Adolescent Drug Rehab 101
It’s every parent’s nightmare: that the child they once held in their arms as a baby might someday get involved, possibly addicted, to drugs and/or alcohol.
If you find yourself struggling to deal with a son or daughter who has a substance abuse problem, and have considered the option of adolescent drug rehab, you might have questions. Such as how does it work, what is it, what do I do next?
Here are a few facts about adolescent drug rehab to help you make an informed decision, and ensure that that young person in your life dealing with substance issues gets the help they need.
Adolescent Drug Rehab Question No.1: Is Teen Rehab Like Adult Rehab?
Whether for adults or young people, rehabilitation is focused on one simple thing: to help the patient stay away from drugs and alcohol and give them coping skills for leading a healthy and sober life.
But treatment methods can be quite different. Oftentimes one of the biggest challenges in treating young people with substance abuse problems is getting them to accept that they might actually have a problem; teens and adolescents haven’t usually hit a “bottom” as devestating as that experenced by lifelong addicts.
Another difference is that adolescent drug rehab usually has education servces; many times the clients are still attending school. Most teen drug rehab centers have tutoring and GED services on-site to ensure the client doesnt’ fall behind in school.
Adolescent Drug Rehab Question No.2: What Comes With Adolescent Drug Rehab?
Like its adult counterpart, adolescent drug rehab, especially the residential variety, begins with a healthy detox and then a set period of rehabilitation, usually from 30-90 days.
Once in rehab your adolescent is then given access to group therapy sessions and individualized therapy. Family counseling sessions are also used to identify and deal with any other underlying issues in the family.
Adolescent Drug Rehab Question No.3: Does My Child Need Rehab?
Teens and tweens can be moody on the best of days, so sensing there might be a substance abuse problem can be tricky.
But here are a few warning signs that your child may have a substance abuse problem:
Messy appearance, lack of pride in how they look; Sudden weight loss; Loss of ambition or interest in…well…anything; Track marks on arms/legs; Violent outbursts and sudden emotional changes….
There are just a few of the indicators parents can use to identify if their child might have a drug problem.
If you do suspect that there might be a substance abuse problem be sure to contact a licensed professional to get the info–and peace of mind–you and your family needs.
