Most insurance plans will cover either all or a portion of the treatment.
- Content Reviewed By:
- Andrew McKenna - JD
- SUD's treatment executive, national news contributor & keynote speaker.
Navigation:
- Overview
- Why Are Teens and Adolescents More Vulnerable to Substance Use?
- Signs of Substance Abuse in Teens and Adolescents
- I Think My Teenager is Drinking or Using Drugs…Now What?
- I Know My Child Is Drinking or Using Drugs…Now What?
- What Kind of Treatment Does My Child Need?
- Age-Specific Behavioral Rehab for Teens and Adolescents
- Helping Adolescent Find Their Way to Recovery
- Finding Rehab for Your Teenaged Loved One
- Additional Resources For Teens
Adolescent Teen Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers
Adolescents face an entirely unique and distinct set of factors that can render them more vulnerable to substance use. Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that 21 percent of eighth-graders, 37 percent of tenth-graders, and over 46 percent of high school seniors engage in at least one type of drug use. These numbers get much higher when it comes to alcohol consumption at 25 percent, 46 percent, and 61 percent, respectively.
In a time when you’re trying to find your identity and experiencing new things for the first time, it can be hard to resist using alcohol or other drugs to help fit in. Rehabs for adolescents offers specialized behavioral therapies to help patients navigate these uncertain times.
Why Are Teens and Adolescents More Vulnerable to Substance Use?
While each teenager’s journey is different, it’s rarely, if ever, easy. Between trying to navigate peer pressure, trying to find their place in their family dynamics, and a variety of other pressures, many turn to alcohol or other drugs as a means of coping.
Some of the most common causes of substance use among teens include:
- Family History – Both genetics and experiential family-related trauma play a significant role in the likelihood of substance use among teens and adolescents. Children who grow up with addicted parents are much more likely to develop issues themselves, both as a means of coping with trauma and modeling the behavior with which they grew up.
- Lifestyle Trauma – Between bullying, poverty, family dysfunction, and a variety of other lifestyle issues that millions of teens and adolescents face every day, many are ill-equipped or ill-resourced to combat their unique challenges in a safe and constructive way. As a result, they often turn to substance use in order to either fit in or escape their difficult reality.
- Pre-Existing Mental Health Challenges – Whether it’s untreated depression or anxiety, or the medication they’re taking for ADD or ADHD, teens are vulnerable to a wide array of co-occurring disorders. Over three percent of adolescents are diagnosed with clinical depression, with many more struggling without ever receiving a diagnosis. Another 20 percent struggle with anxiety, and more than 25 percent misuse their diagnosed ADHD medications.
One of the most common triggers for teen substance use is general curiosity. As the teen brain continues to develop, with most not reaching full maturity until the mid to late 20s, it’s very difficult, if not impossible, for children to fully understand the gravity of their actions.
Signs of Substance Abuse in Teens and Adolescents
Every child is different, and if they’re engaging in substance use, the signs will vary based on what type of drugs they’re using and other lifestyle factors.
There are, however, some common indicators of which parents, siblings, friends, and loved ones should be mindful, some of the most common of which include:
- Changes in Mood and Disposition – These can include everything from irritability and aggression to lack of motivation or interest in the things they once enjoyed, and many more sudden shifts.
- Changes in Social Circle – Just like with adults who struggle with substance abuse, children may eventually gravitate toward people with whom they can freely and readily use alcohol or other drugs, just because it’s easier and more accessible. These relationships are often based solely on getting drunk or high together and are frequently strictly transactional in nature.
- Problems at School – Whether it’s declining grades, absenteeism, worsening disciplinary problems, getting into fights, or anything else, problems at school can often be among the first indicators of alcohol or drug use.
- Changes in Hygiene or Appearance – These can often include neglecting to shower, lack of attention to their clothes, and poor grooming.
- Physical Signs – These often include changes in weight, skin discoloration, breakouts, marks on the arms, dental issues, bags under the eyes, and many others.
Other signs include drug paraphernalia in their pockets, drawers, or book bags, as well as legal issues related to their substance use. Children often resort to stealing money from their parents to buy drugs or alcohol, and even sell their own valuables to get money to use. It’s critically important for parents who suspect their son or daughter of substance use to refrain from giving them money without full knowledge and confidence that they’re not using it to buy drugs.
In many cases, the strength of the child’s support system will be the determining factor in how long their substance use continues unseen and unaddressed if a child doesn’t have anyone in their corner who checks in with them or sees the changes in their appearance, behavior, and mental health. It’s also important to remember that the most common source of recreational prescription drug abuse among teens is their friends, many of whom steal legitimate supplies from their parents and either sell them or just exchange them for other substances.
I Think My Teenager is Drinking or Using Drugs…Now What?
Once again, the approach that parents take with their children when they suspect substance use will vary depending on the strength of their relationships, trust, safety concerns, and other factors.
Generally speaking, however, parents can take the following steps:
- Have an honest, calm, and nonjudgmental conversation with them about your suspicions. Let them know you want to help them, not punish them, and start addressing the reasons why they felt the need to start drinking or using.
- Be firm and consistent. In cases where firmer discipline is required, parents may regularly search their children’s bags, bedrooms, and other personal belongings for drugs, paraphernalia, or similar items.
- If necessary, monitor and restrict smartphone use and familiarize yourself with emojis and symbols that are often used for “drug code” in text conversation.
- Search their social media for possible indicators of drug use or drinking.
- If you suspect they are using with specific friends, contact their parents with your concerns and see if they know anything.
- Talk to their teacher or guidance counselor to determine if there have been any noticeable changes in academic performance, social patterns, or other behaviors.
It’s natural to be hesitant about taking these steps and to feel like you’re violating your child’s privacy and trust; however, in a time when teen and adolescent overdoses are at an all-time high, it’s critically important to take whatever steps you can to get them the help they need.
I Know My Child Is Drinking or Using Drugs…Now What?
When you discover your son or daughter is battling substance abuse, it’s important to get them help immediately. Whether they need outpatient care or more intensive inpatient treatment, it’s essential to make a plan to get them into a program so they can begin healing ASAP.
What Kind of Treatment Does My Child Need?
Just like adults, children have different clinical and lifestyle needs that will determine their substance use treatment journey. For most, outpatient or even remote treatment may be advisable as the first step to ensure they can stay in school and remain engaged with other important areas of their life. In the case of extreme symptoms or danger, however, your son or daughter may need more in-depth inpatient or residential treatment.
If your son or daughter has serious medical issues or withdrawal symptoms associated with their substance use, they may need medical detoxification as part of their treatment. This can either be offered as part of their inpatient program or as a separate service alongside their outpatient or remote rehab program.
Age-Specific Behavioral Rehab for Teens and Adolescents
Many rehab centers offer programs specifically for teens and adolescents to help them navigate their unique challenges. These programs are staffed with qualified therapists who provide age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and hyper-aware treatment that addresses the root causes and sustaining factors associated with young patients’ substance use, whether it’s bullying, family struggles, identity issues, or anything else. Programs are tailored to their specific needs to ensure they have a solid behavioral roadmap and framework for long-term healing.
Helping Adolescent Find Their Way to Recovery
Rehabs for adolescents needs to incorporate age-specific therapeutic engagement with affirming, knowledgeable and intuitive therapists. A child, especially a teenager, is not going to immediately trust someone they don’t know. Rehabs facilities for teens and adolescents work, cultivate trust and build bonds with clients so they can affect genuine behavioral change in their lives. They will help them identify issues in school, family, and social structures that may be creating the belief self-medication will help alleviate the pressure. There are multiple types of rehab programs for adolescents, including outpatient, inpatient, and others, depending upon what level of care they need and the scope of their substance use issue.
Finding Rehab for Your Teenaged Loved One
Whether it’s your son, daughter, or any other adolescent you’re caring for, you can help them recover from substance misuse. Use our teen rehab directory to find a teen program in your community or anywhere else in the country.
