Teen Challenge Programs Draw Some Criticisms About Methodology, Funding

Excerpt from the Montrose Daily Press (Montrose, CO)
http://www.montrosepress.com/articles/2007/08/19/news/doc46c7bda0a99cd874857761.txt

By Maggie Stehr
Daily Press Writer
Published on Sunday, August 19, 2007

According to the organization’s Web site, Teen Challenge programs are the “solution to the addiction crisis.” Since opening in 1958 and with more than 170 centers in the U.S., Teen Challenge officials claim to have cured thousands from drug and alcohol addictions.

But such testimonials have drawn criticisms from some former students, civil liberties experts and addiction specialists.

Some experts have argued that because some Teen Challenge centers and students receive federal funding, the programs violate the separation between religion and government. High success rates have contributed to ongoing governmental support of the faith-based drug treatment program, but not without opposition.

“These figures dramatically distort the truth, as they represent the successful treatment rate of only those participants who do not drop out of the program before completion, which includes less than one-fifth (18 percent) of the total number of students who actually participated,” argued Samantha Smoot, executive director of Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, which promotes church-state separation. In 2001, Smoot testified in Congress that funding for Teen Challenge should instead go towards secular drug rehab programs with stronger medical components.

Other opponents of Teen Challenge have labeled the evangelical groups as cults, alleging psychological abuse and manipulation by staff members.

Vicki Proffit, director of Teen Challenge House of Promise near Olathe, denies such negative claims but acknowledges the program contains a strong Christian focus.

Obviously Teen Challenge Didn't Work For This Teen Challenge Graduate

Hmmm, he recently graduated from Teen Challenge but now he's already on his way to prison for 3 years!

Winnipeg Theft News - Friday August 17, 2007
http://www.winnipegtheft.com/2007/08/17/robber-falls-off-rehab-path/

Recovery Center Plan Draws Concern From Neighbors

Looks like another neighborhood also has issues with Teen Challenge!

KVAL News- August 16, 2007- Eugene, Oregon:
http://www.kval.com/news/local/9184537.html

Why Does Teen Challenge Need to Be Investigated?

To learn more about why people feel that Teen Challenge needs to be thoroughly investigated, I highly recommend reading my web blog in its entirety and then paying a visit to the following websites:

• The "Investigating Teen Challenge" Web Forum at- http://wwf.fornits.com/viewforum.php?f=57, which is proudly hosted on Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora Forum (http://fornits.com/wwf/index.php). Fornits Forum covers many of the Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification and Thought Reform facilities!

• "Behind the Walls: The Teen Challenge You Won't See" by Michael Kincheloe - http://www.teenchallengeexposed.com/

• A very active thread about Teen Challenge at- http://www.topix.net/forum/city/minneapolis-mn/TN94VATH520HE9UQM#lastPost

• Another thread on Teen Challenge at- http://www.topix.net/forum/blogs/TEV4TDE8D9LDKTISS

• A Thread at The Bismarck Tribune - http://www.bismarcktribune.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=33

• Many more opinions about Teen Challenge can be found here- http://www.badsamaritan.com/archives/2001/10/the_teen_challenge_lady.php

• "Returning to Sanity" - http://www.exchristian.net/testimonies/2006/02/returning-to-sanity.html

• A new thread about Teen Challenge called- 'Subsidized Religion in MA' at Aces Full of Links - http://www.drmomentum.com/aces/archives/002976.html

• NEW: "Exploring and Exposing Dominionist Christianity" - http://community.livejournal.com/dark_christian/894971.html

• NEW: "watchpaul: Could it happen here?" - http://watchpaul.blogspot.com/2007/06/could-it-happen-here.html

• "The Texas Faith-Based Initiative at Five Years: Warning Signs as PresidentBush Expands Texas-style Program at National Level" - http://www.tfn.org/files/fck/TFN%20CC%20REPORT-FINAL.pdf

(Note: If you cannot open the above pdf file, you can download the "Foxit Reader", which is a free PDF document viewer and printer. http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php)

• To learn more about the the faith-based initiative, go to Americans United for Separation of Church and State website- "The 'Faith-Based' Initiative- Churches, Social Services & Your Tax Dollars" - http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=resources&page=NewsArticle&id=9051&security=1441&news_iv_ctrl=2422

• "Charitable Choice, Faith-Based Partnerships, and the Public Funding Of Religion" - http://www.atheists.org/public.square/charitablechoice.html

• "A Stark Truth For Policy Makers: Data Lacking to Support Claims of Faith-Based Social Program Success" - http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/faith14.htm

• "Faith Without Works" - http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0410.sullivan.html

• I am also posting the following web forum just in case someone feels it would suit them- , the "Ex-Pentecostal Forum" - http://p212.ezboard.com/bexpentecostalforums

• Read more about the Ex-Pentecostal Forum at the "Association of Former Pentecostals" - http://expentecostals.org/index.htm

ANOTHER GOOD READ:

• JESUS ‘LOVE-BOMBS' YOU - By Chris Hedges. http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/jesus_love_bombs_you/

Many other links are also listed over on the right-hand sidebar, along with the comments / concerns that people have about their bad experiences with Teen Challenge. Be sure to stop back as I add more info often!