Outpatient Substance Use Program, Adolescents

Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services (HAMHDS) uses a Recovery Based Model in providing substance use education, individual, family and group treatment.

HAMHDS offers two psycho-educational groups for youth who are experiencing substance use problems. These groups include the involvement of at least one parent and include Motivational Enhancement Therapy. This approach honors the stage of change that each youth may be in at the time of treatment. Along with their parents , adolescents learn about the disease model/ addiction and the impact of various substances on their developing brain. These two groups are:

• Court Alternative Program [CAP] is a group for court ordered youth. This group provides substance use education to adolescents and their parents over four group sessions. These groups provide education about addiction, the impact of substances on the developing brain and introduces the Stages of Change model and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. This evidence based practice encourages adolescents to self evaluate and consider options for reducing or discontinuing their use of substances.
• The Path group is a treatment group for youth and their parents. Attendance can be on a voluntarily basis or by court order. This group meets once a week for six weeks. Adolescents and their parent(s) are introduced to Motivational Enhancement Therapy to help adolescents evaluate their substance use and reduce or discontinue their use or abuse of substances. The Path group can be repeated for an additional six weeks given the needs of the individual adolescent and it can be followed up by individual out-patient substance use therapy.

Services may be available at several locations. 

Charles City and New Kent Counties: 
Intake: (804)727-8970, 
Emergency: (877)264-8484.