Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre

AARC helps teens and young adults (ages 12–21) with moderate to severe drug or alcohol addiction using a long-term, semi-residential, 12-step approach. Founded in 1992, AARC is a research-backed program where clients live in “recovery homes,” attend group and individual therapy, and receive support from clinical staff, peer counsellors, and their families. Treatment emphasizes full abstinence, nutritional and physical wellness, and a strong family-focused recovery process.
Treatment begins with a family and teen pre-assessment, followed by evaluations to see if AARC is right. Teens then progress through four levels: Levels 1–2 are primary recovery, Level 3 is the middle phase, and Level 4 is advanced recovery. This whole journey usually takes 8–12 months, most often about 10, with research showing a 73% sobriety success rate 12 months post treatment.
At Level 1, clients live in recovery homes—private homes of experienced families—while attending treatment 6 days a week, including family sessions. At Level 2, they return home while continuing daily treatment and mentoring newcomers. Level 3 includes school or work with therapy on evenings or Saturdays. By Level 4, clients resume full school or work schedules, help newcomers, and plan for sober living after graduation.
AARC ensures treatment is accessible, and no family is denied due to financial barriers. After a confidential pre-assessment, each family’s daily fee is set according to ability to pay, with most receiving subsidies through donations, grants, and fundraisers. Though the real daily cost is higher, families pay only an affordable rate while benefiting from AARC’s entire family treatment model and lifelong community of support.

Evidence-Based Context: According to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2023), approximately 48.7 million Americans aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) emphasizes that treatment programs combining behavioral therapy with medication-assisted approaches show the highest rates of sustained recovery. Facilities like Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre provide structured pathways to evidence-based care. Sources: SAMHSA NSDUH 2023, NIDA Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment (4th Ed.)

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Start Your Journey — (833) 567-5838

Choosing the right treatment facility is one of the most important decisions in the recovery journey. Research published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that treatment duration, therapeutic approach, and aftercare planning are the three strongest predictors of long-term sobriety.

Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre offers 1 distinct levels of care, allowing patients to step through treatment intensities as they progress.

The facility utilizes 8 evidence-based therapeutic modalities. According to NIDA research, combination therapy approaches that integrate behavioral interventions (such as 1-on-1 Counseling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) with holistic support show significantly improved outcomes compared to single-modality programs.

Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, most commercial insurance plans are required to cover substance abuse treatment. Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre works with 24 insurance providers. Call (833) 567-5838 to verify your specific coverage and learn about out-of-pocket costs before admission.

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