The clinical staff at Island View recognizes that certain underlying bio-psychiatric processes are indeed the driving forces behind behavioral and emotional difficulties during adolescence. For this reason some residents have been exposed to psychotropic drug therapy in the past or are on medication at the time of admission to Island View.

It is not uncommon for behavioral and emotional difficulties to have “attached” themselves to a neurological problem. In other words, a child may start out with a neurologically based learning difference, which over time may affect the very personality of the youth. By adolescence, the neurological issues can no longer be separated from the emotional and behavioral ones, and therapeutic interventions may be warranted on both fronts.

Under certain circumstances, a properly diagnosed problem can be greatly mitigated with a carefully applied regimen of drug therapy. These chemical interventions may only be required for a short time, while conditions such as bi-polarity and other mood disorders require more extensive courses of drug therapy.

The on-site psychiatry team at Island View is an intricate part of the day-to-day operation and is available to consult with residents and their parents/guardians regarding psychotropic medication usage. A full time psychiatrist and a full time psychiatric nurse practitioner oversee and monitor all psychotropic medication usage and consult with the multidisciplinary team on a regular basis regarding all medication management. Nursing coverage seven days a week allows for further care to be provided for those residents who are on medication.