What is the Troubled Teen Industry?

The "troubled teen" industry (TTI) is a network of private youth programs, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, religious academies, wilderness programs, and drug rehabilitation centers and it dates back at least 50 years. The facilities are operated by private companies, nonprofits, or faith-based groups and they promise to help youth with problems related to behavior, addiction, and eating disorders, and in some cases sexual orientation and gender identity.

Despite numerous allegations of serious abuse that date back decades, they continue to operate in a largely unregulated way.