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Teen Drug Rehab

Table of Contents
- Special Needs
- Choosing a Setting
- Counseling Types
- Group Therapies
- Final Thoughts

In the past, the vast majority of drug rehabilitation programs were tailored to meet the needs of adults. While experts knew that teens might experiment with drugs from time to time, most believed that teens wouldn't become seriously addicted. Now, experts know this simply isn't the case. For example, the Monitoring the Future Survey found that 36.4 percent of high school seniors used marijuana on a daily basis, placing them at high risk for addiction. Treating this addiction is of prime importance, as therapies can allow the teen to shed the addiction before reaching adulthood, but the therapies provided for adults often don't work as effectively in teens. In other words, teens aren't just small adults. Teen addicts need therapies that are specifically tailored to meet their own unique needs.

Teen Drug Treatment NeedsSpecial Needs, Special Opportunities

The teen brain is like a beehive, buzzing with activity. The brain is building new connective tissues, bridging the right side and the left. New centers of the brain are waking up. Tissues are being broken down and built back up again. Slowly, the teen moves from impulsive behaviors to reasoned judgments. But during this time of change, it can be hard for the teen to make the right decisions and think things through in a clear and logical manner. In addition, as much as teens might not like to admit it, the family has a deep and persistent role in the teen's life. Where an adult might not have any connection to his or her parents and may rely on a spouse or romantic partner for emotional support, a teen relies on his or her parents to provide guidance and unconditional love. In short, the family has a powerful role to play in helping a teen make the right decisions when it comes to addiction and behavior. The teen may be unable to make good choices, but he or she may know the family can help.

Since the family has such a strong pull on the adolescent's life, family members are often heavily involved in the teen's treatment program. In some adult rehabilitation programs for drugs, addicts are asked to refrain from talking to friends or family members for a time, while they focus on their healing. Studies suggest that this approach isn't effective in teens. An article published in the journal Clinical Child and Psychology Review states this best, "Considerable empirical support exists for the efficacy of family-based therapy in curtailing adolescent drug use and co-occurring behavior problems." In other words, experts know the family can help the teen recover, so they often require the family to participate as the teen begins to heal.

While the link between mental illness and addiction has been found in almost all age groups, the link in adolescence is particularly strong. It's possible that the teens rely on drugs to help them deal with the symptoms of mental illness, and it's also possible that the drug use causes certain types of substance abuse behaviors. Research is ongoing in this area. In the meantime, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that these mental illnesses tend to go hand in hand with teen drug use:

  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Oppositional defiant disorder

Most programs for teen addiction begin with a full assessment of the teen's mental health. The teen might meet with a counselor on a private basis and answer questions, or the teen might take a series of tests to help uncover underlying issues. If those problems are found, therapies are provided to help the teen deal with the mental illness as well as the addiction. The two issues are related, and they are both treated. This provides the best foundation for the teen's ongoing health.

Finally, many drug addiction programs for adults provide medications to help assist with cravings and withdrawal symptoms. According to the NIDA, many of these medications haven't been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adolescents. Doctors may choose to provide these medications anyway, of course, but they may run a series of blood tests and physical tests first, just to make sure the teen is healthy before they provide medications in this off-label format.

Parents and Teen RehabChoosing a Setting

Drug addiction therapies can be provided in an inpatient setting, where the teen lives in the facility and receives supervision and support 24 hours a day. Teens who have strong family support, however, might also benefit from outpatient programs that allow them to live at home while they participate in therapy programs during the day. It can be difficult for families to choose the right program, but thankfully this isn't a choice most families have to make on their own. The teen's doctor might suggest one therapy type over another, based on the teen's overall health and response to the idea of rehabilitation program. The family's insurance program might also provide guidance on what sorts of therapies will be covered and what sorts will not.

Counseling Types

For teens going through drug rehabilitation, the counselor provides a source of guidance, caring and support. The teen might meet the counselor in an inpatient program, and then meet with the counselor for weeks or even months once the inpatient program is complete. Or, the teen might meet the counselor for the very first time in the counselor's office, and then meet with that counselor multiple times for weeks or months. Counselors can use several therapy types on teens. For example, some counselors use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps teens recognize when they're most likely to use drugs, and then practice techniques they can use to defer those situations. Others use contingency management techniques, in which they provide the teen with prizes when he or she provides clean urine samples before counseling sessions.

Most counselors use a form of family therapy with teens. According to an article published by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, this therapy attempts to help a family build a strong relationship, based on open and loving communication, where all members are focused on helping the teen beat the addiction. The teen and the family members meet with the counselor, and they all work together as a group. This form of counseling has been widely studied, and in most cases, it's been proven effective. For example, a study published in the Journal of Family and Marital Therapy, states that adolescents who participated in family therapy were twice as likely to stay drug-free than were teens who only participated in individual therapy. It's clear that this form of therapy has the potential to create solid change.

Teen Drug TherapyGroup Therapies

Teens are social creatures, profoundly influenced by the actions of their peers. For this reason, many counselors suggest that teens attend group meetings with other addicts. Participating in 12-step meetings, such as Narcotics Anonymous, has proven quite helpful for adults, but there is some room for caution in teens. For example, a study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse found that these meetings were only helpful if the teen attended meetings that included other teens. Placing a teen in a room full of adults tends to make the teen feel more isolated. In addition, some studies suggest that placing teens with low levels of drug abuse into a group with teens who have taken large amounts of drugs might make the teen more interested in drugs, not less. A study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors calls this "deviancy training," and it's a real concern in teens.

In order to find the right group therapy for the teen, consider these questions:

  • How old are the participants of this meeting?
  • What drug is this program designed to treat?
  • Is this based on 12-step principles?
  • Is there a counselor present?

After the teen attends a meeting, parents can also ask the teen about the experience, trying to determine if the teen feels comfortable and motivated. If the teen expresses discomfort, or suggests that he or she doesn't belong in the meeting, it might be best to seek out a new group. Often, there are many meetings available in the community. Teens who resist the religious aspect of 12-step programs, for example, might benefit from meetings in the SMART recovery model, which does not include this spirituality aspect. The teen must feel comfortable and engaged in the meetings in order to get the most benefit, so it pays to be choosey.

Final Thoughts

It can be overwhelming to think of finding a teen drug addiction recovery program. There are so many options available and so many things to keep in mind. Reaching out for assistance can help ease the burden. The teen's doctor, addiction counselor or case manager can all provide reasonable, thoughtful guidance that can help a family choose. At The Canyon, we provide an integrated program designed to meet the special needs of addicts. We can provide you with information about our programs, and you can discuss this information with your child's medical team. We're here to help. Please call us today to find out more.

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