Can my teenager attend rehab while in school?

Many parents want to postpone enrolling their teenager in a treatment program. The most common reason for this is parental heart: they’re afraid their child will fall behind in their schoolwork.

However, substance abuse can also cause students academic troubles – and a lot of other troubles as well. The longer the substance abuse is allowed to continue, the harder it can be to bounce back.

Not many people know this, but most public schools and universities are flexible when it comes to students in recovery. If a teen is functional at school, they may be awarded special scheduling adjustments. In that case, outpatient treatment can be an effective recovery option.

Academics Are a Part of Teen Outpatient Recovery

Teens in outpatient programs are expected to continue to attend classes during the school year. In some cases, a young person may be given additional academic assistance within the rehabilitation program. Independent education plan (IEP) is an effective tool designed to incorporate a person’s schoolwork into their overall recovery goals. Tutors may also be available during specific days and hours, as well as supervised peer study groups.

Rehab clinics are a place tailored toward accountability, which naturally includes keeping up with homework, organizing, and scheduling. If an academic goal is valuable to you, it’s valuable to the clinicians, who only want to see their patients continue on a good path. If a patient needs assistance with homework or college applications, they need only ask.

When you give a student the services they need to recover, you’re not just adding more stress to their plate; you’re beginning the process of reducing their stress significantly. When teens feel good emotionally, they do better socially, physically, and academically. Once the improvements begin, they tend to snowball.

Get Involved

When choosing an outpatient addiction treatment program for your teen, look for one for which you can stay actively involved. Attending family nights for educational workshops and support is not a recommendation but a real necessity for educating yourself adequately on teenage addiction. You should also interface regularly with staff members to check in on the progress of your teen. Clinics rely heavily on the input of the teen’s most trusted people in life, namely their parents. There are places parents can reach that no one else can, even specialists.

To get your teen started, call today: (949) 637-5499