Teen Challenge USA Statistics

 

 

Heroin Addiction: Teen Challenge vs. Transactional Analysis: A Statistical Study

Archie Johnston
California State College

The statistics are in a "Services Research Report-An Evaluation of the Teen Challenge Treatment Program" as issued by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; Public Health Service; Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration; and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

 

 

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Teen Challenge's Proven Answer to the Drug Problem

A Review of a Study by Dr. Aaron T. Bicknese
"The Teen Challenge Drug Treatment Program in Comparative Perspective"

Post-treatment Cravings of Alcohol or Drugs: Percent Answering Yes to the Question: "During the last six months have you had problems with craving alcohol or drugs?"

 

The results show that with at least one very popular type of publicly funded secular drug treatment program, Teen Challenge is in many ways far more effective. The study particularly emphasized Teen Challenge's ability to help students gain new social skills, so that upon leaving the program, the Teen Challenge student, compared to clients of the secular programs surveyed, is productively employed at a much higher rate and has a dramatically lower chance of returning for further residential treatment.

In 1994, another study was conducted by Dr. Roger Thompson at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Thompson also concluded that Teen Challenge had phenomenal success. Bicknese's research found that 86% of those Teen Challenge graduates interviewed for his study were abstaining from drugs. Says Bicknese, "Society need not write off drug abusers; cures can be expected. Productive participation in society by former addicts is not unrealistic." The study credited the success of the Teen Challenge program to the emphasis on a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ: what some have called "The Jesus Factor." Contrast these research results with the following comments about publicly funded programs from some of today's leading experts in the field of addiction treatment.

In contrast to publicly or insurer funded STI/AA programs, this study found that Teen Challenge not only was better equipped to help the same people that went to STI/AA programs, but was especially successful with groups such as absentee fathers and some ethnic groups who were severely addicted prior to program entry.

 

 

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Significant Research that Everybody Should Know

National Institute on Drug Abuse Report

The Teen Challenge definition of "drug-free" means abstaining from all use of narcotics, marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes. 67% of the graduates are drug-free as indicated by the urinalysis test. (86% stated they were drug-free on the questionnaire.)

72% of the graduates continued their education upon completion of Teen Challenge. The areas include getting their G.E.D., or pursuing college level education.

75% of the graduates indicated their current status as employed. 73% of the graduates are self-supporting by earning their own salary. Of those who are currently employed, 58% have been at their present job for over one year.

87.5% of the graduates did not require additional treatment in drug treatment programs after leaving Teen Challenge. Over 90% considered themselves addicted to drugs before entering Teen Challenge.

67% of the graduates are regularly attending church. 57% of the graduates are involved in church work.

92% of the graduates report good-excellent health, whereas the numbers are significantly lower for the other two groups, 59% and 75%.