Aspen Education Group, a Cerritos-based provider of programs for troubled teens, has been acquired by CRC Health Group, a Cupertino-based organization specializing in the detoxification of chemically dependent individuals.

Aspen will remain a separate division of CRC Health Group. Elliot Sainer, CEO and co-founder of Aspen will continue to act as president of the division and is expected to join the CRC board.

The acquisition was announced Friday by Dr. Barry Karlin, chairman and chief executive of CRC Health Group.

CRC Health Group was purchased by Bain Capital, a global private equity firm, in February 2006.