The Success of Teen Challenge
TEEN CHALLENGE NATIONAL STUDIES
A recent study conducted by the Center for Compassion at Evangel University confirms that an astonishing 78% of graduates from Adult & Teen Challenge addiction recovery centers remain sober and substance free post-graduation!
The findings, announced just today, confirms anecdotal evidence that Teen Challenge graduates are uniquely successful at finding and maintaining freedom from addiction.
Adult & Teen Challenge president, Gary Blackard, had this to say of the results “As an organization with a sixty-one year history of working with people struggling with addiction – we’ve always known that our programs were successful, especially when compared to other research in this area. As a faith-based and Christ-Centered program – we see miracles of people finding freedom from addiction every day. This study confirms that there is something radically different happening at Adult & Teen Challenge. It is truly gratifying to see hard data that validate our work and ministry.”
Respondents to the survey were between 8 and 20 months post completion from an ATC program. Seventy-four centers participated in the study, and their staff contacted 968 former graduates. After eliminating responses that were either incomplete or did not meet the inclusion criteria, 340 participants were retained in the study, resulting in a response rate of 35%. Significant findings of the report include:
• 92.9% reported NO new legal problems post-graduation
• 25.9% have enrolled in new education or training
• 91% reported improved quality of relationships with family members
• Respondents who met ATC’s definition of sobriety reported a greater connection with God as compared to those who were categorized as non-sober.
Dr. Donna Washburn, Director of the Center for Compassion at Evangel University and lead researcher, cites another positive outcome; “Individuals responding to this survey overwhelmingly indicated holistic improvement across multiple health indicators, from sobriety to relational and spiritual dimensions, following their recovery through Adult and Teen Challenge centers”.
This study is the first, among many more to come, to quantify the work being done by Adult & Teen Challenge centers nationwide. The study is available online at TeenChallengeUSA.org/studies.
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Teen Challenge is one of the most effective drug, alcohol and addiction programs. While most secular drug rehabilitation programs only experience a cure rate of 1-15% of their graduates, Teen Challenge has a 70-80% cure rate for the clients graduating from its program.
– National Institute on Drug Abuse
Life Is Tough
Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”After Adam and Eve sinned and God made life difficult for them, (pain for Eve and sweat for Adam, due to unproductive means of production, similar to today) the result on the family was disastrous: Cain was so angry at Abel that he planned his murder. Is it possible that Adam and Eve’s dysfunction affected Cain which caused him great pain?The bible reveals to us that children go through a ton of trouble as they grow up, even in well balanced families. Add to that the normal pressure families experience due to the difficulties in their work places, family finances, the lack of availability of well-paying jobs, as well as the moral decay of the world, and it should be no surprise that children growing up today struggle with their faith, identity, purpose and often lose hope.
TEEN CHALLENGE & THE FAMILY MODEL
Teen Challenge is also living out the model that God has established for us.
TEEN CHALLENGE & THE FAMILY MODEL
JESUS IS THE ANSWER.
John writes “In him was life.” Helping people find a deep relationship with Jesus is the foundation of TC because we believe Jesus is the foundation for new life. Living together as a family unit 24/7, for 365 days is one of the keys to TC success.
WORKING TOWARD WORKING AGAIN
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Work is an important part of healing; people who never work, have a difficult time healing. Working with the right attitiude is foundational in our TC program. Helping others by mentoring and being mentored with the goal of helping them reach their potential is an important part of life. TC as an Ohana helps clients find God’s plan for them and where they might contribute and make a difference in society. They learn to serve each other and eventually to work alongside others. They learn that “a man skilled in his work…will serve before kings.” TC as a family unit is super effective in teaching clients to learn to work and bring hope through work.
LEARNING TO LIVE AS PART OF THE FAMILY
Bruce Alexander discovered in his Rat Park experiment what Teen Challenge already knows: family living together is a crucial part of breaking free from addiction. The love and support gained from connecting with each other daily help them break free from the addictions that once ruled their lives. The clients in the program become an Ohana (family). This is the essence of the lesson learned from Rat Park. Even rats realize that it’s not good to be alone.
WE HAVE A FAMILY CONNECTION PROBLEM, NOT MERELY AN ADDICTION PROBLEM.
STRONG STABLE FAMILY CONNECTION IS THE WAY.
In a landmark study that examined drug addiction in the 1970s, psychology professor Bruce Alexander examined the addictive effects of morphine on rats caged in isolation versus rats living with others in what he called a “Rat Park,” filled with male and female rats, balls and wheels for play, and enough space for mating. His results were astonishing. Alexander found that drugs themselves did not cause addiction and death, but it was isolation, or an environment without support that was so detrimental. “People do not have to be put into cages to become addicted,” Alexander said, “but is there a sense in which people who become addicted actually feel ‘caged’?”
For Teen Challenge, the lesson from Rat Park is simple: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Those in addiction feel alone and trapped in their loneliness. Our program helps them connect with a new family and bring new hope to their lives.