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Written by Mark San Juan

Can you even imagine a teenager, who is actually a child, locked away in a detention center, struggling with not just the mistake they made, but also the emotional scars they carry? It’s a tragic picture, but it’s the reality of so many of these young people that face a lot more than just legal battles. They fight against trauma, anxiety, and issues with mental health that might have even caused them to be there in the first place.

Sometimes, we think of mental health care as a bonus, especially in rehabilitation, but it’s not a perk; it’s an essential part of the process. If you don’t address the deeper issues, then what chance do these young offenders have of breaking the cycle and being a valuable part of society? Slim to none, that’s what. Current statistical analysis data supports this and reveals the scale of the issue.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has reported that more than 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system experience some form of mental disorder. But only approx. 15% of them receive appropriate/effective treatment.

Youth detention centers absolutely must focus on mental health because it’s the way to heal the offenders and to give them a chance to take control of their future – outside the bars.

2 Reasons Why Mental Health Support Is So Important in Juvenile Rehabilitation

Taking care of mental health is important for everyone, even if you live a normal life, but it’s especially important for those that are vulnerable, like the young people in detention centers.

The Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (statute) outlines procedures for how to handle juvenile cases, and emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment while mandating consideration of a minor’s mental health needs.

Furthermore, Public Act 102-0193 (signed into law in 2021) amends the Juvenile Court Act to enhance court reviews and oversight. This act has the aim of improving outcomes for minors (especially those with mental health concerns/issues).

If issues with mental health are handled on time, then there’s less chance of future offenses and young offenders have a foundation for a healthier life.

Common Mental Health Issues in Youth Detention

Anxiety and Depression

These are the most common issues and they’re often the consequence of trauma they’ve experienced in the past, being uncertain about their future, and the stress of being in a detention facility.

If they’re not treated, these conditions can result in withdrawal, aggression, and negative behaviors in the future.

Trauma and PTSD

A lot of people in youth detention centers have experienced abuse, violence, and neglect. This can lead to PTSDs, which manifests in flashbacks, serious anxiety, and not being able to trust others.

Anyone in this situation, whether they’re in jail, detention center, or free, has to get help through therapy to work through the trauma and start to heal.

Behavioral Disorders

Conditions like ADHD and ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) can worsen in environments like youth detention centers and as a result, you get conflicts with the staff and other detainees.

Proper mental health support can help with managing these conditions and provide young people with healthier coping mechanisms.

Substance Abuse

Approximately 50% of detained youth have a history of drug/alcohol use. These addictions/dependencies are often masking deeper underlying mental health issues and require specialized treatment approaches to address both the addiction and what’s underneath.

Based on the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), facilities that have adopted trauma-informed practices have reported a 25% reduction in recidivism rates.

Ignoring substance abuse can worsen the youth’s chances of successfully integrating back into society, and is increasing the risk of recidivism.

What Happens When Mental Health Issues Go Untreated

Increased Risk of Recidivism

With no mental health support, young offenders are far more likely to commit a crime again, and the way to break this cycle is to address the underlying mental health issues.

In fact, According to Mental Health America, youth with untreated mental health issues are far more likely to re-offend. While the data varies from region to region, it still supports this data point.

Let’s take a look at some worldwide data:

Region	Recidivism Rate (%)	Access to Mental Health Treatment (%)	Impact of Treatment on Recidivism Reduction (%)
United States	60	40	25
Canada	50	50	30
Europe	35	70	40
Asia	50	30	15
Africa	70	20	10
Australia	40	65	35

If you take Europe and Africa as an example, you can see a correlation between the rate of reoffending and access to mental health treatment. The data shows that high access to mental health treatment results in a low recidivism rate, and vice-versa.

Of course, other factors (e.g., socio-economic status, exposure to violence/trauma, substance abuse, availability of community resources, family structure, education, etc.) could also be contributing to this, but it goes to show how treatment (or the lack of) can affect reoffending rates at a significant rate.

This way, these young people can develop skills to make better decisions and to control themselves.

Challenges with Rejoining the Society

Untreated mental health issues make life hard in general, but when you have an offender, they’ll also struggle with reintegrating into society, relationships, education, and getting a decent job.

Rehabilitation programs that are actually effective and not just a formality can improve their chances of being a functioning member of the community.

Effects on Relationships with Family and Community

When you deal with mental health issues, you’re not the only one affected; the people around you go through it, too.

If the issues aren’t treated, then the relationships with everyone suffer, and reintegration becomes much more difficult.

(Long-Term) Benefits of Mental Health Support

Today, mental health is being recognized and prioritized in youth rehabilitation at a much larger rate than in the past. And beyond simply helping the youth in question, the correct treatment can have a positive ripple effect on others, as well.

For example, their families, their friends, communities, and society as a whole.

Reduced Crime Rate

As we can see from the table above, effective mental health programs reduce recidivism rates. In the U.S., about a quarter of (future) offenders are being steered off their paths, and are being reintegrated into society.

And that is a good thing. Both for the youth that’s been rehabilitated, so that they can have better lives (outside of detention or correctional facilities), plus there’s also the benefit for the whole society, as they won’t need to experience crime that would’ve otherwise happened.

Community Integration

Rehabilitated youths who’ve received mental health support are more likely to contribute towards their communities (e.g., education, employment, etc.).

Breaking Generational Cycles

When you address mental health issues and correct them, especially in young offenders, you’re helping break cycles of trauma that (possibly) were occurring in preceding generations, but more importantly, pave a brighter future for the next generation.

Legal Support and Advocacy for Survivors of Abuse

There are cases that need more than just mental health support; those that are the most vulnerable and that have suffered abuse. Along with therapists, they need legal representatives to find justice and hold those responsible accountable.

Here’s a deeper dive into this.

Seeking Justice and Accountability

Legal professionals can get justice for detained youth who have gone through abuse.

For example, a youth detention center sexual abuse lawyer can represent these young people and take legal action against those that are responsible. This legal process will hold the guilty party accountable, but it will also help with survivors’ healing because it will show them that they are heard and protected.

Creating Safe Spaces for Disclosure (to Speak Up)

Support also means creating an environment where people feel safe to talk about their experiences.

In 2020, a survey by the PREA Resource Center revealed that juvenile facilities across the U.S. that established confidential reporting systems, saw a 50% increase in abuse disclosures.

Legal representation is here to protect their rights so they can openly share their stories and start to heal.

Working Together for Recovery

Therapists and attorneys can join forces to support the people in juvenile detention centers. Therapy and legal representation can address trauma and also give directions on rights and options.

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) is a Federal Law (established in 1974) that mandates that standards are being enforced for the treatment of juveniles in the U.S. justice system.

This approach makes rehabilitation much more effective and compassionate.

Conclusion

A youth detention center doesn’t hold just young offenders, but also stories of trauma, survival, and hope for change. It’s supposed to be a rehabilitation institution, so the key is to look past the offenders’ mistakes and focus on helping them heal and grow. This can’t happen without addressing mental health issues and for those who have gone through extreme trauma, competent legal representation.

We should all keep in mind that true rehabilitation isn’t serving time but giving people a way to take control of their future and make changes.

And such institutions, with their access to mental health treatments (therapy, support), can surely be life-changing.

Author’s Bio

Mark San Juan is a distinguished author and health care professional with a passion for transforming health care delivery through innovative approaches. With over two decades of experience in the field, Mark has established himself as a leading voice in health care reform and patient-centered care.

Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Practitioner Certification programs and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Written by Fay Smith

ADHD is a common diagnosis for kids who struggle in school, but what happens when kids grow up and struggle in their offices, communities, and relationships?

Adults with ADHD have difficult challenges, and many turn to drugs and alcohol to cope.

In this article, we’ll look at how and why that is.

How Adults Cope with ADHD

ADHD presents many challenges for adults, but one of the biggest is regularly lacking dopamine.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is largely responsible for the pleasure that you feel when you accomplish something. A sense of accomplishment boosts you and makes it easier to take on your next tasks. For people with ADHD, this doesn’t happen the same way.

Adults with ADHD have a different reward system than neurotypical adults. A normal work routine, including meetings, might be somewhat boring for an office manager who is neurotypical, but it could send someone with ADHD into a spiral.

Without feeling like they are accomplishing anything important to them, and receiving the dopamine boost that goes along with that, it becomes increasingly hard to concentrate.

Having ADHD and needing to do things you don’t want to do and aren’t interested in can be extremely difficult, and even painful.

It’s a process of trying to force your brain to act in ways it doesn’t want to. The result is usually a drop in neurotransmitters and the onset of depression. Up to 53% of people with ADHD also struggle with depression.

There are legal substances that can provide a lot of help to adults with ADHD. Coffee can help to stimulate the brain to produce more neurotransmitters, and legal CBD can help to relax the nervous system and provide the restful sleep that adults with ADHD need to maintain good brain health. Know more about it here.

However, there are many adults with ADHD who turn to alcohol and drugs – not just to cope with the pain of having ADHD as an adult in a world designed for neurotypical people, but to help manage an unruly brain that won’t seem to follow directions.

Why do ADHD Adults Turn to Drugs and Alcohol?

It’s important to note that every adult with ADHD was once a child with ADHD, and it is typically in pre-adolescence or adolescence when substance abuse problems or tendencies first arise.

An 8-year longitudinal study found that at the age of 14.9, 40% of ADHD subjects and only 22% of control subjects had used alcohol (Barkley et al. 1990). This suggests that alcohol and other drugs are more appealing to people with ADHD in early adolescence.

A different study found that at age 25, alcohol use was roughly equal between ADHD adults and control groups, but we know that early and intense alcohol use is a risk factor for later alcohol and drug problems.

Growing up is when most people start to face increasing demands on their time and attention, which is also when young adults with ADHD begin to face significant struggles and shoulder the shame that comes from not being able to act or be like everyone else.

ADHD adults use drugs to cope, practically and emotionally.

In a practical sense, drugs and alcohol change the brain and produce the mental states that people with ADHD are looking for. When you are unable to feel happy or concentrate, a cup of coffee can help. So can other drugs. When you can’t seem to calm down or regulate your energy or emotions, alcohol can help. So can other drugs.

Neurotypical adults might be able to take a deep breath and restore calm and focus, but this just doesn’t happen for ADHD adults, who struggle to regulate themselves.

On an emotional level, it is easy to blame yourself for your problems as someone with ADHD. An inability to focus can be mistaken as a lack of interest or care. Disinterest in boring and unrewarding tasks can come across as laziness.

Adults with ADHD have to deal with a disabling inability to focus, as well as being blamed personally for that inability to focus.

In a culture that values constant productivity and readiness, adults with ADHD often struggle to regulate their attention and emotions and use drugs or alcohol as tools to cope.

Recovery for Adults with ADHD and Drug Problems

Although alcohol and other drugs might relieve temporary symptoms of ADHD, they invariably make life worse.

This is not just for all of the reasons that you’re familiar with – the cost, the health impacts, the social impacts, etc – but also because alcohol and most other drugs are harmful to the brain and end up making symptoms worse in the long run.

A healthy brain releases more neurotransmitters that help focus and attention. An unhealthy brain doesn’t regulate itself well. When you start messing with your brain’s reward system, it makes it even harder to set things right.

If you or someone you know is an adult with ADHD and a drug or alcohol problem, find a treatment solution that also addresses the impacts of ADHD. True recovery requires solutions to multiple problems.

Author Bio: Fay Smith

Fay Smith worked in communications for five years before settling down with her husband. She’s now a mother of two young children and takes care of three lovable Pomeranians. Fay Smith is a regular contributor on various health and wellness sites. She also works as a freelance writer and researcher on wellness topics, such as alternative treatments and CBD.

Please also review AIHCP’s Attention Deficit Consulting certificate program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.

addiction and substance abuse

The Role of Mental Health in Youth Rehab