Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Amid Rising Rates of Teen Substance Abuse, Teenage Drug Rehab Programs Meet a Growing Need
By Hugh C. McBride
The risks associated with teen drug abuse have been carefully documented, and a variety of awareness and enforcement campaigns have been instituted to steer young people away from alcohol and other drugs. Yet, according to an April 2011 report by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, the prevalence of teen substance abuse continue to rise – often at alarming rates.
On April 6, 2011, drug abuse prevention group announced that the 22nd Annual Partnership Tracking Study had painted a dire picture of the state of teen drug abuse in the United States today. The following are among the more troubling excerpts of the study’s findings:
* Sixty two percent of teens who admitted to drinking alcohol said they had their first drink by age 15.
* Twenty five percent of teen drinkers said they had first tried alcohol by age 12.
* In the two-year period between 2008 and 2010, teen abuse of the drug Ecstasy increased by a staggering 67% (from 6% in 2008 to 10% in 2010)
* In the same time period, the prevalence of teens who admitted to past-year marijuana abuse rose from 32% to 39% (an 22% increase)
* Seventy percent of surveyed teens said they have friends who drink alcohol at least once a week, and only 45% said they saw no great risk in heavy daily drinking
Clearly, a disconnect exists between those who are working to prevent teen substance abuse and the young people who continue to engage in this dangerous behavior.
However, while teen drug abuse is clearly a behavior to be avoided, the good news is that teens who do abuse alcohol and other drugs have options that can allow them to put their lives back on a safer, healthier and more productive path. In many cases, the best choice for these teens is enrollment in a
teenage drug rehab or
teen alcohol rehab program.
About Teenage Drug Rehab
As is also the case with adults,
teen drug rehab can take place in a variety of environments, including residential, outpatient and partial hospitalization settings. Identifying the ideal teenage drug rehab environment is a matter of assessing the unique needs of the adolescent or teen in question.
In general, teenage drug rehab programs have three overall objectives:
- To stop the substance abuse.
- To identify underlying issues or conditions that may have led to (or been exacerbated by) the substance abuse.
- To help the teen develop the skills, strategies and support networks that will preclude future substance abuse.
Beneath these general goals, every teenage drug rehab program employs a range of therapies, activities and other techniques to help the patient overcome the disease of addiction. Most effective teenage drug rehab programs also have a family component to help parents, siblings and other loved ones make the changes that are necessary to support the teen’s pursuit of lifelong recovery.
Types of Teenage Drug Rehab Program
As alluded to above, no one teenage drug rehab program is capable of serving every adolescent and teenager who has a substance abuse problem. Selecting the best teenage drug rehab program for a young person in crisis is a matter of assessing a range of unique factors, including the nature and severity of the addiction and the presence of co-occurring disorders.
For many teens and families, the first option is an outpatient teenage drug rehab program. Outpatient or day treatment programs allow the teen to continue to live at home while receiving treatment. Depending upon the program’s schedule, the teen may even be able to remain in school while receiving treatment.
However, because many cases of adolescent and teen drug abuse result insignificant disruptions both at home and in school, many families find that a residential teenage drug rehab program is the best option. As the name implies, residential programs require the patient to live at the facility.
Some residential teenage drug rehab programs focus solely on the addiction and related disorders, while others also feature academic support such as individual tutoring or a full academic program designed to meet the specific needs of youth in crisis.
For teens who require round-the-clock care, but whose parents prefer a short-term, high-impact program, wilderness-based teenage drug rehab has proven to be a successful option. Wilderness programs take teens out of their familiar environment, eliminate distractions, and – with the guidance and supervision of qualified and experience personnel -- allow the teen to focus solely on his or her problems.
Selecting a Teenage Drug Rehab Program
Parents whose children have become involved in alcohol abuse or other forms of substance abuse need to understand two important facts:
- You are not alone.
- Help is available.
The Internet, your child’s school, and local mental health organizations are ideal places to begin to inform yourself about the many teenage drug rehab options that are available to your family. As with all medical and mental health issues, the most important factor in selecting a teenage drug rehab program is identifying your child’s specific needs and finding the program that is best prepared to meet these needs.
Regardless of your child’s personal history or your family’s financial situation, teenage drug rehab opportunities exist to end your family’s pain and put your child back on track toward a healthy and productive future.
