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by Jacqueline Wallen, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.-C |
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At 15, my daughter abused marijuana,
PCP, hallucinogens, and cocaine and was severely depressed,
violent, and suicidal. Over a period of several years, I repeatedly
tried to obtain inpatient dual-diagnosis treatment for her. She had
several unsuccessful courses of outpatient treatment and one brief
partial hospitalization (brief because, even though my managed care
company, Green Spring, purports to cover up to sixty days per benefit
period for partial hospitalization, they only authorized 13 for my
daughter). In spite of the clear evidence that, at a minimum, a 30-60
day inpatient rehabilitation program was indicated, Green Spring refused
to cover more than a few days of inpatient treatment. This was true even
though, according to my benefits brochure, Green Spring has no limit on
"medically necessary and treatable" inpatient days for either
substance abuse or mental health. |
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Ultimately, I obtained the treatment
my daughter needed by forcing her into the juvenile justice system.
Every time she ran away, stole money, destroyed property, or threatened
suicide, I reported her to the police. When I finally was able to have
her arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, I refused to pick her
up at the police station, ignoring threats by the police and the
juvenile services worker to charge me with child neglect. She was
placed in the juvenile detention center for a month. Then, at the
request of our lawyer, she was sent by the judge to inpatient drug
treatment. After eight days, when Green Spring refused to pay for any
more inpatient drug treatment, the State of Maryland, through the
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration (ADAA) paid for another eight
days. ADAA then recommended that the Department of Juvenile Justice send
her to Sierra House, a 12-18 month treatment program/group home for
dually-diagnosed adolescent girls. Her probation officer conveyed this
recommendation to the judge, who concurred. She is now 18 and has been
at Sierra House for 9 months. She is due to complete the program next
month. Her depression is greatly reduced. She takes her medications
responsibly, has not used drugs or alcohol for over 10 months, has
completed high school and held a job while in the treatment program, and
has positive plans for the future. I am very grateful to the State of
Maryland and the Department of Juvenile Justice for making it
possible for my daughter to receive treatment for conditions that were
truly life-threatening and for which I did not have the financial
resources to obtain appropriate treatment. I am deeply angered, however,
by the fact that Green Spring, which receives premiums to provide care
for my daughter, ignored their responsibility and, instead, chose to
maximize their profits by shifting the cost of my daughter's care onto
the public sector, where it was paid for by taxpayers. I am now in the
process of doing research for a book on this issue and would like to
hear from other parents who have attempted to find care for
out-of-control or dual-diagnosis adolescents. |
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Jacqueline
Wallen, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.-C
is an Associate Professor, Department of Family Studies at the
University of Maryland, College Park |
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