Wednesday, May 26, 2010

What to Do About Your Teen's Drug Addiction

Parents can help the situation improve by following certain steps. These are not difficult and do not require training or specialist skills. They need determination and common sense.

First you should never lay any blame. You may want to blame yourself or your partner or you may want to blame your child. Laying blame doesn't help anyone. The teen drug addiction problem won't be addressed or fixed if people are blaming one another.

Likewise with punishment, studies show it has little if any effect. It's a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Forget about punishment and concentrate on helping your child and discovering the cause of the problem.

Why is your teen involved with drugs? Experimentation is sometimes a starting point but often there is a serious underlying problem. Get help obviously but also try and discover what caused the problem in the first place.

Teen drug addiction is a serious mental and physical problem which a loving parent is most unlikely to cure. Professional medical help is required. Your family doctor will be able to help in a number of ways not the least being advising the best specialist help available. There are camps and treatment facilities for young people with drug problems. The programs are specifically designed to help troubled teens stop taking drugs and develop strategies and the self-confidence to live without drugs.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.



Geeting Help With Teen Drug Abuse

No single teen drug treatment is appropriate for all teens which is why there are many places your teen can get help. Look for local programs geared towards teens and find a peer counselor who your teen can talk to. Teens relate to other teens and young people, so finding someone close to their own age can be very effective.

Match the treatment with the individual. If your teen's drug use has gotten completely out of hand, you may want to look at an inpatient clinic. But try to find a clinic where other teens are being treated as well. If you send them to a program that has only adults in it, their chances of relapse are higher. If you do put your teen in a treatment facility, be sure you participate in all of the activities that are asked of you. This is the perfect time for your teen to talk to you in a safe environment with a moderator. They are more likely to open up and say what they need to say in the clinic rather than at home.

Just as with adults, relapse is a very real possibility, neigh, a probability. Teens are going to be thrust back into the environment that they were in when they were users, so keep in mind that teen drug addiction is a very powerful mental disease and relapses are very likely to occur. This is where patience and understanding come in. Talk with your teen and get them help and counseling to understand why they went back to drugs. When you tackle the psychological part of drug abuse, you have a better chance of helping your teen become drug free.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.



Counseling for Teens

Your first inclination might be to get angry when you find out your teen is using drugs. This a normal reaction, but please know that anger and yelling will just turn your teen's ears to the "off" position. You need to let your teen know you care about them and that you just want the best for them. You must place responsibility for their actions on their own shoulders and make them accountable without doing so in a threatening manner. Honest, open communication is the key towards overcoming your teen's problem - even before it becomes a problem.

Move on to the future and find things that you can do right now to help your teen. Try not to live in past; this will make the person you are trying to help agitated or upset. With teen drug addiction comes a lot of damage; material and emotional. In the wake of the episodes that the addict can create, remember that you are not alone. There are people around you that care. Those that have been and are in the trenches of this disease can help the addict when no one else can.

Counseling is a very effective way to help curb your teen's drug use. By allowing your child to interact with a third party you will find that recovery often goes better, because often times the family is too emotionally close to the addict to be of any real help.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.

There is Help for Drug Addiction

People who notice a loved one acting differently might want to take a closer look if there is knowledge that they dabble in drugs. The person might need drug treatment or alcohol rehabilitation so that they are on the road to drug addiction recovery.

Do not get disheartened; there is a way out. There are many avenues to drug treatment, but identifying the substance that is being abused is the first step. Hard and soft drugs are vastly different from each other because hard drugs such as heroin, Oxycontin and crystal meth have very severe withdrawal symptoms which make drug addiction recovery more difficult. Soft drugs such as marijuana, valium and other medical prescription drugs, although dangerous and addictive, are easier to treat.

As with any other addiction, the first step toward drug treatment and drug addiction recovery is for the individual to admit that they have a problem. Denial will curtail any efforts toward recovery. An intervention is necessary is when there is a drastic and dangerous drug problem in need of immediate drug treatment and the person does not realize or will not admit that their addiction and actions are ruining their lives. Secondly, it’s vital if a full drug addiction recovery is desired, to check yourself or your loved one into a drug treatment center. If the person is a teen or young adult, it’s best to locate a rehabilitation center that specializes in this age group for a greater chance at their recovering.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.



Keep Your Teen Drug Free

So, what can you do to help your teen withstand the peer pressure to experiment with drugs?

First, be uncool. Be the most uncool parent on the planet by being nosey- very nosey. Insist on knowing where your teen is at all times and who they are with. Don’t allow them to associate with others that you don’t know.

Secondly, educate your teen. Don’t just tell them the dangers of teen drug abuse—show them. Words can only go so far in making an impression in their mind. Consider taking them to a Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or some other drug rehab program. Let them see and hear, first hand, how alcohol and drug abuse affects and ruins the lives of those individuals at those meetings.

Thirdly, and what may seem to be such a simple concept: talk. With the advent of cell phones, texting, instant messaging and the like, face-to-face communication within families is decreasing. Many rely on texting as their primary method of communication. One cannot gauge emotion or potential problems through mere text on a screen. Make face-to-face communication a priority.


Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.



Teen Drug Abuse and Teen Suicide

Something that we don't think of is the connection between teen drug abuse and suicide. There are some studies that would suggest that teens who use drugs regularly are more likely to consider suicide as well as to act upon their thoughts. According to the American Psychiatric Association, many teens suffer from depression.

When a teen is living in this world of depression it is not unlikely that they would find a means of "self-medicate" with drugs in order to avoid exposing themselves to their friends or adults. As we know through years of dealing with teens and their drug abuse that the use of drugs does not alleviate the problems, but instead, usually aggravate them, leaving the teen with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. This places them at greater risk for suicide attempts.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.


How to Spot a Bad Teen Drug Rehab Facility

There are a number of ways that you can evaluate the quality of a teen drug rehab facility, and factors such as the quality of education, the degree of individual therapy offered, and the level of family participation are all extremely relevant; but a very simple way to get a feel for the quality of a rehab is simply by listening to the questions they do or don’t ask on the phone.

Any treatment center that claims that they can offer treatment assistance to all in need is either hopelessly optimistic, or more likely, more interested in an admissions check that in the quality of care.

There are some teens, with certain special needs who will not benefit from the treatments and therapies at a standard drug rehab facility, and a quality rehab should ask certain pre screening questions to ensure that they are capable of providing quality care to each individual patient.

Teen drug rehabs should want to know about any history of violence or anti social behavior and they should want to know about academic performance or learning disabilities. They will almost certainly want to understand the level of abuse they are going to be confronted with, and they should also want to know about family or other social problems.

These are all normal pre assessment questions that quality rehabs will ask to ensure that they are equipped to provide quality care; and if they don’t ask them, maybe they don’t care.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.


3 Criteria for an Effective Rehab for Your Teenager

1) Is it a teen specific program?

Although many adult facilities maintain that they can offer effective treatments to people of all ages, teens do far better in age specific programming. Teens do not have the same issues or problems as adults in recovery, and face a completely different set of developmental and recovery challenges. Your teen needs to recover in a teen specific rehab facility, no matter what adult rehabs may say about their ability to handle patients of all ages.

2) What is the level of family involvement?

Even while you child resides in a drug or alcohol rehab away from home you exert enormous influence, and parental involvement has been proven the single greatest influencing factor over the success of a teen in drug or alcohol rehab. Parental involvement cannot mean occasional phone calls, but should involve a committed and active participation in therapies and educational seminars within the rehab.

These whole family programs can help to heal the family, educate the family about the nature of addiction, and teach the family exactly how they can best support the recovering teen addict once back in the home.

3) What type of academic program is offered?

Many teens enter into a rehab significantly behind in school. No teen using and abusing drugs does well academically, and many teens in treatment need considerable remedial attention and one on one tutoring to catch up.

Teen drug rehab should never be a vacation from school, and teens need to fulfill their academic responsibilities while in treatment. The rehab should offer trained and experienced educators, able to manage classroom discipline and behavioral issues effectively.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.

Choose the Right Rehab for Your Teen

It's heartbreaking to watch a teenage child fall into substance abuse and addiction, and once parents make the decision that professional help and residential treatment is needed, a whole new set of challenges emerge, and it can be very hard to know where to get the best help for your son or daughter.

Price is always a consideration, and your degree of insurance coverage and the amount you can afford to contribute does impact on the decision; but it's always about more than price, and you want to find a drug or alcohol rehab that offers your teen the best quality treatment, that offers quality teen specific treatments, and that offers them the best total chance of sobriety and a life of health and happiness.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.


Helping Treat Teenage Drug Addicts

The boarding facilities of teenager drug rehab centers are very attractive and helpful. Most of these boarding rehab centers offer twenty four hour helpline services to drug addicted teens. Drug addiction treatments offered by Christian rehab centers are flexible for any kind of alcohol abusers. These Christian rehabs offer price less services to affordable cost. Most of the alcohol rehabs are state funded and offer various flexible financial options to drug addicted teens. They provide some special facilities for families with low income and experiencing various types of addiction problems.

The counseling services offered by the alcohol rehabs help teen addicts and families to understand the importance of alcohol addiction treatments in a specialized drug rehabs. Most of the addiction treatment centers offer same kind of facilities for boys and girls experiencing addictions. There are some single gender addiction treatment centers are also available for the disordered teenagers.

These single gender centers are very helpful for girls. They provide all necessary and modern addiction treatment facilities to teens with the help of drug addiction treatment specialists. The staff members of these centers are very caring, helpful and experienced in changing most of the addicted teens to responsible individuals.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.


Teen Drug Treatment Facilities

In order to recover from drug and alcohol addictions, a strong decision and a professional drug rehab is required. As there are number of drug rehabs, find out list of specialized drug rehabs that are having years of experience in treating drug addicts.

Teen drug addiction treatment includes methadone maintenance, drug-free programs and psychological treatments. These drug addiction treatment facilities are offered to any kind of alcohol abuse in teens. Public and private sectors are offering various addiction treatment facilities for struggling teenagers, which is very helpful and supportive to recover from addictions.

All the treatments are professionally designed with years of experience in treating drug addicted teens. Specialists design a treatment approach for each individual based on the initial analysis of teen addiction. Majority of drug rehab centers provide various result oriented facilities such as boarding programs, day programs, individual support, good playgrounds, clinical facilities which bring a new change in teenagers.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

What has Clearbrook done for me??

When I needed help I was looking for a drug rehab in Pennsylvania. A drug rehab in New York or a drug rehab in New Jersey would have suited me fine too. Clearbrook has changed my life. The staff there helped me realize that I needed help with my alcohol and drug problem. Today and now three and a half years later my life does not compare to the way it used to be.

Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers : The best Pennsylvania In-patient Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Center, Adolescent Drug Rehab & Teen Drug Abuse Center in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, St Louis and Chicago areas : A proven 28 Day Treatment Program in our in-patient drug & alcohol abuse treatment center.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Helping Your Teenager After Rehab

Drug abuse among teens is a growing concern. As with any disease, early detection increases the chance for a full recovery and a drug and alcohol free future. Inpatient treatment at a Chicago Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center is the first step to a drug and alcohol free life. The patient is provided 24-hour care to monitor and ensure a safe withdrawal from drugs.

In addition, they attended lectures, workshops, group therapy and individual counseling to educate them about the psychological and physical implications of long-term substance abuse.

During the period of treatment, patients are able to take a good hard look at the reasons that they have used drugs in the past, such as emotional triggers, certain events or peer pressure.

Patients are also taught to effectively address emotional or psychological issues that might interfere with their recovery through group and individual counseling. The staff also helps them determine and address their own unique relapse warning signs.

After a 30-day stay at the Chicago drug rehabilitation facility, your teen will return home much better equipped with the capabilities to avoid drug abuse and live a normal life.

How you can help your teen after rehab:

Although relapse is common, as long as your teen remains committed to his or her recovery and implements lifestyle changes, they can avoid becoming a statistic of chronic relapse.

According to research, it takes 90 days for the brain to develop resistance against the desire to use drugs. Usually inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation is followed up with Sober Living, which are alcohol- and drug-free houses that support the recovering person to maintain an alcohol- and drug-free lifestyle.

Applying the principles of Sober Living in your home:

First, you need to make sure that your teen lives in a place that is free from alcohol and drug use. Second, your teen needs to attend group counseling and meetings. Finally, your son or daughter needs structure and strict guidelines, including curfew and random drug testing.

Your teen also needs to stay away from nightlife and friends, learn to take responsibility for their choices and actions and how to function in the day-to-day world.

Often well-meaning efforts to help someone with a drug problem actually empower them to continue their destructive behavior by allowing them to avoid the consequences of their actions.

How to Deal with Teenage Drug Abuse

The Reasons for Teenage Drug Abuse

Adolescence is an age of trying new things. Most of the teens are innocent of the consequences of the drug abuse when they start consuming for the first time. Some of the reasons for teen drug abuse are-

• Teens mostly want to do an adventure by experimenting with the drugs. It is difficult to identify which teen experiments and stop and which one addicts.

• Many kids start using drugs when they see their family members or friends consume. In general, the family members seen by the teenagers highly influence them to use drugs.

• They come to know the effects of the drug abuse like- it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up (mentally & physically).

• Often peer pressure plays a major role. The situation gets out of hands when teens start rely on drugs and think that they need it to escape from problems at school, home life or with friends.

• Favorite movie stars use drugs in movies and the popular bands sing songs about it. This has a major impact on teens, as they always want to follow their idols.

The most common reason of drug abuse either experimentally or habitually, is to experience an immediate euphoric effect. Other common reasons for Chicago teenage drug abuse include - to become popular with friends, think people would like them more, because someone else wanted them to use, to make them feel more like an adult and they could make extra money selling them. Teenagers who are alcoholic are more prone to use drugs rather than non-alcoholic.

Drug Rehab for Adolescents

Young adults who are dependent upon drugs do not all need the same type of Chicago addiction treatment. The age of an individual is only one of many factors used to decide on an appropriate addiction treatment program for him or her.

Many individuals in need of addiction treatment can be classified as a young adult, but there is a broad difference between an adolescent pre-teen (age 11-13) a teenager (13-17) and a young adult (age 18 to 24.) Studies can identify a common cause of addiction with each age group, for research purposes, but a drug rehab center does not generalize addiction treatment.

Not all adolescent addiction treatment programs are focused on drugs or alcohol. Some young adults, including adolescents, may be addicted to gambling, video games, shopping, sexual behaviors, etc. Dependent behavior in anybody, regardless of age and the subject of the addiction, can be dangerous and prevent an individual from functioning properly on a daily basis.

Finding Chicago adolescent addiction treatment is quite easy. Simply contact your local addiction treatment center and ask about the age appropriate programs available. Get help from an intervention specialist if you need it, but get them into a drug addiction treatment center for the drug or alcohol rehab they need, one way or the other. When a young adult is left untreated for addictive behaviors, then it can be more difficult to treat later in life. So the sooner you find addiction treatment for a young adult, the better. so visit us today for best addiction treatment.



Helping Your Teenager with Drug Addiction

Chicago teenage drug addiction bothers many parents, for drug abuse is harmful and teenagers are likely to get into addiction. Since adolescence is a period of transition and growing up, teenagers are curious about any new things and they are easy to experiments. When parents realize that their children have drug problems and must find treatment, they frequently do not know where to turn. Some information is available here.

First of all, parents should face the fact. Teenagers are accessible, and they can access new "drugs" every day. The children are curious and they are vulnerable. Therefore, when your children get into drug addiction, do not think it is unacceptable and shameful. Instead, you should squarely face it and take some steps to help them get rid of addiction.

It is essential for parents to help the children get through this hard time. As parents, you can do lots to help your children. You can offer guidance to them and let them know that it is safe to come and talk to you. It is not wise to abandon them at this time. Right now, what they need is a strong parent.

The most important thing parents can do is trying to communicate openly with teens and encourage them to talk about anything that they are experiencing. People who realize they get into this dangerous habit may be too embarrassed or afraid to tell. They might even be worried that they will land into trouble if they admit to have this problem. Abusers need someone trustworthy to talk to. It's important not to storm into their room and start going through their clothes or dragging them off to the doctor for a blood test on suspicion that they are using drugs, which may make your children keep away from you and get the situation worse.

Making teenagers aware of the damages the drug addiction causes is very important. Many teenagers get into addiction just because of their curiosity to new things. They may not know the drug substances and the harm these substances cause at all. Parents should make efforts to let the children know drug addiction is harmful to health, mind and society. When they know well this drug addiction, it may be easy for them to quit it.

Teenage Girls Using Drugs More

It's official, teen girls now have more problems with drug and alcohol abuse than do teen boys; and they more than likely are using drugs or alcohol for completely different reasons. Additionally, because they don’t often show the same type of behavioral disturbances as do Chicago teen boy substance abusers, girls often continue to use for longer at unsafe levels before parents ever know the real extent o the problem.

Firstly, teen girls don’t use drugs and alcohol for the same reason that teen boys do. Teenage boys tend to use drugs and alcohol recreationally, and use for the excitement, fun and experimentation that drugs promise. Girls are far more likely to take drugs or alcohol as a way to combat low self esteem, to gain self confidence in a group, to attract the attention of older teen boys who also use, and to use drugs as a way to combat feelings of depression and anxiety.

Girls suffer more from drug abuse

Unfortunately, teen girls also seem to be uniquely affected by their drug use, and teen girls (already at a higher risk for depression than teen boys) if using and abusing drugs or alcohol are two and a half times more likely to experience clinical depression. They are also far more likely to experience an unwanted pregnancy, contract an STD and also to use drugs for properties such as weight loss.

The problem with pills

Chicago teen girl drug addicts are especially attracted to prescription pills, attracted by the ease of access, the perception of safety, and the perception of positive side effects (decreased anxiety and weight loss). With some prescription pain killers every bit as addictive as heroin, this is problematic.

Additionally, teen girls tend to abuse for longer on average before receiving intervention and professional help. Teen boys using drugs and alcohol are more likely to get in trouble at school, more likely to get into fights or problems with the law, or more likely to have a DUI; while teen girl users tend to avoid most of these problems. The problem is that without some of these obvious signs of use, parents and teachers remain unaware of the level of use, and are unable to intervene in a timely manner.



Drug Addiction and Adolescents

Adolescence is a very crucial stage in each one's life. It comes once in a lifetime and is also considered as the prime time to shape your life in the right direction. A slip of step can cause you a lifelong pain.

Adolescence is a tender period that carries instincts to venture with all new things. It provides enough courage to pick up challenges and you too feel that you can do anything and everything under the sun. Nothing seems to be impossible for you. And in this very hour of spirit you may take a very wrong decision. Recent cases related to alcoholism and drug addiction show a direct connection with this particular age group.

Gradual behavioral changes

The Chicago adolescent drug addicts during can be classified in a three-tier manner. Those who have recently stepped into the wrong path are at their early stage of addiction and then they step into the middle stage after a particular duration of time. And if the practice has been over the years the person has already reached the late stage.

Thus the Chicago adolescent drug rehabilitation process is also shaped according to the specification of the categories the patient comes under. The behavioral factors are taken into consideration for treatment and play important role in fixing up the counseling therapies as well as medicines.

Proper understanding of the problem

The Chicago adolescent drug rehabilitation treatment framed for the drug addicts in the adolescent group is done through a sensitive process. The problem intensifies in the last stage.

The teenagers tend to grow some criminal attitude during this phase. Many cases have records of suicidal tendencies and expulsion from their respective institutes of education. Actually these girls and guys have reached to a stage that is beyond control. Hence they cannot come back on their own will. Reviving them to the normal statuesque of living is very essential and through a long-term treatment of rehabilitation program only this type of patients can be cured.

The intensive inpatient treatment is the best way to treat those young people who have reached the last stage of addiction at this tender age. A rigorous counseling and giving them full psychological support in the positive areas that they have keen interest into so that they can create a sense of involvement in such activities. Many love to paint; many have interest in music and poetry. Thus these aspects should be explores and promotes to help the young guy come out of the crisis in a better and quicker way. Along with the rehabilitation center family and friends should also cooperate to bring this change in the patient from within.

Teenagers with Disease of Addiction

The adolescent disease of addiction is incurable, grows progressively worse and is fatal unless arrested. It can be stopped by the application of drug addiction counselling and a programme of recovery. The disease concept states that an addict is sick and that their drug use and other compulsive behaviours are symptoms of this 'sickness'. Either someone has the disease or not.

Those Chicago adolescent drug addicts that do start drinking and using can experience a 'honeymoon period'. This is a phase when an alcoholic/addict is at the beginning of their drinking/using career: an enjoyable time when the disease has not progressed yet. Addicts generally begin this phase of addiction in their teens.

It must be emphasised that many teens who do not have the disease of addiction will try drugs and may use them regularly until they decide they do not need them and want to stop. An addict will not be able to stop - this is the difference between addicts and non-addicts. Addiction sees those with the disease continuing to drink or take drugs for the rest of their lives until they receive help. It is also the reason why many professionals will not label a teen as an addict as they may just be going through the adjustment to adulthood.

Getting help
A teenager may not qualify for diagnosis as an addict yet drug use and compulsive disorders such as eating disorders, self-harm, promiscuity and other risky behaviours are a clear message that there is a problem. Whether it is addiction or not, help is available.

Signs to watch for if you suspect your child is taking drugs are:

Declining school marks and truancy
Weight loss or gain
Large or pin-prick sized pupils
Secretive behaviour
Abandonment of old friends for a 'new' group
Lack of finances, never having money, borrowing money
Money going missing in the house
Disappearance of their expensive personal possessions
Isolating, spending a lot of time in their room or out of the house
Violent outbursts and rage
Lack of interest in things which used to please them
Smell of solvents or thinners on their clothes or in their mouths
Glass pipes, burnt/broken light bulbs, rolling papers, tinfoil, hypodermic needles, melted lighters, plastic 'bankies' in their possession

Help is available for Chicago adolescents using drugs. It can be very beneficial for them to undergo drug addiction counselling at a drug and alcohol treatment centre if the problem is serious. A centre which encourages clients to follow a 12 Step programme of recovery (such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous), and provides one to one counselling and therapy groups and a healthy lifestyle will have the best results.

It is never a good idea to force a teenager into recovery from drug addiction or other compulsive behaviours, neither is it a good idea to put them into a rehabilitation programme simply if you discover your child has taken drugs - this may do more harm than good. If your child has begun to develop a serious addiction problem and cannot cease their use of drugs and other compulsive behaviours, then treatment is a good idea.




Understanding Adolescent Drug Addiction

Chicago Adolescent drug addiction has become more prevalent in today's culture than thirty years ago. Then alcohol and marijuana were the primary substances used by adolescents. In 2009 however, the prevalence of teen drug addiction has become alarming.

The number of adolescents undergoing Chicago drug addiction counselling has increased rapidly. Many centres have begun to accept patients younger than eighteen seeking help with addiction because the demand has become so great. However, adolescent drug abuse is a delicate subject as the psychology of teenagers is extremely complex and external factors are often influential in drug use in this age group.

Adolescence is not easy
Adolescence begins at approximately age 10 for girls and 12 for boys with the further development of their reproductive organs and sexual maturity. Hormones develop and behavioural changes begin to occur as well as physical changes. Individuals experiencing puberty and adolescence are going through one of the most difficult times of their lives. The physical and emotional changes play a large role in the confusion and the need for acceptance which adolescents feel at this time.

Peer pressure is a big motivator behind the increased use of drugs and alcohol. Adolescents are experiencing a stage where they struggle to find their identity whilst emerging from the safety blanket of their parents. They are beginning their preparations for adult life and self-esteem can suffer in the confusion which adolescence brings.

Drugs and self-destructive behaviour
To a teenager, it seems that only their friends understand them. The need to be accepted can involve participating in the same behavior as their circle of friends, which can be experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and marijuana are commonly used by teenagers, as are 'party' drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), Acid (LSD) and magic mushrooms. Harder drugs such as cocaine, heroin, crack-cocaine and crystal methamphetamine are sometimes used by adolescents but less frequently. Solvents such as glue, paint thinners and aerosol gases are also a popular choice of drug for teens.

Professionals are generally hesitant to label a teenager as an addict for two reasons: Firstly, addiction is a disease - if a person is using drugs regularly, this does not mean that they are a drug addict. Secondly, teenagers are developing psychologically and it can be dangerous to diagnose someone as an addict before they are at least 20 years old.


Adolescents and Drug Treatment: When is it Time?

It’s a reality that many parents are faced with, but none look forward to: Realizing that a child needs help for substance abuse and addiction. If you are still unsure if your child is using alcohol or drugs to the extent that he/she needs a teen drug treatment program, the following guidelines may help. Signs of Chicago teen drug or alcohol use include:

•Sudden, unfavorable changes in friends

•Negative changes in schoolwork or truancy from school

•Depression, withdrawal, or hostility; these may also be indicative of a mental health-related co-occuring disorder, which can also be addressed with the proper teen drug treatment program

•Increasing secrecy about possessions and activities

•Use of incense or other room deodorizers

•Increased “coded” language with peers (beyond standard text message coding)

•Excessively borrowing money or stealing

•Drug paraphernalia (some teens may dismiss lighters or pipes as “keepsakes,” and nearly anything as a friends’ belonging)

•Inhalant products, which includes many grooming and household chemical products

•Eye drops, mouthwash, and other maskers

Of course, some Chicago adolescent drug addicts may exhibit only a handful of these behaviors – but it’s important not to dismiss them if you strongly feel there is a problem. Also, bear in mind that any illicit drug use or teen alcohol use is unlawful, and your child should be reprimanded even if addiction is not yet an issue.

Adolescents, Alcohol, and Marijuana

Adolescence is a crucial stage for physical and mental human development. An adolescent brain has increased desire of knowledge and exploration. At the same time it is highly vulnerable to high-risk behaviors, mental illness, and addiction. Adolescent drug and alcohol abuse, results in side affects that can impact them for entire life.

Chicago Adolescence Alcohol Abuse
Easy access to alcohol is one of the most potential reasons that drive an adolescent towards alcohol abuse. As adolescents are not fully grown physically and mentally, alcohol abuse will have a long lasting and severe effect on them.

Alcohol is a depressant that slows the function of the central nervous system, which is crucial in maintaining perceptions, movements, emotions, vision and hearing of a person. Starting alcohol abuse at an younger age and continuing it through out the rest of the life will have a critical impact on the abuser that could be fatal.

Chicago Adolescent Marijuana Abuse
Marijuana is one of the most widely abused illegal drugs in the United States. Comparatively, marijuana is more fatal to alcohol abuse for an youngster. According to University of Cincinnati, marijuana abuse significantly declines the brain activities to cognitive tasks in adolescents.

A recent study done by scientists at North Shore University has found that marijuana abuse aggravates genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia among youngsters.

Schizophrenia usually appears in late adolescence in males who abuse marijuana. On the contrary, females tend to develop schizophrenia later in their mid-20s and beyond. Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with symptoms of emotional instability, detachment from reality, and withdrawal into the self.

The Reasons for the Abuse
There are many reasons why some children and young teens start abusing alcohol and marijuana or any other drug. Most young people abuse some form of drug because they see their family members or friends or known people abuse and seems to enjoy it. The other important cause is youngsters hear songs about drugs and see them abused on TV and in movies and misunderstand that drug abuse is common and nothing wrong in it. Some teens misapprehend that marijuana and other drugs help them to escape from problems at home, school, or with friends.

Alcohol and marijuana abuse impose serious and long-term affects on adolescents. Parents and educational institutions have a bigger role to play and help youngsters to understand the impact of drug abuse, stop it and prevent it.

Teens and Drugs

Adolescence is that phase of life when a person can be easily misled due to their credulous nature. Chicago adolescent Drug addiction shatters the dreams of such individuals and also has its effect on the near and dear ones. Adolescence is that aspect when we tend to soar high in the sky of success and never look back. The addiction to drugs shreds the wing of success making the abuser a puppet in the hands of drug substances. Since this is an impressionable age the process of weaning away from the drug substance is a tedious job for the relatives.

Stages of drug addiction
Since the progress of the Chicago adolescent drug addiction is variable depending on the signs and symptoms the drug addicts can be categorized into the early, middle or late stage. During the initial phase of addiction the addicts experiment with the drugs due to peer pressure and cultivate the habit of smoking, drinking etc. Inattentiveness, lying, stealing or demanding money, late night stays at friends place, poor performance at studying institutes are few of the beginning signs of addiction. Also they may come with symptoms of lack of sleep and appetite at the physical level.

As the addiction progresses the dependence on the drug makes them to avoid company and family members, blame others without any reason and lose control. Their do not maintain physical appearance and are unkempt and shabbily dressed. Any change from the normal attitude is the first indicator of addiction.

In the last stage of addiction there is no need to seek telltale signs as the addiction is evident in the behavior. Getting expelled from school, committing crime, mood swings and paranoia are the extreme signs which the addicts suffer from.

Initially Chicago adolescent drug addicts always hide from the relatives the fact that they are into addiction. They think the addiction can be left at any point of time. But they are proven wrong in the long run. It is better to learn from the sufferings of drug abusers and be alert in choosing company in the school and college.

In the current era many drugs are available to remove the toxicity of the drug substance and rehabilitation centre are reachable to de addict the abuser, but this is not enough for the completion of the course of treatment. What helps as a healing remedy is the psychological support given by family members. The awareness about the consequences of addiction should be created to keep the adolescence at bay from this evil habit.



How to Look for an Adolescent Drug Rehab

12 step principles: The Chicago adolescent drug program doesn’t need to be officially affiliated AA/NA; however, it should incorporate the traditional, time-tested 12 step principles that have made those organizations successful. In addition, these principles should be complemented by individual coaching and experiential opportunities. A spiritual emphasis is also highly desirable.

Family focus: Be sure to inquire about the family communication policy: Research has shown that the most successful Chicago adolescent drug treatment programs and residential treatment centers allow for routine family updates and regular communication opportunities. Look for options like family workshops, which will keep the lines of communication open between you and the facility – and more importantly, you and your child.

Licensed medical professionals: If you believe your child has a co-occuring mental health disorder or has already been dually diagnosed, look for a program that provides substance abuse treatment and employs a licensed psychologist to address mental health challenges. If an underlying condition does exist, it’s important that your child receives treatment for it as well. The difference that it can make for his or her long-term recovery cannot be understated.

Additional options: Because addictions are often chronic, stress-related conditions, additional treatment options - such as EEG biofeedback and neurotherapy - can be a valuable complement to your child’s course of treatment. It may be worth your time to find a program that provides these types of options, particularly if your child is dually diagnosed. Treatments like these are becoming more conventional and are often recommended by medical professionals specializing in the treatment of co-occuring disorders. Adolescent residential drug treatment programs are ideal as they are able to offer specialized care that is not possible with outpatient drug treatment.

Flexibility: Multiple program levels, the potential choose between short or long-term treatment and an emphasis on each resident’s unique personal goals are just a couple of features you may wish to inquire about. Not only is this a good idea for practical reasons, it’s also a way to ensure that your teen will be treated as an individual – which is what every person in Chicago adolescent drug treatment deserves.