The effective treatment of adolescents with substance abuse and behavioral disorders requires an approach that includes attention to every aspect of a young person’s life. We see every individual as a whole being. In addition to fully understanding the emotional, developmental, physical, psychological, familial, social and cultural factors, there must be appropriate resources in place to address these issues. Need help? Contact Us Today! (866) 889-3665
Video game addiction, or more broadly video game overuse, is excessive and/or compulsive use of computer and video games that interferes with daily life. Reports have been made in which teens play compulsively, isolating themselves from, or from other forms of, social contact and focusing almost entirely on game achievements rather than broader life events. There is no diagnosis of video game addiction yet, although it has been proposed for inclusion in the next version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Clinicians are presently using a 2-hour-per-day limit to define "gaming overuse", citing the American Academy of Pediatrics guideline of no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of "screen time". Because research is still in the preliminary stages for gaming treatment. The most effective treatment for adolescents seems to be, as with addictions or other dependencies, a combination of psychotherapy and twelve-step programs.
NPR reports that teens today suffer from more anxiety than they did during the Great Depression. Researchers cite inflated pressures, such as the need to have the right material objects and have the right appearances as the top contributors to teen anxiety. The pressure to have everything, be everything, and handle everything is certainly a huge stress in teen living.
Developing a strong sense of self can be difficult when ads pull you in every direction, college admission becomes insanely competitive, and body obsession consumes our culture. It’s no surprise that teens turn to drugs, alcohol, and prescription pills to take the edge off. It's also no surprise that teens develop body dismorphia and eating disorders. By addressing every aspect of a teen’s life, a dual diagnosis treatment center helps an adolescent drug and alcohol user find ways to cope in today’s busy world by addressing the underlying issues, and to develop the tools to keep them on the path to success.
Adolescents are often referred to treatment for substance abuse but are not referred to a program for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of any underlying cause for their drug and alcohol use. The issue is that many teens have symptoms of a mood disorder that may in fact lead to self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.
Families know how difficult it is to find treatment for an adolescent who abuses drugs or alcohol but also is diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder; i.e., ADHD, depression, or bipolar disorder. Traditionally, programs that treat a mental health diagnosis do not treat teens with substance abuse issues, and programs for substance abusers are not programmed for people with mental illness. Adolescents are often caught in this treatment or services gap.
It is important to find a program that is designed and staffed in a way to treat adolescent with a dual diagnosis. you should ask the fallowing questions when looking for a dual diagnosis treatment center:
-Do you have a Medical Director and what is their role?
-How much time does your Medical Director/Psychiatrist spend working with your child?
-Are your therapists licensed professionals (many programs save money by using inexperienced trainees)?
-Are your clinicians at the facility full time?
-What is the facilities daily staff to client ratio?
-How many staff are actually on site at any given time?
-Does the program provide neuropsych testing?
-Does the program provide weekly clinical supervision meetings for the case management of your child?
-Do your therapists, counselors and Medical Director work together as a team?
Not everyone is a candidate for residential dual diagnosis treatment programs. It all depends upon the severity of the problems. For people whose drug or alcohol addiction is not severe enough to warrant residential treatment, an outpatient treatment program in might be the solution.
If you or a loved one needs dual diagnosis treatment please click here- underlying cause.
This is a video not for faint of heart about crystal meth and it's damaging affects. Speed is a very common drug of choice among teens entering teen drug rehab this year, Along with Marijuana, alcohol, extasy, prescription pills, etc. If you or a loved one needs help please contact us at adolescent drug treatment.
For the first time in many Years Alcohol related deaths involving a motor vehicle is not the #1 killer of teens. Accidental overdose of prescription drugs like Oxycontin and Xanax is!
Columbia University reports that teens who eat dinner with their families less than three times a week are twice as likely to use tobacco or participate in teen marijuana use and are more than one in a half times as likely to drink than teens who eat dinner with their families five or more times per week. Those who have dinner with their families less than three times a week where distractions are present, such as texting and talking on the phone, are more than three times as likely to use marijuana. Those teens who have fewer family dinners are also one and a half times more likely to have friends that use prescription drugs, meth, heroin, cocaine and ecstasy. Also, 12-13 year olds who have infrequent family dinners are more than six times more likely to use marijuana.
In today’s times, it is difficult to imagine getting everyone together for dinner, but the study emphasizes the importance of a specific time set aside for talking and being together. My household was extremely busy growing up. With both parents working and my siblings and me in all kinds of after-school activities, it was a wonder we saw each other at all. Also, with my drug use, getting together with the family was a pretty unpleasant time for everyone. Fortunately, in teen drug rehab, my whole family was able to benefit from treatment. I, of course, was in an intensive inpatient program in Malibu, but my family got to get help too through family counseling in Bakersfield. As we rebuilt our family relationships, we planned on ways to reestablish closeness within our family. We try now to set aside time to be with each other. No cell phones. No facebook. We may not be the Cleavers, but we are slowly rebuilding our family closeness. In drug treatment, I got the help I needed to be a better child, and my family got what they needed so that we can all heal and be the best that we can be. Please click here for more info about adolescent drug and alcohol treatment .
I never knew I could learn something from a horse, but in adolescent rehab, our frequent visits to the horses at equine therapy became my favorite part of the week. By working with the gigantic horses, I learned vital tools for my sobriety, such as patience, boundaries, and confidence. Strangely simple tasks produced mind-blowing outcomes. Somehow, the horses acted as a mirror, showing me my own insecurities and strengths. The horses seemed to sense what I needed, and I learned to see parts of myself within them. They too had been rescued, and it really felt like we were helping each other. The incredible Malibu view and the strong connection we developed with the animals really made me feel good for one of the first times in a long time.
I still think about the tools I learned at equine therapy. Learning how to cooperate in a group setting with such large animals really helped with my interpersonal communication skills- something I was severely lacking when I came to treatment. Instead of using my words, I turned uncomfortable feelings inward, which festered and came out as my addiction, my eating disorder, or self injury. Working with the horses helped me to feel more confident; the simple connection with such a huge animal was a stepping stone to developing human relationships. When I feel anxious, I imagine the strange calm that settled over me whenever I was with the horses. I imagine their silky coats and the way they smell. I pretend I am with the horses and whatever is bothering me usually lightens its grip on my mind. I am so glad to have had the great opportunity to learn from these animals.
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