- For the 17th consecutive year, the Centers has earned the Joint Commission National Quality Approval Award, Gold Seal.

- In 2006, the Centers served over 10,000 patients, not including outreach services.

- On a daily basis, the Centers offers over 800 different services and programs to over 450,000 people in our communities.

- Currently, an average of 200 children per month are being treated through emergency services.

- The Centers offers the only Crisis Stabilization Unit for children in Marion and Citrus Counties.

- The Centers is the only 24-hour, 7 day a week, face to face emergency service facility for substance abuse and mental health in Citrus and Marion counties.

Here Are Some Facts

Drugs and alcohol are the #1 health crisis for children in our state- leading to children being involved in criminal activity, unprotected sexual activity, physical and sexual assaults, rising illnesses, drop-out rates, rising suicidal and homicidal rates among teens, increased runaways, and increased accidents among teens who use drugs and alcohol.

National: One fifth of students receive some type of school-supported mental health services during the school year, according to the national survey released in 2005 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Substance abuse prevention and treatment work to reduce human suffering. For every dollar spent on prevention and treatment, more than $7 is saved in child abuse, juvenile delinquency, domestic violence and substance abuse related illnesses.

Florida is ranked 15^th in the Nation in suicide deaths. In 2004 there were 2,389 suicide deaths.

In 2004, suicide ranked as the 3^rd leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. Only accidents and homicides occurred more frequently.

USA Suicide: 2004 Official Final Data- Young (15-24 yrs.)

Number - 4,316

Per Day - 11.8

Rate - 10.4

% of deaths - 12.9

Whereas suicides accounted for 1.4% of all deaths in the U.S. annually, they comprised 12.9% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds.

Every 2 hours and 11 minutes in the U.S., a person under the age of 25 completes suicide.

In the past 60 years, the suicide rate has quadrupled for males 15 to 24 years old, and has doubled for females of the same age.

For every completed suicide by youth, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made.

In 2004, 283 children ages 10 to 14 completed suicide in the U.S.

Suicide rates for those between the ages of 10-14 increased 51% between 1981 and 2004.

Although rates vary somewhat by geographic location, within a typical high school classroom, it is likely that three students (one boy and two girls) have made a suicide attempt in the past year.

66% of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students are linked directly to alcohol.**

Alcohol exposure during adolescence is linked with a reduced ability to learn compared with those not exposed until adulthood.

People that begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin at age 21.

Most young people do not know that a person can die of an overdose of alcohol.

Teens who learn anti-drug messages at home are 42% less likely to use drugs.


Source - * Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey and
** The Office of National Drug Control Policy 02/06