At the facility I was at 10 year ago (Provo Canyon School), NONE of the staff had ANY college degrees! (Well, other than the therapists, whom we saw for one or two hours a week, and the school teachers). I believe that this lack of education is one of the root causes of all the abuses at that place (there are other factors, of course, and I won't even go into those now). But this lack of understanding of even basic psychological theory led to widespread neglectful, manevolent, un-theraputic treatment.
"one who cares", I would just like to remind you (I haven't seen you in action or anything, but just want to mention this), that most adolescents who experiment with drugs are NOT headed towards addiction, death, jail, ect... In fact, it has been my experience that the majority of them turn out just fine, (sans "interventions" or rehab). Out of all the kids my family grew up with (friends, cousins, neighbors, schoolmates), the vast majority (if not all) experimented with some type of drug, or drank from their parents liquor cabinet, or snuck out at night. 99% of those kids are now successful, responsible adults. (A few girls we know had kids at an early age, secondary to unhealthy relationships, but thats another subject completely.). It is more important to teach kids about responsibility and safety and moderation, getting them ready to be adults (because once you are 18, no one is going to "intervene" if you stay out all night at a club, or smoke pot, or have unsafe sex). Sincerely, Megan