Alexander Youth Network and Anuvia Collaborate for Adolescent Treatment Services
Anuvia, one of Charlotte’s largest substance use prevention and recovery agencies in Mecklenburg County, will collaborate with Alexander Youth Network (AYN) to provide services for Adolescent Substance Use Treatment.
In Mecklenburg County, substance use continues to impact our adolescent population. Among middle and high school youth in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, 12.9% are current alcohol users, 13.3% are current marijuana users, and 12.8% are current e-cigarette users. In Mecklenburg’s juvenile justice system, youth demonstrate higher rates of current substance use than the statewide average (21.5% vs. 18.5%). Pairing substance use with behavioral health treatment allows the therapist to address life skills to handle stressful situations and environmental cues that can trigger a craving.
The collaboration between Alexander Youth Network and Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center will work to effectively reduce active substance use among adolescents by providing access to services in a timely manner – at the time of assessment. Co-locating both programs – substance use disorder services and behavioral health treatment for adolescents allow both agencies to focus on promoting abstinence, improving decision-making, building life skills, modifying behaviors and strengthening families. Subsequently, both agencies will work to improve health outcomes and strengthen our communities.
Anuvia’s substance use treatment sessions will include psychoeducation, conflict resolution, anger management training, and crisis intervention as well as group, individual, and family therapy for adolescents ages 12-17 that meet criteria for substance abuse services. Substance use services will be offered twice a week at Alexander Youth Network’s Charlotte East office located at 5855 Executive Center Drive in Charlotte.
“With substance use disorders growing among adolescents in our county, the collaboration with Anuvia allows us to provide comprehensive treatment by addressing an adolescent’s mental health and substance use disorder in one location. It increases our chances for success by addressing underlying behavioral health challenges that are triggers for substance use,” Craig Bass, CEO of Alexander Youth Network.
Written by Stacia Jackson.
