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Adolescents and teens with alcohol and substance abuse disorders have unique treatment needs different from older substance abusers. These young people may need help with family life, social life, co-occurring health issues, and education, among others. The truth is, it’s usually tough for parents of teens with a substance use disorder to come to terms with the fact that their child needs a drug detox and rehabilitation.

It’s normal for teens to experiment and engage in risky behavior at this age since the brain regions involved in willpower, healthy decision-making, and impulse control are not entirely developed. Also, if there’s a history of substance abuse in the family, or the teenager had traumatic experiences in the past, they are more likely to seek solace in substance use. According to a 2018 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) report, 58.5 percent of high school students had consumed alcohol in their senior year, while 47 percent had abused illegal drugs. In the same year, college students in the 19-22 age bracket were also reported to have used one of the following substances:

• Marijuana – 43% of college students
• Nicotine products vaping – 15.5% of college students and 12.5% of non-school-going young adults, etc.

Signs of Adolescents Drug Use

Signs of alcohol and substance abuse in teens can fall under three broad categories, including physical, psychological symptoms, and paraphernalia.

Physical Signs

• Finding the drugs hidden in the teen’s belongings
• Variations in sleeping and feeding patterns
• Neglect of one’s hygiene and deteriorating physical appearance
• Decreased personal grooming and worsening physical appearance
• Dry eyes and abnormal changes in pupils’ size
• Slurred speech
• Runny nose
• Strange smells on clothing or the teen breathe
• Sudden weight gain/loss

Psychological Signs

• Appearing dazed
• Paranoia and anxiety
• Becoming demotivated
• Moodiness
• Increased energy
• Strange changes in personality and attitude

Drug Paraphernalia

Drug Paraphernalia comprises tools or equipment used to use or hide various illicit substances. Common drug gear includes:

• If your teen is injecting drugs into their system, you can find a rubber cord, needles, cotton wool, burnt spoons, lighter, etc.
• For a smoker – a lighter, tin foil, metal/glass pipes, etc.
• For snorting purposes, your teen can have a mirror, razor blade, straw, dollar bills (rolled-up), snuff bullets, etc.

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment for Adolescents and Teens

The treatment requirements and approach for addicted teens are quite different from that of adults. The majority of teens cannot seek treatment independently since they may not know how to go about it even if they felt the need to seek help. Most of them are usually plagued by denial and secrecy since they fear being admonished by their elders. Often, treatment for adolescents’ addiction is generally sought by parents or guardians. For effective treatment and best results, check teens into facilities offering age-specific treatment programs.

Sometimes, a specialist can opt to use an adult addiction treatment program to treat a teenager. However, the specialist should ensure that the program is specially designed to address the unique circumstances related to life experiences and the teenager’s age. If a teen experiences withdrawal symptoms during treatment, medical detox is the only safe option. Treatment is often comprehensive in that drug addiction treatment specialists, mental health, and medical health providers work hand in hand to ensure the patient’s full recovery.

Teen Drug Rehab Is the Best Option for Treatment and Recovery Due to Substance Abuse

When your adolescent continues to use drugs actively, they become poor in their studies and risk losing productive life opportunities later on in life, thus destroying their future life in the process. Moreover, every time they engage in substance use, they risk overdosing or, worse still, death. Suppose your teenage son or daughter is actively engaging in substance abuse. In that case, Gallus Medical Detox Centers can provide them with a personalized addiction treatment plan to help them break free from the bondage.

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