Help for Parents with kids abusing drugs or alcohol.

Treatment Programs

Why should I consider a treatment center for my child?

If you found out your child had a life-threatening illness or injury, what would you do: pray or go to a medical specialist? Regardless of your answer, you would do both. You should do the same with treatment.
Addiction to chemicals is life threatening. By the time the parent learns about it, it has been going on for a significant period of time.
An addict child is at risk for IDS (insanity, death or suicide). You cannot let shame, guilt or rage get in your way of getting help.
Keeping the addiction a secret means lying to others. This consumes energy, deludes you and leads to guilt and shame.

Can you help me get over my uncertainty about treatment?

We do not recommend "Christian" treatment centers over "non-Christian" centers. The will, motivation and desire of the addict to be abstinent are the most important factors. (We recognize there is not universal agreement on this and we do not expend energy or time debating the issue.)
Child addicts need help with coping skills because they have been medicating themselves rather than dealing with issues.
Treatment begins with detoxification so that the addict is in the real world and comfortable about his/her behavior. Only a sober/lucid person can be confronted.
Our society says life should be pain-free. However, life is tough. Abstinence from drugs or alcohol is the only solution to confronting life and the reality is not easy. Treatment, then, must teach the addict how to deal with reality, to have faith in God through Christ and to live one day at a time.
Treatment does take time, a lot of time. It can be "in your face" for a while. One father who has had three kids go through treatment says, "Every family should go through treatment, whether or not there is an addiction problem, because it is so helpful."

When do we insist on treatment for our child?

We cannot stress too much the importance of rapid intervention and treatment.
Treatment is a process that the parents must initiate and in which they become active participants themselves.
You don't "send your kid off to get fixed." Parents must be involved.

There is help in finding a treatment center.

There are times when intervention is the only solution for an individual struggling with substance abuse. The following organizations operate nationally to help families in crisis find appropriate residential treatment for a loved one suffering from drug or alcohol abuse.

The Father’s Heart (www.thefathersheart.us)

Dr. James and Cherie Lindsey compiled and published a national database and directory of Christian residential ministries for children and youth. You can search the national directory online by state or you can order a hard copy by sending $20 to The Father’s Heart, 731 Beans Cove Road, Clearville, PA 15535. For referrals to Christian residential ministries, you may also call Jim and Cherie Lindsey at (814)767-9402 or email fathersheart@mindspring.com.

Hall Educational Consulting, Inc. (scottrhall@comcast.net)

Scott Hall is a former Campus Crusade for Christ staff member who now specializes in helping parents seeking residential placement for a child 13 to 26 years old. Scott offers extensive, first-hand knowledge of short-term wilderness programs, medium-term residential treatment centers, and longer term therapeutic boarding schools. He works with families throughout the U.S. and abroad. His is a fee-based service. You can call Scott at (610)889-0303 or send him an email.

A Lighthouse with Healthcare Solutions (www.lighthousesolutions.us)

A “single-point contact” that provides no-cost, confidential Christian assistance to those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. A single call to their toll-free hotline connects you with a Care Services Provider who can access a network of Christian and secular providers to meet the needs within the family; mentor your family throughout the entire treatment process, from admission into a program on through the recovery process, including education, intervention, guidance, and monitoring; and advise your family through difficult insurance, employment and legal difficulties. For no-cost, confidential assistance, call toll free: 1-866-890-CARE (2273) or visit their website.

NOTICE: Without warranty or guarantee of any nature the above are links to other sites that may provide information that could be helpful to you. "You're Not Alone" does not endorse any particular site nor any particular providers of services or information, nor has it performed due diligence concerning any sites, providers, or information listed.
You must perform your own investigation and independently evaluate the usefulness of any site, provider, or information.