A Hidden Practice in Youth Treatment Programs

Hi everyone,

This week, I want to bring attention to an issue that almost nobody talks about, yet it affects some of the most vulnerable young people in the country. Inside certain residential treatment programs, especially in states like Mississippi, adolescents have been given off-label testosterone suppressants without proper disclosure, informed consent, or specialist oversight.

This is not a rare rumor. It is a quiet pattern that deserves sunlight.

Some facilities use medroxyprogesterone acetate on adolescent boys during their final weeks or months in treatment. The drug is FDA-approved for several things, but testosterone suppression in adolescents is not one of them. When used this way, it becomes entirely off-label.

The reality is often hidden behind vague descriptions. Parents are told the medication will help with mood or behavior. Adolescents are rarely told the real purpose. The effect is deliberate hormonal suppression that reduces libido, emotional intensity, and physical drive at a time when hormones are essential for healthy development.

Minors cannot give full medical consent, and parents cannot give real consent if the information they receive is incomplete or misleading. When staff hide the true purpose of a medication, the entire process violates basic medical ethics.

Medroxyprogesterone can interfere with puberty, bone growth, sexual development, motivation, and long-term endocrine function. Using hormones as a behavior management tool is chemical control, not therapy.

Many youth facilities rely on general medical staff who are not trained in adolescent endocrinology or neurology. Decisions that require specialists are treated casually.

There is little research on the long-term effects of testosterone suppression in adolescent boys without clinical need. Known risks include:

And there is more. Because adolescence is a period when the brain calibrates its hormonal signaling, artificial suppression can interfere with luteinizing hormone. This hormone is vital for testosterone production. If it stays low for too long, the body may struggle to restore normal levels even after medication stops.

This is not a temporary effect. It disrupts a system that is still wiring itself.

Programs often use these medications because a calmer adolescent is easier to manage during the final weeks of treatment. Staff may believe it reduces aggression. Parents often trust the facility and do not question vague explanations. Adolescents may not understand their medication list or feel empowered to ask.

The result is a shortcut that replaces real therapeutic support with chemical restraint.

Many teens leave treatment confused about changes in mood, libido, motivation, or physical energy. They may never be told that these changes were caused by medication. Some discover it years later. The experience can shape a young person’s trust in medical care, their sense of agency, and their relationship with their own body long after the program is over.

Even one adolescent given a hormone-altering drug without informed consent is unacceptable. Families deserve to know this practice exists so they can ask better questions and protect their children.

If you or someone you know has experience inside residential programs, your story matters. Silence protects the system, and sunlight helps protect the next child.

Thank you for reading.