Each teen rehab facility has different pros and cons. Find out what to look for when choosing a substance abuse recovery program for your teenager.
Today, there are manydifferent rehabilitation programs availablefor both adults andadolescents. Each teen drug rehab center comes with its own unique attributes and treatment style. Therefore, while there is a lot of help available, it may be difficult to decide which program is best for your teen. Here are some features to consider to help choose a drug rehab facility.
Article at a Glance:
- Parents must be able to distinguish whether a teen’s drug use is experimental or an addiction.
- There are inpatient and outpatient teen drug rehab programs available based on the teen’s mental health needs and level of addiction.
- Tour teen drug rehab facilities and ask the staff many questions before committing to a facility.
- Questions to ask include the level of family involvement, if the facility is accredited, how the teen’s education will be affected and how the program prepares teens for life after treatment.
Is My Teen’s Drug Use Experimentation or Addiction?
Before evenlooking for a treatment facility, parents need to determine if their teen struggles withaddiction or drug dependence, or if their drug use is experimental. It’s important for parents to realize that there is a difference between experimenting with drugs or alcohol and being addicted to these substances.
High schoolis a time when teens explore new levels of independence. Their newfound activities might include benign activities like learning to drive and staying up late but can also include harmful ones like experimental drug use.
The allure of the forbidden can be a big reason why many teens are curious about trying illegal drugs. However, just trying a substance does not automatically make someone addicted, and many teens who try drugs do not end up using them regularly. Treatment is more recommended if your teen has an addiction, not if they have tried drugs oralcoholonce or twice.
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Signs of Addiction
When a child is addicted to a substance, certainsigns of abusepresent themselves. Different types of substances can present different signs of abuse, so if you have a suspicion about the type of substance your child may be misusing, it’s helpful to research specifics about that substance.
Signs of teen drug and alcohol abuse to look out for include:
- Changes in physical appearance
- Borrowing or stealing money
- Spending time with different friends than usual
- Appetite changes
- Sleep habit changes
- Excessive secrecy
- A sudden drop in grades or academic performance
- Drug paraphernalia in their bedroom
Related Topic:Teen marijuana use
Types of Teen Drug Rehab Programs
There are two main types of rehab for teens: inpatient and outpatient programs. The maindifference between the two programsis whether patients stay at the facility full-time or just visit for treatment sessions.
Inpatient and outpatient can include many of the same therapies but, in general, there are more intensive types of treatments at an inpatient facility. The specific nature of the teenager’s addiction and other medical andmental health needswill help determine whether an inpatient or outpatient program would be best for them.
Inpatient Rehab
There are a number of benefits to inpatient rehab for teens. Also known as residential treatment programs,inpatient rehabinvolves full-time care. Teenage patients stay at the facility all day and overnight, which is especially helpful if they need togo through detoxbefore beginning therapy.
During inpatient treatment, doctors will likely be on-hand 24 hours a day to provide medical assistance if they have seriouswithdrawal symptoms. An inpatient setting can also keep teens away from their peers and triggers that led them to use drugs in the first place.
Going to inpatient rehab can be frightening for both a teenager and their family. To the teen, it might feel like they are being punished, or that their family doesn’t want them around anymore. Fortunately, most inpatient centers allow parents and other family members to visit and participate in certain parts of treatment, likefamily therapy.
It is important, too, for parents to reassure their teen that they still love them and that the teen is receiving necessary medical help, not punishment.
Outpatient Rehab
Outpatient drug rehab for teens involves going to a clinic or facility for appointments during the day, but not staying overnight. Patients may participate inindividual or group therapy, or some different forms of therapy designed specifically for teens. Parents and families may also come and be involved in some treatment activities, or receive counseling themselves, depending on the rehab facility’s offerings.
Unlike inpatient programs,outpatient programsoften do not last for any specific length of time. Your teen can go to therapy for as long and as often as they need until they have recovered. An outpatient setting is good for teens who do not have a serious addiction, are at a lower risk of relapsing or who have already completed an inpatient program. When an inpatient program finishes, the facility often will continue providing support through an outpatient program.
Questions to Ask Before Committing to a Rehab Facility
It is always a good idea to tour a teen drug rehabilitation facility and speak with staff there before fully committing to it. Before you go to a rehab center, make a list of questions you want to ask its staff or directors. This list will help you make sure you get all the information you need to choose the right place for your teen.
Astudyon adolescent substance abuse treatment programs in the United States identified nine key features that an effective program should have:
- Assessment and treatment matching:the facility should customize a treatment plan specifically for your teen
- Comprehensive, integrated treatment approach:the program should address all aspects of your teen’s life
- Family involvement in treatment:programs have better outcomes when parents are involved in the treatment
- Developmentally appropriate program:the treatment should be tailored specifically for teenagers, not all ages
- Engaging and retaining teens in treatment:your teen should be able to build a trusting relationship with their therapists and be actively involved in their own treatment
- Qualified staff:therapists, doctors and other staff members should have specialized training in substance abuse and mental health therapy for teenagers
- Gender and cultural competence:the program should take into consideration your teen’s gender and cultural background
- Continuing care:the facility should create a plan for care after the program has ended to improve reintegration into society and toprevent relapse
- Treatment outcomes:the facility should keep track of its patients’ recoveries and relapses to ensure that its methods are effective
Unfortunately, many teen rehab centers do not meet all or even some of these criteria. Do your research to find out if a program will work well for your teen before you sign them up. To get you started, here are some important questions to ask a rehab facility when you visit.
