Hello, I am a former AARC client. I was very happy to see the CBC’s realistic portrayal of AARC to the public. I feel that I was brainwashed there and that my parents were conned into the program.
I was admitted into AARC after my assessment determined that I had level 2 alcohol and drug use and level ¾ behaviour. From what I understand you are only considered by AARC to have drug and alcohol abuse problems at level 3.
I was defiantly in a teenage rebellion. My family was falling apart and my parents would split permanently while I was in AARC, but I was not an alcoholic.
Upon entry I was told that if I didn’t strip down and get in the shower in front of two strange women with two men standing guard outside that they would do it for me. The women watched me do this.
I tried to run away from a host home family and was beat up by the old comers in their trying to subdue me. I had two black eyes from it. I was also tackled to the pavement outside of the home by two men who worked at AARC. I was not allowed to wear shoes at any time after this, even when walking to the host family car in the rain or when mopping the floors in AARC which resulted in my feet being dry and cracked from the chemical cleaner. My shoe wearing "privilege" was returned to me only after I "admitted" that I was an alcoholic, which I was not although I became convinced I was and continued in AA for a few years after AARC.
During the time I was not allowed to wear shoes I was also not allowed to participate in card games or watch tv with the other clients, or use the exercise gym.
Once I “admitted” that I was an alcoholic life in AARC got way easier, I was everyone’s friend, allowed shoes, the gym and to participate in games.
I did not suffer from any sexual abuse as an AARC client although I have heard stories of old comer girls making their newcomers bath with them.
I felt intimidated by Dean Vause. At times he would get right in the face of clients and yell at them. This defiantly happened to me after I tried to run away. I could feel his hot breath on my face. When I tried to tell my parents I wanted to go home on the first supervised visit that I had with them after I had been in the institution for three weeks or a month I was physically removed from them by two men who worked at AARC.
I was forced to analyse everything, always have an issue about myself, and always look at the negative. I was taught that the only way to get better, or advance in the program was to feel guilt and shame. These are patterns that still affect my life today.
AARC admits children that are not alcoholics and puts them under the direct and sole supervision of other children that have been in the program a few months. AARC promotes aggressive confrontation, which is also carried out unsupervised by the old comers. There was no one who worked at AARC during my time there who had any education or training in the fields of psychology, drug addiction, behavioural problems, or any kind of therapy, aside from Dean Vause and I’m unsure of the extent of his accreditations.
While you are in AARC you are allowed no outside contact.
I knew one girl who tried to hang herself in a host home and was taken to the hospital. While in the hospital she got in contact with a social worker. I think the social worker pushed to know what was happening in AARC because the girl was allowed contact with her. This is the only time I remember a “new comer” being allowed outside contact. She was released from AARC a few weeks later. Maybe there was too much heat?
I also know of one girl who had very limited drug and alcohol use on intake. She was only 12. She lied about her using to fit in and only “got honest” way later in treatment. I guess this caused alot of confusion. She ended up being kept in there a very long time, something like 2 years and 8 months, I’m not sure exactly though.
I was also involved in “girls Raps” run by a man in a room with a one way mirror. Girls raps made all sexual relationships shameful. They would call girls sluts and hoers.
The CBC show has finally validated what I feel. Thank you. I'm grateful to the former clients who exposed themselves to the public on your show to create change.
I never felt care from Dean Vause. I don't think that he should be in a position of care or charge of children. I don't feel that the program works. It may create change in behaviour in the same way that electro-shocking would but it does not fix what problems are there and in many ways I feel that it creates deeper long term problems.
I’m sure I'm counted as part of the 80% success rate because I am not dead, in jail or insane, as Dean Vause says are the only other options then his treatment program. In fact my life is pretty good aside from struggling with the negative patterns taught to me at AARC. This is because I never should have been there. I was misdiagnosed as an alcoholic / addict by untrained teenagers and young adults, and I have suffered due to it.
This place should not exist.I'm Sure I'm one of the 80% Sucess rate and I don't want to be!
