Writers Note: This story contains mention of suicide, death and abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, there are multiple places you can contact. You are able to chat or call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. You can also call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline need Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225
The “Troubled Teen Industry” includes boot camps, behavior modification facilities, wilderness therapy and gay conversion camps. All of these places are marketed towards parents who feel as though they want their child’s behavior or attitude to be changed. These places claim that they can solve or “fix” the children’s behavioral problems. Parents believe the core problems of their child are being disrespectful, staying out late, drug and alcohol usage, being entitled or doing poorly in school.
The children are trapped in secluded camps with no way of defense or outside contact. They are often taken from their homes against their will in the middle of the night. They have no say or choice whether they go to these places or participate. The people who work at these facilities are mostly unlicensed and fail to understand the importance of consent in the treatment of any issue regarding the child. There are many people who have come forward with horror stories and told their traumatic experiences from these places.
People have been telling their stories by using social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and other websites such as today.com. Streaming services have also been publishing about the “Teen Troubled Industry.” Netflix has also came out with a documentary titled “The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping” which has people tell their stories of being trapped in a troubled teen facility called the Academy Ivy Ridge. Ivy Ridge was closed in 2009 due to health and safety concerns. However, there are still many troubled teen facilities like this still open today.
With these kinds of facilities closing, it may seem like a win. Which it is however, it’s a small one since there are still numerous camps and places that still are open and active.
I feel a little better knowing that some places have been shut down, however having the knowledge that these facilities and camps still exist is spine-chilling. The fact that they can get passed by the state and government for being uncertified, unlicensed and unregulated with little to no consequences is horrifying.
In 2008 the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published the report “Residential Programs: Selected Cases of Death, Abuse, and Deceptive Marketing.” The report “identified thousands of allegations of abuse, some of which resulted in death, at residential programs across the country and in American-owned and American operated facilities abroad.” Even with these reports and cases, there is still no federal oversight over these camps and facilities which is absolutely ridiculous. Many states exempt religious boarding schools from licensing requirements, oversight from education and child welfare authorities. States and facilities do not keep track of the number of placements or the length of the children’s stay. It feels unreal to me that any place could have such little care and regard for the safety of teenagers and children. The fact that the federal government turns a blind-eye to the heavy amount of abuse and deaths that happen at these facilities is disgusting.
In some extreme cases, children have been sexually and physically abused, experienced solitary confinement and have even been murdered. There have been over 300 reported deaths from these camps and facilities since 1976. A majority of the deaths are caused from restraints, suicide, medical neglect and other forms of neglect. More statistics on the deaths of children in these facilities can be found at thetroubledteenindustry.com. The Troubled Teen industry still profits over $1 billion a year even though there have been numerous cases that should convince parents or parental guardians to not send their children to these places. It’s sad to see parents are still sending their children to these facilities, if they are aware of the abuse that can happen. I would assume that if a parental guardian researched these facilities, they would reconsider sending their children there.
Some people have claimed that these places have “corrected” their child’s behavior. However, this is often a masked behavior due to a trauma and obedience response, not a new healthy mindset. In all, the entire industry should be protested against and boycotted. I encourage parents to have a long, impactful talk with their child first before going to extreme actions of sending their child away.
All in all, I strongly suggest that parents should do thorough research on these places before sending their children there. No child deserves to be abused and traumatized, regardless of if the child has behavioral problems. Parents should have a talk with their kids and give their own (non violent) punishments to their children instead of just sending them somewhere with strangers they know nothing about. The trauma that can happen to a child could be irreversible and cause long-term problems for the child. The history of these facilities and the trauma it can give a child should be more than enough to convince any parent with a conscience to not send their child to any Troubled Teen Industry facility. The Child Mind Institute provides information on parenting and communicating with children and teens. There are also licensed therapy services that can provide more help with children and teens. Psychology Today will list therapists, treatment centers and support groups that can be found in your area by putting in your city and zipcode.
