In September 2008, the first patient walked through the doors of The CASTLE, a short-term 24-
hour addiction treatment program for adolescents who abuse or are dependent on alcohol or
drugs, which may be accompanied by mental health issues.
As an adolescent component of High Point Treatment Center (HPTC), this program in Brockton
was a direct response to an unfortunate growing epidemic of teens using prescription drugs like
Oxycontin. Some of these adolescents died, leading their parents to advocate for more resources
to treat drug and alcohol abuse. Simultaneously, the Department of Public Health (DPH) secured
money to fund this critically needed intervention. HPTC competed for and was awarded the
contract. An 1893 brick pump house was gutted and renovated. Fresh paint and colorful murals
decorate the walls, creating an ambiance of safety and calm, the best environment in which to do
the difficult work of recovery.
As the renovation progressed, the clinical team was built. Meeting for months in advance of the
opening, program content and vision were designed. The team, consisting of a child psychiatrist,
social workers, nurses, substance abuse counselors, and high level administrators, began to create
a program blending traditional approaches with state-of-the-art understanding about addictions
and the adolescent brain.
Working with DPH, CASTLE became only the second adolescent substance abuse program in
the state to accept teens on Section 35's (court-mandated substance abuse treatment). The
CASTLE was designed, in part, to create an age-appropriate setting for these adolescents.
CASTLE has served hundreds of teens and their families. Addiction is a difficult challenge under
the best of circumstances. But, when combined with a mental health issue, it takes the
specialized services of a setting like CASTLE (Clean And Sober Teens Living Empowered) to
help teens.