Phoenix House - Arlington

[Anonymous]

To biggy-back off that therapy post, does anyone have any experience with, or opinions about, Phoenix House for teens?

[Anonymous]

They are very good. Unfortunately, I know a few teen graduates. Fortunately, all but one have been successful in maintaining what they worked for there.

It may not be the place for your teen. I would definitely go and talk to them, though.

[Anonymous]

Isn't this a residential rehab?

Without knowing anything about the specifics of this program, I wouldn't choose a rehab for someone who has mental health problems and incidentally has some drug problems. No matter what they say, the real viewpoint of most so-called dual diagnosis rehabs is that the mental health problems are caused by drug use. While it is true that sometimes drug use triggers mental health problems, in many, many cases the mental health problems precede the drug use, which is a form of self-medication.

Having had to research this (unfortunately), I have found that there are very, very few dual diagnosis places that actually are set up to deal directly with mental health problems. Almost all therapy is group therapy and even when you go to the most expensive of these rehabs you are lucky to get individual therapy once a week. They tend to be staffed by drug counselors, often former addicts themselves, and not by real therapists.

[Anonymous]

You are partly accurate.

Yes it is rehab. Part of it is inpatient, part outpatient.

With respect to mental health issues and treatment, it is irrelevant which preceded what. Once you have an addiction problem you must treat that first. Whatever underlying mental health issues are there (many of which evaporate or ameliorate after removing the substance) can only be treated after the addiction is treated.

[Anonymous]

And to follow-up, Phoenix House will tell you straight up that they treat substance abuse and will refer you to a therapist rather than a counselor for additional treatment. At which point you may consider a place like the Meadows, which is staffed by psychiatrists and psychologists, many of whom are well-respected authors in their own right. They treat many mental health issues (and addiction as well) which have their Genesis in childhood trauma. Places like that, though, are pricey . . . Like 50 grand a month pricey. And Ibamacare will not pay for much.

So. Get rid of the drugs and alcohol and then try to treat the residual primary or secondary mental illness.

[Anonymous]

I think the two PPs above are proving my point. Dual diagnosis is a marketing ploy for rehabs that are just rehabs and not doing anything special for mental health.

I disagree that mental health problems evaporate with treatment for drug issues--pretty much the line that dual diagnosis places take. Occasionally, that is the case but more often it is not.

Victims of sexual abuse, for example, are something like 20 times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than the general population. Treating the drug problem does not magically make the fallout from the abuse go away.

[Anonymous]

I think we're saying the same thing.

Use the appropriate tool for the appropriate problem.

And good rehab places may talk about dual diagnosis, but understand their limits. Depression is often a side effect of drinking and drugging. It is also the cause of drinking and drugging. But you won't know which is which until you eliminate the drinking and drugging.

And to follow up on you last point, it is impossible to treat underlying trauma and its fallout (like sexual abuse and PTSD) until you remove the patina of a drug/drink addled mind.

[Anonymous]

I had a meeting with them in person and liked the person I met with. I attempted to get my 16 year old DD to enroll in their 30 day program for heavy pot use. Unfortunately, she refused to go and you have to voluntarily commit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a meeting with them in person and liked the person I met with. I attempted to get my 16 year old DD to enroll in their 30 day program for heavy pot use. Unfortunately, she refused to go and you have to voluntarily commit.

She might be more amenable to attending Marijuana Anonymous meetings. There are meetings in Alexandria, Falls Church, DC, and Bethesda. You do not have to be clean to go, you do not need to say anything, and there typically is no pressure (individual meetings each have their own culture).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a meeting with them in person and liked the person I met with. I attempted to get my 16 year old DD to enroll in their 30 day program for heavy pot use. Unfortunately, she refused to go and you have to voluntarily commit.

She might be more amenable to attending Marijuana Anonymous meetings. There are meetings in Alexandria, Falls Church, DC, and Bethesda. You do not have to be clean to go, you do not need to say anything, and there typically is no pressure (individual meetings each have their own culture).

Can parents go to Marijuana Anonymous meetings? The meeting is noted as an open meeting and I'm interested in hearing from users to gain some perspective.

[Anonymous]

^^As long as it's an open meeting, you can go. It may be worthwhile for you to scout out different meetings and get a feel for each. The atmosphere can vary a great deal among them, and you may feel more comfortable sending your DD to some more than others.

[Anonymous]

^^You could also consider attending a few Naranon meetings for yourself.

I have also heard there is an Al-Anon meeting Sunday evenings in Georgetown that many parents of kids with drug problems attend. But just what I have heard...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^As long as it's an open meeting, you can go. It may be worthwhile for you to scout out different meetings and get a feel for each. The atmosphere can vary a great deal among them, and you may feel more comfortable sending your DD to some more than others.

Thanks for the info. I'm looking to attend alone as my DD doesn't think she has a problem even though her Junior year grades tanked, she dropped all extra curricular activities and admitted that every dime she earned at her part time job went towards pot.

[Anonymous]

Maybe speaking to people closer in age would help.

There is an AA meeting at Vienna Presbyterian on Saturday nights at 8:00 that is full of younger people (under 25) who I know have had their battles with drugs and not just alcohol. Maybe she/\'ll listen to them.

And yes, you can go and check it out. And meet some people and ask what you can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^As long as it's an open meeting, you can go. It may be worthwhile for you to scout out different meetings and get a feel for each. The atmosphere can vary a great deal among them, and you may feel more comfortable sending your DD to some more than others.

Thanks for the info. I'm looking to attend alone as my DD doesn't think she has a problem even though her Junior year grades tanked, she dropped all extra curricular activities and admitted that every dime she earned at her part time job went towards pot.

My DS went through a heavy pot phase when he was a sophomore and although his grades didn't drop, they certainly weren't at the level that we expected of him. We tried going to marijuana anonymous meetings but it seemed rather unproductive so in turn we made a deal with our son that he would lose all privileges including cell phone and Internet when his grades dropped below a 3.0. He was fine the rest of high school.