Ready to get help?
  • Intervention
  • How the Process Works
  • Rehab
  • Detox
  • Recovery
  • Daily Schedule
  • Admissions
  • Medical Detox
  • Partial Hospitalization
  • Therapy Treatment
  • Residential Treatment
  • Co-Occurring Disorders
  • Sober Living
  • Aftercare
  • Medication Assisted
  • Family Therapy
  • Wilderness Therapy
  • Animal Assisted Therapy
  • Music Therapy
  • Yoga Therapy
  • Art Therapy
  • Resources for Veterans
  • Salute To Recovery Program
  • Guides for Veterans & Families
  • MISSION Act
  • Community Care Program
  • Laguna Treatment Hospital
  • Oxford Treatment Center
  • Greenhouse Treatment Center
  • Recovery First
  • River Oaks Treatment Center
  • Desert Hope Treatment Center
  • AdCare Rhode Island
  • AdCare Rhode Island Outpatient
  • AdCare Hospital
  • AdCare Hospital Outpatient
  • Sunrise House Treatment Center
  • Resolutions - Recovery Residences
  • Check My Insurance
  • View All Payment Options
  • Alcohol
  • Cocaine
  • Opioids
  • Meth
  • Suboxone
  • Aetna
  • Amerigroup
  • AmeriHealth
  • Anthem
  • Avmed
  • Beacon
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Emblem Health
  • First Health
  • Geisinger
  • Harvard Pilgrim
  • Health Plan of Nevada
  • Humana
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Kemper Direct
  • Magellan
  • MagnaCare
  • Medicaid Rehab
  • Medicare
  • Meritian
  • Oxford Health
  • Providence
  • Rocky Mountain HMO
  • Sierra Health
  • State Farm
  • Tricare
  • Tufts
  • United Health
  • UPMC
  • Veteran's Choice Program
  • Zelis
  • 1199SEIU Funds
  • View All Insurance Providers
  • Success Rates of Treatment
  • Understanding Addiction: Research Studies
  • Expert Analysis
  • Addiction Labs: Researching Addiction & Tailoring Treatment
  • Story & Mission
  • Our Promise
  • Approach to Care
  • Accreditations
  • Reviews
  • Top 10 Reasons to Choose Us
  • Blog
  • Our Experts in the News
  • Trending in Addiction
  • Media Contacts
  • Leadership & Industry Experts
  • Board of Directors
  • Contact American Addiction Centers
  • Drug & Alcohol Hotline Number
  • Spouses & Partners
  • Parents of Addicted Teens
  • Children of Addicted Parents
  • College Students
  • Couples
  • First Responders
  • Medical Professionals
  • LBGTQ+
  • Luxury
  • Approaching the Addiction Problem
  • Treatment & Recovery
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Public Assistance
  • Free Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers
  • State-Funded Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers
  • Resources for Healthcare Professionals
  • Insurance Providers
  • Admissions Process
  • Admissions Helpline
  • Meet Our Admissions Team
  • Alcohol
  • Ambien
  • Barbiturate
  • Benzodiazepine
  • Cocaine
  • Fentanyl
  • Heroin
  • Inhalants
  • Marijuana
  • Meth
  • Opiates
  • OxyContin
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Stimulant
  • Suboxone
  • Synthetics
  • Valium
  • Xanax
  • Addiction is a Disease
  • Cause of Addiction
  • Overdose
  • Risk Factors
  • Signs of Addiction
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • OCD
  • PTSD
  • Trauma
  • Symptoms, Timelines and Treatments
  • Alcohol
  • Ambien
  • Cocaine
  • Heroin
  • Hydrocodone
  • Opiate
  • OxyContin
  • Suboxone
  • Tramadol
  • Valium
  • Vicodin
  • Xanax
  • Alcoholism
  • Intervention Services
  • Cocaine Addiction Signs
  • Prescription Opioids
american addiction centers photo
  • Treatment
  • Locations
  • Insurance
  • Research
  • About Us
  • Guides
  • Admissions
  • Addiction
  • Detox
  • Check My Insurance
  • View Treatment Centers
  • See Admissions Process
American Addiction Center - Trademark Logo
We're available to you 24/7
Call us now
.
Recovery from addiction is possible.
  • Check My Insurance
  • View Treatment Centers
  • See Admissions Process
  • Home
  • rehab guide
  • Home
  • rehab guide

Drug Rehab for Teens & Young Adults

Edited by Sarah Hardey
Last Updated: December 31, 2020
7 Sections
3 min read
What you will learn:
  • Statistics about teens experimenting with substances.
  • Knowledge about treatment models and therapies.
  • Learn more about American Addiction Center's programs.
  • Understand the pros of community and family support for your teen.

Adolescents have different treatment needs than older substance abusers. In addition to issues involving addiction and withdrawal, these young people may need help with education, co-occurring mental health conditions, family life, and more.

Teen Drug & Alcohol Use Statistics

Some levels of experimentation and risk-taking behavior are expected at this age, as the prefrontal cortex and other regions of the brain involved in impulse control, willpower, and healthy decision-making are not fully developed.1 High School Student Substance Abuse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2018, reported that 58.5% of teens, by their senior year in high school, had consumed alcohol and 47% had use illicit drugs. Drug abuse is also seen in college students in a 2018 survey from NIDA, showed that young adults ages 19-22 used the following substances:2

  • Marijuana use was about 43% in collage students, which is approximately a 7% increase over 5-years.
  • Vaping with nicotine products were used 15.5% for college students and 12.5% for non-collages adults.
  • Drug use varied on the type of substance:
    • Prescription opioid use among college students dropped to 2.7% and among non-college adults dropped to 3.2% since 2013.
    • Adderall abuse occurred in 14.6% among college men and 8.8% among college women; in non-college men 5.3% and non-college women 10.1%.
  • Binge drinking occurred to 28% among college students and 25% among non-college adults.

Abusing drugs or alcohol regularly before the brain is completely formed can increase the odds of becoming addicted to these substances.3

Young adults may have different treatment needs than adults, and many in this population may not seek treatment on their own. Secrecy about substance abuse and denial may be common reactions in young adult and adolescents with an addiction. Often treatment may initially be sought for them by their parents or guardians. Age-specific and specialty programs catering to young adults may be beneficial in reducing problematic drug or alcohol usage as well as enhancing addiction recovery.

Research-Based Treatment Models for Teens

Methods that have been scientifically tested and have evidence to support their usage are often called research-based or evidence-based treatments. These treatment facilities combine scientific evidence and knowledge from personal experiences to create programs that work for their patients.

While many of the same treatment models that are used for adults may be used during drug rehab for a teenager or young adult, some of the specifics of the program may differ to address the unique circumstances related to age and life experiences of a teen or young adult.

Teens and young adults are less likely than adults to experience withdrawal symptoms and they office have less difficultly to stop using substances.4

Young adults with a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, may try to self-medicate, which can lead to dependence and addiction to a substance. In these cases patients are diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder. Treatment are often integrated so that medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment providers can all work together towards recovery and healing the entire patient.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Teen Drug Rehab

Behavioral therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), helps patients identify negative thoughts and behaviors which often lead to addiction. Patients will attend group and individual therapy sessions in an attempt to better understand how social, personal, and environmental triggers may lead to substance abuse, and how negative and self-destructive behaviors and thoughts can be transformed into more positive and healthy ones.

Motivational Techniques and Methods for Teen Rehab

Motivational Interviewing (MI) helps patients realize the need for change. Young people may struggle with personal identity. By helping individuals to learn to accept that their feelings are valid, and learn how to positively impact and modify them, adolescents and young adults may gain the motivation needed to stop engaging in risky and self-harming behaviors.

How Can American Addiction Centers Help Young Adults?

American Addiction Centers (AAC) does offer treatment options for young adults. Oxford Treatment Center accepts young adults and offers specialized and tailored treatment options that relate to the life situations younger patients may currently be experiencing. Programs tailored for young adults include:

  • Active Learning: experiential therapies including art, music, ropes course, and equine therapy.
  • Wilderness Therapy: helping patients address negative behaviors and learning about personal responsibilities while exploring the outdoors.
  • Responsibility Practice: taking on responsibilities such as caring for equine-therapy horse.

Call to learn more about treatment options and steps to take to being treatment for you or your loved one that has an addiction at AAC. In addition to learning more about our services and our 90-day promise; guaranteeing the success of sobriety after treatment.

Additional Resources on Adolescents & Addiction

  • 5 Ways to Help Protect Your Child From Drug Abuse
  • Alcoholism in the Family
  • Children Who Use Marijuana
  • Sending a Child to Rehab
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Heal for Collage Students
  • The Link Between Child Abuse and Substance Abuse
  • What to Do When Your Child Is Using Marijuana

Community, Family, and Peer Support for Teen Addicts

There are many moments in a young adults life that are stressful, such as starting at a new school, entering college, moving out of the family home for the first time, and starting a job, which could lead to substance abuse.5 In addition, childhood trauma may increase the risks that a teen or young adult will abuse drugs or alcohol, possibly as a form of escape.6

After rehab it is important that patients are surrounded by support. Supportive environments can positively impact recovery for teenagers and young adults.7 Teens and young adults with the support of a caregivers, such as parents or legal guardians, who are involved in recovery, are more likely to live a life of sobriety, than those who don’t have support.8

Family therapy sessions and family-based approaches encourage positive changes in a family’s dynamic in order to support recovery for a teen or young adult.9

Guides for Families & Addiction

  • Guide for Parents of Addicted Children and Teens Part I: The Addiction Problem
  • Guide for Parents of Addicted Children and Teens Part II: Intervening and Getting Help
  • Guide for Families Part I: The Addiction Problem and Approaching It
  • Guide for Families Part II: Treatment and Recovery

Self-Help and Support for Teens

Substance abuse and addiction impact entire families, and family-based approaches may improve overall quality of life and enhance recovery. Peer support, or 12-Step programs, may also be beneficial during rehab and recovery. These groups can provide a sympathetic and supportive peer network that is dedicated to abstinence and preventing relapse.

With the support of family, peers, and healthcare professionals, tailored treatment plans for adolescent individuals, and continued support after rehab, patients can achieve a life of sobriety.

 

Sources

  1. Xavier, N., Van Der Linden, M., & Bechara, A. (2006). The Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Decision-making, Impulse Control, and Loss of Willpower to Resist Drugs.Psychiatry (Edgmont), 3(5), 30–41.
  2. Drug and Alcohol Use in College-Age Adults in 2018. (2019, September 13).
  3. Biology of Addiction: Drugs and Alcohol Can Hijack Your Brain. (2017, September 8).
  4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.
  5. ?Elizabeth B. Robertson, ?Susan L. David, ?Suman A. Rao. (2003). Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents: A Research-based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders. ?National Institutes of Health.
  6. Khoury, L., Tang, Y. L., Bradley, B., Cubells, J. F., & Ressler, K. J. (2010). Substance use, childhood traumatic experience, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in an urban civilian population. Depression and anxiety, 27(12), 1077–1086.
  7. Jedrzejczak, Marian. (2005). Family and environmental factors of drug addiction amount young recruits. Military Medicine, 107 (8), 688-690.
  8. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2008). Engaging Adolescents in Treatment.
  9. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2004). Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy. Rockville, MD.

 

Share
What you will learn:
  • Statistics about teens experimenting with substances.
  • Knowledge about treatment models and therapies.
  • Learn more about American Addiction Center's programs.
  • Understand the pros of community and family support for your teen.
Table of Contents
  • Teen Drug & Alcohol Use Statistics
  • Research-Based Treatment Models for Teens
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Teen Drug Rehab
  • Motivational Techniques and Methods for Teen Rehab
  • How Can American Addiction Centers Help Young Adults?
  • Community, Family, and Peer Support for Teen Addicts
  • Self-Help and Support for Teens
american addiction centers photo
Sarah Hardey
A Senior Web Content Editor for the American Addiction Centers. Sarah has worked with healthcare facilities across the country to create digital content for readers of all types.
Related Topics
  • Florida Drug Abuse Hotline
  • Heroin Addiction & Abuse Hotline
  • New Jersey Drug Addiction & Abuse Hotlines
  • Ways to Avoid Relapse
  • Alcohol and Drug Addiction Hotlines
  • Addiction Guide for Family Members
  • Addiction Guide for Friends
  • Addiction Guide for Colleagues
  • Going to Drug Rehab Again
  • How to Help an Addict Who Doesn’t Want Help
  • Drug Addiction and Abuse: Is it Disease or a Choice?
  • What Are the Barriers to Accessing Addiction Treatment?
  • How to Legally Remove a Drug Addict from Your Home
  • Codependency and Addiction: How Drug Addiction Affects Relationships
  • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Guide
Show More
Related Tags
children
treatment
Table of Contents
  • Teen Drug & Alcohol Use Statistics
  • Research-Based Treatment Models for Teens
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Teen Drug Rehab
  • Motivational Techniques and Methods for Teen Rehab
  • How Can American Addiction Centers Help Young Adults?
  • Community, Family, and Peer Support for Teen Addicts
  • Self-Help and Support for Teens
Get Help Today
Call us to speak with an admissions navigator
-OR-
american addiction centers photo
Sarah Hardey
A Senior Web Content Editor for the American Addiction Centers. Sarah has worked with healthcare facilities across the country to create digital content for readers of all types.
Related Topics
  • Florida Drug Abuse Hotline
  • Heroin Addiction & Abuse Hotline
  • New Jersey Drug Addiction & Abuse Hotlines
  • Ways to Avoid Relapse
  • Alcohol and Drug Addiction Hotlines
  • Addiction Guide for Family Members
  • Addiction Guide for Friends
  • Addiction Guide for Colleagues
  • Going to Drug Rehab Again
  • How to Help an Addict Who Doesn’t Want Help
  • Drug Addiction and Abuse: Is it Disease or a Choice?
  • What Are the Barriers to Accessing Addiction Treatment?
  • How to Legally Remove a Drug Addict from Your Home
  • Codependency and Addiction: How Drug Addiction Affects Relationships
  • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Guide
Show More
Related Tags
children
treatment
Don’t wait. Call us now.
Our admissions navigators are available to help 24/7 to discuss treatment.
Treatment Locations
California
Laguna
Mississippi
Oxford
Texas
Greenhouse
Florida
Recovery First
River Oaks
Nevada
Desert Hope
Rhode Island
AdCare Rhode Island
AdCare Rhode Island Outpatient
Massachusetts
AdCare Hospital
AdCare Hospital Outpatient
New Jersey
Sunrise House
Locations Nationwide
Resolutions - Recovery Residences
Guides to Treatment
How to Find a State-Funded Rehab Center
Free Drug Rehab & Detox Centers
Public Assistance for Rehab Centers
How to Deal With a Spouse with Addiction
Drug Rehab Centers for Couples
View More Guides
Insurance & Payment Options
Insurance Coverage
Verify Your Benefits
Payment Options
About Us
Our 90-Day Promise
The AAC Difference: Why Choose Us
Industry Accreditations, Reviews & Ratings
Explore Careers
Academic Scholarship
Contact Us
American Addiction Centers
200 Powell Pl Brentwood, TN 37027
(888) 987-1784
american addiction centers photo
american addiction centers photo
american addiction centers photo
© 2021 American Addiction Centers
© 2021 American Addiction Centers
|
Privacy Practices
|
Online Privacy Policy
|
Terms of Use