Adolescent & Young Adult Advocates of Bryn Mawr is acquired by Recovery Centers of America

Recovery Centers of America (RCA), recently announced that it has acquired Bryn Mawr-based Adolescent & Young Adult Advocates, which serves youth and young adults in the Greater Philadelphia Region between the ages of 14 to 26.

Adolescent & Young Adult Advocates is a comprehensive outpatient treatment program for substance use disorder (SUD), anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, according to a press release announcing the acquisition. It is now operating under the name — Adolescent & Young Adult Advocates, Recovery Centers of America.

Recovery Centers of America is a healthcare network of substance use disorder treatment facilities on the East Coast and in the Midwest. The agreement combines Adolescent & Young Adult Advocates’ “outpatient substance use disorder and mental health program’s local roots with Recovery Center of America’s evidence-based platform to help young people struggling with addiction,” according to the release.

“We are highly focused on using outpatient programming to help adolescents, as we recognize that early substance use correlates with addiction issues later in life, and that the most significant increases in destructive behavior routinely occur among older teens and young adults,” Troy Brindle, chief executive officer of Recovery Center of America’s Outpatient Services, said in a statement.

A 2018/2019 survey by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, found that about 2.08 million, or 8.33%, of 12- to 17-year-olds nationwide reported using drugs in the previous month, according to the release.

In addition, reported use of illicit drugs remained steady or significantly below pre-pandemic levels in 2022, but “still was alarming for youth of all grades,” with 11% of eighth graders, 21.5% of 10th graders, and 32.6% of 12th graders reporting illicit drug use in the past year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Adolescent & Young Adult Advocates was founded in 2005 by Executive Director Patricia McAndrews, LPC/CAADC. She has been named vice president of Adolescent and Young Adults for Recovery Centers of America.

“In 1984, she set up the DUI system for Montgomery County, and two years later started the Rehab After School program,” the release stated.

She has also worked with local universities on education and awareness, and was featured in the multimedia training publication “Reaching Teens,” produced by the American Pediatric Association.

“For nearly two decades, Adolescent & Young Adult Advocates has worked tirelessly helping Philadelphia-area youths overcome obstacles to become successful, productive adults,” McAndrews said in a statement. “In joining forces with Recovery Centers of America, we are excited to be part of this highly successful addiction treatment organization that puts patients and their families first.” She added that the new platform “gives us the bandwidth” to reach and help more local youths that are struggling with substance use disorder.

Adolescent & Young Adult Advocates, Recovery Centers of America will offer individual, group and family sessions in general outpatient and intensive outpatient programs for young adults aged 14-26.

Headquartered in King of Prussia, Recovery Centers of America has 10 inpatient facilities, with many of the facilities also offering a full spectrum of outpatient treatment. Patients can obtain immediate substance use disorder care and mental health treatment by calling 1-844-5-RCANOW (844-572-2669).