RecoveryWerks! addresses adolescent treatment gap with outpatient recovery program

The new program represents a significant expansion, providing a structured, evidence-based treatment option designed specifically for adolescents, according to the organization’s website.

An IOP is intended to bridge the gap between inpatient treatment and traditional outpatient services. Participants receive several hours of therapy and support each week while continuing to attend school and remain engaged in daily life, the release states.

The organization currently provides free services through peer recovery support specialists and licensed chemical dependency counselors. Unlike its Alternative Peer Group offerings, the Adolescent IOP is a fee-based service, with pricing tied to the level of care provided.

Previously, families in Comal County seeking adolescent IOP services had to travel to San Antonio or Austin, often creating barriers to consistent and timely care. The new program hopes to help remove those obstacles and help more individuals by keeping treatment close to home, Program Director Zach Saunders said.

“We are extremely excited to launch this program,” Saunders said. “In 2025 alone, we served over 360 individuals, and the demand continues to grow.”

The number of individuals using the organization’s services year to year has seen an increase. In 2016, the program saw fewer than 50 unique clients, with that number growing to over 350 by fiscal year 2025, RecoveryWerks! Executive Director Deborah Dickensheets said.

Something to note

Data shows a significant dip in clients in 2024 after Comal ISD stopped offering a shortened stay at alternative education schools for students who participated in the program. The organization required parent or guardian participation for at least four weeks of the program, which became an issue for some parents. This led CISD to remove the incentive, and a subsequent drop in numbers, Dickensheets said.

About 8.5% of adolescents in the U.S. met the criteria in 2024 for a substance use disorder. About 90% of Americans with a substance use disorder began using substances before the age of 18, with 13 being the average age of first-time use, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s website.

“This is one of the main reasons that RecoveryWerks! was created; to address substance use disorder when it begins, the teen years,” Dickensheets said.

During its pilot phase, the program will offer up to nine hours per week of personalized services, including educational sessions, one-on-one counseling and coaching, and group therapy available Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to the organization’s website.