Whether you are a teen struggling with substance use or you are concerned your adolescent daughter or son is using drugs, young adult rehab programs offer a tailored route to recovery.
The most recent SAMHSA data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that 1.2 million people aged 12 to 17 had substance use disorders in 2020. 1 million of those with drug addiction had marijuana use disorder. The same data shows that 700,000 people from that age group were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder in the same year.
Among those 1.9 million teens diagnosed with alcoholism or drug addiction:
- 106,000 engaged with treatment for addiction to illicit drugs.
- 91,000 engaged with treatment for addiction to alcohol.
Addiction among teens is a growing concern, then, and few of that demographic obtain the treatment they need. Fortunately, more treatment centers are now offering addiction therapy targeted specifically at young adults in an attempt to plug this treatment gap.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Young Adults
As a teenager transitions into adulthood, their brain is still developing. The part of the brain responsible for self-control and emotions is the prefrontal cortex. As this part of the teen brain is not fully developed, young adults are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like experimenting with drugs, often due to peer pressure.
Regrettably, if a young adult starts using alcohol or drugs during these formative years, this can compromise both cognitive and social development. A NIDA study shows that teens who used marijuana heavily showed a decline in IQ.
The developing nature of the teen brain means that sustained drug or alcohol use can permanently alter the brain’s chemistry permanently, increasing the subsequent risk of addiction.
What to Expect at a Drug and Alcohol Rehab for Young Adults
Drug and alcohol addiction are an isolating diseases. Typically, young people struggling with addiction feel alone and experience extreme loneliness.
When a teen arrives at a young adult rehab center, they need to feel safe, comfortable, and loved. Over time, as they interact with staff and other teens in recovery, they realize they are not alone and can start to come out of their shells. This is a vital step to forging a new sober life.
Young adults are often prone to outbursts of anger and frustration, and they often struggle to accurately express their feelings. A teen-specific treatment program will have a team of experienced professionals who can look beyond the emotional outbursts and reach the person inside who needs help.
At teen rehab, young adults can engage with the same evidence-based interventions as adults in an age-appropriate environment. Treatment will involve a personalized combination of medication, counseling, psychotherapy, and holistic therapies. As such, the best teen rehab centers offer a whole-body approach to addiction recovery that make allowances for the specific needs of young adults.
Drug & Alcohol-Free Activities for Young Adults at Our Rehab
Activities offered in young adult rehab include:
When you connect with other teens in recovery from addiction, you can benefit from powerful peer support. Engaging in activities at rehab can help you to form sober friendships as you move from active addiction into abstinence.
All young adults face age-specific stressors and challenges and you will learn to deal with these roadblocks more efficiently at a teen rehab center.
If addiction at a young age has impacted your emotional development, a good addiction treatment provider will also ensure that you have the support you need to sharpen your social skills.
Adventure therapy is form of experiential therapy usually delivered together with traditional therapies like MAT and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy proven effective for treating addiction).
Created to reduce behavioral issues, mental health disorders, and substance abuse among young adults, experiential adventure therapy removes you from your personal triggers for substance abuse while forcing you out of your comfort zone.
Adventure therapy for teens may incorporate any of these activities:
- Archery
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- White water rafting
- Canoeing
- Caving
- Rock climbing
- Rope climbing
- Swimming
- Hiking
Adventure therapy is an active approach during which you work with peers and trained therapists on structured trust-based outdoor activities. Each session is followed by a debriefing and time for reflection.
Adventure therapy can benefit your problem-solving and decision-making abilities, and it should also strengthen your social skills and communication skills. You will experience an increase in the release of dopamine and endorphins in the brain by exercising, improving your mood as you grapple with the challenging initial phase of recovery from addiction as a teen.
Treatment Modalities
At teen rehab, you will have individual counseling sessions during addiction therapy that allow you to work closely with your therapist to better understand your addiction.
Group counseling sessions reinforce the sense of community you will find at teen rehab, allowing you to share your experiences and your coping mechanisms with those undergoing similar experiences.
Counseling will be supplemented by talk therapies, formally known as psychotherapies. CBT sessions will help you to identify what triggers you to use substances. Your therapist will then impart healthy coping strategies so you can better avoid further substance use.
Your treatment team may prescribe medications approved by the FDA during detox and recovery. Medication-assisted treatment will always be delivered in combination with behavioral interventions.
Time Commitment
Teens who need rehab for alcohol or drug addiction have the following options for inpatient treatment:
- 30-day teen inpatient rehab
- 60-day teen inpatient rehab
- 90-day teen inpatient rehab
For teens who choose to engage with outpatient programs, treatment can last for a few weeks or a few months, depending on the intensity and the severity of the addiction.
Which of these treatment options is advisable for teens, then?
Is Inpatient or Outpatient Better for Young Adults?
All addictions are unique, and every individual is different. This means there is no fixed answer to whether inpatient or outpatient rehab is most effective for teens.
Broadly, any young adult with a moderate or severe addiction is liable to benefit from a residential rehab program. The same applies to teens with unstable home environments and to young adults with co-occurring mental health conditions. Young adults with mild addictions may find that outpatient treatment provides sufficient structure and support, but it can really depend on the situation. Call our team to help us understand your situation and allow us to provide some support and advice.
Gratitude Lodge’s Young Adult Rehab Program
Our young adult rehab program here at Gratitude Lodge allows teens to engage with evidence-based and holistic addiction treatment tailored to their needs.
Our luxury rehab and inpatient treatment centers are located throughout Southern California including treatment centers in Long Beach and Newport Beach, providing a tranquil and secure environment in which teens can address addiction.
All teen addiction treatment programs will draw from EBTs (evidence-based treatments), including:
- MAT (medication-assisted treatment)
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Psychotherapy like CBT or DBT
Additionally, teens can access a variety of holistic therapies and a 12-step immersion program. If required, we also provide drug and alcohol detox programs and addiction treatment in Orange County.
At Gratitude Lodge, teens can connect with the age-specific care they need and build a firm foundation for ongoing abstinence.
Whether you are a young adult looking for an appropriate treatment facility or your adolescent child needs help with addiction or mental health issues, we can help you at Gratitude Lodge. Call 888-861-1658 today for immediate assistance.
