Press Release: New Youth180 Program Addresses Root Causes of Drug Use in Teens

September 18, 2023

New Innovative Healing Program addresses Root Causes of Drug Use in Teens 

Youth180 was selected as 1 of 2 partner organizations to fund programs that support the overall wellbeing of our Dallas community. The Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH) at the University of Texas at Austin is partnering with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to fund innovative healing centered projects (IHCP’s) benefitting underserved, historically marginalized communities across Texas.  

Our project will be focused on preventing substance misuse by promoting resilience, social and community connectedness through healing, and referral supports for individuals who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences, multigenerational trauma, or have emergent behavioral health needs that have been exacerbated due to COVID-19. 

Over the last few years, we have received increasing reports of substance possession and use in school aged teens. According to the Center on Addiction, 90% of substance dependencies start in the teenage years. Youth180 has a long history of prevention education, our field workers see youth turn to drugs as a coping mechanism to deal with difficulties in their home or school life.  

The COVID-19 public health emergency increased youth drug and alcohol use and we are now combatting an opiod epidemic that continues to affect the Dallas County area. Glicksberg L. et al. (2022) studies between 2015-2020 also found that Fentanyl positivity rates have tripled in toxicology labs. Fake pills have become increasingly common causing an increase in life threatening overdoses for young people. Youth180 will be strategically strengthening their partnerships with DFW school districts and community centers to pilot the healing centered education support group with teens that will delve into in-depth drug education and the effects of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. As well as discussing the importance of cultivating drug-free success and happiness.