The adolescent behavioral health industry has exploded in recent years with new wilderness programs, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, and therapeutic schools and programs popping up, it seems, almost on a weekly basis. As this industry’s growth has captured more of the public’s attention, allegations of abuse and mismanagement have appeared with increasing frequency in the media. This kind of scrutiny is important and serves as a quality-control mechanism for the behavioral-health industry. But these reports can also give the false impression that the industry is rife with abuses and mismanagement, making the prospect of looking for a xanax detox program confusing and scary for parents.
In my 20 years in both traditional education and adolescent behavioral healthcare, I have visited, consulted with, and worked for dozens of schools and programs. The vast majority of these programs do high-quality, ethically sound therapeutic work and take excellent care of their young clients. With the advent and evolution of professional associations such as the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), as well as increased public scrutiny and consumer sophistication, overall quality at these programs is on the rise, not the decline. Nonetheless, as with any industry-especially those with implications for the health and welfare of young people-consumers bear a high responsibility for evaluating their options with great care.
If your are considering a treatment program for an adolescent who is struggling with emotional and/or behavioral issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, drug and alcohol involvement, self-harm, etc. the following tips may help you make an appropriate selection.