What is the Troubled Teen Industry?

The troubled teen industry is a deeply controversial and often harmful network of private residential facilities that prey on the fears of desperate parents. Promising to "fix" troubled youth, these programs—ranging from therapeutic boarding schools to wilderness camps—are frequently characterized by abusive practices, including physical, emotional, and psychological mistreatment. Many teens subjected to these programs report traumatic experiences, such as excessive punishment, isolation, and neglect, all while receiving inadequate or nonexistent mental health care. The industry thrives on deceptive marketing and operates with little oversight to no oversight, allowing abuse to flourish unchecked. Often the troubled teen industry exploits vulnerable families, causing lasting harm to the very youth it claims to help. As public awareness grows, there is an urgent push to expose and dismantle this exploitative industry, demanding accountability and advocating for humane, effective alternatives.