After several years of being an out of control teenager my Mother was at her wits. In 1989 at the age of 15, I was taken from my bed in the middle of the night along with another girl from my home town by 2 large males and a female. They took us to the airport, we were on this journey together. While at Provo Canyon School we were punished by standing facing the wall for 20 minute long periods with two 30 second squats for rest. This would go on all day for weeks, months in my case. We were watched in the showers and restrooms.
I was put in restraints by male staff numerous times and forced to take medication and when I refused I was injected with them. I was put in a strait jacket, kept in confinement for days with no clothes and a drain to pee in…I was cold, alone and hungry. The staff were verbally abusive! Especially a staff member named Stephanie and male staff member named Rick were especially harsh.
This experience and trauma set me up for a lifetime of mental health and substance abuse. I now have 11 years sober and help other women to overcome addiction and mental health issues. I am here to help others how ever I can with my story.
The other girl and I are still best friends 35 years later and still live in the same town. Until now it was only the two of us that understood exactly what happened to us in there! We are not alone!
Name:
Tanya P
Program:
Provo Canyon School
Location:
Utah, United States
Years Attended:
1989 – 1991
You must have been there when I was. I went from 1990 to 1993. I was 13, and the state of California had sent me there. That was really a horrible place. I never had the shots or straight jacket, but I was tied down to a bed in the seclusion rooms pretty often. Do you remember the therapist named Wendy? When I refused my meds she had the nurse grind it into powder and force me to eat it without water.
Thank you both for sharing your experiences.
I think it’s great that you are speaking out even though I can imagine the usual perpetrator-defenders and victim-blamers will come on the scene because they are either ignorant or too naive and clueless because they deliberately turn a blind eye to what’s happening in the world.
I wish you both the best!