Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Troubled Teen Industry

Catherine Freer Spins a Defense

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Deborah:
Press Releases
Posted: Oct 11, 2007
13:09  
Catherine Freer
Albany, OR

Catherine Freer Responds To House Hearings
Media Contact:
Paul Smith
800-390-3983
julia@cfreer.com

October 11, 2007

We support Rep. Miller and the Education Committee in doing what is possible to eliminate abusive and neglectful programs. At the same time, we believe it is important to preserve viable options for children and families in need of responsible and ethical therapeutic schools and programs. Our program has consistently supported regulations and standards for the treatment industry and we currently hold the highest level of state licensing and national accreditation that is available to us today.

Our hope is to have well-crafted and conceived regulations established that ensure that families and their children are protected, while preserving their freedom of choice regarding treatment options.

We want to share with you some information regarding the fatality at our program that the GAO investigated and which wasn't brought forth in either the GAO report or in the parent's testimony:

The day of the young woman's death, she had hiked less than two miles over a 5 hour period that included rest breaks in the shade. There was little elevation gain (approx 500'), in temperatures of high 70's. She consumed at least 1.5 liters of water that day.

The family's physician had prescribed an anti-convulsant (anti-seizure) medication for this young woman, which she was taking off-label for a mood disorder. (Off-label means taking a medication for something other than its intended purpose). The family physician cleared her for participation in our program knowing that she would be involved in strenuous physical activity.

A year after her death, the FDA came out with a warning about this medication, linking it to heat illnesses (heat exhaustion and heatstroke). It found that the medication inhibits one's ability to sweat (oligohydrosis), and makes it difficult for one's body to regulate internal temperatures through the normal mechanisms.

At the time of her admission into the program there were no pediatric trials on this drug and no research into how it interacted with legal medications, much less illegal street drugs.

Our Nevada branch was certified in the State of Nevada to operate as a drug and alcohol treatment program. We proactively met with the state Child Welfare Department to discuss our operations within the state and how our program could best adhere to their standards.

This fatality was thoroughly investigated and there was no finding of fault.

We would like to say that the loss of a loved one can be devastating. The loss of a young life is a particularly difficult tragedy for everyone that it touches. In a time of great grief and loss it is often soothing to have a concrete answer that explains why a tragedy or accident happens. Unfortunately, this clarity does not always exist.
~~

Was her death determined to be caused by the psych drug?

Ian August was on several psych drugs and overheated easily. A doctor released him to particpate too.
Are doctors aware of the reality of these programs? The true austere and rigorous nature of being force marched through the desert?
August's doctor might have been told they wouldn't hike in temps above 90*, which we know wasn't the case.

Can the quantity of water she drank be documented?

Should Wilderness programs even take kids on psych meds?

Certified to operate as a Drug/Alcohol Treatment Program? What's that got to do with wilderness?  Does Nevada have wilderness regulations? That needs some more research when I have time.
Does CFW have certified Substance Abuse counselors on the trail? Or does Nevada require that?

Yes, let us forget CFWs gross negligence presented by this parent and focus on the fact Erica was taking a psych drug.

How about the other two deaths? No comment?
Which "expert's" bright idea was it to allow a boy to set up his tent under a heavily snow laden tree branch?
I wish I was at liberty to comment on the third death that wasn't even reported in the media.

Did the 3 deaths at CWF skew the stats of the OBHICs study on safety of wilderness programs? Ironic that these deaths happened shortly after that 'study' was released and used as a marketing tool.

Anonymous:
Hey Deb, don't forget ABC also ran a special on CFW a few days before Erica's parents decided to enroll her in that program.  I don't know if they saw the program but CWF certainly got some good publicity out it.  I think the media needs to stop focusing on the happy camper stories and start focusing on the fatalities, serious injuries, and inherent risk now that they have the findings of the GAO report to substantiate these abuses as FACT not speculation.  It's one thing to do "balanced" reporting and another to promote these programs as more safe than unsafe, IMO, based on the inference that most children do make it out alive of these programs.  

What's this about a third death at CWF?

Deborah:
Erica died in May 02.
Another young woman died in Oct 02.
Corey Baines died in Mar 03.

The death in Oct was not reported. I have known about it and have it listed in my database because someone contacted me privately and informed me of it.
The third death was divulged in the hearing, which was the first public acknowledgement, so the GAO knows about it.

Anonymous:
What parent would read this "SPIN CONTROL" BLAME-the-child-and-Parent letter and even consider sending their child to this program?

This should have Congressman Miller asking, "What the hell....?" over and over; as he asked in the October 10th hearing.

Anonymous:
Why wasn't it reported?  Parental privacy?  Was there a lawsuit?  I remember in the boys case the parents did not fault the program. Same as Ian August's adoptive mom IIRC.   Some parents just don't see these fatalities as preventable.  Go figure.

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