A unique Indianapolis school is expanding teen addiction treatment options just as it marks a major milestone.
Hope Academy, the city’s only accredited recovery high school, is now 20 years old and adding on-site clinical services to help more students fighting substance use disorder.
For Indiana families searching for addiction treatment options for a teenager, this program offers a model worth knowing about.
What Is Hope Academy and Who Does It Serve
Hope Academy is a small, tuition-free charter school on Indianapolis’ southeast side that specializes in educating students who are recovering from substance use disorder.
It’s one of only a few dozen such schools in the entire country. The school enrolls about 40 students and accepts teens from nine counties across the Indianapolis metro area.
Students follow a standard high school curriculum: math, science, social studies but the environment is built around recovery.
Every student is assigned a recovery coach, attends a group recovery wellness class three times a week and has access to an onsite occupational therapist.
The school’s attendance rate speaks for itself: Hope Academy’s attendance hovers around 92%, significantly higher than most students’ rates before they enrolled.
Understanding Teen Substance Use Disorder
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a medical condition where a person loses control over their use of drugs or alcohol despite negative consequences.
In teenagers, signs of addiction can be easy to miss or mistake for typical adolescent behavior. Common warning signs include:
- Withdrawing from family, friends, or activities they used to enjoy
- Declining grades or sudden changes in school attendance
- Unexplained mood swings, secrecy, or changes in sleep
- New peer groups combined with evasiveness about where they’re spending time
- Physical signs like bloodshot eyes, changes in weight, or disrupted sleep
Peer pressure and bullying are among the risk factors that can push teens toward substance use. One Hope Academy student, Adriana, first felt pressured to use marijuana to fit in after being bullied at her previous school.
She said she felt hopeless and dehumanized before finding Hope Academy, where she has now been sober for nearly two years.
New Clinical Services Expand Addiction Treatment in Indianapolis
In its 20th year, Hope Academy is growing its support beyond the classroom. The school has launched a new Family Engagement Center in partnership with The Willow Center, an outpatient behavioral health provider.
The center offers clinical services, treatment planning and family education in a dedicated space on the school’s campus.
School administrators say the partnership removes a major barrier to care: students and their families no longer need to arrange separate transportation to access a clinician.
The program has already begun serving Hope Academy students and leaders envision eventually opening services to the broader Indianapolis community.
Hope Academy has also added a family engagement specialist and is working to connect families to broader community resources including housing support, food assistance and financial literacy programs.
Signs It May Be Time to Seek Help
If your teenager is struggling with drug or alcohol use, early intervention makes a real difference. You don’t need to wait until things reach a crisis point. Warning signs that it’s time to look into addiction treatment options include:
- Substance use that is affecting school performance or relationships
- Repeated failed attempts to cut back or stop on their own
- Using substances to cope with stress, anxiety, or social pressure
- Evidence of withdrawal symptoms when not using
Recovery high schools like Hope Academy are one option. Outpatient treatment programs, residential programs, and individual therapy are others.
A good first step is talking to your child’s doctor or a licensed counselor who specializes in adolescent substance use.
Finding Addiction Treatment in Indianapolis
If your family is dealing with teen substance use disorder, you are not alone, and help is available in the Indianapolis area.
Addictions.com lists verified rehab centers in Indiana and nationwide. Call
800-681-1058
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for local options near you.