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Teen and Young Adult Drug Addiction Treatment: Guide for Parents and Caregivers

One of the most terrifying experiences as a parent is not knowing how to help your child.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are looking for teen and young adult drug addiction treatment, you may feel overwhelmed looking at the options and figuring out the best solution for your teen and your family.

Ember Recovery’s proven and innovative substance use disorder treatment approach has helped 5,000 youth across Iowa.

The Centers for Disease Control reports: [1]

  • 15% of high school students have used illicit or injection drugs.
  • 14% of students have misused prescription opioids.

How Drugs and Alcohol Affect Teens and Young Adults

Drug and alcohol use initially may not seem to significantly impact your child, especially if you ask them. However, over time, substance use may affect their:

  • Academics
  • Physical Health
  • Mental Health
  • Relationships with Peers and Family
  • Social and Economic Consequences

Most significantly, drug and alcohol use may affect teens’ and young adults’ growth and development, especially their brain. Drug and alcohol use also occurs frequently with other high-risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex and dangerous driving.

Early drug and alcohol use can also contribute to developing health problems in adulthood, including heart disease and high blood pressure. Lastly, the earlier someone begins using substances, the greater their likelihood of developing substance use problems now or later in life. [2]

Ember Seven-21 House for Girls

Signs of Drug and Alcohol Use

Some of the most common signs of drug and alcohol use include:

  • Mood and personality changes
  • Behavioral changes such as relationship changes, changes in attendance, avoiding eye contact, being secretive
  • Changes in hygiene or appearance
  • Physical health changes like getting sick more often, being unusually tired or lethargic, more frequent nosebleeds or runny nose, new sores or spots around the mouth, dramatic changes in weight
Happy latin father and his teenage daughter enjoying time at the park and laughing.

Talking With Your Kids About Substance Use

In an ideal situation, you would have a conversation with your child about alcohol and drugs before they are exposed to them. During your child’s formative years, one of the most influential factors is maintaining a strong, open relationship with you, their parent.

During conversations, express your rules, advice, and expectations surrounding alcohol and drug use. When you talk to your child openly and frequently, you create a supportive and nurturing environment where your child will hopefully make better decisions.

If you suspect that your child is using drugs or alcohol, it’s important to have a real, face-to-face conversation with them. If your child comes home smelling like alcohol or smoke, that very moment may not be the best time to have the conversation, but the sooner the conversation, the better.

For help talking to your child about their substance use, reach out to a professional at Ember Recovery.

Finding Teen and Young Adult Drug Addiction Treatment

The sooner you can start treatment, the better. If you suspect that your child is using drugs or alcohol, reach out to the compassionate professionals at Ember Recovery.

Contact Us Today
Sources:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/index.htm
[2] ttps://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2022/04/drug-use-severity-in-adolescence-affects-substance-use-disorder-risk-in-adulthood

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