Information for Parents on Medication Management in the Field

Many wilderness therapy students, in addition to struggling with low self-esteem, defiance, poor grades, and other issues, have been diagnosed with depression, ADHD, and other behavioral and mood disorders. At any given time, roughly one- to two-thirds of the students at Aspen Achievement Academy are taking prescription medication to treat these types of disorders. As such, the academy receives a number of questions from parents about how these medications are managed in the field. Below are the answers to some of parents’ most common medication questions.

Policies and Procedures

With firm policies and guidelines in place, the staff at Aspen Achievement Academy has medication management down to a science. Before students are taken out into the field, a medical doctor does a complete baseline medical evaluation and drug test to ensure each student’s general health and readiness to join a wilderness therapy program.

All medications are transported to the field once a week, bubble packed in individual doses and labeled appropriately for a one-week supply. Every medication is exclusively in the hands of medical and field staff members, who are thoroughly trained to dispense medication at the appropriate time and dose. Field instructors closely monitor students as they take their medications, doing a thorough mouth sweep to ensure the pill is swallowed. After the medication is taken, the field staff and student sign a medication card, which is completed and returned to the medical staff each week.

Staff Training and Availability

The academy’s field staff is trained at least every three months on monitoring the side effects of prescription medications, and each field group carries a reference handbook describing all psychotropic medications and their side effects. If there is a medical question or issue that needs to be addressed by medical staff, Aspen Achievement Academy’s medical coordinator is on call 24 hours a day and will respond any time of the day or night to any medical need. The medical coordinator also visits the students in the field at least once a week to check vital signs, speak with students about their medications and general health, and meet with staff regarding each student’s progress.

Recommendations to Parents

Sandy New, the medical coordinator at Aspen Achievement Academy, who is certified by the state of Utah as an EMT-Intermediate and by the National Safety Council as a First Aid/CPR Instructor, recommends that parents send their child to the academy with at least a one-month supply of medications. If parents are unable to do so, they can mail medications to the academy, or the medical staff can fill the child’s prescription at a local pharmacy with the proper insurance and financial information.

Although every medication decision is made on a case-by-case basis, after consultations between parents, therapists, and appropriate medical personnel, the staff at Aspen Achievement Academy discourages the use of narcotics and other controlled substances, acne medications, and some antidepressants and mood stabilizers in the field because these drugs may cause increased sun and heat sensitivity.

Should I Take My Child Off Medication During a Wilderness Therapy Program?

Parents who are considering starting or stopping a course of medication during a wilderness therapy program should speak directly with the program’s medical staff regarding their child’s particular circumstances. In most cases, the staff at Aspen Achievement Academy recommends maintaining the child’s current course of medication in the field.

“Because many medications have to be tapered down and carefully monitored, we strongly recommend that parents consult with their doctor at home before discontinuing their child’s medication,” says Sandy New, the academy’s medical coordinator. “Wilderness therapy in many ways is like school – the students have daily assignments and earn academic credit – so they need to be functioning at their best.”

“Coming into a new environment can be stressful for teens. A sudden change in body chemistry can make the adaptation process that much harder,” adds Colleen Chappell, RN, who has worked as a nurse for 30 years.

In certain situations, the academy’s consulting psychiatrist may recommend starting a course of medication, or changing the current course of medication based on the particular needs of the student. In these cases, parents are directly involved in the decision-making process and receive regular updates regarding their child’s progress. In addition, the medical team is always available to speak with parents if they have any questions or concerns.

With all of these policies and precautions in place, Aspen Achievement Academy has an impressive track record of safety and proper medication management in the field. “Safety is our number-one priority,” explains Chappell. “We never start or stop a medication without consulting parents, and we work to keep parents informed of any medical issue, however small.”