Every parent out there wishes for the best for his children – yet vices lurk everywhere.
Drug and alcohol use can highly impact any teen’xs physical as well as overall health.
As per statistics, around 2.3 million teenagers are suffering from abuse of alcohol and drugs. And, all of them aged between 12 to 17 – a truly defeating fact.
Scary as it may sound if you found out that your teen is using drugs or alcohol – you need to do something about it.
Thankfully, today there are various ways to learn how you can help your child overcome the use of drugs or alcohol.
In this guide, we elaborate on the methods you can turn to in helping your teenager overcome the use of alcohol and drugs.
How to Help a Teenager Overcome Alcohol and Drugs Abuse?
The abuse of drugs and alcohol is a capital problem which, if not taken seriously, can quickly turn into full-blown addiction transcending from teenhood to adulthood.
Before initiating treatment for your teenager, be considerate of the fact that they might be scared to open up and actually admit to their vice. So, your first step is to just listen. You are not there to judge, yell or be angry.
And, instead of pushing your teenager for answers, give them the room to open up and be honest with you – on their own terms.
Teen Drug Counseling: Solving Teenage Problems with Drugs and Alcohol
Teen drug counseling is a supportive therapy for teens aged 13 to 18 and suffering from drug and alcohol abuse.
Counseling programs help teenagers control their vice and behavior, recognize the use pattern, and find their way out of it through a guided experience.
A drug counseling therapist can help your teenager open up and share their potential traumas that might have caused the addiction, or followed it.
Counseling addiction programs are individualized for every teen and designed to resolve the issues they are experiencing, be it drug, meds, or alcohol addiction.
Oftentimes, alcohol and drug abuse therapies last for 3 months, however, when prudent, the therapist can prolong the sessions.
And, most therapists perform the treatments after school hours, so teenagers can proceed with their regular life.
Drug abuse therapies cover a lot of areas where your teen can potentially experience control issues, including:
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Communication skills
- Conflict-resolution skills
- Mental health problems
- Relapse intervention
- Depression and anxiety
- Self-destructive behaviors
Substance abuse therapies include many methods and techniques to treat teenagers, and these can rather differ from adult treatments in the same field. The aptest treatment will depend on the severity of the case at hand.
However, the most popular types of addiction therapies include Behavioral Therapy, the Matrix Model, and Motivational Enhancement Therapy.
As for the sessions themselves, you don’t have to have them in an office. As it is a teenager we’re talking about, consider having all treatment sessions in the comfort of their own home.
This way, your teenager will feel loved, supported, and understood. Treatment sessions aside, ensure you don’t make this the only thing you and your teenager have in common. Instead, do regular and fun activities alongside the sessions, and spend time together to give the patient a sense of normalcy.
How to Help Your Teenager Overcome Addiction?
There are various ways to help your struggling child fight through addiction as soon as the teen alcohol abuse treatment kicks off. As a parent, you can monitor your teenager for possible relapse, as teen drug counseling sessions can be stressful and triggering.
Look for symptoms of substance use but don’t overdo it, as it might become too obvious to your teenager and have them behave out of spite.
Still, common symptoms that indicate that your teenager is using drugs or alcohol are:
- Red and swollen eyes
- Poor school performance
- Trouble sleeping and nausea
- Feeling anxious and depressed
- Withdrawal Symptoms
- Unintentionally getting hurt
- Hurting others
- Law enforcement troubles
Teen Alcohol and Drugs Abuse Treatment: A Final Word
Monitoring your teen for the possible appearance of any of these symptoms can help you be there for your teen at any time of need.
Being supportive and open to understanding problematic teenagers and their vice are useful tools in having them overcome this dreadful period of their lives. It’s true, the battle against drug and alcohol abuse can be tiring for both the teenager, his parents, and those around them.
Still, with regular teenage drug abuse counseling sessions and immediate intervention in case of a relapse – you will ensure your teenager finds its way back to health and wellbeing.
Currently residing in Arizona, John shares his home with two beloved pets - a very cute dog and a cat. Although they don't always see eye-to-eye, John's furry companions bring him joy and inspiration, serving as a constant reminder of the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships.
With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to quality, John is a true asset to the counselingreviews.com team. Whether he's writing about the latest research on mental health or offering practical advice for managing stress, John's expertise and insight are always in high demand.
If you're looking for well-researched and informative content that can help you improve your mental and emotional well-being, be sure to check out John's articles on counselingreviews.com. His writing is sure to provide you with the guidance and inspiration you need to overcome life's challenges and achieve your goals.
- How to Get a BetterHelp Refund? - March 8, 2023
- BetterHelp Couples Therapy, Cost & Its Benefits - March 3, 2023
- Humanistic Therapy – Types, Goals & Techniques - February 3, 2023
