The studies were also overseen by even another independent agency to insure no conflict of interest occurred. But you know this and the acceptance of any study here on fornits will never happen because the foundation for your conclusions on the industry would fall apart.
Even if programs did work, which I maintain they do not, forced treatment, which often amounts to thinly veiled thought reform, would still be wrong. It interferes with freedom of thought. If the word is protected by the first amendment that which the word requires must also be protected. Thought reform amounts to re-education, putting the government's word in the mouths of the masses. Just because the parents may swallow the crap, believe the fear, and agree with the government (proxy agent of prohibitionists) is not sufficient warrant to deny a kid his right to think what he wants, for his own conclusions, write his own destiny, and make his own choices, however misguided or however destructive. Thankfully human free will is ultimately too strong for that and while your program graduates may stick to the program for a while, it doesn't last forever and the lucky ones who don't self destruct as a result of the trauma and pain end up here. Ironically, I'd claim the average kids who goes into treatment often comes out worse, convinced of an identity as an addict and convinced his path is set to destruction and cannot be changed (progressive disease theory taught in programs).
