"Newport Academy's treatment program has all the key components necessary for effectively treating adolescents with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders."
-David Smith, MD, Past President American Society of Addiction Medicine

Teen Alcohol Rehab

When a young person suffers from alcohol addiction, it can lead to a number of serious problems for themselves and their family. Teen alcohol rehab programs help these young people by providing treatment for the mind, body and spirit. Detox, counseling and aftercare address the physical and psychological components of alcoholism - and provide the tools young people need to get sober and stay that way well into adulthood.

Facts and Statistics about Teen Alcohol Abuse

The following information will help illustrate the seriousness of teenage drinking in the United States - and why it is more important than ever to help teens and adolescents find proper treatment.

  • 11% of 8th graders, 22% of 10th graders and 27% of all 12th graders in the United States reported engaging in binge drinking in the past year.
  • 50% of all high school seniors reported that they have drank alcohol in the past 30 days.
  • In 2002, the U.S. Government reported that 2.8 million binge drinkers were between the ages of 13 and 18.

 

What are the Factors That Lead to Teen Alcohol Abuse and Addiction?

In order to help teenagers overcome their alcohol addiction, it is important to understand the risk factors that are unique to the demographic. These risk factors include:

  • Poor communication between parents and their children
  • A lack of parental supervision
  • A genetic link to alcoholism
  • Poor performance in school
  • Social pressure from peer group
  • A dual diagnosis (co-occurring alcoholism and a mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, etc.).

Recognizing these factors is a key component in getting the teenager the help they need via a teen addiction treatment program. Counseling and medical professionals at a teen alcohol rehab facility can help assess the specific needs of the young person as they relate to treatment.

How to Know if Someone Needs Teen Alcohol Treatment?

The only way a young person is going to conquer alcohol addiction is if someone in their lives cares enough to look for the warning signs of alcohol abuse. Some of the most common warning signs of teen alcohol abuse or addiction include:

  • Changes in personality - those teenagers who may have once been happy and outgoing may now seem sullen and depressed.
  • A loss of interest in school or activities - teenagers who develop drinking problems may begin to perform poorly in school or lose interest in sports or other previously-favored activities.
  • Negative attitudes - teenagers can become argumentative with family and friends when they are in the midst of a drinking problem.
  • Irresponsible behavior - teenage drinkers will behave recklessly and without through for the safety of others. The most notable example of this is driving while under the influence of alcohol.

 

Getting a Teenager into Alcohol Rehab

One of the biggest challenges facing the parents of a child with a drinking problem is getting them into addiction treatment. To help accomplish this, there is the intervention. An intervention is a meeting held by parents, family and friends that shows the individual the damage they are doing to themselves and those closed to them by drinking. An intervention should always be coordinated by a professional interventionist. The professional will help maintain a safe, productive environment during the meeting. The desired end result of an intervention is to get the teenager into a rehab program immediately. Teenagers can be self-centered individuals. As such, an intervention is a valuable way to give them additional perspective on the impact of their behavior.

What Makes Teen Alcohol Rehab Different?

Teen alcohol rehab and teen drug rehab programs are different from adult addiction treatment in that it speaks specifically to those issues which are relevant to young people. A standard addiction treatment program may provide some of the help teenagers need to overcome alcoholism, but may be ill-equipped to address such as peer pressure or self-image problems. Alcohol rehab programs for teens and adolescents are also able to leverage the same connection to peer groups that may have led to the problem in the first place. By providing group counseling with other teens, these programs are able to build a support network within treatment that shows young people that they are not alone in their struggles - and that opening up and sharing their pain and experiences can have great benefits.

The Tremendous Importance of Teen Alcohol Rehab

Chief among the myriad reasons why teen alcohol rehab and alcohol awareness are so important is the relationship between when a young person begins using alcohol and the likelihood that they will become addicted to alcohol. Studies have found that kids who begin using alcohol between the ages of 14 and 17 can be almost four times as likely to become dependent than those who begin later in life. Newport Academy offers outstanding alcohol rehab programs designed exclusively for teenagers and adolescents. At their beautiful residential facility in Southern California, Newport Academy helps teenagers defeat alcohol addiction while rebuilding their self-esteem and mental health in such a way that gives them the power to life healthy and happy lives.