Child is using drugs, lying and stealing- need rec for IOP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. So happy to hear this message. This decision is so painful and terrifying. Just curious — did he return home or go to a therapeutic boarding school? I’m hearing that majority of kids do not return home and usually go on to boarding school.

Which one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am having similar issues with my 15 year old son and we have made the very difficult decision to send him to a wilderness program. In my opinion, military schools are the worst thing for a kid who is probably struggling with an underlying mental health disorder. Wilderness programs are very difficult but there is a huge therapeutic component and I have heard many success stories. There does have to be aftercare after wilderness whether that is a change in school or therapeutic boarding school. I have talked to several people with 17 year olds who said they wish they had intervened earlier.

Where are you sending?

[Anonymous]

Blueridge wilderness in Georgia. Unfortunately our situation does involve drugs and bad choice of friends so returning home is more challenging I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blueridge wilderness in Georgia. Unfortunately our situation does involve drugs and bad choice of friends so returning home is more challenging I think.

Ok same boat. More than weed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old is using marijuana. A lot. During the school day and basically whenever he can. He is lying, sneaking around and stealing in order to do this. He has stopped going to school. He and his friends are also using pills- opiates, extacy. It is literally not possible for me to supervise him 24/7. I think he needs an outpatient program that will get him back on track with school and get his mental health issues under control. I'm looking at SandStone, but please recommend a program. I'm in Maryland near Takoma Park.

Outpatient??? hello, inpatient. While he's still young enough that you can do it. If you're dealing with opiates especially.

[Anonymous]

Wondering, if you send a kid to an expensive program, kid is going to be around other kids whose parents can afford expensive programs. I have no idea if this has ever been researched, but I do know years of SAMSHA drug and alcohol surveys show that the more money, the more drug/alcohol abuse. Wondering, would it be better to send a kid to the kind of program people who can't afford really pricey programs have to use? Like those programs insurance does cover and the programs that state entities pay for when kids are required to attend due to adjudication? (State agencies require child support from parents when the state has custody, but even then they are not going to park the kid in the most Cadillac place available)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am having similar issues with my 15 year old son and we have made the very difficult decision to send him to a wilderness program. In my opinion, military schools are the worst thing for a kid who is probably struggling with an underlying mental health disorder. Wilderness programs are very difficult but there is a huge therapeutic component and I have heard many success stories. There does have to be aftercare after wilderness whether that is a change in school or therapeutic boarding school. I have talked to several people with 17 year olds who said they wish they had intervened earlier.

Don't just rely on success stories. Kids have also died in wilderness programs (also in residential treatment programs).

http://astartforteens.org/dangers-of-teen-wilderness-programs

[Anonymous]

I have done a lot of research and feel as comfortable as I can with our decision. Your comment is not at all helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blueridge wilderness in Georgia. Unfortunately our situation does involve drugs and bad choice of friends so returning home is more challenging I think.

PP here. You are right - that is much harder than what we faced. I wish you the best. Even without these challenges, returning home is hard because their lives have basically imploded and at a young age, they have to rebuild. It’s also a huge commitment for the entire family - both for the treatment and to help rebuild. When your child comes home reach out if you need support. I usually read the special needs board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am having similar issues with my 15 year old son and we have made the very difficult decision to send him to a wilderness program. In my opinion, military schools are the worst thing for a kid who is probably struggling with an underlying mental health disorder. Wilderness programs are very difficult but there is a huge therapeutic component and I have heard many success stories. There does have to be aftercare after wilderness whether that is a change in school or therapeutic boarding school. I have talked to several people with 17 year olds who said they wish they had intervened earlier.

Don't just rely on success stories. Kids have also died in wilderness programs (also in residential treatment programs).

http://astartforteens.org/dangers-of-teen-wilderness-programs

This is extremely unhelpful. Things can go wrong anywhere. And the kids who end up in wonder was programs are high risk and their families have no alternatives. When you’re making that kind of decision - which is a huge commitment and likely to cost you every bit of your savings - you check out the programs, both risks and benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am having similar issues with my 15 year old son and we have made the very difficult decision to send him to a wilderness program. In my opinion, military schools are the worst thing for a kid who is probably struggling with an underlying mental health disorder. Wilderness programs are very difficult but there is a huge therapeutic component and I have heard many success stories. There does have to be aftercare after wilderness whether that is a change in school or therapeutic boarding school. I have talked to several people with 17 year olds who said they wish they had intervened earlier.

Don't just rely on success stories. Kids have also died in wilderness programs (also in residential treatment programs).

http://astartforteens.org/dangers-of-teen-wilderness-programs

Way more have died from the results of addiction...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. So happy to hear this message. This decision is so painful and terrifying. Just curious — did he return home or go to a therapeutic boarding school? I’m hearing that majority of kids do not return home and usually go on to boarding school.

Are you the OP?

[Anonymous]

Been there, it is not easy, many starts and stops along the way.

a different school either military based or smaller can help for the right person. They are full of the same kids but the kids who want to change and have structure will do well.

You often hear about hitting rock bottom and lot of people dismiss this behavior as normal teen behavior, it isn't.

Until your son wants to get better, he won't. been there done that. Keep working it, sadly there aren't too many treatments for adolescents.

Don't believe the people who dismiss it as just smoking weed and it is harmless, it is very harmful.

The stealing is something that will change your life, you will always wonder and that trust is extremely hard to get back.

You, your spouse, your other family members need to be part of the therapy and treatment as well. support groups and all, if you are not into it 100% they won't be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering, if you send a kid to an expensive program, kid is going to be around other kids whose parents can afford expensive programs. I have no idea if this has ever been researched, but I do know years of SAMSHA drug and alcohol surveys show that the more money, the more drug/alcohol abuse. Wondering, would it be better to send a kid to the kind of program people who can't afford really pricey programs have to use? Like those programs insurance does cover and the programs that state entities pay for when kids are required to attend due to adjudication? (State agencies require child support from parents when the state has custody, but even then they are not going to park the kid in the most Cadillac place available)

The more money a family has the more drug and alcohol abuse? That’s not accurate, can you cite research?

[Anonymous]

Intensive Outpatient is only for after the patient has already done some sort of inpatient. None are going to accept him until he has done inpatient. He needs inpatient first.