- Joint Commission accredited
- Two AZ centers
- Ages 12 to 17
- Admissions 24/7
Residential treatment for teen substance abuse in Arizona.
Getting sober is possible, and your teen does not have to do it alone. Joint Commission accredited residential treatment for teen substance abuse, alcohol, vaping, marijuana, and pills, ages 12 to 17, in a girls-only Cave Creek home, supervised 24/7.
- 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 are calling from, share where to reach you and a licensed admissions counselor calls back, usually within minutes, with straight answers on the substance use, whether residential care fits, and what your plan covers. 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
Nexus Teen Academy: Arizona’s residential program for teen substance abuse.
Nexus Teen Academy is a licensed, Joint Commission accredited teen substance abuse residential treatment provider serving families across Arizona. Our residential program is the level of care between weekly outpatient therapy and hospitalization. We treat alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, prescription pills, opioids, and stimulants, along with the depression, anxiety, or trauma driving them (dual diagnosis), for adolescents 12 to 17. Girls live at our Cave Creek home; a teen with physical dependence detoxes first, then admits.
Our girls-only residence in Cave Creek, in the Phoenix metro, delivers clinician-led, integrated care: AZDHS-licensed, Joint Commission accredited, and LegitScript certified, with awake overnight staff in our substance-free home.
Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen substance abuse in Arizona for ages 12 to 17. Girls live in our 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.
North Scottsdale
12 to 17 · Phoenix metro
Cave Creek
Girls, 12 to 17 · Phoenix metro
Accredited Arizona centers
Ages we treat, girls only
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 teen substance abuse treatment program includes.
Every admission at both Arizona homes runs the same complete, substance-focused program: intake and substance evaluation, motivational interviewing, CBT for use and mood, daily clinical groups, weekly family therapy, psychiatric care, accredited academics, and a written relapse-prevention plan, reviewed weekly against measurable progress.
Intake & substance evaluation
A structured substance-use assessment and DSM-5 psychiatric evaluation run at intake, so the plan starts from diagnosis, not guesswork.
Motivational interviewing (MI)
Most teens arrive not wanting to quit. MI is the evidence-based method built for that start, growing a teen’s own reasons to change instead of lecturing them into resistance.
CBT for use and mood together
Cognitive behavioral therapy maps the trigger-craving-use chain, builds refusal and coping skills, and treats the depressive or anxious thinking the substance was quieting.
Daily clinical groups
Two clinician-led groups run every weekday morning, with education blocks each afternoon, on a posted weekly schedule.
Weekly family therapy
Parents learn what enables and what helps, how home rules and consequences get rebuilt, and how trust is re-earned on a schedule everyone can live with.
Psychiatric & medication care
The depression, anxiety, trauma, or ADHD beneath the use gets prescriber-led treatment, with medication weighed carefully in a teen who has a use history.
Accredited academics
School continues on site with transferable credit, rebuilding the academic standing the substance use pulled down.
Relapse-prevention & discharge plan
Your teen leaves with a written plan, personal triggers, rehearsed refusal scripts, an outpatient team booked near home, and a family agreement for what happens after a slip.
- Dual-diagnosis care, depression, anxiety, trauma, self-harm & substance use, together
Dual-diagnosis care
What the substance is medicating: depression, anxiety, trauma, and impulsivity.
Sustained substance use in a 12-to-17-year-old rarely stands alone. By the time an Arizona family considers residential care, the use is usually medicating depression, anxiety, trauma, or impulsivity, and each half keeps the other going, so one Nexus Teen Academy team treats both under a single plan.
Treat the drug use and leave the depression or anxiety beneath it untouched, and teens relapse.Nexus Teen Academy provides one clinical team and one integrated plan that treats the substance use and every co-occurring condition together. This level of care is known as dual-diagnosis care, delivered in a single Arizona residential setting.
Primary focusSubstance use & addiction
Everything below is treated in the same plan, by the same team.
Teen anxiety treatment
The alarm that never switches off.
Teen self-harm treatment
Safety-planned and monitored.
Safety firstTeen ADHD treatment
Focus, impulse control, school.
Teen suicidal ideation treatment
Assessed daily, never left alone.
Safety firstTeen depression treatment
Withdrawal and mood collapse.
Teen bipolar disorder treatment
Mood swings that need a diagnosis.
Teen behavioral issues treatment
Defiance, aggression, running.
Teen trauma & PTSD treatment
Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance.
Teen ODD treatment
Arguing, defiance, constant conflict.
Teen anger issues treatment
Blow-ups that frighten the family.
- Whatever your teen is facing, care stays coordinated in one integrated plan, one clinical team, and one residential setting.
The setting
See inside our Arizona teen residential home.
Our girls-only residence sits in Cave Creek, in the Phoenix metro. It is a licensed, substance-free residential setting with checked belongings, clear sightlines, and awake overnight staff.
Take a self-guided 3D walkthrough of the home
How healing happens
Evidence-based therapies: MI, CBT, and family therapy.
Nexus Teen Academy delivers motivational interviewing, CBT, and weekly family therapy, the best-supported treatments for adolescent substance use, in one integrated plan at both Arizona homes, reviewed weekly alongside direct care of the co-occurring condition.
Core therapies
1
Motivational interviewing & MET
Builds real motivation in teens who arrived insisting there is no problem, the documented starting point for most adolescent admissions.
Helps withunwilling teenschange talk2
CBT, individual & group
Chains each use back to its trigger and thought, then drills the refusal skills that break the loop, in daily rather than weekly doses.
Helps withtriggers & cravingsrefusal skills3
Family therapy, every week
The best-evidenced lever in adolescent substance treatment: rules, monitoring, and trust rebuilt with the people your teen goes home to.
Helps withthe home they return to
Supporting care, running alongside
Equine & experiential
Friday equine sessions, plus daily movement and outdoor time, rebuild sober sources of the relief the substance supplied.
sober routinesreal reliefPsychiatric care of the driver
Prescriber-led treatment of the depression, anxiety, trauma, or ADHD beneath the use, the dual-diagnosis half outpatient plans usually leave unmanaged.
the conditions beneathAccredited academics
Credit-bearing school runs on-site each weekday, restoring the routine and academic standing that months of use erode.
staying on track to graduate
Your teen's clinical team
Meet our licensed clinical team.
Every teen works with a named, credentialed clinician. Faces, roles, and licenses are shared before day one.
LPC, BC-TMHHannah Carr-Unquera
Executive Director
Leads the clinical program at our home, 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 at our home, 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 admissions counselor reviews your teen's situation, history, and what you have already tried, then tells you whether residential treatment fits and what the next step is.
- What to have ready: nothing. Just call, questions are welcome, and there is no obligation.
2
- Same day
- Free & confidential
Coverage check
With your okay, we confirm your benefits straight with your private insurance plan, and translate the result into plain numbers: what is covered, what is not, and a realistic out-of-pocket, before any decision.
- 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
Licensed clinicians assess your teen's history, needs, strengths, and safety, then recommend the appropriate level of care.
- 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 coordinator manages logistics with you: the packing list, travel into Phoenix, school records for credit transfer, and how the first day will go.
- 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 teen meets the clinical team and settles in. Your first family update is scheduled before you leave, and you have direct contact with the team from day one.
- From here: predictable days, weekly updates, and a team your teen knows by name.
Coverage & cost
Does insurance cover teen residential treatment in Arizona?
Residential treatment for adolescent substance use and co-occurring conditions is a covered behavioral-health benefit on most major private insurance plans. Nexus Teen Academy accepts most major commercial insurers and returns your plan’s real numbers, coverage, network status, and projected out-of-pocket, before you commit. The check is free and usually back within hours.
- 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 residential substance abuse treatment, free, confidential, no obligation.
After discharge
Aftercare and relapse prevention that follow your teen home.
Before discharge, your Nexus Teen Academy case manager builds the aftercare plan with you: an outpatient therapist and prescriber booked near home, telehealth to bridge the hand-off, sober supports where they exist locally, staged school re-entry with your district, and a family agreement that treats a slip as data to act on.
Answers
Teen substance abuse treatment questions, answered.
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) 485-3424Deciding on residential care
Nexus Teen Academy runs a licensed girls-only residence in Cave Creek, in the Phoenix metro, serving the whole state within roughly a day’s drive. For families searching for teen substance abuse treatment near me anywhere in Arizona, admissions answers 24/7 at (480) 485-3424 and will tell you plainly whether residential care is the indicated level.
The clinical line runs through control and consequences, not quantity. Using more than intended, failed promises to cut back, use continuing despite falling grades or family fallout, rising tolerance, and using to manage moods all point to a substance use disorder. One found vape is a conversation; a pattern like that is a diagnosis, and a structured assessment settles which one your teen is in.
Consider residential care when use keeps returning despite outpatient therapy, when it continues in the face of real consequences, or when a co-occurring condition like depression or anxiety is also not improving. A round-the-clock, substance-free setting removes access and gives integrated treatment the time that a weekly appointment cannot.
Sometimes, yes. Today’s cannabis concentrates run far stronger than the plant a parent may remember, and in the 2025 federal survey a third of adolescents with a marijuana use disorder had a severe one. Residential care is indicated when use continues despite consequences and outpatient attempts, or when it pairs with a mental health condition that is also stuck. An evaluation, not a rule of thumb, gives the honest answer.
Program, therapies & the dual diagnosis
Both, in what clinicians call dual-diagnosis care. The depression, anxiety, trauma, or ADHD driving the use is diagnosed at the same intake and treated by the same team under one plan. Programs that treat only the substance send the reason for it home untouched, which is where relapse begins.
Neither waits. Sequencing, rehab now and therapy later, is exactly what federal treatment guidance advises against for adolescents, because each untreated condition restarts the other. Integrated treatment runs both tracks in the same week: sobriety skills and craving management alongside direct psychiatric care of the underlying condition.
Motivational interviewing and CBT, alone and combined, plus weekly family therapy, are the best-supported treatments for adolescent substance use. Residential delivery turns them from a weekly hour into daily practice, with equine and experiential therapy, prescriber-led care of the co-occurring condition, and accredited academics rounding out the week.
It is the danger we rule out first. DEA testing in 2024 found a potentially lethal fentanyl dose in five of every ten fake pills seized, and fentanyl now drives most adolescent overdose deaths, often in a teen who believed the pill was pharmacy-made. Any teen misusing pills or buying through social media needs an evaluation now, and we urge families to keep naloxone (Narcan) at home.
Cost, admissions & logistics
Detox, when it is needed, happens at a hospital or licensed withdrawal unit before admission, and our team times the handoff so your teen moves into residential treatment the day it ends. Most teen admissions, vaping, marijuana, or alcohol short of physical dependence, admit straight in.
On most major commercial plans, residential treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions is a standard behavioral-health benefit. Nexus Teen Academy accepts most private insurance and puts your specific coverage, network status, and likely out-of-pocket in front of you before you decide, free and confidential, with most answers back within hours.
Most residential substance abuse admissions run 30 to 60 days, with the discharge date set clinically by sobriety stability, skills, and progress on the co-occurring condition, not a fixed calendar. The aftercare plan, written before discharge, treats a slip as data to act on: an immediate outpatient session, the family response your teen helped author, and a call to us.
One residence serves the state from the Phoenix metro, our girls-only home on E Saddle Mountain Rd in Cave Creek, in Maricopa County. Admissions runs 24/7 at (480) 485-3424, and when residential care is indicated many families move from first call to arrival within days.
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 national picture
Teen substance use, by the numbers.
Fewer teens use than a decade ago, but the ones who do face a far deadlier supply. Each figure below carries its source, and together they show why a middle level of care, residential treatment, exists.

7.4%
of U.S. adolescents 12 to 17 had a substance use disorder in the past year (2025 NSDUH).
604,000
teens had both depression and a substance use disorder in one year; 1 in 4 received no treatment.
708
Adolescent overdose deaths in 2023, more than double 2019 (CDC).
5 in 10
Fake pills seized carried a lethal dose of fentanyl (DEA, 2024).
Arizona’s 988 and Teen Lifeline lines meet the emergency, but a crisis call is stabilization, not ongoing treatment.
Residential care is the step between outpatient therapy and the hospital, the middle is what has been missing.
Sources: SAMHSA, 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (released July 2026); CDC MMWR, adolescent drug overdose deaths; U.S. DEA laboratory testing, 2024; NIDA & University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future, 2025.
Talk to an Arizona counselor, 24/7Teen group home care for Arizona families
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
Teens from each of these cities are treated at our girls-only home in Cave Creek. We help with the drive or flight, and families join weekly therapy in person or by secure video.
Across Arizona
Teen substance abuse treatment across Arizona, from two Phoenix-metro homes.
Both Nexus Teen Academy residences sit in the Phoenix metro (Maricopa County), so families from every corner of Arizona can reach accredited residential care and stay close to the process. Admissions are answered 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, Scottsdale
Admissions 24/7
Nexus Teen Academy, Cave Creek · girls’ residence
Admissions 24/7

See a center on the map
Tap Cave Creek or Scottsdale below to load its interactive map right here.
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Explore each Nexus Teen Academy location
North Scottsdale, 85260 · off Loop 101
Saddle Mountain Rd, 85331 · 20 min north
Served from our Cave Creek home
Travel, telehealth & aftercare
From the Nexus library
What parents read before they call us.
The newest articles from Nexus Teen Academy for parents weighing what comes next. This list updates itself every time a new article goes live.

Smiling Depression in Teens
Your teen gets good grades, shows up to practice, laughs with friends, and tells you everything is fine. From the outside, there is nothing to worry
Family Systems Therapy for Teens
When a teenager is struggling, the instinct is to fix the teenager. Get them a therapist. Get them
Psychodrama Therapy for Teens
Some teens can sit across from a therapist and talk about what hurts. Many cannot. They shrug, say
Teen Alcohol Abuse & Treatment
Alcohol is still the substance teens use most, and it is also the one parents are most likely

Munchausen Syndrome in Teenagers: What to Know
A teen who keeps getting sick with no clear cause. Symptoms that shift from visit to

Adolescent OCD Residential Treatment
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can take over a teenager’s life quietly. The hours spent rechecking, the rituals before
Reading because something changed at home? Call (480) 485-3424 and talk it through with an Arizona admissions counselor. It is free, confidential and there is no obligation.
Every Nexus program, statewide
Find your teen’s program, wherever you live in Arizona.
Eleven 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 eleven conditions: anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, self-harm, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, substance use, ADHD, behavioral issues, oppositional defiant disorder and anger issues. Girls live in Cave Creek residence. Teens from 15 Arizona cities and the rest of the state are treated at this residence, with drive-time guidance, travel help and family therapy by secure video for families outside the metro.
Substance abuse care, statewide
Teen substance abuse treatment for families across Arizona
Teens from each city below are treated at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek residences. We walk families through the drive, school re-entry with your home district, and the questions parents from that area ask most.
Each condition leads to its Arizona guide, and the cities beside it show how care works for families from there.
Tell an admissions counselor what you are seeing at home, and they will say plainly which program fits.
Your city is not listed? We admit teens from anywhere in Arizona and from out of state. Call (480) 485-3424 and we will tell you which residence is closer and how the drive works.

