Salt Lake City, UT — A statewide conference on "Explosion of Youth Problems—Crisis and Solutions" Wednesday, July 28, at Westminster College in Salt Lake City will feature an 11:00 a.m. news conference with Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, Four-Star General/former U.S. Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey, the Chairman of the nation's largest behavioral treatment provider, CRC Health Group, Dr. Barry Karlin, and a special Introduction by Utah First Lady Jeanette Herbert. A parent and student will also speak. The public is invited at no charge.
Four-Star Gen. McCaffrey, former National Drug Policy Director, said, "This is a national crisis. More than five million teenagers have serious behavioral disorder issues according to the Surgeon General. At least one in five youth have a mental health disorder—46,000 young people in Utah alone. Mental health issues can manifest into a host of behaviors including drug and alcohol abuse which is growing at an alarming rate. Utah's treatment gap for drug and alcohol abuse among all ages is 178,000; only 15,000 receive treatment. Almost 100,000 Utah youth 12-25 need but do not receive treatment."
Dr. Barry Karlin, the Chairman and CEO of CRC Health Group, the country's largest behavioral treatment organization with 145 facilities, including nine in Utah specializing in helping troubled youth, said, "The conference will create greater awareness of the explosion of problems facing young people today. We're bringing together clinical experts, providers, parents, families, local government, safety leaders, and the public to discuss the range of co-occurring issues affecting youth including drugs, depression, bullying, runaways, unemployment, finances, and behavior and thoughts threatening health and life. We want more people aware of the importance of treatment and prevention."
Attorney General Shurtleff has had personal family experience with serious youth problems and the benefits of treatment and family involvement, and the First Lady has been an advocate and leader of many effective programs assisting troubled youth.
From 10-11 a.m., there will be a display, also open to the media, of ways to deal with problems, and solutions and programs that can be utilized. Following the 11 a.m. news conference, media is invited to join the experts and attendees at an informal lunch at noon.
The conference is organized by CRC Health Group and its subsidiary Aspen Education Group which specializes in treatment of troubled youth. Other behavioral leaders participating include Dr. Rick Meeves, Executive Director, Outback Therapeutic Expeditions; Liz Zentner, Utah PTA Health Commissioner; and the Utah Department of Human Services; the Addiction Recovery Program and Health Support Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and many other experts and leaders.
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