'Mandatory admittance for people who aren't even depressed is like mass brainwashing. It is under the control of the US government and the Program is now requiring all teens to undergo treatment in the Program. Pritchard tells them he lost control of the Program months ago. However, before they do so there is a confrontation between Realm and James, both of whom love Sloane.īefore they leave for Denver, Arthur Pritchard, the creator of the Program visits them at their safe house, seeking the one remaining pill called the Treatment. With Lacey missing, this means they will have to leave. When they return, Sloane finds a note from Lacey and they discover that she has run away. She has had headaches and a severe nose bleed. They decide to leave Cas at home to watch Lacey who doesn't seem to be acting normally. Dallas hopes to find other recruits for the rebel cause against the Program. Strong drinks are served that help people 'feel' again and let loose. The Suicide Club is an underground club where people dress in black and heavy makeup to disguise themselves.

One night Dallas takes Sloane and James to a Suicide Club. Sloane learns that Dallas was repeatedly raped by Roger, a handler in the Program and that this has deeply harmed Dallas. They want to find a safe place to live but they also want to destroy the Program which they now know is harming people irreparably. While at the safehouse, Sloane and James struggle with their loss of memories and what they have experienced in the Program. She refuses for two reasons there is only one pill so either her or James must take it and she has no idea what the effect will be. Sloane still refuses to take the yellow pill, known as The Treatment, given to her to her by Michael Realm, which will recover her memories. Dallas and Cas tell them that Kevin and Lacey never made it to the border either they have found Lacey but not Kevin whom they assume has been sent back into the program. They were sent by Michael Realm to take Sloane and James to a safe house in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are picked up by Casanova Gutierrez, who has never been in the Program, and Dallas Stone, a Program rebels. Sloane Barstow and James Murphy are on the run from the Program. Teens at risk or who have attempted suicide are taken into the Program where their memories are erased and then they are sent back out into society with a handler. The Program was instituted because of the epidemic suicide rates among teens. The Treatment is the sequel to The Program, Suzanne Young's novel that explores society's attempts to treat a suicide epidemic among young people.

The epidemic suzanne young