Weems offers outpatient program for teen-agers

By Staff
Special to The Star
Feb. 7, 2001
Adolescents with a drug and alcohol problem now have an alternative to inpatient treatment.
With the help of a grant from The Riley Foundation, Weems Community Mental Health Center has created the Adolescent Intensive Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Program a highly structured community-based treatment program.
Eligible adolescents are those under 18 years of age with substance abuse problems that do not require detoxification, as well as those who do not have medical problems requiring inpatient treatment.
Adolescents requesting admission, or those who are referred, will be evaluated as to the severity of their substance use for proper placement in outpatient, intensive outpatient or inpatient treatment.
The new outpatient program consists of 10 weeks of intensive substance abuse treatment. Included in this treatment process are an intake interview, group lecture and therapy sessions, weekly individual therapy, family involvement, aftercare, drug testing and Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
These services will be provided outside of school hours so that the adolescents can attend school without disrupting their schedules.
The importance of family involvement in the treatment process is emphasized and family members will be seen in individual counseling, family therapy or family group. The goal of the program is to discharge participants alcohol- and drug-free after 10 weeks of treatment.
This program started in mid-January. New participants may enter at any time, with space permitting.
A grant from The Riley Foundation makes it possible to provide this treatment at no cost to participants or their families.
Over a period of 30 years, Weems has grown to provide a variety of mental health services to residents of all ages within this region, including outpatient counseling for emotional/behavioral problems and outpatient and inpatient treatment programs for substance abuse.
For more information:
Weems Community Mental Health Center serves Region 10 of the Mississippi Mental Health System, including Clarke, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott and Smith counties. For more information about the Adolescent Intensive Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Program, call 483-4821.