Adult and Teen Challenge Sandhills

Adult and Teen Challenge Sandhills Review

Adult and Teen Challenge Sandhills in North Carolina, is a long term, faith-based residential program for men. This program offers addiction treatment utilizing their own specialized program. Throughout treatment, the men work to uncover underlying issues that contributed to their addiction, study the Bible, and participate in Christ-centered activities and events.

Accommodations and Food

The men’s program accommodate up to 38 clients who sleep in dorms on a 31 acre, private campus in Carthage. Everything is provided for the clients through the program. This includes clothing, bedding, food and any additional necessities.

Treatment and Staff

The Sandhills Adult and Teen Challenge is a two part program that lasts about a year, with the opportunity upon completion to continue on to the graduate level of care, or the aftercare level known as Restoration. The admissions process consists of physical exam, and before being allowed to start the program every client has to be clean of any drugs or alcohol. If detox is a necessary step before beginning treatment that needs to be completed prior to admission.

During the first two weeks all the men are on a “blackout,” meaning they are not allowed to communicate with any family members and basically stay on campus and close to staff while they are getting used to the structure. This stage takes place at the Kannapolis facility. Clients are provided with information for what they can expect on a day to day basis before moving into the main stage of treatment. This initial step helps clients identify what they need to work on and heal in the program through a series of learned skills.

The next step of treatment focuses on clients building up their relationship to God through personal and group studies and discipleship activities, and to put their newly acquired life skills to work.

Group sessions cover issues like temptation, anger management, Christian practices, self love and acceptance and how to live a successful, spiritual life. Personal studies focus on scripture, life lessons, and Bible study. This program does not include any elements of the 12 steps, or allow any sort of medication for those struggling with co-occurring disorders.

In addition to the personal and group studies, clients spend a good deal of time giving back to the community through volunteerism.

The staff is made up of ministers and other members of the Church.

Extras

The graduate program is a two and a half year commitment that trains those who have gone through the program. This is a three part training, with levels two and three providing a small stipend.

The Restoration phase is for graduates who need reinforcement training.

In Summary

The Adult and Teen Challenge programs do not offer traditional addiction treatments and operate by their own curriculum. There is a fairly substantial success rate with these programs, as it does provide a solid foundation of structure and accountability, and clients learn how to live a life of faith and Christian values. While these types of programs may not appeal to everyone, for those who are seeking a spiritual rebirth and to learn how to live without drugs and alcohol, this is ideal.