FAILURE IN ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING - A CASE-STUDY OF A TREATMENT AGENCY

Substance use treatment for adolescents probably fails more often than it succeeds, yet reasons for these failures are seldom reported in th e literature. Much can be learned from failure so that mistakes need n ot be repeated. A case study of one treatment center is presented with a discussion about the failures that can occur in five primary areas: facility/environment, administrative, staffing, treatment, and cultur al application. Incidents that are not addressed immediately can creat e a cascade of critical incidents that lead quickly to treatment failu re. Too often, clients are assigned the responsibility of treatment fa ilure when, in fact, the treatment system is the true problem. Suggest ions are made for timely interventions that may divert treatment failu re.