Why Are Some Teens Likely to Get Addicted?
Teenagers are always pegged as the most at-risk people for developing a drug or alcohol abuse problem. Perhaps this is because their curiosity and inexperience makes them likely to experiment with various drugs.
Sometimes, it is not that simple. There are other reasons why teenagers abuse drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):
- Pressure to fit in with their peers.
- To ease stress and social anxiety.
- They are self-medicating depression.
- To have fun and feel pleasure.
- To enhance their performances either in sports or in academics.
Other reasons include: influence from social media and the entertainment industry, ignorance on the dangers of drugs, and prescription medication use that becomes an addiction.
Our Teen Drug Treatment Program Highlights
We include several types of drug and alcohol treatment for our Teen patients.
- Group Therapy
Group therapies are part of behavioral interventions designed to provide teenagers with a non-judgmental setting to discuss their substance abuse problems. These meetings give them positive social reinforcement from their peers. It also encourages them to turn their lives away from drug abuse.
Behavioral intervention will also include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, which help teens anticipate and cope with substance abuse problems. For instance, they learn to monitor and control their feelings, and use their self-control to escape high-risk environments for drug abuse. Our counselors are alert and have the experience to control the risk of some group members reinforcing negative behavior and encouraging substance abuse.
- Family Therapy Sessions
This type of therapy addresses negative issues in the home environment and equips the family with skills and goals for dealing with drug abuse. Some of the teenager’s behavior and attitudes toward substance abuse can be attributed to the family’s failed behavior in key areas, such as in failing to instill discipline, or for being substance abusers as well. We will therefore help the entire family unite and resolve these issues.
- Use of addiction treatment medication
Our on-site Medical Doctor evaluates each of our teen patients to access whether they should entertain the idea of trying medication. Our Doctor includes their parents and gives the family unit the choice to decide. More than often, drug and alcohol abuse is related to other mental disorders, which is why medication can be such an aid in overcoming drug abuse.
- Recovery Support Services
We will help our teen patients in every step after treatment is complete. We have staff that helps our patients find programs set up in communities or in schools for recovering teenagers, guardians and peer leaders to support one another in overcoming substance abuse problems. We also guide and encourage 12 step meetings, community engagement, volunteer opportunities, and support groups.
