About Drug Rehabilitation Centers for Teens

As painful as teenage drug abuse is to address, ask any adult who has gotten sober and he'll tell you it's worth it to spare him a lifetime of bad choices. Sure, it could be a phase or recklessness, but it doesn't hurt to explore drug rehabilitation as a healthy solution. Often, drug rehabilitation can turn the tables on a teen who has been written off as a lost cause and give him a reason to turn his life around. Unfortunately, there is no sure way of knowing whether you or your teen will be one of those fortunate few who turn it around--but if the writing is on the wall, it's certainly worth a further look.

The teenage years are a difficult time, so signs that a teen is struggling with addiction are often hard to identify. But generally, any drastic shift in behavior is cause for concern. A recent drop in grades, a sudden change in the people she hangs out with, or a propensity to act out in a way that gets her into trouble are some of the most common signs. Other signs are increased secrecy about possessions or activities; the use of incense, room deodorant or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors; subtle changes in conversations with friends, using coded language; change in clothing choices, including a new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use; increase in borrowing money; evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes and rolling papers; evidence of use of inhalant products (such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid and common household products); bottles of eyedrops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils; new use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol; and missing prescription drugs in your house, especially narcotics and mood stabilizers.

Rehabilitation centers rarely put teens and adults together, and with good reason. First, the treatment is different. Teens are going through a difficult time in their lives, with or without drugs, but teens who use drugs especially need to have extensive counseling done toward boosting self-esteem. It's also typically involuntary, which means the teen often doesn't want to be there and will rebel willfully against treatment. Group therapy is prevalent in teen rehab, as is family involvement. In fact, family members are often invited into the group therapy process on a regular basis to help patch up the bonds that have been damaged by the teen's drug abuse. Group therapy is more conducive because it helps teenagers realize they are not alone or defective but one of many kids who need the help and support of family and each other to get better.

Recovery for teens comes with its own set of challenges. Teens don't always have the option of eliminating harmful forces from their lives. Often, they have parents who have unaddressed addiction problems or old using buddies who will still be going to their school when they get out of rehabilitation. It's also difficult for sober teens to find Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that are devoted to their age group, which often leaves them with few other options than going to mainly adult meetings for support. That often leads to them feeling out of place.

Helping a teen who has a drug or alcohol problem begins and ends with support, including family support. Teens don't have the option of being relocated to remove temptation, so parents and family members will do their best to not bring drugs or liquor into the home. It's also important for family members to familiarize themselves with the recovery process so they can feel involved.

Choosing the right facility is never easy for a parent, because no one likes the idea of turning her child over to strangers. That problem can be minimized by getting involved. Get to know the people and the counselors at the rehab facility you choose, and more likely than not you'll find they are good people who would like nothing better than getting your child well. For a better idea of which programs and treatments will work best for your teen, see the link in Resources below.