What is Adolescent Drug Rehab?
Adolescent drug rehab is a rehabilitative service tailored to meet the needs of adolescents struggling with addiction. These options include detox centers, inpatient or outpatient programs, counseling, therapy, and different forms of aftercare support.
Guide To Finding Adolescent Drug Treatment
When searching for drug rehab for teens, there are some things to consider. Initially, most teens do not recognize the risks of using drugs or alcohol, which means most families are performing some type of intervention. Consider the following tips:
- Consult our directory that lists available detox, inpatient, and outpatient substance use treatment programs in your state. Begin contacting programs.
- Detox is the first step, and this can be part of an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab center, but every program is different.
- Select either inpatient or outpatient treatment depending on the severity of the addiction. Generally, adolescents benefit from a structured environment at a residential facility.
- Inpatient treatment options are short-term (28 to 60 days) or long-term (3 to 12 months). Depending on what is available in your state, lengthier treatment is the better choice for teens.
- Outpatient treatment lasts 12 to 18 weeks but requires an adolescent to attend the program daily and live at home.
Our experts recommend long-term inpatient care because treating all aspects of the addiction early is critical. Any addiction that begins in adolescence becomes progressively worse with no treatment. During adulthood, it becomes increasingly challenging to treat substance use disorders. In addition, there could be significant health problems.
Is Adolescent Substance Use a Phase in Life?
No, it is not a phase in life. There is always a reason why teens begin to experiment with drugs or alcohol and why they eventually become dependent on or addicted to these substances.
When parents notice the signs of addiction, it is important to intervene. Substance abuse affects the growth and development of teens, especially brain development.
Teens will begin to engage in risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex and dangerous activities. Drug and alcohol abuse among teens also contributes to adult health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.
Ask a Professional
How is adolescent drug treatment different?
Adolescent drug treatment offers specialized services for patients between the ages of 18 and 19. Such programs may or may not admit minors for treatment. Substance abuse treatment facilities specializing in treating teens or adolescents offer services that specifically address the common barriers to helping teens recover from addiction. That often means a larger emphasis on addiction’s impact on the family dynamic and other focuses like relapse prevention.
Are teens restricted to adolescent treatment only?
No, adolescents ages 18 and 19 may attend any facility that any adult can. However, minors who are technically children under 18 may only seek treatment at certain facilities. These facilities must be licensed to provide care to minors because entirely different sets of rules surrounding confidentiality, boarding, and care apply. Minors may even be legally forced into treatment by their parents in extreme situations, so these facilities must be prepared and equipped for such patients.
Are there benefits to adolescent drug treatment?
Yes, adolescent treatment programs are geared toward helping teens recover from addiction and prevent relapse. Because these programs provide specialized services and pay extra attention to the needs of teens struggling with addiction, they can make a big difference in the patient’s success. In adult programs, teens may feel disconnected or like treatment doesn’t apply to them, significantly lowering their chances of finding success.
Want to know more?
The questions from Addicted.org’s “Learn from our Experts” are answered by Michael Leach, CCMA. If you need further clarification on any of the questions above or have any other questions you can contact him directly at mike@addicted.org.
