This post was contributed by Patricia Bright at Woburn Addiction Treatment center:
How To Choose The Right Drug And Alcohol Rehab For Teens
Today there are many different kinds of rehabilitation programs available for teens and adults, and every drug rehab center has its unique style of treatment and attribute. There is a lot of help available, and it’s tough to decide what’s best for your teen, as every teen has different needs when it comes to their treatment. So you need to take time and find a rehab center that caters to the teen population, as substance abuse requires different treatments in different ways; hence your teen might feel comfortable when they get treated around the people of their age group.
Signs That Your Teen Requires Rehab
Before looking for treatment, parents need to know if their teen is struggling with substance abuse or is at the experimental stage. Parents need to realize the difference between experimenting and getting addicted.
Here is a list of some symptoms your teen would go through when they are suffering from substance abuse:
- Start to hang out with new friends suddenly.
- Get away from their loved ones.
- They ignore their appearance.
- A sudden drop in grades and skipping classes.
- Increased aggression or arguments with loved ones.
- Change in eating habits.
- Sleeping excessively or staying awake till late at night( Lack Of Sleep).
- Maintaining excessive secrecy.
- Borrowing or stealing money.
- Sadness And Loneliness.
- Lying about the use of substances.
Suppose you are noticing the above-listed symptoms in your teen. In that case, your teen might require treatment, and a professional can help you determine the difference between addiction or experimental substance use. As substance abuse has a terrible impact on teens’ developing brains, and an early addiction to drugs puts your teen at risk of a substance use disorder, you should not neglect this symptom on your teen.
What Are The Types Of Facilities Available For Your Teen?
The best rehab for your teen is the one that chooses different kinds of treatment to deal with substance abuse. The most comprehensive approach for substance addiction is viable by treating the addiction from its roots. We must never forget each teen is different in their path of recovery.
While treating, it is essential to assess the patient to ensure their recovery period, and if the current course of treatment is suitable for your teen. If the doctor determines modification in the treatment, it is essential to make those changes as early as possible so that the teen receives the best possible treatment.
Every rehab center offers different ways and treatments for the successful recovery of your teenager. Finding treatment for teenagers will help you to reach your rehab goal, but you need to evaluate your rehab goal before this. The first step towards deciding your rehab goal is determining which substance and behavior teen wants to recover. The next step is to determine their underlying issues, such as medical issues, which you want to get treated at the same point of the time.
The Proper Treatment For Your Teen
Many parents who suspect their teens with a sign of addiction suffer from a problem to diagnose where to start from. The national institute of drug abuse advises you to consult your teens’ doctor for an addiction treatment provider or a counselor. Once you have determined that your teen has a problem with substance abuse, seeking a professional can help you assess the severity of your addiction and can select an appropriate treatment for your teen. As there is no particular treatment for substance abuse, what works on one might not work for others. Inpatient rehab centers are not required for those who have severe addictions; other treatments are also available such as standard outpatient therapy and high-level outpatient care.
The maximum term for treatment of an inpatient therapy is 90days and gets comparatively extended as per the cure. In an inpatient rehabilitation center, your teen will be kept in an environment that will help develop sovereignty without the presence of temptation from the outside world, friends, or any other substance. The teen here will entirely focus on learning about their addiction, removing the negative beliefs and issues that dragged them for substance abuse, building coping-up skills to keep themselves away from the substance once they have finished with the treatment part.
What Happens During The Treatment?
Teens differ in many aspects compared to adult substance abuse. They might slowly recognize their substance use is an issue, frequently binge with substance use,and are more likely to develop mental health disorders than adults. Teens mostly get influenced by their friend circles. Teens’ treatments for substance abuse have been using the same protocol as adults for years, but later it was observed that people’s substance abuse treatment requires a personalized treatment approach.
There are two main types of substance abuse treatment given to teens: Inpatient And Outpatient treatments. The only difference between the therapies is whether the patient is staying at the facility or coming for periodical sessions or visits. Inpatient therapies, in general, are the most intensive kind of therapy, which are given according to the specific nature of your teen’s addiction and other medical needs.
- Inpatient therapy
There are numerous benefits of drug and alcohol rehabs to teens, the teenage patients stay at the rehab facilities all day and night, which is very helpful in the case of detoxification therapy. During these therapies, the doctors give 24*7 assistance to the teens to raise the withdrawal symptoms. These therapies also keep your teen away from their friends and triggers, which led them to give the drug dependence in the starting period. Often, your teen might feel they have been punished, or their family doesn’t like them anymore. Hence the rehab facilities allow parents to meet their kids, and these centers also let the parents participate in the treatments through family therapy. The parents must ensure their kids that they still love them and the teen is just getting the proper and necessary treatment not a punishment.
- Outpatient therapy
This therapy involves meeting your doctor or facility during the day but not staying for a long duration. Patients here participate in individual or group therapies or some other therapies personalized precisely for them. These therapies also involve families and parents in some activities that help to guide and counsel them, depending upon the rehab’s offerings. These therapies do not have any specific time duration, and your teen can continue as long as often until they feel they have recovered. The outpatient treatments are suitable for those who do not have severe addictions and are at lower risk of relapsing. Outpatient therapies are also given as a form of support to the people who recovered from inpatient therapy.
Final Words
There are lots of options available at present, and it’s challenging to choose one among them. Choose a recovery that meets your teen’s requirements and offers an environment that could give sound and safety requirements for your teen. And there are various personalized treatment providers to help out your loved ones.
