Before beginning a treatment program for adolescent addicts, it is important to select a level of care that will prevent a relapse. A relapse may result in lowered faith in treatment from parents and the justice system, which can present major barriers in a teen’s road to ultimate recovery. To prevent this occurrence, clinicians must first determine which treatment setting is most appropriate for the patient’s unique needs. Based on criteria including level of intoxication, presence of mental illness, readiness to change and risk of relapse, clinicians will select the treatment setting that offers the best chance of recovery. Treatment settings are generally divided into three broad categories:
