Adolescents in Recovery, Priceless
By Barbara Nicholson-Brown

To paraphrase a popular television commercial:

• Teenage fatalities as a result of drug and alcohol addiction, 150 teenagers a week.

There is no single reason why young people turn to drugs or alcohol but some of the common ones are: kids want to fit in or feel part of the group, some want to rebel against adult authority, others think it will help them escape their problems or mask feelings of inadequacy or low self esteem. Some seek the thrill and excitement of taking a risk.

"Children learn by what they see, not what they hear", said Michael Puthoff, CEO of Parc Place, "and many young people today are growing up in homes where alcohol and or drugs are used by parents, guardians and other family members".

Youth addiction has reached epidemic proportions. It doesn’t matter if kids are from affluent homes or the inner city, as long as drugs and alcohol are available, there will be adolescents willing to use them. Without the proper treatment—it may cost them their lives.

Addiction is the nation’s number one health problem, and it severely strains our health care system. Yet, many health care providers will not cover more than a few days or weeks of treatment. Anyone going into treatment is going to need more than 28 or 30 days to begin to change destructive behaviors that may have been occurring for years. All of the current data shows there is no magic bullet or quick fix, however, longer lengths of stay in residential treatment leads to consistently higher percentages of long term recovery. A very effective adolescent treatment facility is right here in Chandler, Parc Place, where the average length of stay is 90 days but some extend their care to 180 days or longer.

At Parc Place the rate of recovery does not depend on the origin of the patient. Excellent results are seen in patients from the TRBHA (Tribal Regional Behavioral Health Authorities), and other agencies such as RBHA (Regional Behavioral Health Authorities), DES, ADJC (Arizona Dept. Of Juvenile Correction) and AOC (Administrative Office of the Courts). Parc Place also accepts third party insurance and private pay.

Getting help for children can be a financial strain on families, many are limited in their choices and they do not know which road to take. Adolescent addiction, society’s most significant social problem places extraordinary demands on foster care, welfare, and the criminal justice system. Young people who suffer from addiction and other mental health problems don’t need to be incarcerated, they need to be helped.

Children are the most vulnerable segment of society to drug and alcohol abuse. The rate of drug and alcohol addiction is dramatically highest among adolescents and young adults. According to NACOA 25% of children now live with an addicted parent or other family member and they suffer a high risk of abuse or neglect which leads to overloaded child welfare and foster care systems.

Since 1987, Parc Place has offered an intensive behavioral, emotional, and substance abuse program. Care is provided in a structured setting to affected adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17. Their program is especially designed for residents who have had difficulty with outpatient or self-directed treatment, or sobriety at a lesser level of care. The primary goal of treatment is to enhance the resident’s level of responsibility and accountability for their behavior.

Education: An Integral Part of the Program
When in the throes of addiction, kids don’t think about good grades, passing tests or what college they want to attend, all they think about is the next high. One of the key components of treatment at Parc Place is education. Every resident is required to attend four and a half hours of class each weekday which includes: Math, English Literature, Science, History and Life Skills. Each individual is positioned according to their specific needs. "Some of these kids have been out of school three or four years, it takes time for them to adjust to a day revolving around structure. Being part of the classes often gives them a reason to do well. They start to find their purpose and even compete for better grades and better academic achievement. Both their academic and social skills improve. Through interaction with each other they are able to see the opportunities life has to offer them", says, Parc Place’s Director of Education, Dan Bradfield. "The magic is watching our students discover their abilities through learning which enhances their self esteem and gives them hope." Students earn school credits while they receive the care they need.

Drug and Alcohol Program
Parc Place actively promotes a drug-free lifestyle. In our society, drugs and alcohol are a prevalent source of problems for many young people and their families. Drug education and the effects of drug addiction are emphasized to all residents. Those with a primary diagnosis of chemical dependency will learn more about addiction and recovery through a traditional 12 Step model of recovery including 12 Step meeting attendance. Though most of the attention about addiction has recently focused on the meth epidemic, Shawn Gallo, a Substance Addiction Counselor at Parc Place said, "alcohol and other drugs continue to be the mainstays for many of these young people. Today, it’s not only about helping them with their problems of addiction. They have other issues, whether it be a victim of domestic violence, trauma or depression, all their emotional issues need to addressed as part of their healing process. Many of these kids are resilient and once the seed is planted about how their life can and will change, they want to persevere in their recovery process."

The Parc Place staff is committed to helping residents become more aware of their thinking process and behaviors. As residents grow more independent and make good choices, they feel proud of the hard work they have put into meeting their goals. Residents are involved in Interactive Journaling groups to focus on learning social, problem-solving, and coping skills. Journals provide residents with information that is crucial to the improvement of their thinking process and to recovery. Through the interactive journaling process, residents apply information learned to their own lives.

Family Involvement
Involvement of the family is critical to the success of any child’s treatment. During the treatment period it is crucial for the family to stay connected to their child and support their recovery. Treatment is intense, challenging, and sometimes, painful, but it leads to a better, more productive relationship with your child. Success of treatment varies from child to child. When parents participate and learn along with their child, the chance of success is greatly enhanced. Family therapy is provided by the Primary Therapist weekly and yields better family relationships and teaches the family to help residents keep the new skills when they return home. Parents and guardians are urged to participate in scheduled Individual Family Treatment sessions with the Primary Therapist. Family visits are strongly encouraged.

Aftercare
When it is time to leave Parc Place, discharge planning and aftercare will provide continued ongoing support to help prevent relapse. Every client is evaluated and a plan is put in place for his or her specific needs. Though no one ever graduates in recovery, the young residents of Parc Place are given the opportunity to make a clean break from their past behaviors which gives them a fighting chance for a clean and sober life out in the world.

If your child needs help or you would like more information on Parc Place, call 480-917-9301 or visit www.parc-place.com JCAHO, the Arizona Department of Health and North Central Accredited Private School accredit Parc Place.

Despite government’s substantial investment in substance abuse services, there is a vast gap between the number of people who need treatment and the number who obtain it. Today, only about 1 out of 7 addicts in need of treatment receive it, there are over 17 million Americans who need treatment but only 3 million get it. Of the 1.3 million teens in need, only 1 in 12 is in a treatment program.