Rehab High School
There’s new help for teens that have been through rehab and want to stay clean and sober: Rehab high school. They’re surrounded by other kids who’re in the same boat, and they can get the support and compassion they need to continue their education and recovery.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 1 in 12 teens that are addicted receive the treatment they need. But even those who get treatment usually go right back to the same schools and friends, and 75% of them relapse within the first year. In fact, Andrew Finch, founder of the Association of Recovery Schools, says that a lot of teens are offered their previous drug of choice on their first day back at school!
One student we read about went to rehab 5 times, but it didn’t stick until she transferred to a rehab high school. She’s been clean for 5 years, and just graduated from college.
One rehab school is Northshore Recovery High in Massachusetts. They say that 92% of the students there, who can stay sober for at least 90 days, end up graduating.
What’s the secret?
Well, at most schools, the drug users are labeled as the “bad kids.” At rehab high schools, there’s an atmosphere of support. Regular classes are mixed in with discussions about recovery, and how to avoid alcohol and drugs. They even have field trips to show kids that it’s possible to have fun without drugs or alcohol. If a student relapses, the school meets with them, and their parents, and helps them get back into treatment.
If you’d like more information, check out the website RecoverySchools.org.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 1 in 12 teens that are addicted receive the treatment they need. But even those who get treatment usually go right back to the same schools and friends, and 75% of them relapse within the first year. In fact, Andrew Finch, founder of the Association of Recovery Schools, says that a lot of teens are offered their previous drug of choice on their first day back at school!
One student we read about went to rehab 5 times, but it didn’t stick until she transferred to a rehab high school. She’s been clean for 5 years, and just graduated from college.
One rehab school is Northshore Recovery High in Massachusetts. They say that 92% of the students there, who can stay sober for at least 90 days, end up graduating.
What’s the secret?
Well, at most schools, the drug users are labeled as the “bad kids.” At rehab high schools, there’s an atmosphere of support. Regular classes are mixed in with discussions about recovery, and how to avoid alcohol and drugs. They even have field trips to show kids that it’s possible to have fun without drugs or alcohol. If a student relapses, the school meets with them, and their parents, and helps them get back into treatment.
If you’d like more information, check out the website RecoverySchools.org.
