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Reports show rising youth substance issues; county treatment court expands MAT and telehealth arrangements
Summary
County youth services reported rising citations and younger ages for substance-related cases; the adult treatment court expanded MAT and telehealth psychiatric support through CWCC and Fremont Counseling while juvenile treatment court faces staffing and funding gaps.
Fremont County youth-services staff told commissioners the department saw 16 citations in September (a typical month) and a recent uptick in October, including cases involving children as young as 11–13. Substance use—especially opioids and other drugs—remains the primary referral reason.
"We got some 13-year-olds... a lot of them are substance related," the youth services representative said, noting difficulty in finding age-appropriate services for younger adolescents. Staff described work to connect minors with counseling and make referrals to municipal court when appropriate.
Paige, coordinator with Treatment Portals, reported 23 active participants in the adult treatment program, seven new participants since September and two program graduates; two clients were in treatment with one currently at Fremont County Detention Center. Paige said the program is coordinating with Central Wyoming Correctional Center (CWCC) and Fremont Counseling to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and psychiatric medication management via telehealth, and CWCC intends to deploy a mobile unit to Fremont County for in-person services next month.
On juvenile treatment court, Paige said there were no active participants at present and that the program lacks applicants for a therapist role, likely because of low pay and workforce shortages. "It's a combination of probably both" pay and availability, Paige said. She planned to meet with the judicial branch to clarify funding and the branch's role in supporting juvenile program staffing and longevity.
Commissioners questioned how youth obtain funds or access to expensive illegal drugs; staff and Paige pointed to adult suppliers, theft and informal exchanges as common mechanisms. Commissioners emphasized the need for sustained local mental-health resources, not just telehealth, and asked staff to continue pursuing local service options and clearer funding commitments.
Next steps: Treatment Portals will continue coordination with CWCC and Fremont Counseling, pursue mobile-unit visits, and return to the board with juvenile-court funding options after discussions with the judicial branch.
