Teen Substance Abuse and Teen Addiction
Teen drug abuse and teen addiction is a common problem in the United States. Marijuana use has been rising among high school teenagers with nearly 11% of 8th graders having tried the drug at least once within the past year (2008 study) and 32.4% of 12th graders reporting having tried the drug within the past year. In one survey, almost 40 percent of teens questioned said that they expected to use a drug in the near future. Marijuana is just one of the several drugs that are abused by teenagers throughout the nation.
With increasing rates of teen drug abuse and teen addiction throughout America and the rest of the world, there is more of a need for teen drug rehab centers. Teen drug rehab centers specialize in the treatment of teenagers and adolescents. Teen drug rehab centers may also treat teenagers with addictions to ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, and all types of other drugs.
These centers typically treat teenagers with peer group therapies and other psychological counseling techniques. These types of teen addiction treatment facilities have proven to be effective for teenagers and young adults. The treatment of teen addiction is an urgent situation because certain drugs can adversely affect the body of a young adult in a much different way than an adult.
Teen Drug Abuse and Adolescent Drug Treatment
Teen drug abuse is best treated at a teen drug rehab facility that is specialized to treat teen addiction. Teen addiction is a common occurrence, and teen drug abuse may occur with a wide range of drugs. Teen addiction can be very successfully treated at teen drug abuse treatment centers.
Teen drug abuse and teen addiction are characterized by the regular use of illicit drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and several other types of drugs. In many cases, teen drug abuse starts off with cigarette smoking and alcohol abuse, and from there it can branch off into the abuse of other drugs.
Teens on drugs can attend rehabilitation centers in order to be treated for their addictions. There are several types of treatment that are more specialized for teen addiction including supportive group therapies, cognitive behavioral therapies, and other types. For cases of extreme dependence, teen drug rehab centers may have to perform detox programs in conjunction with these therapies.
Teen drug rehab centers that specialize in teen addiction treatment understand the nature of an adolescent mind. They are sensitive to the unique needs of teenagers who require emotional and social support to get them through their teen addictions. Teen drug rehab centers provide both short term and long term teen addiction treatment plans, and they offer a safe location for teenagers to overcome their illness. Some supplementary types of teen addiction treatments that these centers may provide include treatment for anger management, self-esteem problems, and dysfunctional families.
Teen Drug Abuse is Everywhere
Teen addiction is a major problem partially because of the availability of certain drugs. This availability may make it easier for teenagers to partake in drug abuse. Teen drug rehab centers can treat teen addiction that may develop from access to over the counter and prescription drugs and any other type of teen drug abuse.
Teen drug abuse and teen addiction are not limited to the more common marijuana and alcohol abuse. Teen drug abuse extends into other dangerous drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, inhalants, and methamphetamine. Over the counter medications such as cold medications are also used for teen drug abuse.
Prescription medication abuse is on the rise as it is considered to be a quickly growing substance abuse problem in the United States. Also, the teen drug abuse of prescription medication is on the rise due in part to the ease of accessibility of these medications. For instance, one in five teens has tried a prescription medication for recreational purposes. Some types of prescription medications that are commonly abused by teens include Vicodin, OxyContin, Adderall, and Ritalin. All of these medications can lead to teen addiction.
Teens more likely to abuse drugs come from troubled homes. In many cases, one or more of the teen’s parents is addicted to alcohol or other drugs. In other cases, the teen may come from a dysfunctional family. Statistics show that the children of alcoholics have a four times greater chance of becoming alcoholics themselves. Parental influence has a strong impact on a teenager, and a negative role model in the home or a negative home environment is many times associated with teen drug abuse and teen addiction.
Recognizing Teen Drug Abuse
In order to properly ensure that teen addiction is recognized quickly, it is important to know some of the signs of teen drug abuse. The faster that a teen is brought to a teen drug rehab center, the better the chances are for a full and quick recovery. However, regardless of which stage that teen addiction is at, teen drug rehab centers can successfully treat the addiction.
It is important to catch the signs of teen drug abuse as early as possible in order to get the teen started on a treatment plan at a teen drug rehab center quickly. Teens that are on drugs will exhibit strange symptoms that may be mistaken for an illness. Some of the symptoms and signs of teen drug abuse may include: the smell of alcohol or marijuana on clothing or on the breath, unexplained drowsiness and slow motor reflexes, and drunkenness or eccentric behavior that cannot be explained. If a teenager is exhibiting this type of teen addiction related behavior, teen drug abuse may be occurring.
Some of the signs and actions related to teen drug abuse include: a decrease in school performance, a lack of concern about personal hygiene or appearance, unexplained weight loss, friends that are known drug users, deceptive behavior, and stealing money from parents or others. Teens may withdraw from parents and they may have recently changed their friends as well. Often, teens will leave drug paraphernalia lying around on accident which is usually a sure sign of drug use. Teens may also show signs of depression, irritability, anxiety and other psychological side effects of drug abuse.
Adolescent Drug Treatment and Teen Drug Rehab
Teen drug rehab centers are very successful at treating teen addiction problems. Teen drug rehab centers can best help a teenager because they have professional staffs that are trained to deal with the unique circumstance of teen addiction and teen drug abuse. Parents want the best for their children, and teen drug rehab centers ensure a safe and protected environment as their teens recover.
Teen drug rehab is designed specifically for teenagers to provide the most comfortable and easy recovery possible. Teenagers require special needs during their recovery process, and teen drug rehab centers focus on those needs. Teen drug rehab centers usually offer counseling for many related teen psychological problems such as self-esteem issues, stressors from negative home environments, peer pressure and social problems, and body image problems.
Teen drug rehab centers focus on the problems that are more unique to what teens go through during middle and high school and in their home and social lives. An adult rehab center would deal more with psychological and other problems associated with an adult’s workplace and the social and home life of an adult individual.
Teen drug rehab centers include friends and family into the process of recovery because the studies have shown that support from these groups is very beneficial for treating teenagers. Teen addicts recover faster with the inclusion of their families and friends, and so teen drug rehab centers will often invite these groups to different meetings and therapy sessions.
Family therapy is beneficial for adolescent and teen drug abuse treatment because in many cases adolescent addict’s family plays a very strong influence in his or her life. Thus, the inclusion of the family in the treatment process is of a major benefit. An adolescent may choose an outpatient or residential program depending on his or her needs. In most cases, the adolescent will continue his or her schoolwork while in a residential treatment facility or as an outpatient. The treatment is designed to be as comfortable and natural for the adolescent as possible.
If teen addiction requires detoxification due to physical addiction, this process typically takes place at the beginning of the treatment. Detox is a difficult process for teenagers just as it is for adults, and it requires the loving support of the teenager’s family and closest friends. Detox treatment for teens in a teen drug rehab facility is focused on all of the unique needs of teenagers.
