Teen Drug Rehabs

Teen drug rehabs are needed more than ever throughout the United States, as millions of parents are currently struggling with teenagers who abuse drugs or alcohol. Despite many government initiatives that have focused on utilizing preventative measures such as drug awareness education, teen drug addiction and abuse has currently skyrocketed in the U.S. The majority of teenagers begin to use drugs and alcohol as a way to relieve the stress of school, problems at home, and other daily pressures that are a common part of growing up.

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, the most popular drugs that teens are reported to abuse in the U.S. are marijuana, alcohol and opiate based prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin or OxyContin. According to the most current research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), approximately 17% of high school seniors in the United States have reported abusing some type of illicit drug at least once during their lifetimes.

Most teens that begin to experiment with drugs or alcohol do not ever expect to develop a serious substance abuse problem; to the contrary, the majority of teenagers view their drug use as a casual way to have a good time. The most prominent signs to look for to determine if your teenager may have a drug abuse problem are declining interest in activities that they may have previously enjoyed and noticeable changes in their attitude and behavior; additionally, a parent should be wary when a child dumps one group of friends for another, especially if they are secretive about the new peer group.

Once a teenager begins to use drugs, they will generally not be motivated to stop using them on their own, as teens usually see drug and alcohol use as a pleasurable way to be able to relax and fit in with their peers. The main reason that drugs and alcohol do not represent a serious threat to teens is because they typically believe that they are invincible; it is extremely important that parents encourage these young adults that are struggling with a substance abuse problem to enter the safe harbor of a teen drug rehab, so that they can achieve a drug-free lifestyle.

A teen drug rehab program is one that has been specifically designed to be able to address the unique needs of teenagers who have developed a drug or alcohol addiction problem. In cases of teen drug abuse, the sooner that the substance abuse problem is diagnosed, the sooner that a parent can begin the process of locating and securing the appropriate form of drug treatment. Most teenagers who develop a chemical dependency problem will be in denial about the negative consequences that are related to their "casual" drug use, and will often be extremely defensive when they are approached about their substance abuse issues.

There are a number of different characteristics that can add up to an effective and highly successful teen drug rehab program. When a teenager has the opportunity to undergo a complete and comprehensive step-by-step drug treatment process, they will be able to leave drugs behind and can begin the process of moving towards a new life that is based on confidence and independence.

When an adolescent initially enters a teen drug rehab program, they must undergo the drug detox process, which will rid their body of the toxins that have accumulated in due to their drug addiction. The remainder of the drug treatment program cannot begin in earnest until the detoxification process has been completed. Detox can range from several days to several weeks, depending on the types of drugs that have been abused and the length of the teen's substance abuse problem. A teenager that is going through the drug detox process will generally experience uncomfortable drug withdrawal symptoms.

Some of the most common types of drug withdrawal symptoms have been reported to include:

• Depression
• Anxiousness
• Extreme mood swings
• Chills and sweats

While very few drug withdrawal symptoms are life-threatening, experiencing the discomfort of some of these symptoms may lead to a drug relapse; for this reason alone, it is crucial that the detox process take place under the watchful eye of treatment professionals at a quality teen drug rehab facility.

Another vital treatment component at a teen drug rehab is individual or group counseling sessions, which provides many benefits to the recovering teen addict, including:

• A forum for the teen to be able to openly discuss their feelings in relation to their drug problem.
• A self examining process that the teen can utilize in order to identify the root causes of their substance abuse problem.
• A safe place for the teen to begin to share personal feelings about their home and social life.
• Group counseling helps a teenager to be able to gain strength from their peers at the teen drug rehab program.

Last, but definitely not least, a quality teen drug rehab program should offer an adequate level of aftercare support.

The best type of teen drug rehab programsare those that have the capacity to:

• Treat both the physical (utilizing the detox process) and psychological (through the use of individual or group counseling) components of the teenager's drug or alcohol addiction.
• Get to the root causes of the drug or alcohol addiction that is unique to teenagers, such as peer pressure or conflicts in the home.
• Teen drug rehab programs will often include the entire family, giving parents and siblings the opportunity to discuss how the teen's drug or alcohol addiction has impacted them.

Because there are so many various different types of teen drug rehab program options, it can be difficult for a parent to be able to determine which type of treatment will give their teenager the best chances for success in drug recovery. Reaching out for the professional assistance of a counselor at a quality drug treatment facility, can make the process of choosing the right teen drug rehab program a great deal easier.