First-ever guide to alcohol and drug treatment programs for teens

For Immediate Release - Alexandria, VA

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Drug Strategies, a non-profit research institute in Washington, D.C., released today the first-ever guide to alcohol and drug treatment programs for teens.

Developed by a team of nationally recognized experts, Treating Teens: A Guide to Adolescent Drug Programs identifies nine key elements of effective treatment and notes the important role of addiction counselors.

"The strength of the therapeutic alliance - the relationship between the teen and his or her counselor - greatly influences the extent to which the program will be able to motivate change," according to the guide's section on treatment program staffing.

Treating Teens provides current information on 144 adolescent treatment programs across the country and describes in detail seven promising adolescent programs that offer a range of treatment approaches. The guide also has practical resources, such as hot-line help telephone numbers for each state and questions every parent should ask when considering a program.

"This is a wonderful resource," NAADAC President Elect Mary Woods said. "Evaluating and selecting treatment programs for adolescents is a difficult task. I encourage parents to utilize this guide and seek out programs that are staffed with qualified and well-trained counselors. Counselors are the specialized health care providers that guide individuals with substance use disorders to recovery."

The guide is available from Drug Strategies for $16.95. It can be ordered online at www.drugstrategies.org or by sending a check to 1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036.