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News and Events at Phoenix House



Phoenix House on HBO’s “Addiction”
HBO’s groundbreaking 14-part multi-platform documentary series “Addiction” – one of the most ambitious efforts ever undertaken to educate the American public about chemical dependency – explores treatment options for adolescents in a moving segment about a successful student at the Phoenix Academy in Austin. Watch a segment from Addiction and read more		  

 
 

Fifth Annual Triumph for Teens Awards Gala to Benefit California Academies
On Tuesday April 8, Phoenix Houses of California will host The Fifth Annual Phoenix House Triumph for Teens Awards Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton and his wife, trial lawyer, television commentator, author and actress Rikki Kleiman will be honorees of the 2008 Public Service Award, which recognizes their contribution to civic life, exemplary leadership and their efforts to bring change to at-risk and disadvantaged youth.

 

 

Nokia Brings Holiday Joy to Texas Academy Teens
Nokia employees brought an abundance of cheer to teens striving to overcome addiction at Phoenix Academies in Austin and Dallas in December, in the form of holiday gifts and contributions. The young residents were greatly appreciative of the generosity. For some, this was the first time they ever even received holiday gifts.

Dr. David Deitch Rejoins Phoenix House
David Deitch, PhD, seen here at the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities Conference in Buenos Aires this April, has returned to Phoenix House as National Chief Clinical Officer. A clinical and social psychologist, Dr. Deitch is a professor of psychiatry emeritus at the University of California, San Diego, where he has led the Center for Criminality & Addiction Research, Training & Application for the past 15 years. A pioneer in addiction treatment, with more than 45 years of national and international experience, he will take a leadership role in broadening the range of treatment services offered by Phoenix House.
 

Phoenix House Tackles “Cheese” in Dallas
A dangerous new drug known as “cheese” has skyrocketed in popularity in Dallas area schools, spurring Phoenix House to actively combat its use through community and school prevention programs as well as providing treatment to adolescents already hooked on the trendy drug. Read more
   

New Tampa Recovery Center Planned
Phoenix House has recently invested in a new facility that will allow us to expand the regimen of post-treatment recovery services we offer in Tampa as well as support additional growth in the region. The 30,000 square foot facility, known as the Tampa Recovery Center, will ultimately serve approximately 75 adults who are returning to the community following long-term treatment.

   

  Phoenix House Names Howard Meitiner President, Plans Expansion of Services, and Opens the Rosenthal Center for Research and Policy Studies
Phoenix House has announced the appointment of Howard Meitiner to succeed Mitchell S. Rosenthal, M.D., the organization’s founder, as president and chief executive officer. Mr. Meitiner said the organization will expand services to enrich the organization’s therapeutic mix with more treatment programs of short and intermediate duration, a greater variety of outpatient services, and a broader focus on families. Dr. Rosenthal will continue to play a key role within the organization as head of the newly created Rosenthal Center for Research and Policy Studies. Read more.
Helping Teens Help Themselves
National trends are focusing more and more attention on the need to improve the overall health and wellness of teenagers. One group, however, is being largely left out of this movement – teens in treatment. To address this issue, Phoenix House, with generous support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, brought together a group of national experts from the fields of adolescent development, health education, nutrition, substance abuse treatment and active living for a day-long roundtable meeting. Read more.

  Phoenix House Briefs Policy-Makers on Workforce Challenges
Phoenix House hosted a briefing in Washington, D.C. for members of the Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus and other Congressional staffers. Caucus co-chairs Congressman Patrick Kennedy (foreground) and Congressman Jim Ramstad are pictured here at the event. Read more.

Drug Czar and U.S. House Rep. visit Phoenix Academy of New York
On February 24th, John Walters, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, visited the Phoenix Academy of New York.  He is pictured here (back, third from left) with Phoenix House President Mitchell S. Rosenthal, M.D., US Rep. Sue Kelly, and a group of Academy students. Walters and Kelly toured the facility and spoke with students about treatment. Read More.		  
 
 
 
 
Phoenix House-Sponsored Meth Conference
On Friday January 20, Phoenix House, the nation’s leading non-profit drug treatment organization, sponsored a conference on methamphetamine policy that drew more than 300 professionals from across the state in the treatment, prevention, and law enforcement fields. The conference, which was held in Montgomery, Texas, sought to enhance prevention and treatment services for methamphetamine abuse and to improve enforcement of drug laws to stop the drug’s spread. Read more.
 
 
 
 
Bridging the Gap: A Guide to Drug Treatment in the Juvenile Justice System   Bridging the Juvenile Drug Treatment Gap
Phoenix House is one of 12 programs profiled in the Drug Strategies guide, Bridging the Gap: A Guide to Drug Treatment in the Juvenile Justice System. The report takes a comprehensive look at the critical elements for treating teens in the juvenile justice system, and highlights the success of Phoenix Academy on the key measure of engaging and retaining teens in treatment.
 
 
 
 
Project Backpack
Students at the Phoenix Academy of Los Angeles took part in "Project Backpack," collecting supplies for kids displaced by hurricane Katrina. They put together a total of 158 backpacks filled with crayons, coloring books, toys and games, school supplies, a stuffed animal, and a flashlight. A group of students delivered the backpacks to the Dream Center in Los Angeles where some 200 homeless families have relocated from Louisiana and Mississippi.		  
 
 
 
 
  Turning 2 Phoenix House
The Jeter Family Turn 2 Foundation has supported Phoenix House for nearly a decade. In this first person account, Dr. S. Charles Jeter, vice president of the foundation and father of baseball star Derek Jeter, talks about promoting healthy lifestyles among young people. To read his story click here.
 
 
 
 
Lights, Camera, Action!
An HBO documentary crew spent three days filming students at the Phoenix Academy of Austin this summer for an upcoming special on substance abuse treatment. 		 
 
 
 
 
  Chafee Champions Treatment
U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island presented Phoenix House with a $100,000 special federal grant for workforce development that will underwrite additional training for substance abuse workers and encourage them to remain in the treatment field. The grant was obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor through the efforts of Senator Chafee. Pictured at the Wallum Lake Academy are (from left): Fred Trapassi, senior program director and Senator Chafee.
 
 
 
 

Knicks Legend John Starks Unveils New Gym
This year the Phoenix Academy of Westchester celebrated the opening of a newly renovated, state-of-the art gymnasium. The event was attended by more than 100 people, including John Starks of the New York Knicks (pictured); Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano; and New York State Assemblyman Will Stephens. Mr. Starks christened the new basket with a slam dunk, and gave students at the Academy a few basketball pointers. He also had some words of advice: "Believe in what you do, because everybody has success inside them."

 

 
 
 
 

Phoenix House Arrives in Tampa
Phoenix House is pleased to announce the opening the Phoenix House Youth and Family Counseling Center in Tampa. Treatment at the Center begins with a comprehensive assessment of the problems a troubled teen is facing. To find out more, please visit the Florida Get Help section.

Phoenix Academy Gets Results
The RAND Corporation, one of the nation’s most trusted research organizations, has confirmed the effectiveness of Phoenix House’s treatment for teens. A study published by RAND found that teens treated at a Phoenix Academy demonstrated substantial reductions in drug use and improvement in psychological well-being – and that the Phoenix Academy outperformed other teen programs in these areas. Read more.