- Joint Commission accredited
- Girls-only home
- Ages 12 to 17
- Admissions 24/7
Residential dual diagnosis treatment for teen girls in Arizona.
When the using and what sits under it feed each other, treating one at a time rarely holds. Nexus Teen Academy treats co-occurring mental health and substance use together, in one residential program for girls 12 to 17 at the AZDHS-licensed girls' residence in Cave Creek.
- Free & confidential · No obligation · (480) 485-3424
- 4.7 Google · 37 reviews
- AZDHS-licensed residential facility
- Most major private insurance accepted
- Free consultation
- Counselor online now
Wherever in Arizona you're calling from, share where to reach you and a licensed admissions counselor calls back, usually within minutes. We'll talk through fit, coverage, and next steps. No pressure.
- It's now where you are · typical callback under 10 minutes.
- Secure, private, and HIPAA-protected. By submitting you agree to be contacted about care; message/data rates may apply.
- 4.7 Google · 37 reviews
- Joint Commission accredited
Every credential is independently verifiable. Joint Commission · AZDHS registry · LegitScript.


Joint Commission accreditedAZDHS-licensed · LegitScript certifiedAbout Nexus Teen Academy
About Nexus Teen Academy's dual diagnosis program for girls.
Nexus Teen Academy is a licensed, Joint Commission-accredited residential program treating adolescent girls who carry a mental-health diagnosis and substance use at the same time. One clinical team treats both at the girls' residence on desert acreage in Cave Creek, ages 12 to 17. For most girls here the using started as relief, something to quiet anxiety, blunt a memory, or make sleep possible. Treat the substance alone and the reason stays; treat the depression alone and the using undoes the work.
Where withdrawal needs medical management, detox runs at a hospital first and admissions times the transfer so treatment begins the day she is discharged. Care is clinician-led, AZDHS-licensed, Joint Commission accredited, and LegitScript certified, with awake staff overnight.
Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen dual diagnosis in Arizona for ages 12 to 17. Girls live in a licensed home in Cave Creek with daily therapy, accredited school on site, and weekly family therapy. Most stay 30 to 60 days, and the team works with AHCCCS and most private insurance.
Cave Creek
Girls, 12 to 17 · Phoenix metro
Cave Creek
Girls, 12 to 17 · Phoenix metro
Accredited Arizona centers
Ages we treat, gender-separate
Awake clinical staff, every hour
A primary therapist, by name
Secure form · About 2 minutes · Free, no obligation
Our admissions team will reach out to you soon. Here’s what happens next:
- An admissions counselor contacts you, free and confidential
- If you asked about coverage, we check your benefits with your insurer
- You get honest answers and clear next steps, with no obligation
Where residential care fits: IOP, PHP or residential
The subacute level between weekly therapy and a hospital bed.
Therapy once or a few times a week. Your teen stays home and at school.
Live-in clinical care with 24/7 awake staff, daily therapy, and accredited school, in a real home.
You are hereShort-term acute stabilization for immediate medical or safety crisis.
| Question | Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Residential (RTC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | A step down from PHP, or a starting point for teens who need more than weekly therapy | A step down from residential care, or a starting point for teens who need structure without 24/7 care | Teens who need 24/7 care in a safe, immersive setting |
| Where your teen sleeps | At home | At home each evening | A licensed, home-like residence with 24/7 awake staff |
| Weekly schedule | About 4 hours a day (10:30 to 2:30 or 1:00 to 5:00), 3 to 4 days a week | Several days a week, multiple hours a day | Daily therapy, with care around the clock |
| Typical length | 30 to 90+ days | 30 to 90 days | 30 to 60 days |
| School | Stays in school; IOP is therapy-focused, with no academic support | Daily schoolwork time in a classroom, with educators on staff | Accredited, credit-bearing classes on site |
| Family | Weekly individual therapy and family counseling every other week | Family therapy sessions included | Weekly family therapy, in person or by secure video |
IOP and PHP run at NexStep Teen Academy, the Nexus outpatient program in Scottsdale for teens ages 12 to 17.
Not sure which level your teen needs? A licensed counselor will walk through it with you on the phone, free, and tell you honestly if a lower level of care is the better fit.
Speak with our admissions teamThe program
What our residential dual diagnosis program includes.
Substance-use work and mental-health treatment on one plan, inside a girls-only house with a fixed daily rhythm. Every admission includes each element below, reviewed each week against her goals rather than a fixed calendar.
Integrated evaluation
Psychiatric history and substance history taken together, with school records and prior treatment, so no one has to guess which came first.
Medical clearance and detox timing
Withdrawal that needs managing is handled at a hospital beforehand, and admissions times the transfer so treatment starts the day she is discharged.
Daily individual therapy
One named licensed clinician, a session every weekday on the thinking, the triggers, and the using behind them.
Motivational interviewing and relapse prevention
For the girl who does not agree there is a problem, resistance is worked with, not argued against, and high-risk moments get a written plan.
Family therapy and parent group
Weekly family sessions and the Saturday parent group, because the home she returns to is part of the relapse plan.
Psychiatric care and medication management
Medication managed on site by the prescriber, including what is safe to prescribe alongside a history of misuse, with your consent at every change.
Accredited academics
Credit-bearing classes on-site every weekday, so the schooling that slipped while she was using starts to recover.
Step-down and relapse plan
A written relapse plan, an outpatient therapist and prescriber booked near home, and a staged return to her own school.
- One team for the diagnosis and the substance use, treated together
Dual-diagnosis care
Mental health conditions treated alongside substance use.
Anger and low mood rarely arrive alone here. In national data, 15% of U.S. adolescents had a past-year major depressive episode and 7.8% a substance use disorder, and the two overlap: a third of teens with depression reported illicit drug use, against 12% of those without.
One team at the Cave Creek residence treats the diagnosis and the substance use inside a single plan, with nothing referred out mid-stay, because sobriety without the reason rarely survives the first hard week back at home.
Understanding teen girls' dual diagnosis
Primary focus
Co-occurring mental health and substance use in girls
Depression
Often the reason the using started.
Anxiety & panic
Alcohol and cannabis as self-medication.
Trauma & PTSD
Using to keep the memories quiet.
ADHD
Impulsivity plus easy access moves fast.
Substance use
Alcohol, cannabis, vapes, or pills.
Defiance at home
The fight that covers the using.
Self-harm
Often rises when substances are removed; screened at intake.
Safety firstSuicidal ideation
Assessed before anything else.
Safety first- Whatever your teen is facing, care stays coordinated in one integrated plan, one clinical team, and one residential setting.
The setting
Our girls-only residential home in Cave Creek.
The girls' residence sits on desert acreage in Cave Creek, about 30 minutes from central Phoenix: an ordinary house with what early recovery needs, a fixed routine, no supply and no dealers in reach, meals cooked and eaten together, awake overnight staff, and AZDHS licensure.
Take a self-guided 3D walkthrough of the home
Life inside
A typical day in residential dual diagnosis treatment.
Mornings are the hardest hours early in a stay, so they are the most structured. A day held the same way by every adult takes the fuel out of the cravings and the conflict that used to run the house.
-
MorningHygiene, meds & breakfast
Hygiene and meds from 6:30 to 7:30, then breakfast from 7:30 to 8:00.
-
MorningGratitude journal & education
A gratitude journal from 8:00 to 8:20, then education from 8:30 to 10:45 and a snack at 10:45.
-
MorningGroup therapy & lunch
Group therapy from 11:00 to 12:00, then lunch and mindfulness from 12:00 to 1:00.
-
AfternoonGroup therapy
Group therapy from 2:00 to 3:00, a snack at 3:00, then group therapy again from 3:15 to 4:00.
-
AfternoonMovement, dinner & evening activity
Movement with nursing from 4:15 to 5:00, dinner at 5:00, then evening activity and meds from 6:00 to 7:00.
-
EveningFree time & lights out
Free time from 7:00 to 8:30, evening hygiene from 8:30 to 9:00, gratitude journal at 9:00 and lights out at 9:30.
Weekends run differently
Saturday and Sunday follow a lighter routine than the weekday schedule above.
Click here for a free consultationTap to call (480) 485-3424 and our admissions team will walk you through a full weekend. Someone answers any time.Awake clinical staff are on-site every hour, including overnight, at both Arizona centers.
How healing happens
Evidence-based therapies for teen dual diagnosis.
Integrated treatment, both conditions handled by one team at the same time, is the standard national guidance sets for co-occurring disorders. Residential delivery adds the hours outpatient care cannot supervise.
Core therapies
1
Motivational interviewing
Built for ambivalence. Instead of arguing her into agreement, it works with the reasons she already has for changing.
Helps withweek oneno lectures2
CBT and relapse prevention
Triggers, high-risk situations, refusal skills, and a written plan for the moments that usually end in using.
Helps withtrigger workrefusal skills3
Emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills
Practiced daily, so there is something to reach for when the substance is gone.
Helps withdaily practiceimpulse control
Supporting care, running alongside
Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR
When trauma is the driver, it is treated directly, after stabilization rather than in the first week.
after stabilizationsafety firstFamily therapy and parent group
Weekly family sessions, in person for Valley families and by secure video beyond, plus the Saturday parent group.
weeklyhome planEquine, art and experiential
Friday equine sessions, plus art and music work: hours that rebuild a life without the substance in it.
equine Fridayshealthy outlets
Your teen's clinical team
Meet our licensed clinical team.
Every girl works with a named, licensed clinician, and the psychiatric prescriber and house team are named too. Every Arizona license below is open to your own verification.
LPC, BC-TMHHannah Carr-Unquera
Executive Director
Leads the clinical program, licensed in Arizona and board certified in telemental health.
LCSW, DSWDr. Tyler White
Director of Adolescent Clinical Services
Sets the treatment plan each resident’s team works to, and supervises the clinicians who deliver it.
DNP, PMHNP-BCAlexandria Penner
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Runs psychiatric evaluation and medication management on-site, so prescribing stays inside the house.
House teamAshley Daniels
Director of Family Services & Education
Runs family services and education, after directing theatre and teen programs and building liberal-arts residential summer camps for Mount Holyoke College and Bryn Mawr College.
House teamJennifer Inderberg
Education Supervisor
Twenty-five years in education, supervising the accredited school that runs inside each house and the credit transfers back to your district.
House teamMelissa Stockmar
Director of Food Operations
Leads the kitchen team behind the chef-prepared meals, and runs the cooking group where residents learn to feed themselves.
Arizona-licensed clinical team.Every Nexus Teen Academy clinician is licensed in Arizona. Verify any license on the AZ Board of Behavioral Health Examiners directory.
What families say
What Arizona families say about Nexus Teen Academy.
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Carol TrombinoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nexus Academy was a wonderful place for my daughter. The staff were amazing and so supportive. They worked with our entire family. Highly recommend Nexus.![]()
Hemella SweattTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Sending your child or teen to a residential treatment facility is a difficult and heart-wrenching decision. The team at Nexus Teen Academy was exceptional. Our daughter's therapist was a great fit for her and played a significant role in helping us grow as a family. Family therapy is a crucial part of your child's recovery, and Nexus does an excellent job of involving the family in the healing process. We are grateful for their support in guiding our daughter toward a path of recovery.![]()
S HTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The program at Nexus was a lifesaver for my 15-year-old daughter. After a tough year in and out of different levels of care, my husband and I had truly hit a breaking point and knew a residential facility was needed, but we were adamant about finding a place that was safe, respectful, and loving for our daughter. The entire team at Nexus was caring and engaged from day one, despite my daughter NOT making that easy for the first couple of weeks. There were definitely days in the beginning where we wondered if this was even working, but the team encouraged my husband and me to stay the course, and thank goodness we did. After completing Nexus residential and PHP programs, our daughter has done a complete 180. Her mental health struggles aren't 'magically gone' - but she has learned not to let them control her and our family dynamic is leagues better than where we started. Maybe the craziest part of this whole experience was when she recently acknowledged that she was really struggling before and thanked me for sending her to the program - I almost fainted. All this to say, I can't recommend the team at Nexus enough to any family with a teen who is going through a hard time.![]()
Amanda HayesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Our 12 year old attended Nexus in summer of 2025. I opted for this location due to the reviews from other parents regarding similarly aged children. It's a whole different ballgame when a parent is trying to figure out what is best for their tween, knowing they will have exposure to older teenagers and older problems. That sad, Nexus is such a cohesive program. Our experience has been nothing short of wonderful, given the impossible circumstanes. All staff seems to be personally invested in each child's recovery and wellbeing. Our child left Nexus in a much more healed state than when they went in. I was so nervous about taking this huge step after poor hospital experiences and previous PHP's not being as helpful as we hoped. The staff is on top of relational dynamics in the house, and there is some separation between the younger residents and older ones, while still promoting overall cohesiveness. I feel they did a tremendous job supporting our 12 year old developmentally, bringing out a sense of childhood again. They also masterfully navigated our complicated family dynamic, going above and beyond to ensure our child's needs were met, the program requirements were met, in alignment with our family's needs. In a way, our child's time away at Nexus brought them back to us in a way we hadn't seen in a long time. I am so grateful. The PHP program, as well, is top notch and operates from heart. I would recommend both Nexus RTC and their PHP program to any parent in a similar situation. I have offered to connect with any parent in a similar place, so feel free to inquire about connecting with the staff. I know how terrifying this all is, and while we're not totally out of the woods, our child is currently attending school full time again with 2 evening therapy sessions each week. I attribute this assimilation into developmentally typical structure entirely to the care and support we all received from Nexus staff, from intake to therapy to medical and everyone else involved. Thank you, nexus, for helping our child- and our family- in our healing. I am forever grateful.![]()
AlishaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
When we realized we needed a place for our teen to go longer term it was one of the hardest, scariest things I have been through as a mother. Nexus really made it easier and not quite so scary. They have a really caring staff, the kids love the staff. They truly care about your child, it’s not just another kid in and out of their house. I felt like our family was important and they were focused on what my child needed to help her through this difficult time. There was a lot of ups and downs with this process and we had some really hard times and conversations but the staff was always there to help guide us. I would truly say if you are struggling and your teen needs residential Nexus is an amazing place for treatment. The house is beautiful and it is truly comfortable for the kids. I would definitely recommend Nexus.![]()
Vanessa AnayaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I would like to share that we had a great experience at Nexus Teen Academy. All of the staff is great with communication and assisted us through the process. I am very grateful for all of the resources, help and treatment for my teen throughout their stay. The have an amazing team and would recommend to anyone who needs the help.![]()
Sean HayesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I highly recommend Nexus Teen Academy. The structure, support, and care they provided made a significant impact on my child, and it was also maintainable post-residency. During the residency, I attended a parent group led by the therapists who worked with the kids; where we learned critical skills and distinctions which helped with life afterward. It was also great to be in contact with other parents during this time, and the parenting group was great for this.![]()
Zane BedfordTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Four years ago at the age of 13 my daughter completely stopped participating in school and started to display symptoms of major depression anxiety and an unknown mood disorder.Her attendance at school was greatly impacted in such a way that attending once or twice a week became standard until the age of 16.Alcohol addiction and juvenile legal troubles followed and became common issues up until the moment my daughter entered into Nexus Teen Academy.To be completely honest as a completely broken single parent,after trying many attempts at therapy/medications I had lost hope and had given up on expecting anything could fix the crisis we had been living in for the last for years. Nexus Academy changed my perspective, my daughter completed 33 days and for the first time in years I saw the spark and light come back to her eyes and soul.She left Nexus displaying insight and a desire to get back on track with her education. With all professions , one will find flaws and opportunities for improvement .I believe Nexus understands this and showed an openess to suggestions and constructive criticism.![]()
lily hendersonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nexus was a life changing experience. I went in at 17 and experienced my 18th in there, to which the staff and residents all made sure I felt special. My goals were formed around gaining a better sense of self identity, self respect, and healing myself from the inside out. All of which happened in ways I never expected. I was shown how healthy communication, empathy in your home life, and phone-free relationships, all shape you as a person. Each and every one of the staff and administrators at Nexus are solely devoted to the children’s lives and well being. If there was ever an issue, i felt confident to go to them about it and it was swiftly handled. It was one of the most difficult goodbyes I have ever experienced in my life, as I grew family-life bonds with every person there. Thank you all!!!!! I appreciate every way you showed up for me and how you supported me in my stay. I will carry this experience with me forever.![]()
Jasmine CarterTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
My daughter was referred here after her various visits to psychiatric hospitals.I was so scared to be apart from my child but Nexus made me feel better about my decision because of their loving and welcoming environment. I love everything about this place, they really love the kids and support parents along the way. I appreciate everyone that loved and supported my child while she was at her lowest. I recommend this place to anyone that may feel like they have tried all they can and they do not know what to do next because Nexus will help you with the next steps in your journey.Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 23 reviews
★★★★★
“Nexus Academy was a wonderful place for my daughter. The staff were amazing and so supportive. They worked with our entire family. Highly recommend Nexus.”
★★★★★
“Sending your child or teen to a residential treatment facility is a difficult and heart-wrenching decision. The team at Nexus Teen Academy was exceptional. Our daughter’s therapist was a great fit for her and played a significant role in helping us grow as a family.”Read the full review →
★★★★★
“The program at Nexus was a lifesaver for my 15-year-old daughter. After a tough year in and out of different levels of care, my husband and I had truly hit a breaking point and knew a residential facility was needed.”Read the full review →
These come straight from our public Google Business Profile, anyone can read all 34 and add their own.
Getting started
How admission works, from first call to first day.
- You set the pace, with no pressure to decide
- Clear answers to every clinical and financial question
- An honest recommendation, even if another program is the better fit
1
- Today · 24/7
- ~15 minutes
One calm call
A licensed Nexus Teen Academy counselor asks what she is using and how often, when she last used, what diagnoses and treatment already exist, and whether anyone is at risk, then says plainly whether residential care is the right level for your daughter.
- What to have ready: nothing. Just call, questions are welcome, and there is no obligation.
2
- Same day
- Free & confidential
Coverage check
With your authorization we query your insurer and send back plain figures for residential behavioral-health treatment, network status, and the realistic out-of-pocket, and both benefits matter here, mental health and substance use.
- What you get: your coverage answer, usually the same day, every option mapped, including in-network and out-of-network paths.
3
- Within 24 to 48 hrs
- Licensed clinicians
Clinical assessment
A licensed clinician reviews the substance history, the psychiatric history, prior treatment, and safety, then recommends the level of care the findings support; last use and any withdrawal history decide whether medical detox comes first.
- Your input matters: what you have seen at home is a key part of the clinical assessment.
4
- Within days
- Named coordinator
Plan the arrival
One named coordinator handles medical clearance, travel, school records, prescriptions, and a packing list reviewed for safety, so arrival day carries no surprises.
- No surprises: you will have the packing list, schedule, and your coordinator's direct line in writing.
5
- Welcome day
- Never out of the loop
A gentle, planned arrival
Your daughter meets the clinical team and settles into the routine, and your first family update is scheduled before you leave.
- From here: predictable days, weekly updates, and a team your teen knows by name.
Coverage & cost
Does insurance cover teen dual diagnosis treatment?
Residential mental-health treatment is a covered behavioral-health benefit on most major private insurance plans. Nexus Teen Academy accepts most major commercial insurers. Wherever in the state you are, we verify your exact private benefits, in-network or out-of-network, free, confidentially, and usually the same day, then explain any out-of-pocket cost in plain English before you commit.
- 1You send your plan detailsTwo required fields. Member ID optional. Takes about a minute.
- 2We verify with your insurer directlyIn-network or out-of-network, free and confidential, usually the same day.
- 3You get the number in plain EnglishYour exact out-of-pocket cost, explained before you commit to anything.
- Meritain
- UMR
- + more
Out-of-network or unsure about your plan? Call anyway, cost should never be the reason a teen doesn't get help.
- Free benefits check
See exactly what your plan covers for dual diagnosis residential treatment, free, confidential, no obligation.
After discharge
Aftercare planning after residential treatment.
Discharge planning opens weeks ahead, with you in the room: an adolescent PHP or IOP step-down where it fits, an outpatient therapist and prescriber booked near home, a written relapse plan naming her high-risk people, places, and hours, and school re-entry staged with your district.
Answers
Frequently asked questions about dual diagnosis treatment
The questions families ask us most, answered plainly, centers, distance, insurance, licensing, and privacy.
A licensed admissions counselor can answer it on the phone right now, no script, no pressure, and no obligation to enroll.
Talk to a counselorAnswered 24/7 at (480) 485-3424Centers & getting there
Yes. Nexus Teen Academy treats co-occurring mental health and substance use at its AZDHS-licensed girls' residence in Cave Creek, about 30 minutes north of central Phoenix, serving families across Arizona. Admissions answers (480) 485-3424 around the clock.
It means two things are true at once: a mental-health diagnosis such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or ADHD, and a substance use problem. Integrated treatment means one team treats both on the same plan, rather than sending her from a mental-health program to a substance program and back.
The Cave Creek residence admits girls aged 12 to 17 only. A girls-only house changes the room: sexual-trauma history, self-harm, disordered eating, and the social dynamics that drive a lot of teenage girls' using can be worked on openly, and groups, bedrooms, and staffing are built around that one population.
No. Where withdrawal needs medical management, detox happens at a hospital beforehand, and admissions times the transfer so treatment begins the day she is discharged. The same applies to any acute medical instability.
Care & cost
The program addresses the substances most common in adolescent girls, including alcohol, cannabis, nicotine and vaping, prescription pills passed between friends, and stimulants. What matters clinically is the pattern and what it is being used to manage, not only the substance.
With motivational interviewing rather than argument. Most girls arrive certain they do not need to be here. The approach works with her own reasons for change, and the daily structure gives her a sober baseline to judge from, usually within the first two weeks.
Many commercial plans do when medical necessity is met, and both the mental-health and substance-use benefits come into it. Nexus Teen Academy accepts most private insurance and returns your coverage, network position, and likely costs before you decide anything.
Family work is built in: weekly family therapy, in person for Valley families and by secure video beyond, a Saturday parent group, and daily family phone calls. The home she returns to is part of the relapse plan, so you are part of the treatment.
Yes, and the prescriber reviews everything she arrives with. Where a history of misuse makes a medication risky, the prescriber explains the alternatives, and nothing changes without your consent.
Licensing & privacy
Programs are planned around 30 or more days, then adjusted against clinical criteria: stable mood, skills she uses without prompting, a family ready for the home plan, and a step-down in place. Before discharge your case manager books an outpatient therapist near home and stages school re-entry.
A certified teacher runs credit-bearing classes on site every weekday, and credits transfer home. For a girl whose attendance collapsed while she was using, that is often the first thing to recover.
That is common, and it does not stop treatment from starting. Our counselors coach you through the conversation, and many girls who arrive certain they do not belong settle once the house is calm, predictable, and no one is fighting them. One call talks through your specific situation.
Admission & daily life
Often within a few days. Admissions calls are returned within 24 hours, usually within minutes. A counselor checks your insurance benefits and licensed clinicians complete an assessment, and if everything moves smoothly your teen can move in shortly after. A coordinator walks you through travel, paperwork, and the first day.
Yes. Nexus Teen Academy offers tours of the home by appointment, so you can see where your teen would live and ask the team your questions in person before you decide anything. Call admissions to schedule a tour at a time that suits your family.
Yes. Family therapy happens once a week and is typically followed by about an hour of visitation, and parents are expected to take part. After orientation, teens can call home during designated hours most days, and families can also join a weekly virtual Family Empowerment group with other parents.
No. Personal phones and other devices stay at home for the length of the stay. Teens use tablets for video calls with approved contacts and computers for schoolwork, so contact with family continues through approved channels while the focus stays on treatment.
School continues during treatment. Teens attend accredited, credit-bearing classes on site, and education supervisors help with coursework and stay in touch with families. Bring a copy of any 504 plan or IEP at admission, and before discharge the team plans a staged return to your teen's home school.
Pack about two weeks of clothes without laces or drawstrings, alcohol-free toiletries, and any prescribed medication in its original packaging with a current medication list. Bring a guardian ID, a copy of any 504 plan or IEP, and school books. Personal phones and school-issued tablets stay at home.
The statewide picture
Teen dual diagnosis statistics parents should know
Teenage girls now report higher substance-use rates than a decade ago, and the mental-health half is usually already there. Each figure below carries its source.

7.8%
of U.S. adolescents 12 to 17, about 2 million, had a substance use disorder in the past year (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2024).
1 in 3
teens with depression reported past-year illicit drug use, against 12% of teens without depression (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2024).
About 30%
of the 2.4 million adolescents who needed substance use treatment received any (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2024).
1 in 4
Arizona adolescents who needed mental-health care found it very difficult or impossible to get (AZDHS, 2026).
Read together, the numbers say substance use and a mental-health diagnosis travel together far more often than either shows up alone.
The Arizona access figure is why families reach out early: when local help is hard to find, one program that treats both halves is often the faster route.
Teen group home care for Arizona girls
A teen group home in Arizona, with treatment inside the house.
Searching for a teen group home in Arizona? Girls from across the state live at our girls-only home in Cave Creek, licensed by AZDHS as a behavioral-health residential facility, so the treatment happens inside the house, not somewhere else.
A typical group home
- Licensed for shelter and supervision
- Daily living and structure
- Supervision, not clinical treatment
Nexus homes
- AZDHS behavioral-health residential licence
- Daily therapy and psychiatric care
- Accredited school on site
Families from the Phoenix metro 9 cities
Families from Greater Arizona 6 cities
Girls from each of these cities are treated at our Cave Creek residence. We help with the drive or flight, and families join weekly therapy in person or by secure video.
Across Arizona
Dual diagnosis treatment for girls across Arizona.
The girls' residence sits north of the Phoenix metro in Cave Creek, which keeps it inside a day's drive of nearly every Arizona family. Admissions answers 24/7.
Within a half-day of most of the state
About two hours from Tucson on I-10, 2½ hours from Flagstaff on I-17, 1½ hours from Prescott, and three hours from Yuma on I-8, with Sierra Vista and Lake Havasu City a similar reach.
Telehealth & travel, handled
Secure weekly family telehealth for families outside the metro, plus help planning the drive or the flight into Phoenix Sky Harbor, so distance never means dropping out of treatment.
Aftercare mapped to your community
Step-down and outpatient care lined up near home before discharge, plus school re-entry with your home district, from Tucson Unified to Flagstaff Unified to the West Valley.
Nexus Teen Academy, Cave Creek · girls’ residence
Admissions 24/7

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Where the Cave Creek residence is located
Anthem, Desert Hills and New River
Saddle Mountain Rd, 85331 · 20 min north
Served from the Cave Creek residence
Travel, telehealth & aftercare
Every Nexus program, statewide
Find the right program for your daughter.
Eight conditions, one clinical team, and families from fifteen Arizona cities. Choose what your teen is struggling with, then see how care works for families from your area.
Nexus Teen Academy provides licensed residential treatment for teens aged 12 to 17 across eight conditions: anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, self-harm, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, substance use and ADHD. Girls live at the girls-only Cave Creek residence. Families from 15 Arizona cities and the rest of the state get drive-time guidance, travel help and family therapy by secure video when they live outside the metro.
Depression care, statewide
Dual diagnosis treatment for girls across Arizona
Girls from each city below are treated at our Cave Creek residence. We walk families through the drive, school re-entry with your home district, and the questions parents from that area ask most.
Other conditions we treat for teens
Each condition leads to its Arizona guide, and the cities beside it show how care works for families from there.
Talk it through with a counselor
Tell an admissions counselor what you are seeing at home, and they will say plainly which program fits.
Girls-only programs
Treated only at the Cave Creek girls residence
Five programs for teen girls, each with an Arizona guide and a page for families from each nearby city.
Co-occurring mental health and substance use
Eating disorders in teen girls
Sexual trauma in teen girls
Severe mood swings in teen girls
Your city is not listed? We admit girls from anywhere in Arizona and from out of state. Call (480) 485-3424 and we will walk you through the drive to Cave Creek and how admission works.


