One subpopulation that many don’t talk about when it comes to the struggles of addiction is teenagers. Luckily, there are programs and rehab for teens that can help even young adults confront their substance abuse problems.
According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 164.8 million US citizens aged 12 and over used substances or alcohol in the past month. That’s a staggering 60.2% of Americans. Early intervention and treatment in rehab center for teenagers will increase the chances of them leading a positive and healthy life.
Although access to drug treatment is widening, only 10% of people who are battling a milder addiction seek treatment, and only 40% of those struggling with a more severe problem get help.
Drug addiction doesn’t discriminate, though. It affects people from all sectors of society. One common factor in addiction, however, is co-occurring mental health problems.
It’s just as important to learn about co-occurring disorders as well as drug treatment such as medical-assisted treatment and sober living rehab when choosing a treatment center for a teenager.
It’s imperative to have the right course of addiction treatment and rehab center for teenagers lined up for your teenage child when they are ready and willing to get help. If you get this wrong, you could have more heartache in the future, and you could also waste thousands of dollars.
This is a rehab for teens is important and why the rehab center you choose needs to be well equipped to treat mental health disorders as well as drug treatment.
You should first consult your healthcare provider for advice about the right treatment center. It’s still advisable to take responsibility for asking the right questions when you contact a treatment center to ensure it’s appropriate for your child, though.
Drug Treatment for Teens
The main objectives of addiction treatment (also referred to as recovery) are abstinence from a substance or alcohol, prevention of relapse, and rehabilitation. Rehab centers for teenagers comes with unique program and treatment style.
The initial stage of abstinence, known as detoxification, typically requires the assistance of medication to lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Detox is typically performed in an inpatient scenario or hospital to enable medical monitoring and administer the appropriate medication.
The medication that is prescribed will depend on the substance that the person is addicted to. For instance, a person withdrawing from alcohol will most probably take benzodiazepines or medication to prevent seizures.
The detox stage is the most challenging phase of recovery and could last between a few days to weeks.
Why Is Rehab for Teens Important?
Getting and staying free from substances or alcohol is a challenging process. A teen needs a significant level of resolve for treatment to work. They also need a high-quality treatment program that addresses their specific needs.
It’s extremely difficult to overcome an addiction without treatment. Interventions such as medical-assisted treatment are evidence-based treatment programs that can increase the chance of a prolonged recovery.
Treatment that incorporates medication, behavioral therapy, individual therapy, and group therapy have high rates of success in helping a teen to maintain their recovery.
Why It’s Important To Get Addiction Treatment for Teens
There are multiple stages to drug addiction. Drug use typically starts with recreational use, but the user may continue to take a drug for its pleasurable effects.
Drugs warp dopamine levels. When a person drinks alcohol or takes drugs it affects the brain’s dopamine response.
As an adolescent’s brain is not fully formed at this stage, a drug addiction could have life-long consequences. This could also affect their performance at school, their peer relationships, and impair brain development.
A drug or alcohol use disorder can change a person’s brain chemistry in the long-term. So the sooner you treat the addiction from a rehab for teens, the higher the chance of success.
Early intervention and treatment in rehab center for teenagers will increase the chances of them leading a positive and healthy life.
Even if your teen is not addicted at this stage, they will still benefit from drug treatment. Teens who experiment with drugs have a high likelihood of becoming addicted.
Searching For Treatment Centers Appropriate For Teens
The center you choose must have experience with teens.
You can begin your search by visiting the US government FindTreatment.gov website. This site has information on thousands of state-licensed treatment centers in the US. You can search for rehab centers for teenagers in your neighborhood by entering your zip code.
To find centers with experience of teens select the ‘Youth (under 18)’ radio button option on the side-bar on the left.
You can also narrow your search for other criteria such as LGBT, payment options, medication, and treatment type.
This is your best starting point as all centers are state-licensed. This means they have been vetted and approved.
If you struggle to use the site, you can always use the phone number 1-800-662-HELP (4357). You will get through to trained call center personnel who can guide you to appropriate centers that deal with teens.
Finding a Teen Rehab Center
The best treatment center or rehab for teens should incorporate the principles of teen drug treatment as set out by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. When you are researching treatment centers try to ask questions that will tell whether a center fully employs these principles.
Holistic Treatment Approach
Treatment should address the person holistically. This means getting to the root of the addiction. Addiction is typically underpinned by a mental health disorder or an adverse childhood experience (ACE). Other factors of holistic treatment include meeting needs related to social well-being, access to transport, housing, school, and psychological well-being.
Behavioral Therapies
A good treatment center will offer a range of behavioral therapies and be able to tailor a behavioral therapy program around a teen’s specific needs. This type of therapy helps to teach a person to manage cravings, make healthier life choices, and improve relationships.
Types of therapy at District Recovery Community include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment
Your teen may attend a program that incorporates some or all of these behavioral therapies.
Family Involvement
Family is a significant aspect of treatment because addiction is a family disease.
The chaos that your teen’s addiction causes in the family can eventually achieve an equilibrium with family therapy.
While researching a center, find out how much they involve the family with evidence-based interventions and family therapy. The family potentially has the power to help heal a teen’s addiction by promoting cohesion and unity and resolving difficult family dynamics. During treatment you will also learn how your behavior affects the addicted teen.
Try to ask questions about who delivers the family therapy such as their credentials, work history, and rates of success.
Screening for Mental Health Disorders
Often, teens who abuse drugs have underlying mental health disorders such as ADHD, anxiety, and oppositional defiant disorder. There should be qualified staff who can accurately diagnose co-occurring mental health disorders at whatever rehab for teens you find.
An inaccurate diagnosis can lead to the wrong treatment, which could potentially make an addiction worse.
Try to ask the center about the background of the psychological professionals and doctors who diagnose mental health.
Sensitive Issues
It is common for teens who use drugs or alcohol to have a history of trauma such as physical, mental, or sexual abuse. This must be addressed for treatment to be effective as it is probably a pivotal issue that perpetuates their addictive behavior.
A good treatment center will assist you to liaise with social and protective services and will follow legal and reporting protocols.
A Range of Treatment Staff
There should be a good mix of skills on the team at a quality treatment center ranging from doctors, nurses, therapists, and social workers. They should be well qualified, too.
The people who deliver drug treatment should be able to form an effective therapeutic alliance. Teens are particularly challenging and require truly dedicated staff.
Prompt to Act
As NIDA places a heavy emphasis on timely treatment you will need to find a treatment center that will respond swiftly to your needs. If you find them following up promptly, that’s a great sign.
Treatment must be sought as soon as possible. Your teenager may well be resistant to treatment at this stage. If this is the case you should line up a good treatment center and perform an intervention with a qualified intervention therapist.
If you get everything organized in advance you have the chance to act on the opportunity when they have a moment of clarity. You won’t have much time to seize on this window.
Many treatment centers offer outpatient treatment which can enable someone to continue going to school.
Annual Medical Check-Ups
NIDA suggests that teens get regular annual health checks as these are an ideal opportunity to question a teen about possible drug or alcohol use.
When a medical professional uncovers any drug or alcohol abuse, it allows them to seek interventions and get the right help as soon as possible.
Legal Interventions
Many teens may not feel that they have a problem. Some states have legislation in place that allows a family member or loved one to force a person into rehab.
This is a little controversial as the more resolved a person is to getting substance-free, the more likely they are to stay free from drugs or alcohol.
However, getting a person into treatment, even if it is against their will provides an opportunity to get them to detox. Once a person is no longer substance-use impaired, they often gain clarity on their addiction and agree that treatment is necessary.
Adequate Length of Treatment
Research shows that treatment is most effective if it lasts for a minimum of 3 months.
Obstacles such as funding and life commitments such as school can sometimes hinder a teen’s ability to get treatment for the desired duration.
Many treatment centers offer outpatient treatment which can enable a person to continue with their daily life while receiving treatment. In California, consider outpatient rehab Orange County so teens can continue to go to school if they get treatment at District Recovery Community.
Screening For Sexually Transmitted Diseases
While this might be a sensitive topic, teens who use drugs and alcohol are at a higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
A good treatment center will routinely screen for sexually transmitted diseases and diseases that are spread via needles or unhygienic tattooing and piercing tools.
Effective substance use treatment enables teens to reduce their drinking or drug taking which prevents them from engaging in risky behavior due to not thinking clearly. Risk-reduction counseling can help a teen to change their tendency to take risks.
Finding a Teen Rehab Program with The District
Choosing a drug rehab center for teenagers can be overwhelming and confusing. It doesn’t need to be that way, though.
Our qualified addiction counselors can show you how to choose an alcohol rehab center or drug rehab for your teen.
The drug treatment programs at our state-licensed centers incorporate the whole range treatments for providing a tailored approach suited to your teen.
At District Recovery Community, you can be reassured that our staff have the skills, experience, and qualifications to successfully treat teen addiction.
Our treatment centers are stylish, comfortable, and well-presented to ensure that our patients feel safe and supported.
It’s important not to delay seeking support for your teenage child. We are ready and waiting for your call. Call us today at 844.287.8506 and we’ll help you find the best rehab for teens.
