Finding an adolescent rehab center means finding somewhere that hires professionals who understand teens, are trained to work with this age group. They should also work closely with families during and after treatment to ensure a continuity of care post-discharge. Naaman (Naaman) has entire adolescent addiction treatment programs devoted to treating adolescents over the age of 18 with substance use disorders. Our staff can easily walk you through options and answer your questions if you call 888.541.9239 or reach out using our online form.
Why Do Adolescents Misuse Substances?
Understanding that your teenager has fallen victim to the disease of addiction and realizing some of the possible underlying causes may help you feel your way into a rehab program that is ideal for them. Teenagers use drugs or alcohol for a variety of reasons, including:
- Avoid or numb overwhelming emotions
- Relieve social anxiety, which can be crippling at this age
- Fit into a peer group (and avoid ostracization and bullying)
- Avoid coping with painful family or home dynamics
- Cope with trauma
In an adolescent addiction treatment center, you want to know that the substance abuse and mental health therapists understand exactly what adolescent addiction is all about.
The Elements of a Strong Adolescent Rehab Center
The following list of critical elements for a teen rehab center will help you in your search.
Intake Procedure that Follows Best Practices
Upon intake at a top-quality rehab center, your teen will receive a thorough evaluation of medical, psychological, social, and substance use history. Such an evaluation will be evidence-based, tested, effective, identify co-occurring disorders, and be conducted with sensitivity to family dynamics, the potential for past trauma, and other relevant issues.
Age-Specific Protocols and Practices
The adolescent brain is still developing, and everything about addiction treatment hinges on this fact. Ensure that the treatment you seek for your teen does not try to make what works for adults “fit” teens with a few adjustments. An understanding of all things adolescent is critically important to address teen addiction successfully.
Individualized and Complete Treatment Options
Based on the intake evaluation and the age-specific strategies and training of staff, the treatment plan for your teenager should be individualized. Successful treatment of teens requires a multi-pronged, coordinated approach that identifies and treats underlying issues so that rehab is more than a temporary fix but helps your teen heal from within.
Licensed Practitioners Trained in Teen Substance Use Treatment
Look for a team of professionals that has the specific training that qualifies them to work with adolescents. This training must include education about teen brain development, how it interacts with substance abuse, and how to treat co-occurring mental health disorders.
Family Therapy and Support
A teenager is an integral part of a family, and the dynamic within that family plays a role in recovery. Teens have better outcomes when the family participates in treatment. Anyone, related by blood or not, within the family unit who interacts daily with your adolescent will be included, such as parents, grandparents, siblings, and other caregivers.
Focus on Building Trust
Teens are not adults. Their perspectives, experiences, preferences, and ideas about the world are their own and incomprehensible to many adults. It is impossible to effectively treat a teen who struggles with addiction if there is no trust, and there can be no trust without common ground and understanding. For client buy-in and successful outcomes, a teen rehab center will adjust its schedule, environment, and activities to align with the teen rather than force the teen to align with a foreign or uncomfortable approach.
Non-Judgmental Acceptance
Many teens abuse substances in a world that doesn’t accept or understand them. Therefore, finding both acceptance and understanding in their rehab is essential for recovery to begin. Clinicians and other staff should understand best practices for teens and young people from all cultural, religious, or ethnic groups.
Post-Treatment Plans
Addiction treatment involves an entire continuum of care that starts with detox and extends past the end of rehab. An aftercare program ought to support teens as they pursue the evidence-based sobriety strategies provided during rehab. Family involvement will continue in the post-discharge programming, as will outpatient therapy and access to peer support groups.
Finally, when shopping for an adolescent rehab center, learn whether they regularly assess their program and track outcomes. You will never find a rehab with a 100% no-relapse rate because addiction is a chronic disease, and relapse happens. However, find a rehab that uses evidence-based protocols. It should evaluate its own track record, and keep current with research and training for its staff. Naaman can help.
Seek Treatment at Naaman
Naaman proudly offers treatment geared for adolescents that checks the boxes listed above. We help clients from all over the country every year. Naaman is here to help you and your family make the right decision for your adolescent.
Teen addiction is unfortunate and painful for families. However, it does not have to define the rest of your life or that of your teen. Programs like ours can help. Please reach out today by filling out our online form or calling 888.541.9239.