>
Drug Abuse in Teens: How can Rehab help?

Rehab for Teenage Drug Addiction – How Can They Help?

A 2023 research shows that 2.08 million American kids (aged 12-17) used drugs in an entire month. With such staggering numbers, one of the leading concerns among parents with teenagers is drug abuse.

Despite parents’ warnings, teens still get involved with drugs for fun, rebellion, or something else. However, they don’t understand it can lead to severe substance use disorder and cause irreversible harm.

Teen Abusing Drugs

We at Seasons in Malibu understand your worries and offer a safe, supportive, and serene environment with our best treatment options for teens.

In this article, we’ll understand the deeper aspects of teen drug abuse and how relapse can support them!

Common Drug Addiction in Teenage

Teenagers abuse the very same drugs as adults, like alcohol and tobacco. Among other substances, here are the most common ones:

  • Inhalant (ammonia, gasoline)
  • Cannabinoid (marijuana, hashish)
  • Stimulants (amphetamines, methamphetamine, cocaine)
  • Depressant (benzodiazepines, barbiturates)
  • Cold medicine (chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, pseudoephedrine)
  • Hallucinogen (LSD, mushrooms)
  • Dissociative anesthetic (phencyclidine, ketamine)
  • Narcotics (morphine, heroin, acetaminophen, oxycodone)
  • Club drug (ecstasy)

Symptoms of Teenagers Doing Drugs

If you suspect your teens are doing drugs or just want to be cautious of the early markers of drug abuse in them, look out for these physical symptoms:

  • Lack of physical coordination/unbalanced body movement
  • Poor appetite
  • Sudden weight gain/loss
  • Excess sweating
  • Slower/faster heartbeat
  • Sweaty hands and palms
  • Sleep disorders like insomnia
  • Watering eyes with pupils more dilated or constricted than usual

Besides those, these behavioral symptoms also kick in:

  • Drastic change in attitude
  • Oversensitivity, irritability, mood swings
  • Chronic dishonesty
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Nervousness
  • Paranoia
  • Criminal activities

Seek us immediately if you notice such symptoms in your teens.

What Leads to Teens and Drug Misuse?

Your teen can get involved in drugs for several reasons, including:

  • Family History

    If the family has a history of substance abuse, they perceive drugs as normal. They feel that it won’t hurt if they also try.

  • Trauma

    Drug abuse is highly likely if your teen has faced traumatic events like accidents, loss of loved ones, abuse, or abandonment. Drugs temporarily help them escape from the disturbing memories.

  • Impulsivity

    If your teen is too impulsive or feels thrilled to take risks, they might perceive drug use as a challenge. Their competitive nature pushes them to get addicted.

  • Peer Pressure

    Some teens are forced to do it by others, like classmates, upperclassmen, or friends in the neighborhood. They might be bullied if they don’t comply.

  • Desire to Fit In

    When teens start socializing, they feel anxious about social rejection. Since they want to fit in, they do anything the remaining lot tells them to.

  • Curiosity/Rebel

    Sometimes, they get involved with drugs because of plain old curiosity. They want to know what happens after using that and why parents are against them. Some teens might even try them just to get on their parents’ nerves and rebel.

  • Underlying Issues

    Mental/behavioral health concerns like anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Consequences of Drug Abuse in Teenage

Drug addiction at an early age can lead to far more issues than when an adult. The top consequences are serious long-term dependence, poor immunity, and even death from overdose. Other than that, here are some more:

  • Physical Health

    Teen drug abuse increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure, liver failure, stroke, cancer, and seizures. Long-term heavy usage also damages the lungs and kidneys and stunts growth.

  • Mental Health

    It weakens concentration, memory, learning abilities, and problem-solving skills. Drug abuse also makes them more vulnerable to psychosis, including paranoia, hallucinations, and schizophrenia in old age. They are also at a higher risk of depression, anxiety, suicide, and homicide.

  • Sexual Health

    Drug misuse makes teens indulge in risky sexual behavior, including having unprotected sex and sex with strangers. This can lead to higher risks of teen pregnancy, getting STDs, committing rape, and being raped.

  • Social/Academic Life

    Substance abuse worsens school performance and grades and leads to absenteeism. They become estranged from friends, family, and society.

Help your teen rebuild their life with our help.

Rehab for Teen

How can Rehab Help with Drug Abuse in Teens?

If your teen is misusing drugs, don’t delay and reach our luxury rehab, Seasons in Malibu. We offer the best treatment for addiction in teens and ensure they get back to the normal flow of life ASAP. Let’s see what it looks like!

Tailored Treatment

Teens are not fully developed physically. Especially the prefrontal cortex of the brain needs to mature a lot. We, at Seasons in Malibu, understand these differences and consider those while planning the programs.

Our amazing team of compassionate and skilled professionals also performs an overall medical assessment before admission. This helps them understand the issues, possible causes, personal history, family, and environmental factors.

Based on the assessment and their age, the experts craft a personalized treatment plan that won’t impact their growth. If your teen feels the treatment is too slow or too fast or prefers one therapy over the other, they can fine-tune the plans anytime.

Therapeutic Interventions

Most teens don’t feel comfortable opening up to adults. Rehabs offers individual counseling programs and confidentiality, which helps your teen be more open and overcome their addiction.

The program includes evidence-based therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

Additionally, holistic healing therapies also help overcome their physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.

Enhanced Attitude

Many teens start substance abuse due to poor self-esteem. With timely and suitable rehab programs, your teen will regain self-confidence.

They will start believing in themselves despite others’ actions or words. It enhances their mental and physical health and social skills. Thus, their family and social relationships also heal.

Further, when they have a say in their treatment pace or type, they will feel more heard and motivated to embrace sobriety.

Lower Relapse Rates

Customized care and support with practical goals build a sense of accountability in teens. As they notice their progress, they feel motivated to stay clean.

They also reflect on their choices and become equipped with effective coping strategies. This ensures that even after their rehab treatment is over, they don’t fall back on old habits, lowering relapse rates.

Moreover, rehabs also offer relapse prevention programs. So, if they struggle to stay sober, they can always get the necessary help!

Conclusion

While it’s best to prevent teen drug abuse, sometimes things go out of your hands. However, there’s nothing to be worried about. Instead, connect with a rehab ASAP and help your teen regain control over their life!