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It’s every parent’s nightmare: that the child they once held in their arms as a baby might someday get involved, possibly addicted, to drugs and/or alcohol.
If you find yourself struggling to deal with a son or daughter who has a substance abuse problem, and have considered the option of adolescent drug rehab, you might have questions. Such as how does it work, what is it, what do I do next?
Here is a no-nonsense guide to understanding what adolescent drug rehabilitation is-and whether it might help your child finally free themselves from their substance abuse issues.
Adolescent Drug Rehab Question No.1: Is it Like Adult Rehabilitation?
Both adult rehab and child/teen rehab are focused on the same thing: to get the person off of drugs or alchohol and give them coping mechanisms for staying healthy and sober.
But treatment methods can be quite different. Oftentimes one of the biggest challenges in treating young people with substance abuse problems is getting them to accept that they might actually have a problem; teens and adolescents haven’t usually hit a "bottom" as devestating as that experenced by lifelong addicts.
Another difference is that adolescent drug rehab usually has education servces; many times the clients are still attending school. Most teen drug rehab centers have tutoring and GED services on-site to ensure the client doesnt’ fall behind in school.
Adolescent Drug Rehab Question No.2: What is Offered With Adolescent Drug Rehab?
Like its adult counterpart, adolescent drug rehab, especially the residential variety, begins with a healthy detox and then a set period of rehabilitation, usually from 30-90 days.
During rehab, your adolescent is given specialized individual and group therapy, along with family counseling to help deal with any underlying issues that may be exacerbating the addictive behavior.
Again, emphasizing to the adolescent that they do have a problem–and that their current behavioral pattern will have dire future conesquences–is one of the pillars of adolescent drug rehab.
Adolescent Drug Rehab Question No.3: How Do I Know if My Child Needs It?
Teens and tweens can be moody on the best of days, so sensing there might be a substance abuse problem can be tricky.
Here are a few warning signs to keep an eye out for:
- Disheveled appearance, lack of pride in how they look
- Sudden weight loss
- Loss of ambition or interest in…well…anything
- Gaunt face; bloodshot eyes
- Tracks marks on legs or arms
- Series of unexplained absesences at schoolwork
- Violent outbursts and sudden emotional changes
- Frequent car accidents or unexplained damage to one’s automobile
These are just a few of the signposts that there might be a problem with your child. If you do suspect that there might be a substance abuse problem be sure to contact a licensed professional to get the info—and peace of mind—you and your family needs.
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