New center for juvenile drug abuse to open

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ A 21-bed treatment center for young people who are addicted to drugs will open Monday and serve juveniles across the state. <br><br>This will be the only state-operated facility of

Thursday, January 2nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ A 21-bed treatment center for young people who are addicted to drugs will open Monday and serve juveniles across the state.

This will be the only state-operated facility of its type in Oklahoma, said Ben Brown, deputy commissioner of drug and substance abuse. The state contracts with private vendors for about 60 more beds.

It will be on the campus of Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman, which is operated by the state Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Department.

``This is needed so badly,'' Brown said. ``Today, even if your family's a multimillionaire, there virtually is no treatment available in Oklahoma.''

Brown said there is a waiting list for the facility.

The facility is intended to serve juveniles before they get into trouble with the law.

``There is absolutely a link between substance abuse and juvenile crime,'' Brown said. ``It's rare if officials find an adolescent in trouble with the law who isn't involved in substance abuse.''

In the past 10 years in Oklahoma, the number of substance abuse-related arrests for juveniles has skyrocketed, Brown said.

Nearly 420 adolescents now are housed in three facilities through the Office of Juvenile Affairs. Brown said about 85 percent of those test as chemically dependent for substance abuse disorders.

``The choice is to send these kids to this center or the only alternative is the kiddie prison in Union City,'' he said.

The Legislature appropriated about $350,000 for the Norman center. Brown said he hopes to obtain about $700,000 from the federal government through Medicaid.

``If we don't reach these kids now, we will get them in the criminal system,'' Brown said.