Paris Hilton, once known for her glamorous reality TV persona, has emerged as a powerful voice for reform in the troubled teen treatment industry.
Hilton spoke openly about her own harrowing experiences as a teenager, detailing accounts of forced medication, physical restraint, and even sexual abuse by staff members. These experiences, she shared, took place at for-profit youth centers – a system she believes prioritizes profits over the well-being of children.
This isn’t the first time Hilton has spoken out. In 2020, she bravely shared her story, detailing her time at four such facilities. The worst, she claims, was Provo Canyon School, a center notorious for allegations of widespread abuse.
“At 16,” she testified, “I was snatched from my bed and taken across state lines to the first of four youth facilities. These programs promised help but instead took away my voice, freedom of movement, and even sunlight for two years. I was drugged and sexually abused by staff.”
Hilton recognizes that her path to these facilities wasn’t through the foster care system. However, she emphasizes that her parents, like countless others, were deceived about the true conditions their child would face.
“They were lied to and manipulated,” Hilton stated.
This manipulation, she argues, is particularly dangerous for children in foster care who may not have a strong support system advocating for their well-being.
Hilton’s testimony paints a bleak picture of a system that preys on vulnerable youth. She described being “ripped from my bed” and subjected to isolation, physical abuse, and even sexual assault.
“These are innocent kids,” she pleaded, “kids who haven’t committed crimes, kids who need support, not this kind of trauma.”
Hilton called for reform, highlighting the immense financial resources flowing into this industry – a staggering $23 billion annually.
“This is a life-or-death situation,” she declared, urging lawmakers to take a stand for the countless children trapped in a system that prioritizes profit over their safety and well-being.
