I work for www.newport-academy.com in Orange, CA.  I am curious about what about what you look for in teen addiction programs when you send kids to RTC.  

Also, I have seen the NIDA stats stating that girls are far more underserved than boys and need treatment services badly, yet most of the programs that I am familiar with see more males than females in treatment.  What are your thoughts on why we are not getting girls the help they need? Is it harder to get them into treatment?  Do parents feel they can manage a daughter's addiction better?  What are your thoughts?

Kansas Cafferty, MCA, CSC, MFTI

Program Director, Newport Academy IOP

Kansas.Cafferty@gmail.com 

Hi,

This is an excellent question- I work with adolescent females and have for years who struggle with stress, learning disorders, and other disorders. It is only after some time with working with them do they relate that they drink or use drugs. Seems odd since I have been working with the substance abuse population for years. It is just the secretive nature of the girls that hides their need for treatment. So, the problem, I do not think is that we do not have programs for them, it is that they are better at hiding the problem and less apt to seek help.  

 Conversely, most adolescent males with whom I work are very direct about their use. In many cases, they brag about their use and I have a few that even keep track of their use using iPhone apps! So, I wonder if the lack of service has something to do with reaching the adolescent female population to motivate them towards seeking treatment. Many males with whom I have worked were made to attend treatment because of a behavior problem (school or law enforcement). Fewer of our girls will be identified in this manner, I believe.

I wonder what others think...

Beth Donnellan