As an Indian Health Service funded and operated Youth Regional Treatment Center, for admission to the AAYRTC an applicant/referral must:

• Be an enrolled member of a Federally recognized Tribe.
• Have a primary diagnosis of substance dependence/abuse as defined by the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders - (DSM-IV TR).
• Be between the ages of 13 - 17 years of age.
• Must be justified by the criteria of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM PPC-2R).
• Eighteen-year old referrals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• The Aberdeen Area Youth Residential Treatment Center is an open entry open exit residential treatment program for alcohol and other drugs/addictions for adolescents.
• We provide an "enhanced" level of care for adolescents requiring dual diagnosis services with consideration given toward the safety of the adolescent, other residents, and/or staff.
• Utilizing the South Dakota (SD) s Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse criteria, we are recognized as "Level III Medically Monitored Intensive Inpatient Treatment for Adolescents".