Sometimes removing your child from the enviroment they are currently in, can be a good thing. You just have to make sure that where you are sending them isn't worse then the situation that they are currently in.
I was sent away at the age of 12. A little young, but there wasn't many options. My Dad was older, married to my step-mom who hated me. My mother was a full blown alcoholic, not a great role model!
I felt totally abandoned at first, and was very upset, and angry. But, I was headed in the wrong direction at the age of 12. Going away with other kids who shared my pain was somewhat comforting. But, the rules and levels were overwhelming. I got a lot of therapy. I don't feel like I had a normal teenage life though since I was in programs for 4 1/2 years straight.
If you found the right program, which takes a heck of a lot of research, don't be so quick to make the decision to send him there. Really weigh everything out. Parents sometimes are too quick to make a decision.
Whatever you do, don't be one of those parents that sends their kids away, and decides that life is pretty easy and peaceful without them! Really think long and hard about what you decide to do with your son. Don't let some people on here tell you that there are no good programs. That is not true. They hate when I say this!!! I always say 2 outta the 4 programs that I went to were good, and it's true. But, the majority of the posters here are 100% anti-program.
I'm not sipping the kool-aid, I am not programmed, I am just being flat out honest. I in my heart of hearts feel that any school that is affiliated with WWASPS could potentially be a disaster. It's hard to figure out if they are, or aren't a lot of the schools are in the process of distancing themselves from the name. I'm sure you're no dummy but, a lot of schools out there change there names numerous times to get away from the bad press. Just figure out the structure of the schools you're thinking about sending him to. Call up a WWASPS school, and ask a bunch of questions about therapy, structure, if there are seminars..who runs them, what kind of edjucation do you provide, what is a classroom setting like, how soon can they talk to their parents, can they talk to friends. How often do they leave campus?
Ask as many questions as you can think of.