Troubled: The Failed Promise of America's Behavioral Treatment Programs

In Troubled, Kenneth R. Rosen explores the dark world of private behavioral boot camps, where thousands of young adults are sent against their will, suffering emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Based on three years of reporting and hundreds of interviews, the book exposes the truth about this profitable but unchecked industry and offers hope for redemption.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 254 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2020
Publisher: Amazon Publishing

In Troubled, acclaimed journalist Kenneth R. Rosen delves into the harrowing world of private, largely unregulated behavioral boot camps, where thousands of young adults, suffering from various mental health issues, are sent against their will. These programs, designed to break down children, often result in lifelong damage, as the children endure brutal emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Rosen, who lived through this experience firsthand, combines investigative journalism with harrowing storytelling to expose the disturbing truth about the massively profitable, sometimes fatal, grossly unchecked redirection industry.

Through the stories of four graduates, Troubled explores their own scarred journeys from childhood to adulthood, as they navigate the aftermath of their time in these programs. Based on three years of reporting and over one hundred interviews with clients, parents, psychologists, and health-care professionals, Rosen provides a comprehensive account of the industry's practices, highlighting the lack of regulation, oversight, and accountability.

Despite the darkness and despair that pervade the book, Troubled offers a glimmer of hope. It explores the themes of coming of age, neglect, exploitation, trauma, and fraught redemption, providing a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Rosen's writing is emotional and powerful, drawing the reader into the lives of his characters and leaving them with a deep understanding of the complexities of the human experience.

Troubled is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of mental health, child welfare, and the criminal justice system. It sheds light on a hidden world that too often goes unnoticed, and serves as a call to action for those who seek to improve the lives of vulnerable young adults.

Weight: 252g
Dimension: 138 x 209 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781542022118