Ask the Expert:
Justin Luke Riley managed his first adult rehabilitation center for drugs and alcohol that housed ninety-six men when he was 20 years old. From there he started consulting with both men and women's adult rehabilitation centers. Currently, he is the Director of Development and Public Relations for a national nonprofit consulting firm, The C4 Group, and also has his own consulting company. Mr. Riley is also an at-large board member of Faces and Voices of Recovery, sat on the board for Advocates of Recovery in Colorado, is on the Advisory Committee for the Association of Recovery Schools, and is part of the Project Management Team and Steering Committee of the Young People in Recovery movement.
The field of behavioral health has increasingly recognized the importance of addressing the needs of specific age groups with respect to both mental and substance use disorders. Teenagers (ages 12–17) and young adults (ages 18–24) are two age groups for which sensitivity to age is especially important in the practice of prevention, treatment, and recovery. What are the most effective approaches to preventing underage drinking and use of illicit drugs—including the nonmedical use of prescription medications—among youth? What mental, emotional, and behavioral problems are most commonly found in both teenagers and young adults and what are the most effective approaches to prevention and treatment? What are the specialized needs of youth in recovery from substance use, a mental health problem, or both? This show will address these important questions, examining the role of family, schools, and community. More and more, adults working in the field of behavioral health are listening to and partnering with youth in finding better ways to connect and help. This show will highlight innovative and evidence-based approaches to prevention of mental and substance use disorders in youth and young adults. Age-appropriate approaches in treatment and recovery such as recovery schools, recovery homes, and student assistance programs will also be presented.