"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 Drug Rehab

Over the past several decades in the United States, teen drug abuse has remained a serious health and social problem. And while some types of drugs go "in and out of style" according to the times, the fact remains that young people are going to experiment with drugs - and many will develop a substance abuse problem as a result. For those who see their experimentation turn into addiction, there is teen drug rehab.

The best teen drug rehab programs are those that:

  • Treat both the physical (through detox) and psychological (through counseling) components of teen addiction.
  • Understand the root causes of addiction that are unique to teenagers (such as peer pressure, conflicts in the home and self-image issues).
  • Offer teen drug treatment that in actuality includes the entire family, giving parents and siblings and opportunity to come in for counseling and discuss how the individual's addiction has impacted them as well.

Why do Teenagers Abuse Drugs?

There are a variety of reasons why teenagers abuse drugs, most of which are completely different than the root causes of adult drug abuse. In survey after survey, the following reasons to continue to emerge as the primary causes of teenage drug abuse:

  • Peer group influences. The type of people than teenagers call their peers plays a huge role in whether or not they use drugs. If the social unit is accepting of drug use, then the individual is that much more likely to be engaged in it themselves.
  • Problems at home. Many teenagers use drugs as a means of escaping their problems at home. These problems can vary greatly according to the individual, but may include divorce, physical abuse or financial hardship.
  • Sexual abuse. In a small number of cases, some teenagers use drugs to self-medicate the emotional trauma of sexual abuse by a friend or family member.
  • Self-image issues. Many young people (especially teenage girls) suffer from considerable self-esteem and self-image issues during their teen years. This can lead to drug abuse for a variety of reasons, be it to fit in with a peer group, escape the emotional pain of poor self-image or (as with stimulant use) to help accelerate weight loss.

What goes on during Teen Drug Rehab?

When a teenager enters into an adolescent drug rehab program, they must first detoxify from the drugs they been abusing. This process is known as drug detox, and the remainder of treatment cannot continue until it is complete. Detox takes several days, and during this time the teenager may experience a series of withdrawal symptoms, which vary according to the substance in question. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Mood swings
  • Chills and sweats

With few withdrawal symptoms are life threatening per se, they can lead to relapse which is why it is crucial that the detox process take place while in the care of rehab professionals. Next up is counseling. Individual and group counseling provide a variety of benefits to the recovering addict, including:

  • A forum to discuss their feelings about their drug problem
  • A discovery process to identify the root causes of the problem
  • A safe place to share personal feelings about the teen's home life and social life
  • A support structure (in group counseling) that helps gain strength from the peer group enrolled in the program.

Finally, there is aftercare- which features the lessons that must be learned in order to succeed outside of the drug rehab program. Aftercare for teens can be comprised of any number of programs including follow-up counseling, family counseling or 12-step recovery programs.

Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of Teen Drug Abuse

In order to raise a healthy, drug-free child, it is vital that parents understand the warning signs of teen drug abuse. Kids are experimenting with drugs at younger and younger ages with each generation, and in order to reach out and help these children, parents and educators must know the behaviors that represent warning signs of drug use. The most common warning signs include:

  • Isolation from friends or family members
  • Poor performance or poor attendance in school
  • Confrontational behavior with parents
  • Lying about one's whereabouts
  • Stealing money to fund drug use
  • Secretive behavior

What can Parents do to help Their Kids Who are Abusing Drugs?

Parents may recognize the warning signs listed above, but the question remains: what to do next in order to help their child?

  • Seek treatment. Find a suitable drug rehab problem and have your child evaluated, and if needed admitted to get them help.
  • Get more involved. Parents who are supportive and involved in their lives of their children can reduce social problems that lead to drug abuse.
  • Engage in open communication. It may sound cliché by now, but maintaining and open, honest dialogue about drug-related issues in the home can help keep kids clean.

Newport Academy is a drug treatment facility located in Newport Beach, California. The residential treatment program at Newport provides round the clock care for those young people and their families who have seen their lives damaged by substance abuse.