Treatment Services for Youth

AADAC provides a full range of programs and services for Alberta youth and their families.

• Information services: Information for youth and families is available in print, online and through counsellors at all AADAC offices and youth centres.
  
  
• Outpatient services: Individual assessment and counselling, as well as parent and family counselling, are available through any AADAC area office or youth centre.
  More >> Counselling
  
  
• Mobile services: AADAC’s outreach counsellors can provide services outside the office environment where it makes more sense to engage youth differently.
  
  
• Intensive Day Treatment Programs: Day programs are available in Edmonton and Calgary for youth who need more intensive counselling. These 12-week programs offer residential support for youth who can't reach the program from their current living situation.
  More >> Day Treatment
  
  
• Residential Detoxification: Planned entry into residential detox programs is available in Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge for all Alberta youth. These programs help youth withdrawing from drugs while engaging them in a treatment process. Family involvement and planning for longer-term treatment are part of the detox program.
  More >> Detoxification
  
  
• Residential Treatment Program: Adventure-Based Therapy (Calgary). This three-month wilderness program runs year-round to provide youth with an experiential and active approach to treatment. Using the environment to challenge youth to think and act differently, this program is a good match for youth who may benefit from a more remote environment while recovering from their addiction.
  
  
• Residential Treatment Program: Urban-Based Group Treatment (Edmonton). This three-month program is available for youth who need the structure of a residential setting. Close proximity to health care and mental health resources make this setting ideal for youth who require close supervision and access to urban resources.
  
  
• Residential Treatment Program: Group Treatment (Lethbridge). This three-month group program combines the services and resources available in Lethbridge with opportunities for wilderness-based treatment experiences.
  More >> Residential Treatment
  
  
• Protection of Children Abusing Drugs (PChAD) Program: Protective Safe House Assessment and Detoxification (Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Picture Butte). Effective July 1, 2006, this program allows parents/guardians to apply for a court appointed apprehension and confinement order if their child’s use of alcohol/drugs is likely to cause significant psychological or physical harm to themselves or others. This order would permit a child to be taken to a protective safe house for up to five days to begin detoxification, allow counsellors to assess the child and offer treatment recommendations to follow once he has been discharged from the program.
  More >> PChAD: Information for Parents
  More >> PChAD: Information for Youth
  

An AADAC counsellor will help children and families find the best treatment match for their needs, and will help put together an individualized treatment plan that best suits a particular child and family.

To learn more about AADAC services for children and families, call the AADAC Help Line at 1-866-332-2322 or contact our Youth Services centres in Edmonton, Calgary or Lethbridge.