CEDU's fuckery was insidiously demoralizing. It looked good in the brochure (rustic cabins in the woods), called itself a school (this was a blatant lie when I went there), and highlighted its qualified therapeutic staff (another lie, even more full o' crockery). Back before Internet, I can see how parents would get sucked into facade. They really thought they were sending kids off to caring staff, with academics available, in a lovely country setting, away from the emotional and physical debris of the past.
Because our isolation from our family and friends was part of the program, it was all too easy to manipulate parents into thinking their kid was even worse off then they originally thought, headed to death or jail,
and only manipulating them for attention... they even convinced parents of kids who never tried sex or drugs, or had any addictions or disorders that they were rapidly propelling themselves to hell in a handbasket. Yeah, the CEDU BS machine was quite effective. You had virgins believing they were whores, and minors thinking it was perfectly reasonable to listen to a grown man talk about his masturbatory history.
So, I understand, back then, how things were overlooked... But now? With all the info out there and available? The fact there are no longitudinal studies? No transitional help--which would be bogus anyway when it comes to cult-like mentalities....
People still see the "Help Teen" shingle and assume its better than home.