Teen Addiction Treatment

Addiction Treatment For Teens

Teenage drug abuse is a serious issue, and treating addiction in teens requires a different approach than in adults, as adolescents are in a unique stage of development and have different motivations.

It is important for parents and guardians to understand that the dangers and ways teenagers are using drugs is different from past generations. For instance, marijuana is much stronger and easier to obtain than before, and there is a new rise in hallucinogen use, post-pandemic. Drugs are also now laced with lethal doses of fentanyl, creating a rise in unintentional overdoses in teens. Additionally, teenagers are also learning about drugs and alcohol in different ways, with many discovering information about these substances from social media.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of addiction and determining whether a teen needs rehab is an important step in their addiction recovery journey. Fortunately, numerous treatment programs are tailored to help your teen and family overcome addiction. These programs can help address teen addiction, support ongoing recovery, and promote a healthier home environment for the entire family.

Featured Centers Offering Treatment for Teens

How Do I Know If My Teen Needs Rehab?

It’s important to be able to recognize signs and symptoms of teen drug and alcohol use and try to understand the underlying cause, so you can help them find appropriate treatment.

Some of the signs and symptoms of drug abuse and addiction include:

• Changes in physical appearance, such as a decrease in basic hygiene, changes in weight, and bloodshot eyes
• Withdrawal from activities and changes in friend groups
• Engaging in reckless behaviors such as driving under the influence, partying, breaking curfew, unprotected sex, and trouble with the law
• A decline in academic performance
• Mood swings
• Talking about drugs and alcohol
• Withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and mood swings

While it can be hard to watch your teen struggle with substance abuse, it’s important to frame rehab as an opportunity rather than a consequence. You can remind your teen that rehab can be an opportunity to improve their life, become healthier, and get better. Overall, if you are noticing some of the signs and symptoms of addiction in your teen, they would most likely benefit from some form of professional treatment.

Teen Addiction Treatment Options

There are numerous treatment programs tailored to help teens beat drug and alcohol addiction. Rehabs that recognize the nuances of teen substance misuse can help your teen get the most effective treatment.

Detoxification

Detoxification, commonly called “detox,” is the first step your teen must take before they enter a formal addiction program.

Detoxification refers to the process of clearing the body of substances in a supervised and comfortable setting. Treatment medications are often administered to help alleviate any unpleasant withdrawal side effects, and professional addiction staff are present to help monitor any dangerous signs associated with withdrawal. After detox is complete, teens will be ready to move on to a more structured treatment program.

Inpatient Rehab For Teens

Inpatient rehab for teens is considered the highest level of care in addiction treatment, meaning that a teen will live in a structured, on-site residential setting where staff is available 24/7.

Many teen inpatient rehab centers separate individuals by age and gender, ensuring that your teen is in group therapy with appropriate peers.

Inpatient rehab is appropriate for teens who are suicidal, struggling with severe drug or alcohol use, are in active withdrawal or at high risk of withdrawal, do not have a strong social support at home, or can benefit from around-the-clock care in an environment where they are free of outside distractions.

Inpatient rehab typically lasts 30 to 90 days, and the length of stay is often determined by insurance status and severity of the addiction. Daily individual therapy sessions and group therapy sessions are provided, along with regular, structured family therapy sessions when deemed necessary. Medications may be administered, especially during the withdrawal phase, and can also be continued in the maintenance phase.

Generally, the main difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment is the frequency of psychotherapy and the intensity of monitoring required.

Outpatient Rehab For Teens

During outpatient rehab, a teen can live at home and attend school, but will attend therapy on an outpatient basis. This can take place in a psychiatrist’s or psychologist’s office, a rehab treatment center that offers outpatient therapy, or through virtual outpatient therapy from the comfort of your home.

For your teen to qualify for outpatient therapy, they must fit specific criteria, including:

• They must not be in active withdrawal or at risk of active withdrawal
• Their addiction must not be so severe as to require inpatient rehab
• They must have a supportive home environment
• They must have transportation available to get to and from treatment

There are multiple levels of outpatient care that differ in how much therapy is provided each week. These different levels include:

• Partial hospitalization (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient treatment (IOP)
• Outpatient treatment

The primary difference between these three levels of outpatient care is the number of weekly hours of treatment that is provided, ranging from multiple hours per week to weekly or biweekly therapy sessions.

The same medications and therapy approaches that are used in inpatient rehab can also be used in outpatient rehab. Family therapy, individual therapy, and group therapy are just as important in outpatient therapy as they are in inpatient rehab.

Therapy For Teens

Many teens struggling with drug abuse also face underlying disorders such as depression and anxiety. Addiction therapy for teens can help them address psychological issues that lead to drinking or drug use.

It is important to note that multiple types of therapy approaches can be combined with each other, used in conjunction with addiction medications, used in both individual and group therapy sessions, and used in both inpatient and outpatient levels of treatment. Some common types of therapy used in teen treatment include:

• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT): CBT is one of the most effective therapeutic approaches for teen substance abuse. It helps teenagers recognize their maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to substance abuse. Once these have been identified, a therapist works with the teenager to develop healthier thought patterns and behaviors to manage urges. They also work to create healthy decision-making skills that not only help treat their addiction but can help improve their mental health and basic life skills.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): DBT is similar to CBT but adds a focus on the idea that two opposing things can be true at the same time. Teenagers can accept themselves for who they are; the good, the bad, and the ugly, but also strive to change their behavior that contributed to their addiction.
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET): MET can be helpful if a teenager is initially resistant to treatment. It is based on exploring the teenager’s own motivation for change in a non-confrontational approach. The goal is to identify the teenager’s motivation to engage in recovery and recognize the need for change.
• Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA): A-CRA is an intervention method that helps replace negative environmental factors with healthy ones. It focuses on improving teens’ support systems. Additionally, their communication, coping, and problem-solving skills are also built upon.
• Contingency Management (CM): CM is a treatment system using instant rewards to encourage positive and healthy behavior. Teens can earn prizes for participating in addiction recovery. This method is often combined with other teen rehab methods.
• Trauma-informed Care: Past trauma is a risk factor for teen addiction, and as a result, it is important to recognize the high prevalence of underlying trauma in teenagers who struggle with substance abuse. Many current trauma-focused interventions are used to recognize and address the underlying trauma while also treating the addiction. The goal of many of these trauma approaches is to recognize and accept the past trauma and develop healthy coping skills to work through this trauma, which can also help teenagers cope with addiction urges and cravings in the future.

Family Therapy

Experts agree that since most teen substance use happens within the family environment, involving the whole family in treatment can be one of the most effective ways to support recovery, whether in inpatient or outpatient care.

Oftentimes, family members, including parents and siblings, need help with understanding addiction, setting healthy boundaries, and developing healthy communication styles and coping skills to not only support their teen in treatment but also take care of themselves, as addiction can wreak havoc on every family member. Family therapy approaches also help to address the following:

• Family dynamics that may have contributed to the teen’s substance abuse (past trauma, abuse, divorce, poor communication, parent substance abuse, etc.)
• Strengthen and improve protective factors in the home environment (give praise and improve on what the parents are doing right in the home).

There are different types of family therapy, including:

• Family Behavioral Therapy: Family therapy sessions improve communication skills between teens and parents. The goal is to create a healthier, drug-free home environment.
• Brief Strategic Family Therapy: This short-term, evidence-based approach focuses on improving family communication and addressing unhealthy patterns that may contribute to a teen’s behavioral or substance use challenges.
• Multidimensional Family Therapy: This blended family and community-based treatment supports teens struggling with violence, behavioral issues, or substance use. Sessions bring families together with schools, community organizations, or the juvenile justice system so everyone can work as a team to support the teen’s recovery.

Ongoing And Aftercare For Teens

Once a teen completes rehab, whether it is inpatient or outpatient, it is crucial that they continue to stay focused on their recovery. This typically involves ongoing care in the form of support groups, community meetings, and outpatient therapy, which are conducted on a weekly to monthly basis. These communal settings provide teens with a space to share their experiences.

Treatment centers may also have an “alumni program” where teen alumni can come together and support each other throughout their long-term recovery.

Ongoing care can also be found online through a simple internet search, especially if your teen is looking for in-person community and support groups in their geographical area. Virtual online recovery groups are also common and beneficial.

Virtual Therapy

Telehealth services have become a forefront in addiction care for teens and families. Telehealth or virtual care outpatient services can improve accessibility for teens, especially those who live in rural areas or face transportation barriers. Telehealth involves:

• Online peer support groups
• Telehealth counseling sessions for individual, group, and family therapy
• Mobile apps that can help track your teen’s progress and provide them with around-the-clock support
• Educational resources that can help the teen learn and understand more about their addiction and recovery process

Assertive Continuing Care

Assertive continuing care (ACC) is a doctor-assisted recovery program hosted at the teenagers’ homes. ACC helps build problem-solving and communication skills to support recovering teens in maintaining their health.

Peer Recovery Support Services

Peer recovery support services are often hosted at community centers for recovering teens. Support services connect teens with peer leaders who have experience overcoming addiction.

Recovery High Schools

Recovery high schools were established to educate teenagers in recovery. Students are surrounded by peers continuing drug addiction recovery in a controlled environment. Recovery high schools are often included as a supplement to formal teen addiction treatment like behavioral or family-based therapies.

How Is Teen Treatment Different Than Treatment For Adults?

Addiction treatment for teens offers the same therapy approaches as adults, but they are delivered differently, as teenagers have different interests, goals, and communication styles. For example, teenagers are more concerned with their social life, peer pressure, a desire for independence, puberty, family concerns, and academic challenges.

Teenagers require shorter sessions, more down-to-earth conversations about school and friends, and parental consent for minors. Regarding parental consent, there must be a focus on teen privacy in terms of patient-provider confidentiality so the teenager can have a safe space with their therapist to open up and express their feelings, independently from their parents.

Find A Teen Treatment Center Today

If your teenager is struggling with addiction, seeking help is a sign of strength. With the right support systems and evidence-based treatment, teens can lead healthy, successful, and productive lives.

If you are looking for a treatment center for your teen, you can use the search option in our rehab directory to easily filter by location, levels of care, payment options, substances abused, and age.

Find help to overcome addiction today.