Alcoholism is a prominent addiction in teenagers, and it is the most widely abused substance for young people between the ages of 12 to 20. Reasons for alcohol’s wide consumption has do to with its accessibility, but also occurs due to peer pressure and certain stressors that you might experience as you get older.
If you have an addiction to alcohol, you’re not only harming yourself — your family and friends are equally impacted by your changes in behavior and your distance from them. Your loved ones may also be unaware of the proper ways to approach your addiction, which can lead to tension. Alcoholism has been known to disrupt family units, which is why specialized treatment is often needed to repair relationships and make life normal again.
If you have gone through treatment at a primary inpatient facility, you may find that you benefit from additional resources at an extended care residential center like Sustain Recovery. We provide intensive outpatient treatment for teens grappling with alcohol addiction, and within our program, you will learn how to apply sober living to an everyday lifestyle outside of recovery.
Alcoholism Is Not an Isolated Occurrence
As a teenager, you are becoming more independent and therefore want to try new things that might help you come to terms with who you are. Figuring out your identity is an important part of getting older, and it helps you become more confident, but without necessary precautions, experimentation can be harmful to your wellbeing.
These days, alcohol is pretty easy to get a hold of. Whether you have a supply in your parents’ liquor cabinet or are able to have an older adult buy it for you, drinking as an adolescent is not difficult.
You may have started drinking because your friends are doing it or out of simple curiosity. You might have also been stressed due to school or a relationship and ease some of the tension with a drink, but if you are unaware of the effects alcohol can have on your health, then casual drinking can often lead to dependence. Your genetics and familial environment also play a role in your susceptibility to drink and can make it easier for you to become dependent if you start.
In younger people, it takes fewer drinks to become intoxicated and many teens binge drink in order to feel the effects of alcohol faster. These social stimulations are appealing, which may have led you to drink more frequently in order to maintain the same sociability.
Problems arise when alcohol consumption becomes a habit, where your body soon begins to build a tolerance against each drink you have, making it so that you drink more to achieve the same desired effect. Eventually you may have gotten to a point where you need a drink to start the day or else you will get a headache or mild anxiety. These are the withdrawal symptoms that lead you to drink more in order to eliminate them.
Withdrawing from alcohol is dangerous, which is why we recommend you join a treatment facility to get sober. Depending on the amount of alcohol you regularly consumed, withdrawal effects could be as minor as sweating or as severe as seizures. Reducing your alcohol consumption under medical guidance can ensure your safety while you detox.
Continue Sobriety at Sustain Recovery
Sustain Recovery functions as an adolescent extended care facility that provides additional outpatient treatment once you leave your primary inpatient facility. Extended care is also beneficial if you simply believe you need longer-term care in order to maintain sobriety.
You will participate in the 12-step program, which we implement as part of our phase system, and you will interact with other teens who share similar experiences. Although alcohol addiction effects everyone differently, the 12-steps will allow you to become more comfortable expressing yourself, which will motivate you even more to remain sober.
Other services to choose from include:
- Individual therapy
- Support groups
- Educational or vocational training
- Music or cinema therapy
- Adventure learning
- MMA boxing
- And more!
The sessions you participate in are chosen based on the treatment plan our counselors design for you as well as the care plan given to you by your primary inpatient facility. If you have a co-occurring disorder, you will be treated for that simultaneously.
The goal of your extended treatment at Sustain Recovery is to help you realize your potential. Many teens in recovery learn how to maintain their sobriety, but are not taught how to apply those lessons to everyday life. At Sustain Recovery, we help you determine the best ways to remain in control of your addiction even when life outside of treatment is testing your limits.
We also provide family therapy for you and your loved ones, which will help your family unit determine the best ways to support you during your recovery. You will learn communication skills as well as how to build a supportive, safe and understanding environment at home so that you are able to remain positive while living sober.
For more information about the adolescent extended care services we provide that can help you maintain your sobriety, contact Sustain Recovery at (949) 407-9052 to speak with one of our counselors.
