teen drug addiction - Sustain Recovery

Educational System and Teen Drug Problem

March 13, 2017 8:23 PM Leave a Comment

Girl with bookbag sitting against a brick wall

A trend that has many parents and caregivers worried is the rise of teen drug use within the educational system. Learn more about the impact of drugs on teens in school and what can be done to support young people.

Drugs at School

Adolescence is the time to gain independence and figure out who a person is and how to enjoy life. Much teen drug use happens on school grounds and it is a continuous problem that requires more than one solution.

Nearly 3 million teens are using drugs during the school day and the majority of teens report peers are selling drugs. The most commonly abused drugs by teens are marijuana, alcohol and prescription medication. Other illegal drugs are common but are not being used at school. Most students report knowing someone who either uses or sells drugs or has access to some alcohol. Some reasons include:

Curiosity
Peer pressure
Pleasure
Rebellion
Self-medication

What Schools Can Do

Schools have rules about drug use which include policies about what can happen when teens are caught. Having a policy does not mean teens are monitored daily. Teachers and faculty have a lot to do in a short day with a limited budget. The manpower to monitor the activity takes time when it comes to monitoring the situation. Schools may develop drug contracts for teens or try to monitor situations more effectively and provide alternatives such as zero tolerance policies. Parental involvement at school can make a big difference when it comes to teen drug use in school.

Education and Avoidance

Keeping teens safe from drugs at school is about recognizing the harmful effects on the body. Teens will experiment with drugs and alcohol but may fall into the trap of drug abuse and suffer the consequences. Before requesting a teen take a drug test, it is important to educate about the dangers and health issues caused by drug use. Teens have a hard time looking at long-term consequences and often feel invincible. The risk of illness, injury, bad judgment, addiction and death is too great to ignore as a consequence of drug use. Teens must be educated about drug use and taught to avoid it, even at school. Teens can avoid drugs at school and be clear of the devastating consequences. Some basic rules include:

Setting clear limits and pre-determined consequences
Creating family policies to support picking up a child any time, place or situation
Getting educated on drugs, the effect on the brain and body and preparing for problems if they arise
Be committed to non-judgment and open communication
Support healthy habits through encouragement of sports, activities or recreation

Sustain Recovery provides a healthy approach for adolescents seeking recovery from addiction. We provide a holistic treatment program for individuals to find their way back from addiction and create plans that will take them into sobriety for the long haul. Call us to find out how to get started.

5 Effective Ways to Reduce Teenage Drug Use and Alcohol Abuse

January 9, 2017 8:52 AM Leave a Comment

Family life influences teens more than parents may realize. Although a family may not be able to control situations that happen outside the home (peers, communities, society), parents can certainly guide the culture of the family to build personal accountability and responsibility for how and when teens learn about the risks and dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

Drug Abuse Prevention

Part of dealing with alcohol and drug problems is to stop the issues from ever happening. The protective factors developed by experts teach parents how to help families make important decisions, promote mental health and prevent underage use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. Children’s chances for taking drugs and engaging in risky behaviors reduce a teen’s risks for becoming involved in alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. Here are five effective ways to reduce teen drug use and alcohol abuse.

Know What’s Going On

Be involved in a teen’s life in your home. Know the friends, who and what and where things are happening. Encourage independence but set appropriate limits like curfews and check-in times. Keep teens accountable with consequences for stretching beyond limits.

Teach Science of Drugs and Alcohol

Talk about drinking and drugs – not just statistics, but the science behind it. This requires research on brain science of what substances do to the body. A good place to start is online looking for scientific principles of drugs and alcohol.

Get Educated About Substance Abuse

The warning signs of teen drinking or drug problems or and risk factors such as depression, family history, addiction or social transitions. Having a plan for seeking help if family needs it is important.

Look Outside Family for Mentoring Help

Encourage teens to seek positive mentorship outside the family who reinforce family beliefs and values. Teens can seek a mentor through religious or spiritual groups or informally through school activities. Check in with the mentor to gain more perspective on his or her life.

Spend One on One Time

Drug testing a teen should always be a last resort when trying to help a child. Regularly spend time with the teen and give the teen undivided attention. Some sample activities include walking, playing tennis, bowling, riding bike, dinners and cooking. It helps to spend quality time with teens to understand how things are going and listen to what is happening in the teen’s life.

Sustain supports individuals who need help with addiction and recovery. Call us to find out how we can help you or a loved one recover from addiction.

Can my teenager attend rehab while in school?

November 28, 2016 2:10 PM Leave a Comment

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

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