clark, 147 in Washoe, and 127 in the rest of the state.

Among the recommendations contained in the study are:
-- Moving the state bureau of alcohol and drug abuse into the state department of human resources.
-- Elevating the bureau of alcohol and drug abuse from bureau to division status.
-- Convening an internal state board that consists of representatives from the bureau of alcohol and drug abuse, the state division of mental health, and the state division of child and family services, and various providers of substance abuse and mental health treatment from throughout the state.
-- Funding three pilot projects in family resource centers to provide low-level substance abuse intervention services.
-- Establishing a broad-based advocacy group for substance abuse programs.

For additional information on the report or on the Nevada Institute for Children, call Juaristi at 895-1040.