Whether we like it or not, teen drug and alcohol abuse have been a problem in the states for decades. The substances may evolve and change, but the attraction of experimenting with substances never seems to diminish. The problem with that is most teenagers are unable to consistently make good decisions. They are vulnerable to their own whims and the whims of others through peer pressure. That’s why a teen substance abuse treatment center exists in so many communities.
Why Teens End Up in a Teen Substance Abuse Treatment Center
Every adolescent rehab program is a little different. However, what they all have in common is a directive to help teens get past their addictions. What makes the treatment process a bit more complicated than treating adults is the things that motivate teens to use drugs.
An adolescent treatment center Los Angeles location will typically encounter teens from all walks of life. The kids come into treatment with problems that are unique to teens. It might include things like:
- Obsessive concerns about the future
- Problems dealing with the family at home
- Problems socializing with other teens – think about bullying
- Struggles learning how to interact with the opposite sex
- Divorce of parents
Along with these and other emotional challenges teens face, some kids just can’t say no to peer pressure. No matter how a teen ends up in a teen substance abuse treatment center, they need help arresting their addiction.
What’s Unique About Treating Teens?
Teens are very impressionable. When working with a counselor, they often exhibit the immaturity that matches with their youth. It’s the counselor’s job to figure out how to communicate with someone who sees the world through different eyes than an adult.
The basic addiction treatment process is the same for teens and adults. It might start with a detox program to assure the patient gets past their withdrawals symptoms as safely as possible. In therapy, the topics of conversation might differ, but the goal is the same. The goal is looking for the root causes of addiction.
Where things might really differ when treating teens versus adults is while finding solutions. The way to develop and keep a solid recovery is via the development of better coping skills and life skills. With teens, they haven’t really lived long enough to have existing coping and life skills as a starting point. It requires that counselors identify the coping skills that are missing and help the teen start building the skills they will need to avoid relapses.
The Need for Family Support After Treatment
Going through treatment, even in Los Angeles outpatient rehab programs is traumatic for teens. In many cases, it’s the first time they have been away from home and their parents. When they return home, they need parental support more than ever. They grow up a lot in treatment, but they’re still teens. They will still have to deal with issues with which most teens have to deal. They can’t do it alone. They need as much support from family as possible.
If your teen is struggling with an addiction problem, you need to find them a teen substance abuse treatment center. Don’t hesitate because teens are particularly vulnerable to the depravity that comes with addiction. Act now.
