Although the minimum legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21, statistics show that alcohol is the most widely used substance among adolescents, usually in large quantities.[1] When young people choose to abuse alcohol, it can impact many aspects of their lives, especially their social lives. Many teens don’t realize this until it is too late. We’re going to examine the various ways alcohol can affect a teen’s friendships and social life, as well as how seeking teen alcohol treatment in Iowa can help to mend some of those fences and lead to a sober life.
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How Alcohol Addiction Impacts a Teen’s Social Life
Withdrawing from Friends
Alcohol addiction can lead teens to withdraw from friends and the activities they used to enjoy. They may choose to drink over sober activities like going to the movies or taking part in sports. In the process, they may develop a new social circle that includes people who enjoy drinking heavily.[2]
Engaging in Risky Behavior
Drinking can also lead teens to engage in risky behavior. When teens drink too much, they lose their ability to make decisions. This can lead to unprotected sex, driving under the influence, violence, and being in dangerous situations they would generally stray from.
Mood Changes
Alcohol can impact a teen’s mood, making them irritable or anxious.[3] This behavior can make others not want to be around them, resulting in a poor social life.
Low Self-Esteem
An alcohol addiction can also cause a teen to have low self-esteem. This can make them less prone to wanting to meet new people, impacting their social lives.
Academic Problems
If a teen was a strong student who participated in many school activities, using alcohol can lead them to do a complete reversal. They may begin to experience academic problems that will result in them withdrawing from these academic activities that were once a part of their social lives.
Family Issues
Alcohol use can cause family issues that can lead teens to isolate themselves. If a family issue leads to a teen wanting to use alcohol, an addiction can further push them apart.
While many teens experience an impact on their social lives as a result of their alcohol addiction, many times, it is the pressure to be social that leads them to drink. Peer pressure and the urge to fit in with a particular crowd of teens can lead a teen to try alcohol. Partying and socializing often go hand in hand with teen drinking. But, as they continue to drink, this behavior pulls them further and further away from people, leading to isolation.
How Teens Can Repair Their Social Life During Teen Alcohol Treatment in Iowa
Make New Friends
As teens go through their treatment program, they will meet peers going through the same thing. This can help them form new bonds with those who have similar goals. They can learn together how to overcome their alcohol dependence and support each other on their journeys.
Try New Hobbies
Trying new hobbies can not only introduce teens to new activities but also to new people who are not associated with their alcohol use. By eliminating the activities and people that contributed to their alcohol abuse, they can see what an alcohol-free life can look like, full of new interests and positive people.
Attend Support Peer Support Groups During Teen Alcohol Treatment in Iowa
During recovery, teens can repair their social lives by attending peer support group meetings. These peer groups give teens access to those who have walked in their shoes and found a successful path. They can provide teens with the important social interaction they need as they learn to live a sober life.
How Parents Can Help Teens During Recovery and Teen Alcohol Treatment in Iowa
If you’re a parent of a teen who is recovering from an alcohol addiction, you can help by being nonjudgmental as they work to repair their lives. Knowing they have someone to talk to can help teens as they work to maintain sobriety.
You can also work to communicate empathy and compassion. Your teen should know that you understand this is a difficult time and are there to help. They can see that you’re there for them without being overbearing. Teens don’t want to feel suffocated as they try to maintain their sobriety.
Seek Teen Alcohol Treatment in Iowa with Ember Recovery
Ember Recovery offers teen alcohol treatment for youth and young adults. Our experienced professionals assess each teen to determine which treatments are best. We provide individualized treatment plans because research shows that this type of treatment is most successful because no one type of treatment meets everyone’s needs. Our treatment programs include a variety of therapies as well as dual diagnosis treatment for those teens who are also dealing with a mental health condition. At Ember Recovery, we strive to help teens overcome their alcohol addictions when they are young so that they can live productive lives as they reach adulthood.
To learn more about teen alcohol treatment in Iowa, contact Ember Recovery today.
Sources:
[1] https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/1/e20191357/37083/Alcohol-Use-by-Youth?autologincheck=redirected [2] https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/pubs/drugid/ration-03.html# [3] https://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_and_teens/article.htm
Andrea Dickerson is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Substance Use Counselor who has worked in behavioral health since 1997. Currently, Andrea is the Director of Behavioral Health, overseeing the Ember residential treatment programs and YSS outpatient counseling clinics throughout Central and North Central Iowa. She became a Motivational Interviewing (MI) trainer in 2006 and provides MI trainings throughout Iowa.
Andrea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and enjoys seeing the family relationships grow through therapy. Andrea is also a CARF International Surveyor, going around North America ensuring behavioral health organizations are meeting required standards.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), a global organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She has been a member of the SI of Des Moines club since 2012 and has been actively involved at the regional level, currently serving as Co-Governor of the Peaks to Plains Region.
Through her involvement in SIA, Andrea has been actively involved in the Dream Programs, coordinating annual Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls projects, which give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.