One aspect of substance use disorder treatment that is overlooked at most facilities is the empathy of the staff towards those seeking help. At Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, nearly every person who interacts with the clients is a graduate of the program. This provides two major advantages of MNTC over other treatment programs: the staff’s empathy towards clients and a personal understanding of how to address the experiences of new clients.

By staff, I am referring to the administration people, counselors, and nearly everyone who works there. I cannot say this applies to all the people at Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, but it does apply to many of the staff. This was not a scientific poll to see who graduated. When this study began, I contacted some of the staff to set up interviews with graduates, and many of them said I could start with them. Most of the staff that I reached out to before this study began are MNTC graduates.

These MNTC graduates are so excited about their transformation that they want to tell their story to everyone they meet.

MNTC staff are different because this isn’t just a job they go to and leave at the end of their shift. I also know people who work, or have worked, at other treatment facilities, and they have told me that at the end of their day, they just leave. They have not dealt with substance use disorder themselves; this is just a job to make money, and those whom I have spoken to have difficulty understanding why the clients can’t just stop their abusive behavior.