How Can I Help My Teen Stay Sober?

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By the time a teen graduates from treatment, they’ve acquired a whole new set of habits–good habits, like keeping busy, eating and sleeping properly, and saying No even when they want to do something risky.

Still, all teens fresh out of rehab are prone to relapse, no matter how much they shined in rehab. Up to 71 percent of recovering teens end up relaxing within six months of release, says the DEA.

Why? They’re still testing their new attitudes and behaviors. The outside world is like a minefield, full of temptations. So is the brain. Recovering teens need require an extra-wide support network to stay in check. It should consist of multiple angles: therapists, health care providers, self-help groups, sober-minded peers, and — if at all possible — family.

After a teenager emerges from rehab, it’s more important than ever to give them attention and provide emotional and moral support. They’re not cured; they’re just ready to continue healing on their own.
Aftercare Services for Teens

The best time to find a good aftercare program for your teenager is before he or she enters rehab. That way, you have some time to weigh your options and learn all about them.

When you’re searching for an addiction treatment program, ask about the support services that the facility provides once treatment is over. Those services should include:

Ongoing contact with counselors or therapists who were involved in the teen’s treatment
Referrals to therapists, psychiatrists or other specialists in the community who can manage medications and provide continuing therapy
Information about 12-step programs and other self-help groups for teens who are dedicated to staying sober
Access to transitional housing opportunities for teens who need more supervision and structure after rehab
Participation in alumni organizations for teenagers who have successfully completed rehab

Sober living homes

Some teens can’t handle the transition into the real world straight out of treatment, which is why there are state-funded environments specifically for helping people get there. Sober homes are especially important for high-risk teens with a history of relapse. The home offers a safe place to try out new coping skills. Although these residences are less structured than rehab facilities, there are still many rules to follow, including nightly curfews, daily chores, mandatory attendance at house meetings, and, of course strict restrictions against alcohol or drug use.
Support for Parents and Families

If the people closest to the addict are struggling themselves, it’s especially hard for the addict to recover. Parents, siblings and other family members struggling alongside the addict should join in on counseling sessions for families. These sessions cover a variety of topics:

The nature and causes of addiction
How addiction affects the family
Creating a supportive home environment
Keeping the lines of communication open
Setting healthy boundaries

Many of the substance abuse triggers that your teen will encounter can be found at home. Conflicts with parents, sibling rivalry, emotional distance, or verbal abuse can drive adolescents back to drugs or alcohol. Experienced family therapists can guide you through the difficult days after rehab.

From admission through aftercare, Sustain offers you and your family the support you require to help your teen stay sober. Call us today to learn more about our intensive rehab programs for adolescents: 949-637-5499

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Sustain Recovery changed my life in a way I never considered remotely possible. I arrived in a place where I knew nobody. Sustain Recovery gave me tools so that I never had to be alone again. I learned how to live like an adult and have genuine relationships with other human beings. I gained a sense of self respect, love, and pride from the challenges I was given by staff. I was able to work through the recent loss of my father and I achieved my goal of not taking any psychiatric medication.
I learned that life is an endless balancing act. I have to continually work on myself and my relationships with the people in my life. The staff at Sustain Recovery are all incredibly experienced and spiritual. They were available to me whether I wanted their help or not. Through their efforts and experience, I experienced the inner workings of having an intimate, loving relationship with a loving creator.
Sustain Recovery is “home” for me. I discovered a loving, caring family that helped launch me to a place I would have never dreamed and, if I would have dreamed it, I would never have believed I would be able to accomplish it.

K.C.
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