Dealing with drugs
Editor's note: The name has been changed in this story to protect the privacy of the subject.
With a rise in drug cases in Bureau and surrounding counties, finding an appropriate facility for juvenile addict or alcoholic to recover is crucial.
John Davis (not his real name) is a recovering alcoholic. He and his wife have counseled recovering alcoholics and drug addicts in their home for the past few years.
His personal experiences, as well as the experience of counseling others, means Davis has plenty of information to offer those seeking a drug rehabilitation facility for their child.
"The questions people need to ask these facilities includes their cost; if their insurance will cover it; how many beds they have. People need to know what the facility works on specifically," Davis said.
Davis offered up several facilities in Rockford, Bloomington, Chicago and Peoria as viable facilities for people to take their son or daughter who is battling an addiction problem. All the facilities he spoke of have the option of inpatient care available.
"A lot of times with teenagers, they need to be inpatient to keep them away from other people. If you're taking your kid to intensive outpatient, and they're coming home at night and they're still hanging around the same crowd, it's not doing any good," Davis said.
Specific goals of each treatment center vary, however, the basic concepts and goals are similar. They include helping the young person to see they have an addiction, convincing them there's another way to live their life, teaching them the skills they need to live without abusing substances and helping them connect with services in their own community. Most treat children between the ages of 12 and 18. Some offer academic programs along with their drug treatment.
"Most treatment facilities I know, 28 days is a minimum for really good work. They incorporate AA or NA into the program, a 12-step program," Davis added. "Narcotics anonymous is more prevalent in your larger cities, Bloomington, Chicago, Peoria. I don't think there is anything in the LaSalle-Peru area. But there is an (Alcoholics Anonymous) everywhere."
"AA groups around here pretty much let you in. If you come in and say you're only an addict, they'll lead you toward a Narcotics Anonymous. If alcohol is apart of it, just say, 'I'm an alcoholic and an addict,'" Davis said.
Most facilities offer individual and group counseling, affording participants the privacy of speaking with a counselor plus the opportunity to talk with peers who own the same issues and problems.
Some facilities are designed to treat youth who are encountering behavioral or interpersonal emotional problems.
Davis said some of the programs are rigorous, harsh, while others offer a softer approach to the counseling. Prices can run from $30 to more than $1,000 a day.
"There are limited facilities but they can't say no to these kids. If the facility can't meet the child's needs or if they say they're too full, then that facility should find a hospital or treatment center that can help the family," said Davis about the aggravation of waiting lists that often greet parents when they attempt to bring their child in.
Davis said the facilities parents need to help their child are out there.
It is merely taking the time to find the right one to meet the child's needs.
"Parents should set aside their fear of what friends and family will think of their child in rehab. Rather, parents should think of what their friends and family would think if they did nothing, and their child died," Davis said.
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