Troubled Teens Resources

These are exactly the kinds of adolescents that schools for troubled teens, brat camps and other programs for troubled teens are designed to catch. Those teens who are floundering in school, who haven’t strong family support. They are the ones who are vulnerable to the call of gangs of the temptations of drugs. These types of teenagers need a sense of purpose and programs like the community supported Silver Star Youth Program are indeed life savers.

“Larry Seta, 19, has a high school diploma, a job and a wife he married just two weeks ago. Seta says he owes everything to the Silver Star Youth Program at Rancho Cielo outside Salinas.
[…]
When Seta entered the Silver Star Youth Program at Rancho Cielo, he said, he spent the first two and a half years in and out of the court system.

Seta said he felt isolated and didn’t know how to apply himself. He only had a few credits of the 220 needed to graduate from the youth rehabilitation program.

But program officials guided him onto the right track, Seta said, and he was able to graduate and get his high school diploma 10 months ago. He now works at Salinas Steel Builders. Two weeks ago, Seta married, and in five months, he and his wife are expecting a child.”

(source)

Some troubled teens can’t be helped simply because they really do not want to apply themselves. But for those teens who have the heart to live a productive life, but no clue how to accomplish that, guidance and mentoring prove key to their learning how.

Teen age drug abuse never looked so good now that the current crop of young Hollywood teens are seemingly intent on spotlighting advertising their version of it. The lovely chalet, pictured here, is where those who can afford it go for “rehab” and is rumored to be where young Lindsay Lohan is.

“According to sources within the facility, the 21-year-old star arrived this weekend to begin the intense rehabilitation program that is expected to last a minimum of 30 days….upon check-in, a thorough mental and physical examination is completed. Once assessed, clients go through a traditional 12-step system and experiential therapies

The Lodge was named by Town & Country magazine to be one of the country’s top rehabs. For a price tag of $30,000 and up, the rehab offers privacy — with rooms for 16 residents at a time. The Lodge boasts spectacular views of mountain ranges and waterfalls; Jacuzzi tubs and private fireplaces, horseback riding therapy, massage therapy, hydro therapy and even a hair salon with manicures!

But that’s not all. The Lodge even owns a helicopter called “Rainbow” and arranges “heli-hiking” tours, and features gourmet meals prepared by culinary school graduates. There’s also a sound stage that was once the home of the “Donny and Marie” show, which now houses the most effective challenge ropes course in the world.

(Source)

It really doesn’t matter if it is luxurious rehabs or bare-bones boot camps, what guarantees any troubled teenagers‘ success in kicking is to bottom out, re-evaluate and recognize the severity of the problem. Without that, neither rainbow helicopters nor gourmet meals will make one bit of difference. One sincerely hopes that Miss Lohan will truly find her way home.

The rule of thumb is that any freedom from drug addiction can only be maintained after recovery if there is follow up plan that re-enforces the tools that the addict was given in his rehabilitation program. For a recovering teenage drug abuser, it is imperative that they have as new an environment as possible to begin in anew. All old haunting grounds must be abandoned, all old friendships must be terminated and all triggers - those things that triggered or prompted a teen to use - must be eliminated. That can include video games, internet activities, and music.

You can’t expect radical life style changes to be implemented without some means of continuing the healing process that began in rehab, or boot camp or once graduating from a troubled teen boarding school program. Parents, by searching the internet, can find a variety of sites that will continue to provide the newly recovered addict with resources and tools that will assist the teen through rough patches.

One such site we discovered, 12Step.org offers the 12 Step program in the form of a free software package that also includes downloadable worksheets.

“The standard phrase of 12 step groups is “It works if you work it”. This brings up the question “How do you work it?”. Part of the answer to working the steps usually involves writing things down, dealing with thoughts and reflections about beliefs, past behavior and past events. The tools presented in this section are designed to make it easier to complete those parts of the steps that involve individual reflection, thinking and cataloging of past behaviors and events.

These self-reflection tools will not replace the need for accountability, fellowship and encouragement that is only found in a group or community setting. Also, these tools will not do the work for you. They are only tools that make the steps a bit more structured and organized and, thus, hopefully easier and perhaps quicker to work through.”