The treatment for adolescent drug and alcohol abuse is a more delicate matter as compared with adult treatment models. The teen psyche exhibits higher levels of anxiety and uncertainty. As a youth reaches a certain stage in his life, challenges constantly meet him mid-way through various challenges, and coping requires a deliberate and tedious effort. This is when temptation for drug or alcohol use is evident; these drugs lessen, or even totally eliminate the social and psychological set-backs of the normal path to maturity.
Most, if not all of the adolescent rehabilitation programs are on an in-patient basis, which means the patient lives in the rehabilitation facility during the whole time of the treatment. We will set as an example, the programs being implemented at Visions Adolescent Treatment Center. Their programs are well-rounded and done in a caring approach, within a friendly, home-like environment.
Visions Adolescent Treatment Program is especially designed to serve males and females with ages ranging from 12 to 17, in the treatment of drug and alcohol and dual diagnosis related problems.
The treatment is administered in a safe, supportive home-like environment where the residents can start to learn the new skills necessary to achieve long lasting recovery and begin to face any secondary psychological issues. The center’s intensive, structured program is lined with daily activities that help the resident to discover their own denial systems, come to terms with the problems they neglect to acknowledge, become familiar with the 12-Step recovery principles and begin to make positive choices that will successfully lead them to a healthy, sober, and productive life.
The program is set in a high-end residential ranch-like setting. Separate and secure sleeping quarters for male and female clients are provided. Each room accommodates two patients. The meals and recreational activities are shared while under strict supervision of the staff. The facility located in a rural setting, which denotes inaccessibility to public transportation which discourages runaways. The center is has a locked fence that encompasses a twelve acre perimeter of wooded land. A swimming pool and equine stables are provided within the site.
Meals provided at the Visions are of high quality (delicious as the clients often say) and nutritionally sound with the ingredients mostly natural, organic products free from chemicals, sugars and preservatives. Meals are formulated under the qualified supervision of a registered dietician with a specialty in therapeutic nutrition.
The program is operated and staffed by at least two well trained staff members 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A 24-hour crisis intervention is available. The average length of stay is around three months, variations in the duration of treatment determined by the need of the patient, which considers psychosocial stressors, and global assessment of functioning upon admission and during the course of treatment.
Admission to the program is completely voluntary and all in-house guests are expected to actively participate in their own treatment. The Visions staff believes that the individual is responsible for their own actions, and encourages clients to learn new ways in understanding and expressing their needs and feelings. A random drug and alcohol urinalysis testing is conducted throughout all the phases of treatment.
The Treatment Team
The Visions treatment team includes therapists, nurses, counselors, family therapists, physicians, psychiatrists, activity therapists and peer counselors. These highly skilled multidisciplined professionals utilize some of the most effective treatment techniques available today. Each resident is assigned their own counselor who works directly with them throughout the duration of their recovery. Several consultants who specialize in dealing with adolescents are also utilized as needed in the following areas:
• Art Therapists
• Pediatricians
• Psychiatric Consultants
• Registered Dietician
• Psychologists
• Equine Therapist
Admissions Criteria
• Minimum age of 12 years old.
• Primary drug and/or alcohol problem.
• No serious physical or psychiatric disabilities, which can interfere with participation in the program structure, and/or activities.
• No pending legal cases of such nature as to restrict the resident's participation in treatment.
• The resident must be willing to accept all program rules and structural limitations before their admission.
• No client with a history of excessive violence will be admitted into the facility.
Assessments
Admission to the treatment program involves several comprehensive assessments of each client's condition and specific issues or requirements, which includes psychiatric, medical, academic and psychosocial status. If possible, additional information is collected from other relevant resources such as family, schools and pervious treatment providers. If indicated by the profiling, additional evaluation may be conducted as a result of the findings from the initial testing. These can include:
• Psychiatric Evaluation
• Educational Assessment
• Psychological Testing
• Eating Disorder Assessment
• Trauma Assessment
• Sexual Compulsivity Assessment
• Neurological Testing
Treatment Services
All counseling services at the facility are conducted by trained personnel under the expert supervision of the Program Director. Individual and group counseling methodology as well as specialized groups, goal setting and drug and alcohol education sessions are utilized. Treatment services include but are not particularly limited to:
• Goal Groups
• Big Book and Twelve Step Studies
• Individual Sessions
• Psycho-Education Groups
• Stress Management Groups
• Anger Management Groups
• Art Therapy
Family Treatment
The Family Therapy Program is a mandatory program. All family members of the treated clients are expected to actively participate. The Family Therapy Program is done every Saturday and individual sessions are scheduled when it is most convenient for both the family and therapist. The family program is based on a structured, systematic family therapy. The goals of the Visions family therapy involve strengthening parental leadership, enhancing coping skills, clarifying boundaries, and freeing each family member from their stereotypical positions within the family structure. The family program consists of educations classes, group multi-therapy and individual therapy sessions.
Education
Education plays a vital role in the Visions program. As the client is admitted the program teacher will contact the client's previous school and requests a current curriculum for the resident. Each student undergoes a complete academic assessment at admission and individual lesson plans are designed. Students attend educational classes similar to a normal school setting three-hours a day five-days a week.
Discharge & Aftercare
The Discharge Plan is a continuing care plan, is developed by the Counselor with active input from the patient and their treatment team, prior to the resident graduating from the program and addresses the following:
• Continuing Care, which may include therapeutic schools, outpatient programs, individual and family therapy.
• 12-Step Meeting Schedule
• Family relationships
• Social needs
• Academic Needs
• Physical and Psychiatric needs
• Indication of anticipated problems right after discharge and the suggested methods for dealing with them.
Following the successful completion of the active treatment program phase, the treated adolescents can benefit from continued a participation in the Visions Alumni Program, The Fourth Dimension. Aftercare Groups are also offered on an on-going basis to all patients who have graduated from the Visions Treatment Program.
If you have other inquiries regarding Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers and their programs, please call 866-889-3665.
While choosing the drug rehab it has to be made sure that all the aspects of what caused the addiction problem in the first place have to be addressed.
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