The journey to recovery from substance abuse when you’re young can be a difficult one to accept. A feeling of invincibility is a hallmark of adolescence. Realizing you have become dependent on substances brings that confidence crashing down.
But there is an additional struggle that young people face in recovery. Elders and society tend to pass judgment on youths addicted to substances, blaming the individual for the disorder. Young people feel ashamed, as if they have failed at their first hurdle in life, and may not get the support they need.
It’s therefore incredibly important that young people are empowered to overcome substance abuse rather than left to fend for themselves. Recovery is not a matter of willpower. Addiction is an illness, not a moral failure. Like all illnesses, it requires professional treatment.
If you are an older role model to a young person struggling with addiction, here are 5 actionable steps to empower young people to overcome substance abuse.
1. Provide Education & Awareness
Although older generations often think of younger people as irresponsible and even uncaring, youths tend to be extremely hard on themselves. A young person struggling with substance abuse is likely to berate themselves, feeling like they’ve let people down and comparing themselves to friends who did not get addicted.
In order to recover from addiction, it’s crucial to learn that it is a disease. A person who thinks there is something wrong with who they are won’t be able to see a way forward. They won’t know to get treatment or might see it as a burden they’re placing on others.
Providing education and awareness about the realities of substance abuse – that it is recognized as a mental illness, effective treatment is available, and that it can happen to anyone – will help kick start their journey.
This kind of education begins in your conversations with them. Approaching them with empathy and love is far more effective than handing them a brochure.
2. Help Build a Support Network
A strong support network is fundamental to a person’s recovery from addiction. The pain of isolation is a significant factor in causing or exacerbating substance use. Unfortunately, people who become addicted to substances often end up having burned bridges and feeling too ashamed to reach out to loved ones.
You can help them build a support network by identifying the family members and friends who are open to joining them in this journey. Accompanying them when they approach these individuals can make a huge difference as well, considering how difficult it can be to ask for help on your own.
With the knowledge that they are loved and that there are people who believe in them, youths with substance abuse issues are given a major advantage in their recovery journey.
3. Facilitate Healthy Outlets
When you’re young and energetic, you regularly look for ways to spend your time. For many youths, partying or clubbing become common outlets. Due to the potential presence of substances, young people in recovery need to find alternatives.
Healthy outlets are also important for people in recovery as they learn new methods of coping and expressing themselves. Where once they used substances as a way to distract or drown out emotions, they need to find alternatives.
You can facilitate healthy outlets for young people in order to help them in their recovery journey. If they enjoy sports, a casual weekly game can be a perfect option. Those with an ear for music might enjoy joining a jam session with other people in recovery.
It might take a bit of encouragement to get them involved, but doing so can provide tremendous relief and an additional anchor in recovery.
4. Give Them Access to Professional Resources
Unfortunately, many people struggling with substance abuse don’t get help simply because they do not have access to it. There are not enough rehab centers or professionals in some places, while they may be too expensive in other areas. Even with insurance, it is not possible for everyone to get the care they need.
How can you help? There are multiple options, depending on the context. If you have the money to pay for their treatment, you can consider helping them financially. If they can’t find the right professional, you can reach out to your network to find online services.
If you have connections with recovery professionals who are willing to do pro bono work or offer lower prices, find out if they are available. Also, look around for free or low-cost community services.
Sometimes, all the person needs are someone looking out for them. Searching for help can be overwhelming, and having you in their corner makes it so much easier.
5. Offer Mentorship
There are a lot of life lessons we don’t learn in school. From choosing a career to budgeting to paying taxes, adulthood is fraught with challenges most young people aren’t prepared for. These challenges are only heightened by struggles with substance abuse. When a person has already made significant mistakes or even been convicted of a crime, finding a way forward is tough.
With your own experience navigating life challenges, you can provide important mentorship. You don’t need to be an expert guidance counselor to do so. Being able to empathize with the challenges is already a great start. Young people assume that they’re supposed to just be able to manage the transition to adulthood. Knowing that everyone struggles with it can make them feel much better about themselves.
Conclusion
Recovery from substance abuse for young people comes with its own unique challenges. While you can’t go through the journey for them, you can give them practical support along the way. Letting them know that there is nothing ‘wrong’ with them, that they’re not alone, and that they have someone in their corner is a great leg-up on their way to recovery.
