Drug addiction rehabilitation program for youth - Portage Keremos, BC

Substance abuse rehabilitation program for adolescents

Portage Keremeos, BCat “The Crossing”

I have the right to be happy and to be treated with care and understanding . I have the right to be safe . I have the right to say what I feel

"In my addiction, I was missing the basic fundamental needs of living a happy and successful life. With the support from my peers and the dedicated staff, as well as all the tools I have learned, finally I am able to feel good about myself and the choices I am making. Portage has saved my life. It is such an amazing place and it can help anyone who is willing to put in a little dedication."

- Jon, Portage Keremeos graduate

Testimonial


• Portage rehabilitation programs• Therapeutic Community Approach• Video – Portage BC• Adolescent Program

Summary


• Québec (since 1973)• Adolescent Programs• Adult Programs• Mother and Child Program• Mentally Ill Chemical Abusers Program (MICA)• Employment Reintegration Programs

• Ontario (since 1985)• Adolescent Program

• Atlantic (since 1996)• Adolescent Program

• British Columbia (since 2009)• Adolescent Program

Portage across Canada


• Treatment approach based on• self-help• mutual support• peer role-modelling• reality therapy• motivational interviewing• cognitive behaviour

• The community is the therapist• Residents are taught to shape their own values,

develop a realistic perception of their lives, and build self-respect and self-confidence.

Therapeutic Community Approach


• Voluntary admission• Highly structured and safe residential environment

• Residents acquire competencies through• Participation in groups and activities• Taking on various roles and responsibilities• Interacting with their peers, who serve as role models

Therapeutic Community Approach


VideoPortage BC

Addiction Rehabilitation Program

http://www.portage.ca/bc/testimonials/substance-abuse-rehabilitation-program


• A participant often demonstrates the following characteristics:• Started using drugs as young as 10 or 11 years of age• Lost interest in school and usually not attending regularly• Has been abusing drugs and/or alcohol for approximately 4

years – primarily marijuana, hallucinogens, cocaine and opiates

• Alienated from family, and may no longer live at home• Often involved in criminal activities

Portrait of Portage’s Adolescent Clientele


• Residential drug rehabilitation centre• Residential program – up to 6 months• Aftercare follow-up – 2 years

• For youth 14-18 years with substance abuse issues• Gender-specific programming• Portage Academy

• On-site school programming through the Okanagan-Similkameen District 53 School Board

• Family-type setting within the therapeutic community• Structured and safe

residential environment

Adolescent Program Overview


• Eliminate abusive consumption of drugs/alcohol• Develop skills and acquire social aptitudes• Improve interpersonal skills and family

relationships for better social support system• Social reintegration: back to school, work, or

volunteer work

Treatment Objectives


• Youth learn that trust and honesty is the key to coming to terms with the difficulties they have experienced.

• By sharing with their peers, they discover they are not alone and that many have experienced similar situations.

In the Portage Community


• Phase 1: Welcome and integration into therapeutic community

• Phase 2: Competency acquisition• Phase 3: Introspection and application• Phase 4: Taking on responsibilities• Phase 5: Validation of acquired therapeutic skills

and plan for social reintegration (family, school, work, activities)

• Phase 6: Social reintegration

Program Phases


• Created with the resident upon admission and revised monthly• Objectives and plans for drug issues, physical

health, mental health, personal development, social skills, family, education, etc.

• Competency development phases• Length of stay based on individual need• Monthly case conferences

Individualised Treatment Plan


• On-site school programming, adapted to residents’ needs• Sports and recreational activities• Career counselling service• Company visits• Community involvement• Weekend outings• Parent/resident groups

Programming


• From 6:30 am to 9:00 pm• Morning meeting• Therapy groups• Activities and workshops• Lunch• On-site school programming at Portage Academy• Dinner • Night meeting

A Typical Day


• Preparation for social reintegration• Reintegration visits with family• Support seeking appropriate school environment • Support seeking counselling; individual, group counselling

services• Support seeking housing• Career planning and company visits

Social Reintegration


• Follow-up for 2 years to support youth in transition • Relapse prevention• Follow-up phone calls• Support groups • Individual counselling, if necessary• Back in touch visits• Employment counsellor and job search strategies• Guidance counsellor services• Continuum of Care

Aftercare Services


• For those who, for whatever reason, do not complete residential treatment• 2 years• Periodic telephone calls, tailored to individual needs• Individual meetings, where necessary• Eventually, participants can return to residential therapy at

Portage or elsewhere, if necessary

Continuing Care


• Family Days • Therapeutically focused groups and visits• Build trust, confidence, balance, and skills to cope

with youth in treatment

• Transition planning to create a strong support network

• When reintegrating back into the family, establishing expectations in the home and providing support to both youth and their families

Family Services


• A dynamic and multidisciplinary team• Drug addiction counsellors, psycho-educators, nurses,

teachers, employment and guidance counsellors, and other resources

• Responsibilities• Ensure the physical and psychological safety of residents• Supervise, support, counsel, and assist with learning and

new competency acquisition • Monthly treatment planning sessions, weekly follow-up• Parent/guardian/agency contacts via telephone and/or

email

Portage Keremeos Staff Team


• A research study on Portage’s services (2003 to 2008) concluded that:• 66% of the adolescents who spent more than six months at our

centres were still abstinent more than a year after leaving the residential program.

• After treatment, the majority of graduates go back to school or back to work

• The majority enjoy improved relationships with their family members and develop a positive social network

Results


"I came to Portage with a lot of issues like abandonment, loss, resentments, addictions, regrets and so on. By being at Portage I was able to learn how to express my feelings and open up. I was like a safe that was hard to crack open. When I finally did open up, all the hurt of a five year old boy came out. I am now a mature young man. Portage gave me many of tools to help me succeed in life. I have learned how to have structure in my life. I have also developed self-respect and learned to love who I am. My past addiction rarely goes through my head and I now wish for a successful life which I believe I will get because of my time at Portage." – Cody, Portage Keremeos resident

Testimonial

Substance abuse rehabilitation

centre for adolescents

Portage Keremeos - BCat “The Crossing”

250.499.4165www.portage.ca

Health & Medicine

Drug addiction rehabilitation program for youth - Portage Keremos, BC