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Substance Abuse

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Phone: (323) 361-2463
Fax: (323) 913-7951

5000 Sunset Blvd. Ste. 540
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Street or visitor parking is available.

Walk-Ins Available:
Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Hours of Operation:
Mon. - Thurs.: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Fri.: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Questions?
Coreena Hendrickson, LCSW 
cddhendrickson@chla.usc.edu
Phone: (323) 361-3911

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) at Children's Hospital Los Angeles provides free services and support for youth ages 10 through 25 who are impacted by substance use. 

We provide education to youth, caregivers, and other service providers about the Continuum of Use and various other topics related to adolescent substance use. For an initial screening, youth can walk in to the clinic on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Our services are trauma informed, incorporate harm reduction and abstinence outcomes and includes the following evidence-based practices:

  • Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Motivating Interviewing (MI)


Services Provided

Services are provided at the Division of Adolescent Medicine, schools and community locations attractive and accessible to youth.  Services include: 

  • Screening and assessment
  • Individual, family, and group therapy
  • Prevention education 
  • Drug-free recreational activities
  • Linkage to community resources for youth and families
  • Training to parents, teachers and community providers

SAPT seeks to reduce the effects of stigma associated with alcoholism and drug addiction. We do not believe addiction is a personal weakness, a character flaw, or that addicts and alcoholics are “bad” mothers, fathers or teenagers who are simply irresponsible, require punishment or are undeserving of basic services because of their use. 

We support the scientific evidence that addiction is a treatable disease whose etiology is rooted in genetics/biology and maladaptive coping. We are keenly aware of the risk and protective factors associated with adolescent substance use and work to enhance support for healthy decision making.  


Adult versus adolescent substance use 

A problem frequently encountered in the addiction recovery field is that youth are often treated using adult models of care. We have found that successful treatment must be developmentally appropriate.  Typically, adults have used longer than adolescents, are more likely to have medical complications as a result of heavy use, and have more impairment in social and occupational functioning.   A young person typically has a briefer history of use, has had fewer consequences, and may “grow out of” a period of heavy use. Because adolescents work hard to be independent and often rebel against authority, confrontational approaches used with adults are often less helpful. Because youth often feel “invincible” and are skeptical of adult advice, scare tactics don’t work with most adolescents. Providers who are transparent, who respond with respect and build on strengths, are more likely to be effective in motivating change in youth.