Youth Drug Addiction Treatment & Rehabilitation Help – Teen Drug & Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center Information

1. Where is your drug and alcohol rehabilitation center located?

We are located in Malibu California between the majestic Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. We are one block from the beach on park like grounds surrounded by old growth trees. This site has proven to be ideal as it offers privacy, yet is not so remote that it creates safety concerns. For the protection and privacy of our clients, we do not publish the address.

2. Will I have my own room?

We offer both private and semi-private rooms. If you would prefer to reserve a private room, please inform us at the earliest possible time to insure that space will be available.

3. How long is your alcohol and drug abuse treatment program?

It is important to understand that there are no quick fixes when it comes to teen drug addiction. The average length of stay in residential treatment is thirty days. During the course of treatment program participants, families and treatment providers working together, may determine that a longer stay is required. Prior to admission however, there is no way to determine if longer term treatment is warranted.

4. Who will be providing treatment and how does that differ from other teen drug addiction treatment programs?

At Echo Malibu we have assembled a unique, world class team of professionals who have devoted their careers to the treatment of young people and their families. Echo Malibu is one of the few residential drug and alcohol treatment programs in which all therapy sessions are provided exclusively by licensed or certified professionals. Our therapists are trained to identify and treat the underlying causes of addiction rather than merely focusing on the behaviors that result from addiction.

5. Who else will be in treatment with my child?

The importance of this question can not be underestimated. Many treatment programs do not have stringent admissions criteria. As a result, youth who enter these programs are frequently and unnecessarily exposed to peers who introduce them to new, destructive behaviors and dangers. At ECHO, we are committed to a thorough screening process to insure that all persons accepted into the program are a good fit. In an effort to insure a safe treatment environment we do not accept persons who have a history of behaviors that might put others at risk.

6. Will my family's confidentiality be protected?

At Echo Malibu we take confidentiality very seriously. Every employee is subjected to an exhaustive background check and must sign the most stringent confidentiality agreement that we are aware of. We never allow community meetings or tabloid media into the facility. In fact, we don't publish the address of our facility anywhere. Our efforts to protect our client's confidentiality exceed the highest industry standards and regulations.

7. How many one-on-one sessions are offered?

ECHO provides all participants with one-on-one sessions each and every day. The use of group sessions to treat young people is appropriate and effective. It is important to note however, that it is possible for many important issues to go unaddressed in a program that relies too heavily on this modality. Individual sessions offer participants a unique opportunity to share privately, away from their peers. If a program is offering one-on-one sessions only one or two times a week, valuable treatment opportunities are likely to be missed.

8. How will attending treatment impact school?

When families come to us they often report that the person they are seeking treatment for has been having difficulties associated with school. The student may feel hopeless and discouraged. They may be thinking of quitting school or may be convinced that their prior performance will prohibit them from getting into the University of their choice. Programs that offer school programs that work in a silo, are often times ultimately unhelpful in getting academic careers back on track. It is important to know the specifics of the educational components of any treatment program.

At Echo, all program participants are provided a thorough education assessment upon admission. The on site teacher, working in conjunction with the primary therapist will devise an aggressive plan that will assist the participant in achieving his or her short and long term academic goals. With the permission of families, academic plans are coordinated with the participant's home school. In addition to working with the on site classroom teacher, participants work with tutors one-on-one in any areas that prove to be especially challenging. Often times participants arrive at treatment trailing behind in their studies and return to their schools, ahead of their classmates.

9. Will I be asked to do time consuming chores while in the program?

Surprisingly, there are still many treatment programs that require participants to do chores. This is often times justified as an experience designed to “humble” participants. Chores are sometimes even used as a form of punishment. While studies conducted as early as the 1970's clearly refute the therapeutic usefulness of having youth perform such labor, many programs continue to have their participants perform chores as a cost savings measure.

At Echo Malibu our participants are not asked to spend their valuable treatment time doing chores. They are simply asked to treat the facility with respect and to make their own beds each morning. We have a full time house keeping staff to take care of all other household needs.

10. What types of assessments are given?

A treatment plan can be no stronger than the assessments it is based on. That is why at Echo, all participants are given multiple assessments upon admission. Every participant will meet with our Medical Director, a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with a specialty in Addictionology, a licensed clinical psychologist for a psychological assessment, a case manager for a social assessment and our Director of Education for an educational assessment. We believe that it is imperative that we learn all that we can up front to design the best course of treatment.

It is important to note that this approach differs from the standard. At most programs, youth are assessed by an unlicensed para-professional who is charged with determining if there are factors present that would justify sending the youth to a licensed professional for an evaluation. Experience has taught us that this approach frequently results in important factors going undiscovered until a great deal of valuable treatment time has been lost.

11. What will the rest of our family be asked to do?

At Echo, we believe that family involvement is imperative for the successful treatment of all our program participants. We recognize that family members may be unable to participate in all aspects of treatment as a result of work commitments, geographic location or other factors. For this reason, we make every effort to reach out and provide our services by telephone or other means when necessary. We offer Parent Effectiveness Training, Individual Family Sessions and Multi-Family Groups. Our team is available to answer questions and provide support to families, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for families who currently have a loved one in treatment and as an after care service for families who have had a loved one complete treatment at Echo.

12. Can I visit the program before committing?

Yes. At Echo, we welcome all prospective families to visit, explore our facility and meet with members of our treatment team. We recommend that everyone visit a program before making a commitment. Many families report to us that they are surprised when they visit other facilities and learn that they are very different than what was presented in literature and on web sites. If a program is reluctant to have you make a visit, be very cautious.

13. Are treatment programs for teens different than adult programs?

The treatment of youth requires a very different approach, skill set and knowledge base than those required to treat adults. Youth have specific needs related to their physical, emotional and social development. It is important to know if the directors and staff members of any adolescent program have a history of successfully treating adolescents. It is also important to know if the treatment of adolescents has been and remains the primary professional focus of every team member, rather than a focus they have recently shifted to or something they do on the side.

14. When I come to treatment what should I bring with me?

Please bring enough comfortable clothing to last one week. You might also want to include a light jacket as the ocean breeze can be nippy in the early morning and evening hours. You will likely also want to bring your own grooming supplies as most of us have a specific brand of soap, toothpaste or shampoo, etc that we prefer. You are also welcome to bring photos, a stuffed animal or other personal items that might bring you comfort while you are in the program. We ask that you not bring items that are valuable, irreplaceable or that hold great sentimental value as we can not assure that the items will remain safe. Also, in an effort to keep the program physically and emotionally safe for everyone, we do not allow the following: weapons, cell phones, cameras of any type (video, digital, disposable, etc) or audible music players (personal players with headphones are acceptable.), non-prescription drugs, alcohol, clothing, music or other items that promote drug use, gang affiliation, or that are offensive to others based on their ascribed status.

15. Do you use the 12 Steps in your program?

The twelve steps are an important component of our treatment program. During your time at ECHO, you will be introduced to the twelve steps and attend some 12 step meetings. This is however only one layer in a comprehensive, multi-layered treatment plan. Programs that focus exclusively or primarily on the 12 steps during short term residential treatment, may be ill equipped and/or missing opportunities to address underlying clinical factors that impact addictive behaviors and relapse.

16. Will I be able to visit with my child during treatment?

Of course. Treatment is a time to strengthen family bonds with frequent, supportive, communication. Your child may call you any time he or she wishes. You may call your child any time you wish. Non-emergency calls will be held during therapeutic sessions. Family visitation is every Saturday. If you are unable to attend on Saturday and wish to make special arrangements to visit on another day, we will accommodate you. Also, there are sometimes special family occasions that occur while a youth is in treatment such as a wedding or similar event. In such cases we are happy to work with families on a case by case basis.

17. I use drugs because I feel sad and nervous, can you help with that?

Yes. Depression, anxiety and many other unhealthy feelings frequently precede drug and alcohol use. In fact many people begin using drugs and alcohol to self medicate for these feelings. When depression or other clinical conditions occur along with a chemical dependency they are called “co-occurring disorders”. The person with a co-occurring disorder might also be referred to as being “dually-diagnosed”. These terms simply mean that you are dealing with more than one issue simultaneously. This is more often the case than not. For this reason our regular, on site treatment team is comprised of a board certified Adolescent Psychiatrist, Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists and Chemical Dependency Counselors. Our goal is to provide you with a team of licensed professionals to offer you a comprehensive assessment followed by comprehensive treatment. We don't simply treat behaviors - we treat what is at the root of behaviors, thoughts and feelings.

18. My kid is completely out of control. Why should I consider a program like yours instead of a Boot Camp?

Often times when parents come to us they are at the end of their ropes. They are frustrated and disappointed in the path they see their child taking. It is natural in these circumstances to want a program that will grab them and force them to change. Unfortunately, there is overwhelming evidence that such an approach will not work. Boot Camps and Punitive Treatment Programs simply do not produce lasting results. If a young person has an adult standing over top of them, making every decision for them, telling them every move to make, it is not transferable to their real lives. You can't learn to make good decisions if you aren't allowed to make any decisions. Likewise, programs designed to scare young people straight have proven to be dismal failures at producing long term results. To produce lasting changes, youth and their parents must be empowered with the knowledge and skill set required to achieve and maintain sobriety. Youth must develop a healthy internal locus of control as families strive to understand the youth's individuation process and it's relationship to healthy decision making.

19. I have to go to court because I got caught with pot. Is there anything your program can do to help?

Sometimes young people wind up in treatment as a direct result of legal difficulties. We are uniquely equipped to assist you with such matters. We have multiple professionals on staff who are prepared to assist you and your family as you navigate the legal system. Our court liaison is a Psychologist who has served as a jury consultant for many high profile cases in Los Angeles. In addition we have multiple professionals on staff who played key roles in the development and implementation of the Los Angeles Juvenile Drug Court. Also, we have many well established relationships with judges throughout the nation and abroad. We have a full understanding of what courts need to see to know that youth have received proper treatment resulting in real and lasting changes. It is important to note that it is never our goal to enable young people by assisting them in the avoidance of natural and logical consequences. We do not believe however that mistakes that are a direct result of chemical dependency should result in permanently blemished records or lives.

20. What happens when I go home?

The first day you enter treatment, we begin planning your return home. Your life at home, outside of treatment remains the center point of all that we do. Every individual and group session is designed to provide you with skills and knowledge that are directly applicable to your life outside of treatment. We assist you with the development of formal and informal support systems to aid in maintaining your sobriety. We remain available to you for support and after care for as long as you need us.

21. Where can I get an answer to a question that I don't see addressed here?

If we haven't answered your question(s) simply give us a call. Weather your loved one comes to ECHO MALIBU or not, we are here to assist you and answer your questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We know how difficult it is to reach out and ask for help. It is the first and most challenging step on the road to recovery.

Call us anytime toll-free in the U.S. and Canada at: 800-780-ECHO. All calls are completely confidential.

If you prefer, you may also email us your question(s) at: info@echomalibu.com