New residential center treats addicted teens

Columbia’s first residential treatment facility for teens with drug and alcohol problems opened Wednesday, making it possible for 12- to 17-year-olds to stay closer to their families while going through the process of overcoming addiction.

“Locally, (a residential treatment center) was nonexistent, which can be a real hardship on the families,” said Erich Beeson, a Royal Oaks Hospital community relations representative.

“There’s only so many beds in the state, but there are a lot of teens in need of services.”

Beeson said Royal Oaks is an inpatient psychiatric hospital in Windsor that partners with Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., which operates 34 community mental health care affiliates across the state, including the new facility at 403 Dysart St. All of the health care affiliates are called Pathways.

The treatment center in Columbia is the third residential facility in the state. The other two residential facilities are in Rolla and Clinton, both more than two hours from Columbia.

“When the Mental Health Board of Trustees did a need assessment for Boone County a couple years ago, we realized we needed an adolescent treatment program,” said Bob Whittet, vice president of central operations for Pathways.

Howard Ross, program director of adolescent services for Pathways Central Region, said the treatment center has 10 beds, but has the capacity for 16.

Ross said he thinks there is a need for the facility in Columbia because city residents often apply for inpatient services at the other two Pathway treatment centers. But as of Thursday only four teenagers had signed up for services.

Phyllis Chase, superintendent of Columbia Public Schools, said the district has formed a partnership with Pathways because it cannot provide treatment and education alone. The district will provide a teacher for two hours a day to help teens stay caught up on schoolwork.

“We as a district focus on the teaching and learning process,” Chase said at the open house. “We cannot have optimal learning when substance abuse issues are prevalent.”

There’s been some good news in recent years on drug abuse among teens. According to a 2005 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, use of illicit drugs by eighth-, tenth- and 12th-graders declined 19 percent between 2001 and 2005.

The bad news is that prescription drug abuse has risen sharply — up 212 percent from 1992 to 2003, according to a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. At the same time, Ross and other experts said that alcohol and marijuana remain problems for many teens.

And teens are trying drugs at an earlier age.

“Here in central Missouri, the age of first-time use is lower,” Ross said. “The younger the person starts, the more likely they are to graduate to substance addiction and usage of multiple drugs.”

Parents that want to admit a teen to the program should contact Pathways at 449-4770. Support staff will discuss the reasons for seeking treatment and a general assessment of the teen is conducted, Pathways will recommend either outpatient service two nights a week or residential treatment for about 60 days, depending on individual progress.

“Substance abuse education, avoidance building skills, how to say no, a little bit about what drugs and alcohol do to you, communication skills and family therapy are all components.” Ross said.

Pathways also provides psychiatric services for adolescents in Jefferson City. The services in Columbia and in Jefferson City are not free, but Ross said Medicaid does cover treatment for families that meet Medicaid financial requirements.

There are ways of receiving treatment by accessing different resources through a sliding scale based on economics and financial need.

Law enforcement agencies may also play a role in providing resources for teenage treatment.

“We refer kids for drug treatment,” said Alison Houston, a deputy juvenile officer with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department. “If someone is arrested for possession of marijuana we provide services as we see fit.”