For teenagers struggling with substance use disorder and addiction, specialized rehab for teens is the only way to achieve lasting recovery. The rate at which teenagers are gaining access to and abusing drugs is serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 14% of young students admitted to misusing prescription opioids. Meanwhile, 33.1% of teens aged 12 to 20 have reported that they have had at least one drink in their lives, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). These facts are alarming and only strengthen the necessity of having specialized addiction treatment programs and rehab for teens.
However, it can be difficult for parents or teens themselves to fully trust a treatment facility. This is especially true if they believe that rehab for teens is akin to prison or torture. How these live-saving programs are depicted in popular media is rarely correct and only spreads harmful misinformation for the sake of drama. Real rehab for teens involves safe and effective therapy and treatments designed to address the unique needs of teenagers. Because teenagers have such specialized needs, they, in turn, require specialized facilities to bring out their potential and promote total healing.
Many treatment centers for addiction and other substance use disorders are typically aimed at adults or other specific clientele. Having a safe place for teenagers to recover and get mental health care doesn’t just allow teens and their families to recover from addiction. They help teenagers grow into healthy adults who will influence the next generation. Giving them the skills to do right by themselves and their future loved ones does more for the health of our nation as a whole than it would be to ignore their plight. Therefore, Alpha Behavioral Health specializes in treating teens and young adults, helping families across Texas find healing.
Why Alpha Behavioral Health Has Specialized Rehab for Teens
Teenagers are at a special point in their lives where their potential is endless. Once they get the drive to accomplish a goal, they can become anyone they want to be. At Alpha Behavioral Health, our goal is to help teens reach their goals and unlock the potential they have inside, even if they don’t currently believe they have the power to do so. Teenagers will eventually grow into adults. Their actions as adults have the power to shape the future and influence the generation that will come after them. Helping teenagers grow into adults who will step into their roles as leaders, nurturers, and protectors results in a better world for all.
Teenagers are also at a difficult point in their lives that is not made easier with addiction or substance use disorder. As mental health care professionals, we must help those who are in pain and struggling. Teenagers deserve compassionate and understanding care just as much as any other group of people. Though teens are often ignored or dismissed, we at Alpha Behavioral Health strive to make sure that every teen gets the treatment they need and deserve.
Teens cannot reach their full potential if they are struggling with their mental health. Addictions, especially alcohol and opioid addictions, can have deadly consequences. Teenagers cannot complete school, hold down a job, or build a future for themselves if they are struggling. The treatment and therapy needed for a teen’s recovery are slightly different from what is needed for a mature adult. For that reason, Alpha Behavioral Health has a specialized rehab for teens.
Teenagers already feel othered and excluded. Having a treatment program that validates and addresses the unique challenges they face tells them that they are understood. In the end, being respected and validated can convince teens to stick with substance abuse treatment during a tumultuous time in their lives.
The Importance of Specialized Rehab for Teens
Teenagers face unique challenges that can be stumbling blocks on their journey to adulthood. There is an enormous pressure to succeed in everything from academics to sports. Bodies are changing, and hormones and brain development can make processing emotions challenging. Developing relationships with their peers, dealing with peer pressure, and worrying about who they will become as adults can weigh heavily on their minds. It’s a period of growth and change but also one of intense worry and stress. It doesn’t help that teenagers are often dismissed or talked down to, fueling distrust in authority figures.
Specialized rehab for teens at Alpha Behavioral Health addresses these challenges by providing a safe place to simply be a teenager. It’s okay for teenagers to need time to figure themselves out. Compassionate and understanding staff are there to assist, always respectful, and never talking down to a teenager. By building trust between teens and providers, therapy from individual counseling is more effective. Teens are more able to open up about what bothers them if they know their treatment providers will understand what they are going through.
This fostering of trust and mutual understanding is critical for the mental health conditions that commonly affect teenagers. Combined with specialized rehab for teens, this allows for comprehensive healing and recovery.
Mental Health Conditions Teenagers Commonly Face
Teenagers are not immune to mental health conditions. Some conditions are the result of factors beyond a teen’s control, such as genetics, home environment, or sex. Others can result from outside factors, such as trauma or chronic stress. The pressure put on teenagers to succeed can sometimes result in anxiety-based disorders. For some mental health disorders, teenagers will mask or hide symptoms in an attempt to keep up with their peers, which can result in further distress. Some common mental health conditions teenagers face are:
- Eating disorders
- Personality disorders
- Anxiety
- Trauma-based disorders
- Depression
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Substance and drug abuse
In terms of addiction and substance abuse, there are reasons why teenagers may develop an addiction. The above mental health disorders can cause a great deal of stress and anguish, and teenagers may self-medicate with drugs in response. They may use drugs and other addictive substances to mask feelings, give them a competitive edge, or numb painful thoughts or memories. Peer pressure is also an underlying cause of drug and substance abuse, as teenagers want to fit in and be accepted by their peers. Teenagers, due to depictions in popular media, may also expect drug experimentation to be a “normal” part of growing up and thus feel like they have to participate in a full teenage experience.
Some examples of drugs and substances commonly abused by teenagers are:
- Opioids
- Alcohol
- Hallucinogens
- Inhalants
- Marijuana (including synthetic marijuana known as Spice/K2)
- Adderall and other prescription stimulants
- Nicotine (including vapes)
- DXM (over-the-counter cough and cold medicines)
Seeking immediate treatment and mental health care is essential for teens who are struggling. With quality rehab for teens at Alpha Behavioral Health, recovery is possible for anyone.
What Effective Rehab for Teens Looks Like
Teenagers can be tricky to treat for substance abuse problems. They often don’t believe that there is a problem with their substance abuse and may be wary of authority figures. Perhaps the trickiest aspect of rehab for teens is convincing them that they do need treatment and therapy. Convincing them of this fact is not always easy, but it can be done. One way to do so is to lay out for struggling teenagers what rehab for teens is like. That way, there are no surprises, and they can go into treatment well-informed. All together, effective rehab for teens consists of:
- Convincing the teenager to accept help
- Assessing the teenager to determine their needs
- Working together with teens, their families, and mental health care providers to create a treatment plan
- Using quality treatment and therapy that treats substance use disorder, addiction, and other co-occurring disorders
- Providing a supportive environment for healing
- Utilizing aftercare services and support
All of this must be conducted with understanding and respect. Teenagers are not stupid and may be suspicious of their treatment providers at first. That’s why it’s critical to foster trust between teens and providers. Once this trust is established, teens are more open to being helped.
The Alpha Behavioral Health approach to rehab for teens hits all these critical parts of effective treatment, including extensive assessment and frequent check-ins to ensure that they are meeting their treatment goals.
Supportive and Structured Environments
Located in Austin, Texas, Alpha Behavioral Health is committed to providing an environment for healing that is supportive and secure. Teens entering treatment learn the schedule quickly and find that it’s not all work. There is plenty of downtime, which allows clients ample opportunity to rest and enjoy the healing power of nature. Part of being a supportive environment is giving teens access to their peers, who can be a source of comradery and companionship through treatment. Places like the Clubhouse, as part of the Alpha Launch program, offer a safe place for teens in treatment and recovery to meet and relax. Coupled with events like meal and movie nights, teens have a place to be themselves without judgment.
Clients can also expect a high level of compassion and professionalism in rehab for teens. Our staff is specially trained to help teenagers grow and make healthy changes to their lives. There are always professionals on staff who can respond immediately during an emergency. This lets teens and their families focus on their recovery without the worry of being mistreated or in danger.
Quality Treatments Encountered in Rehab for Teens
Substance use disorder and addiction require specialized treatment to overcome. That is because substances and drugs can stay in the system, causing damage to the growing brain and body. These conditions are further exacerbated by underlying mental health disorders, such as trauma and depression. As a result, teens need comprehensive treatment that works together to promote total healing.
Alpha Behavioral Health has a holistic treatment philosophy that combines well with traditional therapies. This means the client’s physical and spiritual health are given as much attention as their mental health. Holistic treatments help clients improve their health and build self-esteem and courage. All of these are needed to recover from the lingering effects of substance abuse. Every treatment plan is different, depending on the needs of the teen. However, there are staples in addiction treatment, such as:
- Psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and group therapy
- Experiential therapy, such as art therapy or adventure therapy
- Mindfulness-based approaches
- Family therapy
- Trauma-focused therapy, such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
The type of treatment programs needed can also vary in rehab for teens. At Alpha Behavioral Health, we utilize the outpatient treatment program due to its flexibility in allowing teens to still pursue their education while receiving treatment. Those requiring more help may utilize an intensive outpatient program until they are stabilized enough to transition to a more relaxed outpatient schedule.
Aftercare is also essential for recovery. Our Alpha Launch program provides teens with the support they need for continuous recovery. Once a client completes treatment at Alpha Behavioral Health, they become a part of our community. Teens don’t need to fear being suddenly cut off from their support network because they finished treatment. With a robust alumni program, teens will always have a safe place to return to should they require help.
Workshops and Skill Training
Of course, the primary goal of rehab for teens is for the teenager in question to recover from substance use disorder or addiction. The secondary goal, however, is to help teens grow into their potential as healthy and successful adults. Skills learned in treatment are carried over to adult life, which can make a difference between staying in recovery or a relapse. As a result, teens at Alpha Behavioral Health work to boost crucial life skills while in treatment.
The life skills learned vary. Teens learn how to do everything from creating a resume to balancing a budget. They also take part in activities that foster resilience and promote healthy coping mechanisms. Teenagers then gain the skills needed to succeed in academics, a career, and relationships with others – helping the individual make healthy choices. This investment in teen rehabilitation not only aids in recovery but also paves the way for a brighter, healthier future.
Making Healthy Choices as Adults
Teens are eventually going to grow into adults. They need to be able to conduct themselves in a way that is not just healthy but also adheres to the high standards held by adults. Adults cannot get away with losing their temper at inappropriate times, nor can they ignore responsibilities at work, school, or home. Teens spend their adolescence practicing skills that will assist them as adults. When they are struggling with substance use and abuse, they may miss out on this critical time to learn and grow.
That’s why rehab for teens utilizes targeted programs to help teens improve their ability to make healthy choices. Emotional regulation is but one example that helps teenagers process and accept their feelings. It shows teens how to utilize their emotions in a safe, healthy, and productive way instead of turning to unhealthy coping skills. For example, a teen can learn to use their anger to produce emotionally charged pieces of art instead of yelling or resorting to physical violence. This training ensures that teenagers are not surprised by the expectations they will have to fulfill as adults and, in response, rise to the challenge.
Getting Started at Alpha Behavioral Health
For families with a struggling teen, it can feel like there’s no place to turn for help. The desire to help your child is strong, but so too can be the fear of what comes next. To reduce this fear, Alpha Behavioral Health makes itself open to all in need of help. Families are welcome to contact the staff at Alpha Behavioral Health to ask questions, verify insurance, or request a tour of the facilities. We understand what families are going through and offer services to help teenagers get the treatment they need and deserve. This includes finding resources, such as staging an intervention or talking to your teenager about substance use and abuse.
No matter how bad things may seem, there is always the opportunity to heal. So, if your family is struggling, don’t wait. Alpha Behavioral Health is ready to help.
Teenagers who are struggling with serious mental health disorders, such as addiction or eating disorders, require specialized help to achieve recovery. Having rehabilitation services designed specifically for teenagers allows teens to get the essential treatment they need while respecting them as the people they are. Without this balance of quality treatment, a supportive environment, and respect, teens are more likely to give up on themselves. That’s why at Alpha Behavioral Health in Austin, TX, we utilize our specialized rehabilitation program to help teens struggling with serious and life-threatening conditions. With a focus on respect, compassion, and understanding, teens don’t just get treatment; they learn how to be healthy and successful adults. To learn more, call (833) 257-4218 today.
