Month: April 2014

California Substance Abuse Programs For Adolescents

One of the fastest growing populations affected by addiction is the age group of 13-18 year old teens.  These young addicts are in a very crucial stage of both physical and mental development and can very often find themselves developing a drug habit from giving in to peer pressure with experimental use. It is hard for parents of these troubled teens to speak with their adolescents. Most often  teens block out any discussion that comes from a source of authority. While most parents begin to notice a distinct change in their teens behavior, many parent’s are caught off guard by the extent of their child’s dependency.  

Teens are naturally secretive and contrary to any direct discipline or what they perceive as challenges to their independence. Often a parent’s well intentioned actions of increasing penalties and disciplinary measures are often met with direct defiance and lying. Just where do these parent’s of troubled teens turn when all their efforts to help their teen have failed?  They turn to the experts, those medical professionals who are skilled and experienced in treating the many facets of teen addiction.

The biggest challenge for these parents is often finding the specific resources necessary and vital to a teen addicts recovery. While there are many medical residential treatment facilities throughout the nation that treat substance abuse, there are precious few that specialize in the recovery of teens with addiction issues.  Southern California is home to a facility that specializes in the treatment of addicted teens with both a residential, and out patient treatment facility that has a teen specific substance abuse programs.

Visions Teen is staffed with medical professionals who specialize in treating only the addiction issues of teens. Having your adolescent exposed to lifetime using addicts in treatment is hardly the right environment for their recovery. Being in teen specific substance abuse programs pairs them with others most like them, those that are dealing with the same pressures and expectations that plague them at this impressionable age. Seeing positive peers in active recovery from the same drug dependencies and circumstances they are struggling to overcome aids in modeling of positive influences and behaviors.

For the best in substance abuse programs to treat teen addiction trust the experienced professionals whose careers are dedicated to this at risk age group. Visions Teen counselors are standing by at 866-889-3665 to help, call for a consultation today.

Find Programs Designed For Troubled Youth and Troubled Teenagers

Finding professional help for a troubled teen can be a significant challenge. Parents quickly find that they must widen the net of their search to find programs for troubled youth.  “Troubled teens” is a term that describes a multitude of different life issues, some more threatening than others. Most troubled youth suffer from addiction, mental health problems, run away tendencies and poor surrounding influences. For teens to recover from such perils that threaten both their physical and behavioral development, it’s imperative that they change the negative exposure to dangerous influences that have become prevalent in their daily life choices.  

Finding suitable programs for troubled youth presents challenges for parents and clinicians alike as precious few facilities are equipped to handle teen specific patients. Teen clients present clinicians with challenges not seen in other populations. Teens are very susceptible to peer pressures and influences, so finding a treatment facility that can offer positive peer program participants is crucial. This specific search leads many parents of troubled adolescents to southern California.

Visions Teen is a residential treatment facility located in the secluded environment of Malibu California. This facility is completely dedicated to the specific treatment of teen substance abuse and mental illness. Our rural 24 acre facility removes the teen from their at risk environmental influences and exposes them to other peers who are in the process of recovery.  Our programs for troubled teens last from 45-90 days and place teens in a residential home environment that offers all the medical specialties their physical conditions require.

After a thorough evaluation each teen is assigned a medical doctor and supervising nurse to oversee their physical ailments. In addition, each child works independently with a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a licensed therapist, and a counselor to work with them to address each of their problems and ensure their return to peak physical and mental health.

Visions Teen is a facility whose entire staff is dedicated to addressing the issues that only teens face. At our facility adolescents find the treatment and supportive environment they need to facilitate the changes in their thinking that will help them make better choices and take hold of their future. Call Visions Teen today at 866-889-3665 to schedule a consultation for your troubled teen. The specific help they need is only a phone call away.

Derek Kreager and Dana A. Haynie released a study with the American Sociological Association on the drinking behaviors of adolescents and their peer groups.

They discovered that the adolescent drinking habits of a romantic partner’s friends are more likely to influence one’s drinking behavior than the adolescent’s partner or actual friends – this refers to both binge drinking and drinking frequency. For example, “the study found that the odds of an adolescent binge drinking if his or her partner’s friends engage in heavy drinking is more than twice as high as the likelihood of an adolescent binge drinking if his or her friends or significant other drink heavily.”

Derek Kreager, lead author of the study along with Dana A Haynie noted that adolescents typically attempt to be more like their partner’s friends in order to try and form a stronger bond with his or her partner. What this study elucidates is the influence relationships with peer groups have on adolescent behavior. The addition of new and often different peers introduces new norms and new opportunities to explore, and not all of them are positive. A romantic partner that hangs around with the party crowd is going to have a different influence than the partner who hangs out with a quieter crowd. With this in mind, the study also showed the positive influence of a quieter peer group on an adolescent that has had a history of drinking. In general, peer influence has a lot of power on the life of an adolescent.

Because we are in the recovery field, it’s common for us to view mental health and substance abuse from the psychological perspective. However, it’s important to also view it through the sociological lens.  Influence from peer groups peak during adolescence, but it is often short lived. The long-term influence comes from family, i.e., one’s root relationship.  Still, peer groups have strong influence on socialization, particularly during adolescence. It’s important to retain transparency as a family and open-mindedness, which will encourage an adolescent to reach out and come back into a healthier construct of family influence.  If that family input is dysfunctional, however, a teen could subconsciously seek a seemingly more reliable root system to latch onto and they will seek that within their peer groups. Because teens tend toward impulsivity and risk-taking behavior, however, their choices in this matter may be compromised, though not always.

It’s important to make sure we come from a place of understanding and curiosity when we are working with adolescents and their peer groups.  We were all adolescents at one point in our lives and if we can remember the challenges that came with it, we will be better parents and professionals to our teens. Understanding the value of teens and the incredible influence their peer groups have will help us redirect our teens if they are on a wilder path.

Related articles

• Adolescents particularly susceptible to drinking habits of romantic partner’s friends

Inpatient Drug Rehab For Teenagers

Substance abuse and addiction are tough in any age group. However, there are many special considerations when dealing with adolescent drug use and abuse. Adults that suffer from particularly intractable addictions are likely to have been teen substance abusers. Many drugs, like methamphetamine, can cause disruptions to brain chemical balance that can take years resolve. These substances can be particularly damaging to teens because of the powerful brain and body changes they are already experiencing. Inpatient drug rehab for teenagers may be the best treatment option for long-term success.  

Holistic Care Philosophy

Addiction doesn’t happen in isolation and its treatment needs to reflect that. That is why holistic, whole person care is the cutting edge of addiction care today. Inpatient drug rehab for teenagers is often the most effective solution because it facilitates a focused, collaborative team approach to help a teen overcome substance abuse and addiction. Many teens that are abusing drugs are also struggling with other issues, such as family problems or emotional traumas. There may be diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health disorders, learning disabilities, or other conditions. For drug rehabilitation to be successful over the long-term, these associated issues must also be treated.

Special Needs

Adolescence is a period of powerful developmental changes. A teen’s cognitive development is in progress, adding complexity to the treatment process. Depending on age and rate of development, for example, a teen may lack the capacity for abstract thought a person just a few years older has. With abstract thought comes the ability to really connect current actions with future outcomes. Teens struggle with identity during this period. They’re forming their own value systems and are often full of contradictory thoughts and emotions. Adolescents have special treatment needs that are best addressed with specialized inpatient drug rehab for teenagers.

Don’t Delay

The mistakes of adolescence differ from those of childhood in that their repercussions can be far more serious, changing the entire course of a teen’s life. Accepting that a teen’s drug use has gone far past youthful experimentation to substance abuse or even addiction is difficult, but must be done. It’s critical to getting your teen the care he or she needs. At Visions inpatient drug rehab for teenagers, your family will find skilled, cutting-edge care able to help your teen get back on the right path. Don’t delay. Please click below to schedule your consultation, or call us at 866-889-3665 .

Handling Your Teen’s Eating Disorder and Finding Treatment

Teen eating disorders are simply a manifestation of a much bigger problem and should be handled as soon as they are discovered. While the rise of teen eating disorders can partially be attributed to the media coverage the topic is receiving, a parent should never take it lightly if their child is suffering from one. Whatever reason triggered an eating disorder is exactly that: a trigger. Dealing with the symptom rather than the cause means that the bomb is still ticking and is bound to explode sooner or later.  

Teen eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia, and binge eating have been steadily on the rise, especially in women and teenage girls. There are many reasons adolescents suffer from teen eating disorders such as emotional distress, a poor body image, low self-esteem and many other emotional, social, and psychological problems. Unless the issues that lead to the disorders are addressed, the teen will not have recovered fully even on the event that they ditch the eating disorder.

For one to be able to determine that their child is suffering from any of the various teen eating disorders, they must know the various signs of eating disorders. Some of the things that should set off an alarm in relation to teen eating disorders include abrupt change in eating habits, barely eating, lack of energy, rushing to the bathroom immediately after meals, and avoiding social gatherings and places where food will be offered.

If a parent suspects or has ascertained that their child is suffering from any of the teen eating disorders, they should ensure that they communicate with the teen to understand the problem and situation better. However, talking to your teen may not be sufficient, and seeking professional help is advised.

Programs to treat teen eating disorders by treatment and therapy centers such as Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers are designed to help adolescents get over eating disorders.

There are various treatment techniques and methods used in the effective treatment of teen eating disorders. Skilled and experienced therapists, doctors, nutritionists, and other personnel from a treatment center will usually work together to ensure the best results possible in the treatment of teen eating disorders.

Please call one of our specialists at Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers or click below for more information on teen eating disorders.

California Programs For Troubled Youth and Struggling Teens

Teens are increasingly becoming addicted to prescription drugs and narcotics, and for many with children between the of ages 13 and 18 there exists a host of problems that can be too much for any parent to handle. However, the rise in teen addiction each year supersedes the necessary aid and programs for troubled youth.  

Few programs exist to treat the adolescent with substance abuse problems. Treating  adolescents with addiction alongside of adult addicts rarely provides the specialized treatment of teen specific issues.  The influence of life long alcoholics and drug abusers rarely provides the peer environment most youths need to identify with.  The sad fact is that there are only a handful of states that have such programs for troubled youth; California is one of them.

Located in Malibu California, Visions Teen is a residential treatment program for teens struggling with the paralyzing grips of addiction and mental illness. At Visions Teen there is a home environment that addresses the needs of both the troubled youth and the family unit.  Visions Teen utilizes informed programming techniques specific to dialectical behavior therapy in an inclusive and rural environment exclusively for teens.

Visions Teen’s programs offer a residential treatment program that lasts from 45 to 90 days. This time gives experienced doctors and clinicians the time needed to fully asses a teen’s stressors, conditions, and behavioral issues that have led them to their self destructive patterns.  Each teen works with their own psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed therapists, and counselor to identify the underlying causes of their addiction and to implement a treatment program that is tailored to their specific case.

At Visions Teen positive peer interaction is exhibited in which teens can both relate and communicate in terms that are comfortable for them alongside others their own age. Identifying with peers that are dealing with like issues and stressors makes for an environment of collective healing that aids in their establishing healthy peer relationships under medical and professional supervision. This beginning of modeling healthy, age-appropriate relationships and behaviors helps them to repeat these positive actions once they return home.

If you are looking to find programs for troubled youth, or if your teenage son or daughter is suffering from addiction or any other kind of crisis, call Visions Teen at 866-889-3665. Our professional and experienced staff is standing by with help that is designed specifically for the at risk youth in your life.

Teenage Drug and Alcohol Substance Abuse Programs

How Does Substance Abuse Begin?

For many teens, using drugs and alcohol began as an escape from daily problems, a way to find acceptance in a group, or simply as a tantalizing forbidden source of entertainment. Regardless of why they began the behavior, teens often allow using drugs and alcohol to become an addiction that threatens to engulf a their life, dreams, and potential.  

What are the Results?

Substance abuse can send teens into a downward spiral that affects every aspect of their lives. The effects can be:

• Physical – Alcohol abuse takes a toll on many of the body’s organs, but especially the liver and the brain. Overtime, liver damage can lead to fatty liver disease, which can be fatal. More acutely, however, both alcohol and drugs damages the brain. This effect is particularly alarming because adolescence is a vital time for brain development.
• Mental/Emotional – Drugs and alcohol, which are commonly used to self-medicate mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, can ironically make them worse. Still worse, some drugs such as hallucinogens, can even precipitate more severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia in individuals who are genetically predisposed to such disorders.
• Social – Substance abuse can cause problems with friends and family when teens need positive support the most.

What Can Be Done to Help?

Fortunately, there is hope. Many treatment options exist for teens who need help recovering from alcohol and drug abuse. Among the treatment options, specialized residential substance abuse programs are the most comprehensive. These programs are designed to surround teens with a supportive, constructive environment to help them work towards recovery. Dedicated professionals such as psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists are on staff to ensure that the teens get the treatment they need. Moreover, teens in the program gain positive social support through participating in the program with other teens with similar issues who are working on learning how to cope with their problems in positive ways.

How Do I Enroll My Teen?

If you think that substance abuse programs would benefit your teen, speak with a representative for Visions Adolescent Treatment Center. The staff at Visions understands that a teen’s substance abuse can affect the entire family, so Visions is committed to providing resources to heal the entire family. Help for your family is just a call away.

Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.

Summer is right around the corner and most teens are chomping at the bit to get out of school and run amuck. Teens look to summer as though it is meant to be full of languorous weeks of doing nothing.

Is your teen suddenly refusing to go to summer camp? Try looking at this from your teen’s perspective: Are they simply asking for more freedom and less structure? Now try looking at it from your own: Is there a new social circle involved or is this a legitimate request for trust and independence? Has your teen earned your trust and shown you they are capable of being responsible to this degree?  If it’s the latter, perhaps your teen is ready for an independent summer. This has to be earned, however, and has to come with a built-in infrastructure of firm boundaries and reliable familial support.

For parents, summer may represent stress, fear, and concern. When our kids were younger, it was easier to arrange for full-day summer camps and activities and just send them off. During the teen years, it’s not unusual for teenagers to mightily disagree with attending camp as they individuate and want independence.  The biggest challenge for parents is finding a way to eliminate or lessen boredom because boredom creates a breeding ground for reckless behavior.

It’s not uncommon for teens to be on their own during the summer break, despite the availability of various summer camps. A teen self-monitoring themselves can realistically look like young adolescents with too much time on their hands, wandering around with friends, looking for things to do. This is a perfect recipe for trouble: adolescence, boredom, time, freedom, and few responsibilities.

The following things with help you build a foundation for a good summer:

• Create a schedule. This can help create a sense of productivity and will help alleviate boredom.
• Boundaries: Create and maintain healthy boundaries. If you don’t want your son or daughter to go to a specific place, say so and have a consequence if they break the rule. Boundaries are limitations devised to generate safety and respect.
• Family dinners: Sit down every night, whether it is at home or in a restaurant. Make dinnertime the time when you sit down and reconnect as a family. Turn off media, and technology and spend quality time with each other.
• Encourage your teen to get a job: Jobs teach responsibility and provide structure. Jobs teach one how to show up, stay occupied, and they encourage healthy self-esteem and a sense of independence.
• Encourage your teen to volunteer: There are tons of volunteering activities available. Animal shelters, youth camps, food banks, et cetera. Being of service is empowering and teaches responsibility.
• Encourage your teen to be active: Learning to surf, running, swimming, rock climbing. Summer is the time to get outside and get active. A tired teenager is a good thing!

Staying busy and active means there are less opportunities to get into trouble. Kids who are active and occupied in healthy, productive ways, are less likely to use drugs.  However, if you are concerned that your children are using drugs, you can purchase some home drug tests and have them on hand. Let your child know that you will test them if you suspect unsavory activity. We see a lot of kids in early fall; part of that is due to the fallout from getting high over the summer. Parents need to stay aware and on top of what’s happening in the lives of their teens.

While boredom and idle time is dangerous for adolescents, complacency and unawareness is detrimental for parents.

Southern California Best Reviewed Programs For Troubled Youth

Growing up in today’s society can be a challenge for adolescents, especially with the growing popularity of the Internet and other media outlets, which expose them to many topics they would normally not encounter at such a young age. An early knowledge of drugs, violence, and other realities of life often affects their attitude and their outlook on life. The programs for troubled youth at Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers are specifically designed with today’s youth in mind and are aimed at finding the root cause of any issues holding them back from success. Visions offers many programs to treat drug and alcohol addiction, eating and body image disorders, and mental health issues.   

Adolescent Residential Treatment 

Residential treatment is ideal for teens struggling with addiction, mental health issues, and other issues that may be negatively affecting their daily life. During their stay, the roots behind their problems are addressed so that steps can be taken to resolve them. We promote a successful and drug-free future by keeping them engaged in recreational activities, offering professional care, and providing a beautiful and positive environment in which they can grow.

Adolescent Out-Patient Counseling 

Vision’s counseling program is perfect for youth who are adjusting to a new and improved life after completing more intensive treatments. The first stage helps to make improvements in a teen’s daily life both at home and academically. The second stage focuses on the family as a whole to ensure that they are also an important part of the teen’s recovery. Between family sessions, individual sessions, clinical support and drug testing you can be sure that your teen stays on track after finishing residential treatment.

Adolescent Day School

Vision’s Day School is a great choice for teens who are struggling to adapt in a private or public school setting. When a teenager fails to thrive in their learning environment, their chance for success is truly impeded. The program offers one-on-one instruction to ensure that each child understands the curriculum while also receiving the best possible education. By performing random weekly drug testing, and providing individualized counseling, you can be sure that your teen is staying focused and on track.

By enrolling your child in the right programs for troubled youth, their chance of success is greatly increased. Visions understands the many struggles that teenagers face which is why they aim to improve your child’s self esteem by reinforcing the importance of positive lifestyle choices.