Expert: Jan Edward Williams - 5/19/2009

Question
Hello,
I have a nephew, age 22, who is homeless/ currently living in an abandoned house in Michigan.  His father, in Colorado, disowned him, and his mother, my sister, can't handle him, and her boyfriend doesn't want to take him in.  He has been kicked out of relatives & friends houses, and no one wants to take him in any longer.  He has been in and out of jail, using drugs/ alcohol, & has behavioral issues (manipulative/ lying).  He is on probation (possibly a warrant) , and is supposed to be paying child support.
At one point he completed a 30 day Salvation Army program.  We are thinking of bringing him to Florida, where most of his family is, and trying to convince him to enter another program (ie Faith Farm, Drug Abuse Foundation, etc) to help him learn responsibility and how to support himself, and may need help doing so.  He, of course, has no money, and we don't have a lot.
Do you agree?  If so, are there 1 or more programs you might recommend for him over Faith Farm (Okeechobee), Teen Challenge Mens Center (Sanford), or Drug Abuse Foundation (Delray Beach)?  If so, might you help us convince him to enter a program, and if so, how much would you charge to do so?  If not yourself, who might you recommend to help us?

Thank you,
Jeff Omans

Answer
Hello Jeff,
I never give up on trying to get an individual into treatment. You never know if this treatment might be the one that he can benefit from. I suggest you consult an interventionist in regard to convincing your nephew to enter treatment and in regard to specific treatment programs. Try Vaughn Howland who can be reached here: http://www.intervention.com/ Good luck.
Jan Edward Williams, MS, JD, LCADC
www.alcoholdrugsos.com
jwilliams@alcoholdrugsos.com