AUSTIN - Three more disgruntled former clients of KIDS of El Paso testified here today. ***, ***, and ***, all 18, described incidents of abusive treatment while they were in the drug rehabilitation program. The three women were witnesses of the state. Attorneys for KIDS of El Paso are expected to call their witnesses later today. In their testimonies, all three women told District Court Judge *** that they helped physically restrain other clients while enrolled in the program. *** and *** said there were denied medical attention and that they were held against their will by KIDS staff members. A state agency is making history in its attempt to close the El Paso drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for teenagers and young adults. However, parents whose children are enrolled in the privately funded KIDS of El Paso program are fighting to keep the center's door open. *** legal counsel for the Texas Commission for Alcohol and Drug Abuse said the agency had never before filed for a temporary injunction order against any program. The 33-year-old commission licenses alcohol and drug treatment programs. It petitioned for an order two weeks ago to shut down KIDS of El Paso. *** heard testimony on the case Thursday. The hearing resumed in Austin today at the Travis County Courthouse. The state commission revoked KIDS' license June 2. The state attorney general's office has intervened and is seeking to put KIDS out of business at least until the matter of its license is resolved, *** said. ***, chairwoman of the state agency's inquiry board, said KIDS has appealed to the commission to retain its license. According to three reports released this year, KIDS does not meet the minimal standards set by the commission. "If the program is allowed to operate, we feel there is immediate risk of harm to the (clients') health and safety," *** said. About 70 parents of young adults in the program were at today's hearing. One of those is ***, 37, mother of a 14-year-old girl who enrolled in KIDS for a behavior problem. "If they take the program away, my kid is going to die," *** said. "She enjoys inflicting pain upon herself. I've tried other programs and none have worked like KIDS." About a dozen witnesses are scheduled to testify in today's hearing, which is expected to continue through Tuesday. The attorneys and some of the commission representatives said they will reserve comments about the fate of KIDS until after today.
