1.      Your teen will need to have a Chemical Dependency Assessment to evaluate whether or not there is a drug/alcohol use problem, and if so, what level of treatment is recommended. Click here for more information on Chemical Dependency Assessments.

2.     If treatment is recommended, an Intake appointment is required prior to beginning treatment. At the Intake appointment your teen’s file is created, financial arrangements are made, and the treatment plan is discussed in detail. Finally, your teen’s initial counseling session is scheduled.

3.     The Initial Counseling Session is typically divided in two. The first half of the session is with your teen and their counselor. The second half of the session is with the parent/guardian and your teen’s counselor. This is an opportunity for the family to meet the counselor, discuss any questions or concerns, and identify what your teen, and the parent/guardian, are hoping to achieve as a result of your teen’s treatment.

We have very limited afternoon appointments, and these appointments get filled very quickly.

Most appointments are approximately an hour (45-60 minutes) long.

 We deeply value education and encourage your teen’s success in school. We understand that scheduling may require you’re teen to be pulled out of school for their counseling sessions. However, we believe that the skills your teen learns in our program will support their success in school.

 Often teens we work with struggle with some of the following:

• Attentional issues at school
• Impulsive behaviors at school that result in spending time out of the classroom, suspension or even expulsion
• Lack of motivation to complete assignments or the ability to follow through with assignments

 If your teen has an active drug/alcohol dependency issue, their chances of successfully completing school are significantly reduced. If the drug/alcohol dependency issue can be treated, often the teen is able to successfully re-engage in school.

The short answer is no.

We do not base our treatment recommendations on court or probation requirements. However, if an individual’s drug/alcohol use has resulted in interaction with the law there is a significant possibility that it would be in their best interest to engage in some form of treatment in order to address the drug/alcohol use issue and prevent future negative consequences that may result from continued use.

 Chemical Dependency treatment is not a punishment, though it may feel like it to those who do not seek treatment voluntarily. Addiction is a disease not unlike diabetes or cancer, chronic, progressive, and ultimately fatal if left untreated. However, unlike diabetes or cancer, addiction/alcoholism manifests in illogical or even insane behaviors.

No, not with our agency. Relapse is often a part of the recovery process. It is not reasonable to expect an individual with disease of addiction/alcoholism to immediately and successfully abstain from using drugs/alcohol; however, it does happen! When an individual is struggling to abstain from drugs/alcohol while engaging in treatment their counselor works with them to identify what the barriers are. Sometimes an individual is referred to a higher level of care, or other adjustments are made to their treatment program.

If your youth is court ordered to attend treatment Advanced Choices is required to communicate treatment progress to their probation officer; this includes any relapses, positive UAs, etc. The court and/or PO then make decisions regarding consequences.

All teens are required to sign releases of information to their parent/guardians and to any other referral source (legal, school, etc.). If your teen is unwilling to agree to releasing information we reserve the right to refuse treatment.

YES Case Management is mandatory for the following reasons:

1.      Teens are reminded of their treatment schedule for the week to come, including individual counseling sessions, or group outings that are scheduled.

2.      It is an opportunity to remind their counselor of any upcoming events such as court or PO appointments which may require involvement on the counselor’s part (to communicate with PO or school staff about teen’s progress or involvement in treatment).

3.      It is another opportunity for a random drug screen. This is especially important as weekends are a high risk time for teens.

In short, our program emphasizes:

1.     The neurobiology of addiction; how disease of addiction functions in the brain of someone with the disease of addiction differs from that the brain of someone that does not have the disease.

2.      The effects of drug and alcohol use specifically on the adolescent brain.

3.      Identification of the challenges of remaining abstinent.

4.      Strategies to gain control over impulsive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

We understand this concern. Advanced Choices is committed to doing our best to provide and maintain a safe and positive environment for all of our patients. This is very important within the teen program. Teens are especially vulnerable to peer influence and we recognize this. Advanced Choices insists on maintaining an environment that emphasizes mutual respect, personal responsibility, integrity, confidentiality, and trust.

No one ever has to follow treatment recommendations. Just as a doctor may recommend a diabetic change his/her diet, that person may choose to do any of the following:

1.      Deny they are diabetic and make no changes (pre-contemplation)

2.      Seek out a second opinion (contemplation)

3.      Consider making changes and do some research about how to begin (preparation)

4.      Begin to make changes (action)

5.      Maintain the changes they have made (maintenance)

A patient having had a Chemical Dependency Assessment who is recommended treatment may choose to do any of the following:

1.      Deny they have a problem with drug/alcohol use. (pre-contemplation)

2.      Seek out a second opinion by obtaining another assessment at a different agency (contemplation)

3.      Consider making changes in their drug /alcohol use and find out how to start by setting an appointment at a Chemical Dependency treatment agency of their choice (preparation)

4.      Begin to make changes by attending treatment and learning about how drug/alcohol use has affected, or is affecting,  their life  (action)

5.      Maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol by continuing treatment, and other recovery focused behaviors (maintenance)

You will receive a monthly progress report which includes the dates the teen attended treatment (groups, individual counseling sessions), the dates of any drug screens submitted and the results of each drug screen, and report on whether or not the teen is in compliance with treatment recommendations. This same report is sent to probation officers, school counselors, or other providers involved in your teen’s treatment (with a release of information in place).

Drug Screens: Your teen will be required to submit random drug screens (urinalysis- UA), both observed and unobserved. If your teen submits a positive drug screen the following process occurs:

1.      They are given a copy to take to their parent/guardian to sign

2.      Advanced Choices then calls the parent/guardian to confirm they signed the drug screen and discussed it with their teen.

3.      If the teen has a probation officer, the teen is encouraged to call their PO and inform them of their substance use and how they intend to get back on track.

4.      The counselor faxes the drug screen results and contacts the PO within 48 hours to discuss the drug screen.

5.      Sometime treatment changes are made, however, relapse or substance does not always lead to changes in treatment and/or probation violation.