Adolescents suffering from depression more likely to start drinking alcohol

A new report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals that 8.2% of children aged 12 to 17 experienced at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. Only 39% of these adolescents received treatment during this period.

An MDE is defined as a period of 2 weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure and at least 4 other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, including problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, and self-image.

Among treated adolescents:
-- 58.8% saw or spoke to with a counselor;
-- 36.8% saw or spoke with a psychologist;
-- 27.3% saw or spoke with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist;
-- 26.6% saw or spoke with a general practitioner or family doctor.

When it comes to underage drinking . . .

Among youth who had previously not used alcohol, 29% of those with a MDE initiated alcohol use compared with 14% who had not experienced a MDE within the past year.

WA high rates of nonmedical use of pain relievers

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently released "States in Brief" reports from the National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health. From the first page of Washington's brief comes this statement:

"Washington's rates on many measures of use and abuse of alcohol and illicit substances have remained at or above the national rates. Of particular note are the rate of past year nonmedical use of pain relievers for all individuals 12 and older . . . . These rates have consistently been among the highest in the country."

The report also notes:

"While rates of unmet treatment need for alcohol use have generally been at or below the national rate, rates of unmet need for drug treatment in Washington State have generally been at or above the national rates for the population as a whole, as well as those age 18-25 and those age 26 and older."