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January 18, 2005
Teen Rehab: An
Investigative Report
Since the 1970s,
Americans have been shipping their children off to rehabilitation
centers, commonly referred to as "boot camps."
These programs
often claim they can change a troubled teen into a respectful child
in a few weeks time. But what really goes on at these facilities
where parents aren't allowed to visit?
We'll hear the
real story from adults who are still haunted by the facilities their
parents sent them to.
Samantha says
that the facility she was sent to in Florida when she was 13 was a
living nightmare. She claims that aside from the constant belittling
and verbal abuse, she was beaten and starved regularly. Later on,
after she had tried to escape the first time, Samantha alleges that
she was raped and then forced to have an abortion when she became
pregnant.
We'll talk to
her 2 sisters - one who was sent to the same facility and the
youngest who was able to avoid her mother's disapproval.
We'll also meet
Shannon who claims that the behavioral treatment center she went to
in Jamaica used unnecessary force against her that dislocated her
jaw.
Plus we'll meet
Johnny who claims he spent nearly his entire visit at a facility
locked in isolation.
All of these
former rehab inhabitants claim that they received little to no
education and counseling while they were there.
Find out today
why their parents chose to send them away and how some research
suggest that these programs are completely ineffective in helping
teens.
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Samantha: Says
she was beaten, starved, and raped while enrolled in a
rehabilitation program in Florida called Straight
Lisa: Samantha's
older sister who was also enrolled in Straight and says she was
forced to treat her sister badly while there
Cate: Samantha
and Lisa's younger sister who will talk about the effects Straight
had on her sisters
Shannon: Claims
her jaw was dislocated when she was inappropriately restrained at
the rehabilitation program where she was sent in Jamaica
Jayne: Shannon's
mother
David Pollack:
Shannon's attorney
Johnny: Alleges
that he was kept in isolation for 9 months - almost the entire
length of his stay at a rehabilitation facility
John: Johnny's
father
Maia Szalavitz:
A journalist who has written a book entitled, "Tough Love America,"
(due out later this year) about teen rehabilitation centers
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