http://oneandfour.org/archives/2010/01/teen_brains_medical_consent_behavior_modification.html Alex's Blog Fri, 18 May 2012 22:31:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 http://oneandfour.org/archives/2010/01/teen_brains_medical_consent_behavior_modification.html#comment-11766 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:20:20 +0000 http://oneandfour.org/archives/2010/01/teen_brains_medical_consent_behavior_modification.html#comment-11766 I have been a consultant for ten years and have visited hundreds of schools and programs for teens with special needs. I make it a point of talking with the kids during my visit and get their comments off the cuff and away from those who work there. I must say that the programs I visit are extremely kind to kids. I shudder to think what would happen to those teens if they ended up in correctional institutions, though the violent ones tend to end up there. These programs do not take aggressively acting out kids or actively suicidal kids, though they are dealing with teens who have issues, not the easiest of teeens. Naturally there are more dangers inherent in climbing mountains and belaying than keeping a teen locked up behind bars. The staff at these programs is extremely well qualified, experienced and trained, usually as emergency-first-responder as well. The therapists help teens reflect on their actions and teens decide what they want to do, what should matter to them, why they want to turn over a new page. Usually, these kids have gotten themselves into drugs and alcohol, then the grades started to drop in school, then they dropped out of school and started either running away or harming themselves by hanging around the wrong crowd. Is it better to let them do what they want at that point? Physiologically the teen brain is very susceptible to the effect of nicotine and alcohol. If it becomes imprinted with nicotine it can lead to a high propensity for addiction throughout life. Teens need to protect their brain. In light of this empirical fact, what's wrong with trying to stop these teens from digging themselves into a hole and turning into adults who hobble their way through life while nursing various addictions? What’s wrong with trying to help them reflect upon who they are, and what they can become? I wouldn’t describe any of the NATSAP programs as inhumane and into "behavior modification" the way that is described in the above article. On the contrary, the NATSAP programs are very humane and realize that real change comes from within the teen. They are the author of their life. What programs are you talking about? I would never put a teen into a program that I would not put my own child into. Claire Law, M.S. IECA Educational Consultant www.eduave.com I have been a consultant for ten years and have visited hundreds of schools and programs for teens with special needs. I make it a point of talking with the kids during my visit and get their comments off the cuff and away from those who work there. I must say that the programs I visit are extremely kind to kids. I shudder to think what would happen to those teens if they ended up in correctional institutions, though the violent ones tend to end up there. These programs do not take aggressively acting out kids or actively suicidal kids, though they are dealing with teens who have issues, not the easiest of teeens. Naturally there are more dangers inherent in climbing mountains and belaying than keeping a teen locked up behind bars. The staff at these programs is extremely well qualified, experienced and trained, usually as emergency-first-responder as well. The therapists help teens reflect on their actions and teens decide what they want to do, what should matter to them, why they want to turn over a new page. Usually, these kids have gotten themselves into drugs and alcohol, then the grades started to drop in school, then they dropped out of school and started either running away or harming themselves by hanging around the wrong crowd. Is it better to let them do what they want at that point? Physiologically the teen brain is very susceptible to the effect of nicotine and alcohol. If it becomes imprinted with nicotine it can lead to a high propensity for addiction throughout life. Teens need to protect their brain. In light of this empirical fact, what’s wrong with trying to stop these teens from digging themselves into a hole and turning into adults who hobble their way through life while nursing various addictions? What’s wrong with trying to help them reflect upon who they are, and what they can become? I wouldn’t describe any of the NATSAP programs as inhumane and into “behavior modification” the way that is described in the above article. On the contrary, the NATSAP programs are very humane and realize that real change comes from within the teen. They are the author of their life. What programs are you talking about? I would never put a teen into a program that I would not put my own child into. Claire Law, M.S. IECA Educational Consultant www.eduave.com

]]>