| Teenage drug addiction is a huge problem in the | | | | enrolled in these schools are recovering addicts. They |
| United States. Any teenager can have a drug | | | | are able to lean on each other for support, and |
| addiction; it is not isolated to any particular race, | | | | hopefully make friends with other teens that know |
| environment or age. Parents of these teenagers | | | | the difficulties a drug addict faces. |
| have some very tough decisions to make, and some | | | | The teens are in school the same hours as a regular |
| are just not able to face the problem at all. These | | | | high school. These schools provide counseling to give |
| parents need to know they have the option of | | | | the teens the tools they need to make it in the real |
| sending their student to a special school for long term | | | | world, without turning to drugs again. These are |
| rehabilitation. | | | | considered long term programs, and are more |
| These schools are all across the United States and | | | | successful than a typical drug rehabilitation program. |
| are often called "sober" schools. These schools can | | | | When the teens go home for the day, they are |
| provide a teenager with education and provide | | | | expected to stay clean and sober. Unlike a treatment |
| rehabilitation services. Drug addiction is something that | | | | center, the person is constantly supervised and has |
| is difficult to overcome. Sending a teenager to a | | | | less exposure to real world temptations. The schools |
| normal high school could be exposing them to more | | | | are teaching the teens from day one how to stay |
| drugs and peer pressure. | | | | clean, and live a normal life. |
| There are private and public sober schools available. | | | | The classes are very small, making it very personal |
| However, the number of public sober schools is very | | | | for the teachers and students. A teacher will get to |
| low, and may not be possible because of where they | | | | know a student, and therefore be able to provide |
| are located. These schools usually require a teen to | | | | more support. The teachers are aware of the |
| be enrolled in a recovery program, and submit to | | | | difficult struggle and are able to encourage the |
| random drug testing. All the students that are | | | | teenager to stick it out and succeed in graduating. |