I hear your frustrations and concerns. My husband finishes a year at Teen Challenge in March. He has been to two previous programs costing us around $40,000. Both were suppose to be "one of the best" rehab programs in the country. One was a three month program and one 28 days. Both based on the NA philosophies. You want to talk about crazy. I went for a week to the family program where I was told you could find a higher power in a tree. Yes they had some valid points and very interesting lessons on family psych. I myself have a PhD in education and have had many classes in psychology. I agreed with most things they were telling me. When he left he worked the NA steps and still went back to meth after being clean 11 months. As a Christian however, I did not agree with the spiritual side of NA/AA. It was like NA became his higher power and that is nothing but false hope. Jesus is the only true hope. I do have concerns about the finacial side of Teen Challenge. I agree with TC teaching discipline through work. I do not however agree with all of a students earnings being donated. TC should be open with earnings, salaries of staff, and how monies are dispursed. Also, because the students work all week Saturdays could be used for team building, skill building, witnessing, or other productive activities other than raising money. A good balance is never bad. I understand that it is expensive to house and feed that many students, however, if they are truely Christians and are not corrupt they should have nothing to hide and maybe former students would be trusting and donate more money just as we do to our church, college, and schools.
I'm concerned about your article. I feel it may be turning some people away that truely need help. There are good people at Teen Challenge. There are rotten eggs in all organizations. It may not have worked for you but please don't keep someone else from find hope through Christ and getting clean. I know you've been through it but I'm very thankful for the good lessons my husband has learned at TC that he was not taught as a child. He is much more humble and disiplined. I haven't seen him as mature as he is now. He too questions some things they do but leaves it in God's hand to take care of.
I sencerely hope your success continues and I also pray for anyone that is faced with addiction.
