Unfortunately, most people don't know about the abuses in this industry. Most medical professionals work with the public in the acute care setting where patients are treated with compassion and kindness. I obtained my degree in Utah and did clinical work at Utah State Hospital and American Fork Training School. Provo Canyon School was in existence then - and I never once heard about it. I never saw human take downs and forced druggings. I've worked with the elderly in gero-psych - and again these folks are treated with extreme kindness and compassion. I have never laughed at another's pain. "Do No Harm" is the medical motto. This does not apply in the problem teen industry.
As an American one has an expectation that State and Federal laws will protect them and their families. It's also expected that all medical facilities will respect the inherent human and Constitutional rights of their patients. Provo Canyon School is listed as a hospital on the Utah dot Gov official site. As a medical professional I expected the staff to treat children with the same dignity that I and others in our profession treat patients. This did not occur. Instead my child was injured, humiliated, isolated and drugged against her refusal. No one notified us of what was occuring to her. Had they we would have immediately called the police and asked them to put her into protective custody until we arrived on the next plane to Salt Lake City. Most parents are not aware of what goes on. Due to a lack of communication these kids have no way out. That is why so many attempt to escape, often with tragic outcomes.
The authorities must given the children a WAY OUT if they feel their rights are being violated. I'd like those who support these types of programs to understand what it is like to punished in an observation room. To do this - put a sweat suit on with no shoes. Go into your garage and sit on the concrete floor for five hours. During this time you can get up for two five minute intervals to use the restroom and stretch. Make sure that the temperature is between 50 and 60 degrees. Stare at the wall, do not look at anyone or talk to anyone.
Of course none of you are going to subject yourselves to this - yet this is what children at Provo Canyon School and other problem teen programs endure day in and day out. Some are kept in obs for days. Jay Kay, of Tranquility once bragged to a reported that the longest a child had been "on their face" in the concrete observation room was for 18 MONTHS. How can anyone in thier right mind think that this type of treatment is any way therapeutic.
I've talked to many people about this - the only one that knew something about it was a doctor who specializes in adolescent medicine.
This is why I am trying to inform people about the horrors that exist in this industry. Yes, I made a mistake. Did I take my child to Provo Canyon by escort in handcuffs - absolutely not. It is what she wanted to do to escape the aftermath of a violent sexual assault. Instead of being treated with kindness, sympathy and respect - the staff blamed her for getting herself raped and treated her with more abuse than one can immagine. Provo Canyon must be closed - they are potentially abusing or otherwise terrorizing more than 300 children per day. All of the facilities in Utah must be better regulated and the children must be given more access to the outside world.
All of this abuse would end if these facilities allowed visitors for one hour per day and installed pay phones for student use - with toll free access to report any abuse they were witnessing or experiencing.
The authorities are as much to blame as the facilities - they turn a blind eye to most reports of abuse and violations of law - until someone dies - then they may do something. How many more must die?
Locate the blind spot in the culture--the place where the culture isn't looking, because it dare not--because if it were to look there, its previous values would dissolve.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1561769118/circlofmiamithem' target='_new'>Terence McKenna
