What is Teen Opiate Rehab?
Teen opiate rehab is any drug rehab program geared towards young people who have developed an addiction to heroin, Vicodin, OxyContin or other opiate-based drugs. These programs help the individual through the detox process (overcoming the physical addiction to opiates) as well as the psychological component to addiction. The latter is achieved through group and individual counseling sessions.
What are the Most Commonly Abused Opiates?
Teenagers use opiate-based drugs with greater frequency that at any time in our nation's history. Among the most commonly used opiates are:
- Heroin - The most notorious of all street drugs, heroin carries the constant specter of overdose or infection from dirty needles shared with other users.
- Vicodin - a powerful painkiller prescribed by doctors to help individuals cope with pain associated with illness or injury.
- OxyContin - A time-release painkiller that becomes very dangerous when crushed and snorted or injected into the bloodstream.
How does Opiate Rehab Counseling Help?
Counseling is the foundation of any good teen opiate rehab program. Most commonly, rehab programs include group and individual counseling.
During group counseling the individual share stories and experiences with their peers in the program. This can be a real breakthrough for many teens, who gain strength from interacting with people who are facing many of the same challenges and life experiences.
With individual counseling the teen meets regularly with their counselor to discuss their home and social life and explore the root causes of their drug addiction or substance abuse problem. During these one-on-one meetings, counselor and patient work closely together to build strategies for life outside of rehab that replace drug use with healthier, more productive behaviors.
Teen Opiate Addiction and the Internet
One of the reasons that teen opiate rehab programs are seeing more cases of prescription painkiller addiction is because of the easy access the Internet provides to these highly addictive drugs. Now, teenagers with little more than a credit card can get online and order Vicodin and OxyContin from a number of illicit pharmacies. Adding fuel to the fire is that when surveyed, many teens feel that because these drugs are prescribed by a doctor that they are somehow less dangerous than illegal street drugs such as heroin.
The Health Hazards of Teen Heroin Addiction
In addition to the constant threat of overdose, teens who use heroin habitually are also at risk for a number of serious health problems. Individuals who shoot the drugs into their bodies may contract HIV/AIDS or hepatitis if they share dirty needles with other users. Coupled with the heart, kidney and liver problems associated with long-term heroin use, this makes heroin one of the most dangerous drugs currently being used by teens in the United States and illustrates the continued need for outstanding teen opiate rehab programs.
Newport Academy offers teen opiate rehab from their residential treatment facility in Southern California. The experts at Newport understand the special needs of teens, and deliver customized care that enhances the mind, body and spirit of the young person. Contact Newport Academy today for more information.