Phoenix Academy at Lake View Terrace (Los Angeles County) and Phoenix Academy at Descanso (San Diego County)
Problems addressed
Drug abuse
Internalizing behaviors/problems
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Residential - Mental health or therapeutic community services
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a residential treatment program, based on the therapeutic community model, for adolescents aged between 13 and 18 with comorbidities associated with drug abuse and their families. The aim is to reduce drug and/or alcohol consumption, regularize the mental health situation, and work on conflictual interactions with school and family.
During treatment, adolescents undergo a biopsychosocial assessment; family counseling and education; medication management; psychoeducation; crisis intervention; cognitive behavioral treatment; education services; and medical and dental care.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that program participants reported a reduction in substance use and psychological distress levels during the first 12 months of the intervention. However, the results did not persist after that period [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Abrahamse, A. F., Ebener, P. A., Greenwood, P. W., Fitzgerald, N. & Kosin, T. E. (1991). An experimental evaluation of the phoenix repeat offender program. Justice Quarterly, 8(2), 141–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418829100090971

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