DrugRehab.com provides information regarding illicit and prescription drug
addiction, the various populations at risk for the disease, current statistics and trends, and
psychological disorders that often accompany addiction. You will also find information on spotting
the signs and symptoms of substance use and hotlines for immediate assistance.
Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the individual.
In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer information on
outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of care. In this section, you
will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and
therapy and payment and insurance options.
Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer
information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.
The recovery process doesn't end after 90 days of treatment. The transition back to
life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as
12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with
rewarding relationships and meaning.
Our community offers unique perspectives on lifelong recovery and substance use
prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active
recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our
community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.
As a parent, you are one of the biggest influences on your child’s decision to try alcohol or other drugs. There are several effective ways to discourage your kid from trying addictive substances, and you can be the biggest source of support if your child needs help recovering from addiction.
Parents will do almost anything to keep their children safe, but communicating with youth becomes more challenging as they get older. That’s why you should talk to your children about alcohol and other drugs early. It’s a conversation that you need to have because drugs can ruin your child’s life.
Every year, millions of teens try alcohol, marijuana or tobacco products for the first time. Most of them won’t get caught. They won’t get in a car accident, and they won’t become addicted. But a significant portion of them will, and the consequences can be devastating.
You can keep your children from becoming a statistic by being involved in their lives, having honest conversations with them and practicing what you preach.
Some parents, despite their best efforts, will have a child who develops a substance use disorder. That doesn’t mean the parent or child has failed. Helping a child recover from addiction is just one of the many challenges parents might face.
Learn About Teen Drug Use
As kids get older, they often start to question the life lessons they hear from parents and teachers. They become
more heavily influenced by the things they see on TV, the internet and social media. Teens listen to what
their peers say, and they pay attention to what celebrity role models do. As a result, they get mixed messages,
and they have to determine which information to believe.
Anti-drug messages such as “just say no” aren’t effective. Teens need concrete reasons to avoid alcohol and other
drugs. They need facts and evidence. Parents have to know what they’re talking about if they want their children
to listen.
Drugs Most Commonly Used By Teens
The most popular drugs that teens use haven’t changed much for the past five decades. Alcohol, marijuana and
tobacco consistently rank among the top substances of abuse among youth. But other perils have become popular
in recent years. The packaging and advertisements for alcoholic energy drinks, electronic cigarettes and
synthetic marijuana are designed to appeal to teens.
The abuse of medications such as cough syrups, anti-anxiety drugs, ADHD medications and prescription pain relievers
is less common, but the side effects can be life threatening. Less than one percent of teens use heroin,
crystal meth or cocaine regularly.
Percent of 12th-graders Who Used A Substance in the Past Month:
Type of drug
Prevalence
Alcohol
33%
Marijuana
23%
Electronic vaporizers
13%
Cigarettes
11%
Prescription stimulants
3%
Prescription painkillers
2%
Anti-anxiety drugs
2%
LSD
1%
Cocaine
1%
Ecstasy
1%
Inhalents
1%
Source: 2016 Monitoring the Future Survey
The percent of high school seniors who tried cigarettes has declined each year since 1998, and it reached an
all-time low in 2016. Electronic vaporizers also declined in popularity between 2015 and 2016, the only two
years that teens were asked about their use of the products.
What Effects Drugs Have on Teens
Most teens do not develop a substance use disorder after using drugs, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t vulnerable
to a number of other risks. The side effects of various drugs differ.
Side effects of stimulants such as ADHD medications or cocaine include:
Irritability
Rapid heartbeat
Drowsiness
Paranoia
Headaches
Anxiety
Side effects of opioids such as prescription painkillers or heroin include:
Irregular breathing
Dizziness
Headaches
Low blood pressure
Seizure
Overdose
Side effects of anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax or Valium include:
Confusion
Fatigue
Irritability
Mood swings
Insomnia
Shaking
Addiction is the one risk that each drug has in common. Some drugs are more addictive than others, but with repeated
use, teens can become addicted to any drug.
How Drugs Affect the Teen Brain
The teenage brain is wired to be curious and seek news experiences. It’s in a constant state of development,
meaning it adapts to addictive substances more quickly than an adult brain.
Teen brains also have a mature reward system. They feel pleasure and pain in ways similar to adults, but the
decision-making areas of the brain are immature. Thus, teens are more likely to act on impulse or emotions
and less likely to fully assess situations.
The reward system works by releasing a small amount of a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Dopamine makes
us feel happy. It’s naturally released to reward basic behaviors necessary to survival such as eating, exercising
or having sex. Other behaviors that teens find pleasurable, such as playing sports, listening to music or
socializing, cause small dopamine releases.
Each drug affects the brain in a different way, but all drugs overload the reward system with dopamine. The brain
associates drug use with this positive reward, which causes teens to want to repeat the behavior. When teens
use drugs regularly, the brain repeatedly adapts to the presence of the drugs and associates it with positive
rewards.
Some people are genetically more vulnerable to this adaptation than others. They’re at a risk for
developing an addiction. In those teens, the brain associates drug use with such positive rewards that
the dopamine release caused by other activities no longer causes happiness. Drug use becomes a top priority
for the brain, and the parts of the brain in charge of self-control can no longer keep the reward system
in check.
Why Teens Try Drugs
Teens try alcohol or other drugs for a number of reasons that are influenced by several factors.
Risk factors for addiction include:
Availability of drugs in the neighborhood
Prevalence of drug use among peers
Exposure to violence or trauma
Parental alcohol or drug use
Mental illness
Poor impulse control
Compulsive personality
One risk factor alone may not be enough to spur teen drug use, but a combination of several factors increases the chances that a teen will try alcohol or other drugs. Protective factors such as anti-drug messages in the community, extracurricular drug testing in school and positive parental influence can negate risk factors.
Teens use alcohol or other drugs for a number of reasons. They usually try addictive substances for the first time because of peer pressure or their own curiosity.
Reasons for teen drug use drugs include:
To have fun
To relax
To feel good
To forget about problems
To relieve stress
To look cool
To fit in with friends
Teens who drink alcohol or use drugs have few barriers to prevent them. They aren’t afraid of getting caught,
and they have little trouble finding substances of abuse.
Where Teens Encounter Drugs
It’s easy for teens to access alcohol and other drugs. They can buy drugs at school or buy alcohol, cigarettes
or synthetic marijuana from gas stations with fake IDs. Drinking and drug use is common at parties. If parents
aren’t diligent, teens can steal prescription drugs from medicine cabinets or buy drugs on the internet and
have them delivered in discreet packages.
Even if you monitor who your child hangs out with, most teens know a friend of a friend who can access illicit
drugs or get them alcohol. They may work with young adults who are willing to buy alcohol, tobacco products
or e-cigarettes for them.
Youth are also exposed to alcohol and other drugs on social media. A 2012 study by the National Center on Addiction
and Substance Abuse found that nearly half of teens surveyed said they’d seen teens drinking or using drugs
on social media and that it seemed like they were having a good time.
Seventy-five percent of teens reported that seeing other teens drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana on social
media sites encouraged other students to want to use them to have fun.
Drugs at School
Despite their best efforts, educators can’t control everything that students bring on and off school property.
It isn’t just one or two bad apples selling drugs, though. You may be surprised at how prevalent drug trafficking
is on school grounds.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse study found:
44 percent of high schoolers know someone who sells drugs at school.
52 percent said there was a place near school where students could drink or use drugs during the school day.
36 percent said it was easy to use drugs or drink during school without getting caught.
When students were asked what drugs they could buy at school:
91 percent said marijuana
24 percent said prescription drugs
9 percent said cocaine
7 percent said ecstasy
The school day isn’t the only time students have access to addictive substances. Many parents underestimate what happens when their children attend parties.
Parties
A 2006 survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that a third of teens and nearly half of 17-year-olds have attended a house party chaperoned by parents where teens drank alcohol or used other drugs.
Compared with teens who always attended parties with parents, teens who attended parties without parental supervision were:
15 times more likely to say illicit drugs were available
16 times more likely to say alcohol was available
29 times more likely to say marijuana were available
The difference between parental perceptions of parties and teen reports was dramatic:
Parents
80% of parents said neither alcohol nor marijuana was available at teen parties.
98% of parents said they were present at teen parties at their homes.
99% of parents said they wouldn’t serve alcohol at their teen’s party.
Teens
50% of teens said they’d been to parties where alcohol or marijuana was available.
33% of teens said parent supervision was rare or nonexistent at parties.
28% of teens said they’d been to parties where both parents and alcohol were present.
Numerous studies show that when parents allow their teens to drink a few sips of alcohol or allow them to drink
at home, the children are more likely to drink outside of the home.
How Marijuana Legalization Affects Teens
Several states have legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes. Research isn’t clear on how
medicinal marijuana legalization affects teens. In Colorado and Washington, states that have legalized recreational
marijuana, youth marijuana consumption increased gradually between 2011 and 2014.
Nationally, the states that have legalized medicinal or recreational marijuana have the highest youth marijuana
consumption rates. But in most cases, the states had led other states in
marijuana consumption rates before legalization.
Nationally, teen marijuana consumption rates grew to a five-year high in 2015. Teen perceptions of the risks
associated with marijuana have also weakened considerably. More teens perceive no great risk from smoking
marijuana today than ever before.
Preventing Substance Abuse
Parents have a profound impact on a child’s decision to try alcohol or other drugs, but relationships between
parents and their children are often delicate. You have to be involved in their lives, but avoid being a
helicopter parent who is smothering or overprotective.
Eventually, teens have to make choices for themselves. If parents lend appropriate advice and act as positive
role models, they can influence the choices their children make.
Parents Do Influence Their Children
Most parents believe they don’t have a strong influence on their children, but research doesn’t back that up.
You’re probably the most influential person in your child’s life.
“All the time, high school students tell us that the main reason their peers don’t drink or use drugs is because
parents would disapprove,” said Emily Feinstein, the director of health law and policy at the National Center
on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
Teens highly value the respect of their parents even though many of them don’t want to admit it. There are a
variety of ways parents can help prevent their children from trying drugs.
One of the most important ways parents influence their children is by being positive role models. Teens mimic
what they see. That means parents should keep alcohol and other drugs away from the home. If you drink in
front of your children, do so in moderation and explain why it’s important for kids to abstain from alcohol
until their brains are fully developed.
Is your child struggling with addiction?Get a recovery plan that’s made for you.
Get Help Now
How to Discuss Drug Abuse With Youth
Many children don’t like being told what to do. They also dislike being lectured. When you communicate with teens,
make sure you give them input in the conversation. Ask them what their views on drugs are and listen to their
questions.
Get started at a young age so your children are used to having the conversation with you. A 2014 survey found
that 42 percent of teens whose parents believed
underage drinking was somewhat unacceptable or completely acceptable admitted to drinking. Comparatively,
8 percent of teens whose parents were against underage drinking said they had tried alcohol.
Don’t treat teenagers like they’re children, and don’t overwhelm young children with too many facts about drug
abuse. It can be difficult to know how to talk to youth. Here are some tips.
Tips for talking to your children about drugs at all ages:
Ages 2-4
Children are too young to understand what drugs are.
Promote healthy living.
Encourage positive decision making.
Encourage personal responsibility.
Teach children to avoid dangerous household chemicals.
Ages 5-8
Talk about short-term consequences of alcohol and other drugs. Long-term consequences are too difficult
to comprehend.
Condemn drug-related messages in media.
Set clear rules for behavior.
Promote problem-solving skills.
Teach kids to avoid dangerous situations.
Ages 9-12
Preach the importance of rules.
Teach them how to say no to drugs.
Empower them to make good decisions.
Keep drug-related conversations fact based.
Teach preteens the difference between fantasy and reality.
Ages 13-15
Ensure teens know the consequences of breaking rules.
Praise teens for positive decisions.
Show interest in their daily lives.
Teach them the negative effects drugs have on physical appearance.
Don’t rely on schools to prevent drug abuse.
Ages 16-18
Use detailed, realistic messages when talking about drugs.
Emphasize consequences of drugs, such as decreasing the chances of getting into college.
Challenge them to be positive leaders.
Use news reports as starters for drug-related conversations.
Make sure you build an environment of trust and open communication. Don’t use scare tactics or make exaggerated
claims. Stick to the facts.
When you talk about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs, emphasize the negative side effects that can result
from substance abuse. Examples include decreased physical ability in sports, lost driving privileges, damage
to overall health and negative effects on their appearance.
Talk to your teens about other influences on their attitudes about drugs. Think about how the media portrays
drugs on television or in music. Be aware of your child’s sources of entertainment, including websites and
apps. Your children may be exposed to drugs by the pages they like on Facebook, the people they follow on
Twitter and Instagram, or the videos they watch on YouTube.
Be prepared for them to ask about your own drug use and determine how you will respond. Some studies show teens
who know of a parent’s past drug use are more likely to have weak anti-drug attitudes. If you do share your
experience, make sure you explain why you stopped and the negative consequences of your actions.
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Teen Drug Abuse
Some children experiment with drugs despite their parents’ best efforts. Thousands of adolescents consume alcohol
or other drugs every day. While many are capable of trying drugs once and walking away, others succumb to
addiction.
As a parent, you need to be aware of the signs or symptoms of
drug abuse. If you recognize warning signs, you need to act quickly and strongly. The longer someone
uses alcohol or other drugs, the higher the risk they face for negative consequences and the harder it is
for them to stop.
Physical signs of teen drug abuse include:
Bloodshot eyes
Flushed skin
Track marks or abscesses
Weight loss or gain
Impaired speech or coordination
Unusual smells on breath or clothing
Inability to sleep
Behavioral signs of teen drug abuse include:
Inability to focus
Problems in school or with authority
Lying and deceiving
Mood swings and instability
Hyperactivity or lethargy
Loss of inhibitions
Indifference to family or obligations
If you notice any worrisome changes in your child’s appearance or behavior, initiate a conversation about drug
use immediately. Don’t wait for your teen to become addicted before you seek assistance.
Co-Occurring Disorders in Adolescents
Drug abuse and mental health disorders commonly coincide. An estimated two-thirds of adolescents who abuse drugs also suffer from at least one mental health problem. That puts them at a much higher risk for addiction than other teens.
Co-occurring disorders include:
Depression
Anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Eating disorders
Schizophrenia
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Like adults, teens who suffer from mental health problems are more likely turn to alcohol or other drugs to
self-medicate to alleviate the symptoms of their mental health condition.
Rises in ADHD Diagnoses
More children are diagnosed with
ADHD today than ever before. The number of youth diagnosed with ADHD grew by about 3 percent each year
from 1997 to 2006 and by about 5 percent per year from 2003 to 2011, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Doctors often prescribe stimulant medications that contain amphetamines to children with ADHD. Research indicates
that children may become dependent on these drugs over time, but not addicted. Illicit drugs such as cocaine
and crystal meth have similar effects on teens with ADHD as these medications, so parents need to explain
why prescription medications are preferable as their teens get older.
Bullying and Depression
Bullying online and in person can have a number of damaging effects on youth. A 2013 study published in the Journal
of Adolescent Health found that cyberbullying increased the chances of a teen developing
depression. In addition, teens who used drugs were more likely to be victims of violence and bullying.
Parents whose children are suffering from depression caused by bullying or any other catalyst should make sure
they don’t turn to alcohol or other drugs to feel better. Teens may find temporary relief from unhappy feelings
by drinking or using drugs, but the substances worsen symptoms of depression over time.
Protect the Medicine Cabinet
Many adults save medications from a doctor’s prescription so they can save money if they need them again. Parents
may have been prescribed anti-anxiety drugs to treat sleep problems or to relieve anxious feelings, or they
may have prescription painkillers left over from a surgery. It may seem to make sense to give them to your
children if they get injured or feel anxiety before a big event, but that can be incredibly risky.
Adult dosages are different from teen dosages, and simply cutting a pill in half doesn’t ensure you are giving
your children a safe amount. Exposing them to
prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription teaches them that it’s OK to obtain them on their
own. Always seek medical advice before allowing your child to take a prescription medication, and make sure
to dispose of unused medications once they’re no longer needed.
Finding Help for Your Teen
If you recognize warning signs for substance abuse or addiction, it’s important to confront your children as
soon as possible. Try to have a safe discussion, and determine how often they use drugs. If you believe it
was a one-time occurrence, enforce consequences and reinforce the message that drinking or using drugs is
dangerous.
If you aren’t sure it won’t happen again, or if you suspect that they’ve repeatedly used drugs, it’s important
to seek medical advice. Take your teen to the doctor or a therapist for an evaluation. He or she may recommend
further visits or outpatient therapy for minor substance abuse problems. Moderate or severe substance use
disorders often require inpatient therapy and long-term
treatment.
Laura Clarke of Advanced Recovery Systems lists warning signs for substance abuse and offers advice to parents
about determining whether their teen needs treatment for addiction.
How to Respond if Your Child Is Abusing Alcohol or Other Drugs
It’s important to prepare before approaching your child about alcohol or other drug use. You want to show that you’re concerned for his or her well-being, but you also will not tolerate them breaking house rules.
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids recommends that parents wait to start the conversation if:
The child is drunk, high or hungover. The conversation won’t be productive.
You’re angry. Yelling isn’t going to help.
You aren’t prepared. Know what to do before you do it.
Get on the same page with your spouse or partner, and set a goal for the conversation. Examples of goals include
setting a curfew, coming to agreement about not hanging out with certain friends, and seeking advice from
a doctor.
Your children might get upset if you go through their things or accuse them of something that you’ve done yourself.
They may even accuse you of lying. It’s important to stay calm. Explain that you love them and you only want
what is best for them. Let them know you want to make a decision that’s best for their health. That may include
grounding them or forcing them to see a doctor for an assessment.
How Interventions Can Motivate Youth
Motivating teens to seek and participate in treatment usually leads to better treatment outcomes. As a parent,
you can force your children to go to rehab. But you should try to convince them to go willingly first. Sometimes
formal interventions are the best way to convince them they need professional assistance.
Interventions do not have to be dramatic or confrontational like the
interventions seen on TV. Research indicates that compassionate interventions may be more effective than
dramatic ones. Interventions should be calm, carefully planned conversations. The goal is to get the teenager
to agree to visit a doctor or addiction specialist.
If you’re considering having a formal intervention, you should reach out to a
certified interventionist. Make sure they’re accredited by a reputable organization such as the Network
of Independent Interventionists or the Association of Intervention Specialists.
Deciding Which Treatment Option is Right for Your Teen
Parents should learn as much as they can about a treatment center before sending their teen there for treatment. Make
sure the center treats co-occurring disorders if your child has other mental health issues. Ensure that treatment
is comprehensive and sets them up for success after they leave the facility.
Work with a therapist, doctor or addiction specialist to determine if inpatient or outpatient treatment is best
for your child. During outpatient treatment, teens may be able to continue to attend school while attending
therapy three to five days per week.
More severe addictions require inpatient treatment, but some facilities employ tutors to help teens keep up with
school work. Talk to your health care provider about the best
treatment options for your adolescent, and make sure they used evidence-based therapies.
Effective Evidence-Based Therapies for Teens
One week at a detox facility won’t cure an addiction. In fact, people in recovery from substance use disorders
often say that they’ll always be in recovery. Addiction treatment teaches patients how to avoid relapse and
live a purposeful life in recovery.
Treatment should include evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy or
dialectical behavior therapy. These therapies teach people how to identify and correct problematic behaviors
and develop ways to cope with stress and other triggers.
Several other types of therapy have been effective with teens, including:
Contingency management
Motivational enhancement therapy
12-step facilitation
Family-based therapies
Family-based therapies focus on improving communication between teens, parents and siblings, enhancing a family
member’s motivation to improve and rewarding positive family behavior. In addition to practicing evidence-based
therapies, treatment providers should prepare teens for transitioning back to school, work and everyday life.
Paying for Your Child’s Treatment
Rehab can be expensive, but insurance covers the bulk of treatment costs. Children can be covered by a parent’s
workplace insurance plan until they are 26 years old thanks to the Affordable Care Act. If you don’t have
health insurance or you can’t afford to insure your child, they should be eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s
Health Insurance Program.
Insurance plans have to cover substance use disorder treatment the same way that they cover other chronic health
conditions such as diabetes or hypertension. Parents may still have to pay copays or meet deductibles, but
there are a number of other ways they can pay for treatment.
Parent’s Role During Treatment
A parent’s first job is to get help for their child. Once the child has started treatment, you should support
the recovery process. That might mean driving them to appointments or picking up and keeping track of medications.
It also means supporting your child during emotionally difficult times.
If a doctor recommends family therapy, parents and other family members should participate with an open mind.
During other therapy appointments, it may be best to give your teenager privacy with his or her counselor.
You should encourage your child to be completely honest the counselor or therapist at all times.
“The family has to be a part of the solution,” said Dr. Kevin Wandler, chief medical officer of Advanced Recovery
Systems. “The exception is, of course, if the parents are a part of the problem.”
Remember that doctors and therapists don’t have to tell you what your child shares with them unless they believe
the child is as at risk for harming themselves or others. Support the client-patient relationship because
therapists will do what’s best for your child, and that may mean keeping some things a secret from you.
Seeking help for your child?Our recovery programs are designed to meet the specific needs of young adults.
Get Help Now
Supporting Your Teen’s Recovery
Parents should continue to support their child’s recovery even after treatment comes to an end. Try to maintain
a low-stress environment at home, discontinue your own alcohol or drug use in front of your children and
continue to enforce rules.
Tips for parents to help teens during recovery:
Encourage them to seek aftercare treatment.
Provide transportation to appointments.
Consider attending family therapy.
Communicate anti-drug messages.
Establish clear rules in the home.
Talk to a doctor about randomized drug tests.
Family members should ask their therapist about random drug tests. Testing your children for drugs may weaken
trust, so you should explain that you trust them but not their disease. You should establish consequences
for breaking rules and clearly communicate why the rules are in place. You should also reward teens for good
behavior. Rewarding good behavior may be as important as punishing poor behavior.
In addition to establishing a safe, supportive and disciplined home environment, you should help your child in
recovery find support in the community.
Aftercare Support
Encourage your teen to continue to receive aftercare support. You can ask for a referral to local support groups
or other aftercare services from a health care provider. Support groups include 12-step programs such as
Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous and teen groups such as Alateen.
If there is a recovery high school in your area, it may be the best option for your teen’s return to school.
Only
children in recovery from addiction can attend recovery schools, and the faculty and staff members at
the schools are trained to work with recovering teens.
The programming at many recovery high schools includes group meetings where teens connect with their peers to
support each other’s recovery efforts. Some schools also offer family therapy, student-run self-help meetings
and community service programs.
If self-help groups don’t work for your child, find something that does. Teens in recovery can find support from
peers in other organizations such as youth groups, sports clubs or service organizations. Peer support is
one of the most effective resources for teens in recovery.
Handling Relapse
It’s also important to understand that relapse happens. Teens may test boundaries with parents, and they are
often prone to compulsive behavior. Remember, about one-third of teens
relapse within the first three months after treatment. With patience and love, parents can guide their
children through recovery.
Recovery isn’t easy, and many people relapse multiple times. But relapse doesn’t equal failure. Parents should
enforce rules for a drug-free home, but they should also be understanding if relapse occurs.
You should talk to your teen’s treatment provider to determine the appropriate steps to take after relapse. Steps
may include a return to an inpatient facility or outpatient therapy. It’s important for parents to recognize
the warning signs of relapse, which are similar to the warning signs for drug abuse, to prevent it from continuing.
Helping Yourself
Parents of teens who use drugs often develop feelings of
guilt or shame. If your child develops a substance use disorder, that doesn’t mean you have failed as
parent. It means your child has a genetic predisposition to addiction, and he or she needs to avoid addictive
substances throughout life. It means your child may need more attention and support than other teens.
Providing that support can be difficult. The extra effort it takes can be exhausting. Teens affected by addiction
may act out, have conduct problems and show little desire to quit drinking or using. The behaviors can be
frustrating, and parents can develop symptoms of depression or anxiety.
You have to find
support for yourself to be able to help your family. Consider seeking assistance from one of several
organizations that assist parents or family members affected by addiction. Talking to others in situations
similar to yours can be therapeutic and beneficial.
Parents do not need to feel helpless if their loved one is suffering from addiction. They can encourage their
teen to make healthy decisions, mandate that they attend treatment and support them in recovery.
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon
Al-Anon is composed of family members affected by a loved one’s problematic drinking, and Nar-Anon is
composed of families affected by someone else’s illicit drug use. The free support group meetings are held
multiple times each week in communities across the country.
Alateen
If you have other children who have been affected by a family member’s drinking, you should see if they’re interested
in attending Alateen meetings. Alateen is composed of teens affected by a sibling, parent or other family
member’s problem drinking. Meetings are often held at locations near Al-Anon meetings.
Parents of Addicted Loved Ones
Parents of Addicted Loved Ones is a Christian-based nonprofit for mothers and fathers of children with substance
use disorders. Parents from any faith background are welcome at meetings. The primary goal of the organization
is to educate and support parents. The nonprofit holds weekly meetings in 16 states across the country and
semi-monthly telephone meetings available cost-free to anyone.
Kim Borwick is the editor for Drugrehab.com. With more than ten years of editorial experience, Kim has edited higher education textbooks and academic and social science journals, including Sage Publication’s Homicide Studies. She edited course material and curriculum for the faculty at Full Sail University and later taught revisions and editing in the Full Sail Creative Writing for Entertainment bachelor’s program. In addition to her professional writing and editing, Kim is a frequent judge of the Royal Palm Literary Award and a member of the FWA and SCBWI.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, October 5). Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html
Dalton, M. A. et al. (2005, September). Use of Cigarettes and Alcohol by Preschoolers While Role-playing as Adults. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 159(9), 854-859. Retrieved from http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=486117
McMorris, B.J. et al. (2011, May). Influence of Family Factors and Supervised Alcohol Use on Adolescent Alcohol Use and Harms: Similarities Between Youth in Different Alcohol Policy Contexts. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3084357/
Calls will be answered by a qualified admissions representative with Advanced Recovery Systems (ARS), the owners of DrugRehab.com. We look forward to helping you!
Phone calls to treatment center listings not associated with ARS will go directly to those centers. DrugRehab.com and ARS are not responsible for those calls.