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SALT LAKE CITY -- Former U.S. drug czar and Four-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey was in Utah Wednesday to talk about the recent explosion of youth problems. He said 5 million teenagers in the country struggle with drugs, depression and behavior issues, and are engaged in sexual misconduct.
Almost 100,000 Utah youth 12-25 (with behavioral disorders) need but do not receive treatment.
–Gen. Barry McCaffrey
McCaffrey, along with Utah's attorney general and former addict Tyler Loeffer, spoke to a group at Westminster College. The three were hoping to raise awareness that teenagers need help.
During the conference, Loeffer told the audience it was only a couple of years ago that he had a drug problem.
"I couldn't stop on my own," Loeffer said.
"Honestly, he wouldn't be here today if he hadn't gotten help," his mother, Melissa Keithly, told the audience.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff also spoke from personal experience.
"I'm going to speak to you as a father," he said.
Shurtleff talked about his daughter and her ongoing struggle with depression, drugs, alcohol and attempted suicide.
The conference was meant to shed light on the problems youth face and give solutions.
"We can talk about it; we have to. There is help available," Shurtleff said.
"I'll tell people, three out of four high school seniors in America are not using drugs," Gen. McCaffrey said. "When you talk to those kids and say ‘how come?' the No. 1 answer is, ‘I don't want my mother to be ashamed of me, I'm afraid of what my dad will do to me.'"
The former drug czar told the group parents need to look for behavioral signs early on -- like running away, failing grades and isolation -- and to never give up on their children.
"My daughter is safe as we speak here today, but I know she'll have an ongoing struggle as so many do," Shurtleff said.
"Utah does a terrific job, in terms of a national model, in dealing with these programs," McCaffrey said. "But having said that, there are 91,000 kids in Utah who have significant mental health challenges that aren't being treated. We have more work to do."
McCaffrey added that the number of Utahns who abuse drugs and alcohol is 178,000 -- and only 15,000 are receiving treatment.
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Story compiled with contributions from Amanda Butterfield and Randall Jeppesen.
