There are no easy answers if you are dealing with a teenager who is abusing drugs. We want to help you get through the uncertainties of what to do next, and have written ‘5 Tips for Parents Dealing With Teen Drug Abuse,’ to help.  

We do this by providing you with the latest and most relevant substance abuse information.

Teenage drug abuse is holding steady in the United States. But the new phenomena of vaping is on the rise. Vaping is playing into increased nicotine drug addiction.

In general, drugs and alcohol are present in almost all facets of your teenager’s life.

There are some hard and fast statistics about teenage drug abuse. We have listed them below so we have an informational starting place.

• Marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol are the substances most adolescents or teenagers try and use.
• By 18 years of age, two-thirds of teenagers have tried or use alcohol.
• Marijuana is used by half of all students age 13-18 years of age.
• Four out of ten 18-year-olds have tried or now use cigarettes.
• 20% of all 18-year-olds have abused prescription drugs.

Teens Addicted

When teens become addicted to alcohol or drugs the addiction impacts their growth and development.

Teenage drug addiction targets the teenager’s brain development. Sometimes there is irreversible damage done to the brain.

In dealing with teenage drug addiction we must never forget addiction is a disease. It is not something your teenager is choosing to be or what they want to remain. Addiction affects their brain and their behavior.

The root of what causes teenage drug addiction has thousands of theories. Some say it is genetics.

Some scientists say it is the environment. Some scientists say it is a combination of genetic variations to environments. No one knows for sure. But there is a science to teenage drug abuse.

The Science of Teenage Drug Abuse

Scientists are continuing to study drug addiction. Many times teenage drug addicts suffer from magnified harmful consequences. This magnification of drug abuse in teenagers shows up in different ways.

For instance, some teenagers start taking part in more risk-taking activities. Activities like having unprotected sex or driving their car while under the influence.

Also, many teenage addicts have severe health issues later on in their life due to their earlier drug addiction.

Some of these health issues are heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.

Even more frightening is when teenagers become addicted when they are so young, there is a greater chance of them developing substance addiction again later on in their life.

It doesn’t matter if they are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Any type of substance abuses can end up with increased addiction rates when they become adults.

20 million youth ages 12+ are drug or alcohol addicts. It is important to note, that once your teenager becomes an adult treatment options are up to them to seek.

Many treatment centers will work with your adult child and their family if permission is granted by your adult child.

But if your teenager is still under the age of 18, there are some drug addiction treatment options we would like to share with you. These treatment options are good for the whole family as well as the teenage substance user.

Teenage Drug Abuse

Teenage drug abuse issues change from teenager to teenager. No two addictions are the same.

The addictions may have the same symptoms or even consequences but the addict causes the differences.

If all the addictions in teenagers or adults were the same, the world could market and package one treatment plan which works for all of them. Much like antibiotics are used on all infections.

But no two addictions are the same much like no two people are the same. Rehabilitation, treatment plans, and services should be tailored. A tailored therapy based on the addict’s needs gives them the best chances of recovery.

Treatment Plan Information

There are around several types of treatment plans for teenage drug addiction. Remember, what works for one may not work for the other.

Which is why each treatment plan needs to be modified and customized to meet the needs of the teenage addict.

What works for one may not work for the other. Which is why each treatment plan needs to be modified and customized to the teenage addict.

All the treatment plans we are listing are designed to increase an addict’s coping skills.

It teaches them how to manage high-risk situations so they can avoid substance abuse. It helps the teenage drug addict focus on psychosocial rehabilitation.

Treatment Plan Options

If a teenage addict can learn what their triggers are they may be able to avoid them.

This helps them learn how to control their craving for drugs and alcohol. Some therapies which have been effective, include but are not limited to;

• A person-centered approach keeps everyone involved with the teenager’s drug abuse recovery.

• It is a form of community reinforcement approach used in therapy.
• It helps develop alternative activities and groups for the teenager.
• This helps minimize the teenager’s at-risk behaviors.
• Treatment which addresses interpersonal skills through group therapy, behavioral therapy, commitment therapy, mentalization-based therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

• These therapies help addicts identify, recognize, and avoid negative thought processes.
• It can help with the typical behaviors or situations which lead to substance abuse.
• It teaches teenagers about their cravings and how to cope with them.
• There are treatments which offer group and individual wellness activities and therapeutic outings.

• Teenagers can receive weekly family therapy sessions. These therapy sessions range in;
• Multi-dimensional, functional, multi-systemic, motivational or strategic) and anger management sessions.
• Case management works through individual therapy and recovery plans as well.

Through it all, we work on improving teenage substance abusers communication skills. We try to also help the family in support issues which reduce conflict.

We provide therapy which helps rewards constructive and positive behavior while discouraging unhealthy behavior. By doing that we can help teenage drug addiction one life at a time.

Teen Addicted

It doesn’t matter what we call it. If we call it teen addict or teenage addiction the end result is the same. You know or have a teenage drug abuse issue. You want help and you need to know what to do next.

That is what we are here for. We have the teenage drug abuse treatment programs which help.

We have a proven rehabilitation system for addicts. But we often have to start at the same place no matter the age of our addicts.

That is starting our substance abuse patients with detox. When your teenager is admitted to

Best Rehabs In Arizona our medical team does a preliminary screening.

This preliminary screening helps determine detox needs and health of the patient.

The Phases and Stages of Pathfinder Recovery Programs

The medical team does this preliminary screening to assess what pain or suffering your teenager may experience during drug withdrawal. We call it the stabilization phase.

There is no easy way to go through drug detoxification so we want to make sure we do it safely and privately. We make sure there is medical help available if needed.

The next phase is our vision phase. The vision phase enables substance abusers to help make their own recovery decision.

The decision-making tools we teach during this phase help our addicts come to a self-realization point.

It also helps determine if their substance abuse is combined with another dependency or mental health issue.

It is during this phase we want teenagers to understand their substance abuse issues with education. Substance-abuse education which shows all the levels and phases of addiction.

The last phase is the quest phase. This phase is highly recommended and most often used. It is a 90-day tracked program of individualized treatment planning.

This planning is done with a team of mental, medical and clinical expert professionals.

It successfully combines therapeutic, medication-assisted treatment and developmental therapy.

This combination of therapies is specific to the addict’s unique needs.

A Teenager At Risk

Do you know of a teenage drug abuse issue? Does this teenage drug abuse issue involve someone you know or care about?

Then it stands to reason you want to know more about us and if we can help. As we mentioned above, no two addictions are equal. No two teenage substance abusers are the same.

But finding a treatment center who cares enough to keep trying to reach the teenage addict is worth hanging onto.

Just like no two addicts are alike, no two treatment centers are equal to each other either.

The treatment center that is best for you and the teenage substance abuser who needs help is the one that works best for them. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says. If it is helping the

teenager who suffers from addiction, keep it.

There is no substitute for a treatment center which seems tailored to what you, your family and teenage substance user needs. In fact, those are the treatment centers which have the greatest possibility of success.

The Last Phase of Treatment

We understand that life didn’t stop in the world around us while your teenager is in treatment.

We know we need to help teenagers in their educational needs or life vocational career options.

We help find sober living environments on or off college campuses.

Sometimes we work with finding support groups and life coaches. Every step which is a positive one your teenager makes is a step which leads him to a healthy life.

We have even worked with teenagers while they plan a future while they are in treatment. A future which gives them a goal. This goal becomes a light they can follow. That light can help you and your family transition back into the world.

When we work together, we find transitions which were made in a healthy manner. Teenage drug abuse patients become some of our most successful and happy graduates.
Because teenage graduates who are free from their addiction disease are taking their first step towards making a healthy life for themselves. We hope we see you soon so your teenage drug abuse issue stops now!