viscousmemories

I just found out that my nephew (17) was getting pretty heavily into drugs and other rebellious behaviors, and so was coerced (not necessarily in a bad way... that is as yet uncertain) into agreeing to go to a place called Spring Creek Lodge.

From everything I've read on the Internet, this place seems like a fairly scary brain-washing camp. Do any of you know anything about it or know anyone who has been sent to a similar place?

I have found some allegations of abuse at other camps that are operated by the same company... one called Tranquility Bay in Jamaica, for example, but nothing about Spring Creek Lodge, which is in Montana.

christ-on-a-stick

viscous,

Sounds skeery to me. I am a bit wary of these types of programs for purely personal reasons.... one of my best friends in high school was sent to one of these type of things... somewhere in Arizona IIRC.... and I think it scarred him for life (not to be melodromatic or anything... )

I always had the impression that his parents opted for it because they (a "high-powered" attorney-and-dr. couple) couldn't be bothered to try and get INVOLVED in helping him. His "problems" were really not that severe and I think it was any easy way out for them.

Granted, I know nothing about your nephew's issues or anything about his parents so this could be a totally opposite scenario, but I do think that this type of intervention is pretty heavy-duty and not something to be resorted to right off the bat...

Sorry if I'm incoherent, to quote The Admiral...

...excuse me while I freshen my martini

viscousmemories

Thanks for the comments, christ.

I forgot to mention in the OP that the umbrella organization that Spring Creek Lodge operates under is WWASP. Unfortunately there's a whole website devoted to reporting abuse at WWASP facilities (http://www26.brinkster.com/bs4/). I really hope my nephew comes out okay. He's really a good-hearted kid, he just made some really bad choices. I can relate.

Having gone through some hardcore behavior modification myself (Army Basic Training) I can attest that the psychological damage can be pretty severe. I just hope it's not more than he can take.