In today s society, illegal drug use among young people, especially teenagers, has skyrocketed when compared to fifty years ago. Teenagers are bombarded with images from the media, their peers, and other outlets that doing drugs will somehow enhance their lives, their social status, their popularity, or will provide a pleasurable way of escaping from the mundane or even painful realities of life. Many teenagers begin using drugs without intentionally planning to become addicted, yet this is often what happens, because of the nature of the drugs themselves. To combat this serious and destructive problem, drug rehabilitation centers for teens have opened all over the nation. These rehabs are targeted specifically for the teenage population and attempt to help them overcome their addictions, both physically and mentally.
Types of Drug Rehabilitation For Teens
Depending on the needs of the particular teenager who is a drug user, there are a variety of types of drug rehabilitation centers from which to choose. A popular type of drug rehab for teens provides services to its patients on an outpatient basis. These centers give the teenager an abundance of freedom while trying to help them get rid of their addiction. Counseling services are mainly offered at outpatient rehabs, to help the young person deal with their emotions or feelings and to also discuss issues such as their home life or other stresses. Sometimes, patients are referred to psychiatrists or other doctors as well if they are deemed to have a mental illness in addition to their drug use.
Some rehabilitation centers serve their patients with an in-house staff and inpatient treatment. The teenagers would go and stay in the rehabilitation center for a prescribed period of time, depending on the duration of the drug program. Some centers have 3-month programs, while other have up to one year programs, such as the Teen Challenge programs around the country. Teen Challenge is a faith-based drug rehabilitation program that provides help on both an outpatient and inpatient basis, depending on the type of center it is. This program has an outstanding track record for teenagers who stay clean for the rest of their lives.
How To Choose A Drug Rehabilitation Center For Teens
If you are a parent of a hurting, drug-addicted teenager, making the decision to find help for your child is an important first step. Researching the available options of drug rehabilitation for teens is crucial to knowing where to begin in this process. Often, centers can be expensive, depending on the center and the amount of help wanted or needed. Teen Challenge, for example, does not necessarily have a fee, yet there is a suggested donation to the center that is requested. Many are not turned away even when they cannot pay. Drug rehabs with medical staff on-site are helpful for a teenager who is going through detoxification and will need treatment or medical help. Regardless what type of facility is chosen, taking the first step toward helping a teenager is the most important part of finding an answer.