By Jason Henry | Daily Breeze
Los Angeles County has shut down a much-needed drug addiction treatment unit at a juvenile detention facility in Sylmar over attorneys’ concerns about the involuntary placement of juveniles into the program.
The Substance Use Disorder Unit, championed last year in the wake of a fatal overdose and multiple hospitalizations within the juvenile facilities, was meant to provide “close supervision and intensive programming from counselors” to addicted youth confined specifically within the Barry J. Nidorf Secure Youth Treatment Facility.
The county partnered with the Tarzana Treatment Center on the pilot program in late 2023. But by early May, youth inside the specialized unit were removed “at their request” and involuntary placements were halted until the dispute can be resolved, according to the Probation Department.
“Discussions with the Court are ongoing to ensure proper placement of youth into this specialized unit,” probation officials said in a statement. “Meanwhile, Tarzana Treatment Center continues to have counselors on site daily to provide services for all youth through a variety of treatment options at Barry J. Nidorf SYTF. Providing appropriate rehabilitative care is a top priority for the Probation Department.”
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