Category: Recovery

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Recovery

Adolescent Mental Health Treatment Services in California

Adolescent mental health treatment can be the solution your family needs to address your teen’s issues.  Teenagers with mental health concerns need a unique approach that takes into consideration their continuing social, mental and emotional development and that helps to support the family unit.  Selecting the right adolescent mental health treatment center in California can seem daunting.  You want to balance a location that allows your child to feel comfortable while delivering the level of care they need to manage their illness in a location that is convenient.  Keep the following in mind when evaluating centers.  

  • Individualized Treatment – No two people face the same circumstances when it comes to mental health treatment.  Therefore, it is important to find a program that aims to identify each client’s unique needs before finalizing a treatment plan.  A standardized approach is often ineffective and does not allow adolescents to feel as though they are involved in their own care.
  • Adolescent Focus – Adolescents need a treatment program that takes into account their unique needs.  Adult treatment programs may not be equipped to handle the unique needs of adolescents.
  • Family Involvement – Adolescents have the best chance of success during treatment when they have families that are involved in the process.  In addition to providing support for the teen it is important the family receive therapy to help rebuild relationships that were damaged by the effects of the mental illness.  It is also important the families receive counseling to be able to identify and address poor communication and dysfunction.

Visions Adolescent Treatment Center specialize in addressing the unique needs of adolescents.  The Visions team focus on excellence and providing each teen with the specific support, medication and treatment they need.  Visions provides five treatment options:

  • Residential Treatment – Specifically designed for adolescents between 13 and 18, this inpatient treatment facility combines a supportive environment with intensive treatment.  Each resident is partnered with a psychiatrist and therapist that will work with them throughout treatment and coordinate care with the rest of the treatment team. Stays in the residential adolescent mental health treatment program range from 45 to 90 days.
  • Outpatient Treatment – Two locations in the Los Angeles area offer structured outpatient mental health treatment.   Treatment for both the adolescent and their family is specifically tailored to each person’s needs. In addition to providing mental health treatment, the outpatient program is designed to allow clients to build a support system in their community.  This program is structured for those between the ages of 13 and 18.
  • Day School – One staff member for every three students allows Day School participants to receive the individual attention they need in order to be successful. This setting is ideal for those who are unable to find success in a traditional school environment.  Along with addressing their educational need, the Day School staff includes licensed clinicians who can provide additional support throughout the day.  Day school caters to students between the ages of 13 and 18.
  • NeXt – For some, a long term residential setting is best suited for their adolescent mental health treatment.  NeXt is a long term facility with a minimum stay of 90 days and specifically addresses the needs of teens that require alternative living arrangements.  The program combines ongoing education with clinical treatment and support. The NeXt program is offered to teens between the ages of 15 and 18.
  • LAUNCH – Designed to help adolescents transition into adulthood, the LAUNCH program is for individuals between 18 and 24.  This outpatient program is offered three times a week to support sober living and becoming independent.  

For additional information on the adolescent mental health treatment programs available at Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, schedule an appointment for a consultation.  Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.

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Adolescence Family Feelings Mental Health Parenting Prevention Recovery

Why Listening to Your Adolescent is Invaluable

Do you know the difference between hearing someone and listening to what they are saying to you?

 

Hearing refers to the reception and perception of sound, whereas listening is an action: Listening refers to actively paying attention to what is being said. It also requires the listener’s full attention to the speaker, demonstrated by eye contact, and positive body language. In other words, you can’t listen fully to someone if you are also on your phone, your computer, or watching television. This is an important piece to understand as we positively shift the way we interact with adolescents.

 

One thing I often hear from teens is that they don’t feel like the adults in their lives are listening. The polarizing statement, “You never LISTEN to ME!” punctuated by a slammed door is not an unusual experience for parents of teens. In order to listen to our kids, we have to set aside our reactions and our need to direct or advise. Sometimes, kids need to vent and our best response can be something like, “It sounds frustrating when…” or maybe, “I hear how frustrated you are.” We have to remember that adolescents feel things far more intensely than we do as adults. An issue that is banal to us can FEEL like the end of times.

 

Adolescents have reduced dopamine and serotonin levels, making them more prone to high-risk activities and addiction. A child who feels listened to and heard, has a higher chance of making a healthy decision than the kid who is perpetually dismissed, talked over or ignored. When a child is saying, “I hate you,” or “This sucks!” there’s probably something else there. They don’t really hate you, but they may not be able to communicate that beyond the natural reactivity of their developing brain. What would happen if we listened instead of reacted? A statement like:  “When you are ready, I am available to listen to you” can go a long way with a teenager.

 

Our children mimic our reactions, our problem-solving methods, and our behavioral examples. If we are always nervous, they may be nervous. If we are angry all the time, they may be angry all the time. If we are overcautious, they may be overcautious. The list goes on but the outcome is the same.

 

I am prone to sarcasm. I have a sarcastic sense of humor and have my whole life. This has come back to bite me in the bum with my son, who’s 13 and…sarcastic. Instead of punishing him about the trouble this sarcasm often breeds, we looked at this and processed as a family. Our conclusion: We will curb our sarcasm as a family in an effort to shift the negative perspective others may have. My son felt listened to, we felt listened to, and in the end, a dedicated period of reflective listening proved to be an effective and positive way of dealing with a burgeoning family issue.  We have conversations like this often and as a result, we have a teenager who is willing to share his frustrations and difficulties with us more transparently than most. Conversely, I have observed some of his classmates spinning down the spiral of negative and harmful reactions: eating or starving to process their feelings, cutting themselves as a means of processing their feelings, smoking to process their feelings, et cetera. There isn’t an easy fix, silver bullet, or magic potion. Creating an environment where listening is part of an everyday process takes work and dedication. And sometimes, we may have to drop our parental need to “fix” things so we can listen.

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Recovery

Where is the Best Day School Near Malibu

Day school may be the solution to address the needs of your adolescent.  Be it substance abuse, a mental health issue or an eating disorder, day school provides adolescents with the education they need to succeed in addition to the clinical support they need in order to succeed.  

What is day school?

Day school is an alternate method of education for adolescents who are not able to find success in a traditional school setting.  Unlike a residential treatment program, students in day school are able to return home at the end of their school day.  This allows adolescents to maintain their family and community relationships while receiving ongoing support.

Where is the best day school near Malibu?

Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers offer a day school program for teens between the ages of 13 and 18.  Their program is highly reviewed and his accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  Their program offers many services including:

  • An accredited curriculum that is transferrable to other educational institutions
  • Open enrollment
  • Educational support for all levels from that of remedial students to those in honors level programs
  • An education plan that is tailored to the unique needs of each student to ensure every teen receives the specific instruction they need in order to be successful
  • A student to staff ratio of three to one which allows for each student to receive personalized attention
  • Direct access to teachers and instructors

Supplemental services include:

  • Random drug testing weekly
  • Individual counseling that is personalized to each student’s needs
  • A continually supervised environment
  • Onsite clinical staff
  • Extended hours and tutoring as needed

What is the schedule at Visions Adolescent’s school?

Classes are offered Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm.  The curriculum includes study hall, break periods and physical education. Supplemental instruction and extended hours are available as needed.

What are the qualifications of the educational staff at the school?

All of the educators at Visions’ Day School are also certified counselors, allowing the team to provide educational support while addressing their therapeutic needs. The teaching staff works directly with the students on a daily basis and designs lesson plans for students that reflect each of their specific needs.  The teaching team keeps in contact with both the student’s parents and their home school to ensure alignment in education and treatment.

While each student’s plan is individualized, there are several common goals for Visions’ Day School program:

  • Providing positive, individualized and supportive education with clinical support
  • Completion of general education requirements to allow students to return to a traditional, mainstream school
  • Successful completion of assignments, course completion and graduation from the school program
  • Preparation for college level coursework, entrance exams and standardized tests

What other programs does Visions Adolescent offer?  

Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers offer a number of programs for adolescents and their families.  Understanding that each client is unique and has a different level of need, treatment is offered in a number of settings including:

  • Residential treatment – The inpatient service has stays of 90 to 120 days and provides a safe, positive living environment while clients work to identify and address the root cause of their issues.  The program provides education and therapeutic support for the teen as well as support for the family unit as a whole.
  • Outpatient treatment – With two locations in the Los Angeles area, Visions’ outpatient treatment provides clinical support for adolescents and their families.  Their evening sessions allow teens to play an active role in their lives while receiving treatment in a non-residential setting.
  • Extended residential treatment – For some, a longer, more intensive program is best suited for addressing their individual needs. This program has minimum stays of 90 days and is an ideal solution for individuals who require alternate living arrangements.  These programs aim to support the family as well as the client and aims to rebuild relationships and help families identify an address their areas of dysfunction.
  • Young adult outpatient counseling – LAUNCH is a program that offers continuing outpatient support to young adults between the ages of 18 of 24.  The program is intended other sober living programs and aims to help clients achieve independence while continuing to manage their issues.

For additional information on Visions’ day school and other treatment programs, please contact them today.  Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.

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Recovery

Adolescent Day School in Malibu CA

If your teen is struggling to be successful in school due an addiction, eating disorder or mental health issue, adolescent day school may be the ideal solution.  Day school provides education in an alternative setting with clinical support.  The right day school program can provide your teen with the specific level of educational and clinical support they need to be successful and return to a mainstream education setting.  

Finding The Right Program

All day school programs are not created equal.  It is important to find the right school that is focused on clinical excellence and tailoring their program to meet the needs of each student.  Educators should be experts in their respective fields as well hold certification as counselors.  This enables educators to actively address the students’ needs on multiple levels.

It is also important that the day school program involve parents in the process.  Parental involvement plays a huge role in the success of adolescents.  In addition to providing support, the ideal program will encourage parents to take an active role in their teenager’s treatment.

The Best Adolescent Day School In Malibu

The best day school in Malibu is offered by the adolescent treatment experts at Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers.  Their comprehensive treatment program is successful through treating each client as an individual, and customizing their treatment and education plan to meet their specific needs. Highlights of their day school program include:

  • A staff to student ratio of three to one
  • Onsite clinical staff to address issues as they arise
  • Educational support at all levels from remedial to honors level coursework
  • College prep work including preparation for standardized tests
  • Available tutoring and extended hours
  • Educators that hold counseling certification

Visions Adolescent Day School Schedule

Visions Day School offers classes Monday through Friday from 9 am until 3 pm.  Supplemental programs are available including extended hours and tutoring sessions in order to provide each student with the support they need to be successful.  In addition to education in a classroom setting, students also have breaks, physical education and study hall.

Objectives

Although each student’s educational and clinical program is individualized to meet their specific needs, there are several objectives that apply to all students.

For students that desire returning to a mainstream setting:

  • Providing a supportive and healthy environment for students to learn and receive educational and clinical support.
  • Completing core general education requirements and gaining the tools necessary in order for students to return to, and be successful in, a mainstream classroom.

For students that intend to finish their high school education in day school:

  • Successful completion of Visions Day School curriculum
  • Preparation for college including entrance exams and standardized tests

Treatment Programs At Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers

The founders and staff of Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers understand that each teen has unique needs.  Because of this, the Visions team offers treatment in a variety of ways.  In addition to day school, Visions offers the following:  

  • Residential Treatment – Offered to adolescents between 13 and 18, Visions inpatient treatment program provides a secure, safe and positive environment.  The center offers supervision around the clock and offers separate sleeping quarters for the males and females.  During treatment, adolescents work with a number of professionals including therapists, counselors, physicians and psychiatrists to identify and address the root cause of their issues.  Family is an important part of the treatment process and family counseling sessions help to rebuild the family unit.
  • Outpatient Treatment – Outpatient treatment is provided in two locations in the Los Angeles area to adolescents between of 13 and 18.  These programs are provided in two stages, an 8 week introductory program and a one year intensive therapy program.  Both programs use individual, group and family sessions in order to provide the support teens needs to overcome their issues and maintain stability.
  • Extended Residential Treatment – Some teens require a longer stay in treatment or benefit from alternative living arrangements.  Visions long term program, NeXt, provides residential stays of 90 days or longer.  Care is provided in separate homes for males and females and includes clinical treatment and education.
  • LAUNCH – Specifically designed for the needs of young adults between 18 and 24, LAUNCH is designed as an outpatient program to supplement other sober living programs.  The goal is continued support and helping clients achieve independence.

For additional information on the adolescent day school provided by Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, please reach out to them today.  Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.

Categories
Adolescence Feelings Mental Health Recovery Self-Care

Parenting Teenagers and Maintaining Our Self-Regulation

Teenagers are changeable creatures. Their moods shift rapidly, their bodies change non- stop, and it’s sometimes difficult to notice if something is really wrong or if the persistent eye-rolling, parental irritation is par for the course. In addition to the eye-rolling, teenagers are also not known for their critical thinking skills or wise decision-making. This might mean they will intentionally like/not like a person or situation you dislike, or they may do something just because you don’t approve. It’s frustrating for parents, but it may also be a subtle sign for us pause and look at the larger picture.

 

Sometimes, your child may align themselves with a friend or their family whom you view as undesirable. Perhaps you know something your teenager doesn’t know, but you have to keep it to yourself. Or perhaps you are relying on your parental intuition. Unfortunately, to a teenager, you’re just being annoying and reactive. This reactivity will only push your teen away from you and into the arms of that which you fear.

 

Parents are wise to take some steps to curb reactivity. As we encourage our teenagers to self-regulate, we have to self-regulate too! We have to mirror the behaviors we want.

 

Our reactions are often fueled by our experiences and the stories from the past. These stories inform our present, particularly when we are dysregulated. Bearing witness to our children’s difficulties is not easy when we haven’t been able to grapple with our own.

 

Understanding how to self-regulate allows us to tap into our internal resources so we can be less reactive.  The process of self-regulation requires us to tap into our mind and body connection. When a person is dysregulated, they are disconnected. A fundamental tool in learning to self-regulate is learning to connect with our physical sensations and our bodies. When we are dysregulated, we are reactive rather than responsive. Likewise, when we are self-regulated, we are responsive rather than reactive.

 

A dysregulated parent is an ineffective parent. Perpetual negative reactions propel our teens to become dysregulated as well. This is where parents need to take their own time out and get to a quiet space so they can begin to self-regulate.

 

1: Walk away from the situation so you can check in with yourself.

2: Bring your attention to your feet, and your hands and notice your surroundings.

3: Bring your attention to your belly and your heart: are you angry? Why? Are you scared? Why? What’s present for you?

4: Take 5-10 minutes to allow your breath to settle. Count to 10 slowly, paying close attention to your inhales and exhales.

5: SHAKE IT OUT! Literally: stand up and shake your legs and arms.

 

When we are regulated, we can come to wiser, more succinct means of communication. Perhaps we can even find a way to persuade our teenagers from doing something we don’t like, or perhaps this is an opportunity to revisit the difficult situation at hand with compassion, kindness and a willingness to listen. One thing that I know for a fact is this: Teenagers all want to be seen, heard, and respected.

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Recovery

What Does An Adolescent Outpatient Treatment Program Entail

Adolescent outpatient treatment provides troubled teens with the professional assistance they need, while allowing them to actively participate in their everyday lives.  Additionally, an adolescent outpatient treatment program can provide parents with the support they need to parent a troubled teen and to rebuild family relationships.   

Adolescent outpatient treatment can address a number of issues including:

  • Mental Health Issues
  • Substance Abuse Issues
  • Eating Disorders

What centers offer adolescent outpatient treatment?

A highly rated treatment center, Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers offer a number of programs to address the needs of teens with mental health issues, substance abuse issues and eating disorders.  Their clinically based programs offer adolescents the support they need to overcome and manage their issues.  This is done by treating each client as an individual to ensure each teen receives the precise level of care they need to be successful.  The programs at Visions Adolescent are specifically designed to involve the family as well and to help support the family unit.  The Visions team understands the importance of parent involvement and requires that teens have an involved parent before they can enter treatment.  For adolescents, family involvement is one of the key factors necessary for recovery.

Visions offers adolescent outpatient treatment in two facilities in the Los Angeles area.  These facilities are designed to support treatment of the teen and their family as well as build the foundation for ongoing support through community resources.

What types of programs are available during adolescent outpatient treatment? 

Outpatient treatment can be used differently to meet the needs of an individual.  For some teens, outpatient treatment is a way to transition into, or out of, residential treatment.  For others, outpatient treatment provides the precise level of support needed to identify and address the root cause of a teen’s issues.  For both groups, Visions Adolescent offers two distinct programs:

1st Step Program

An introduction to outpatient care, the 1st step program addresses the needs of adolescents and their family through a number of modalities:

  • 8 week clinical support program with sessions two to three times a week
  • One individual session weekly
  • One family session to address and resolve family issues including dysfunction in communication
  • One group session where families can support one another while they work through the issues that brought them to treatment
  • Drug testing
  • Introduction to 12 step programs for those with substance abuse issues

Intensive Outpatient Program

The intensive program provides additional treatment for both the adolescent and their families. Treatment includes one year of clinical support that is broken into three stages:

  • Months one and two – Primary Care
  • Months three through six – Continuing Care
  • Months seven through twelve – Aftercare Planning

As with the 1st Step Program, treatment is offered in a multitude of ways:

  • Multi-modal group sessions
  • Parental support groups
  • Individual sessions
  • Family sessions
  • Drug testing
  • Introduction to 12 step plans for those with substance abuse issues

What is the Schedule for Adolescent Treatment?

At Visions Treatment is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with sessions held between 4 pm and 9 pm.  Sessions include:

  • Group Therapy
  • Family Group
  • Study Hall
  • Peer Support Group

Who provides treatment within Visions’ outpatient programs?

The treatment team at Visions Adolescent includes:  

  • Therapists
  • Psychiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Counselors
  • Medical Doctors
  • Art Therapists
  • Equine Therapists
  • Registered Dieticians

What services are available for family support?

Studies have repeatedly shown that family involvement plays a very important role in a teen’s success during treatment.  As such, Visions requires parental involvement for all of its clients.  It is common for families to have negative feelings due to their teen’s issues.  The goal of the family treatment is to help turn those negative emotions into hope, awareness and trust.  This is accomplished through family sessions that help to rebuild relationships.  Additionally, the family sessions provide families with the tools they need to identify dysfunction in their relationships and to overcome those obstacles through improved communication.

For additional information on the programs offered by Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, speak with a counselor today.  Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.

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Mental Health Personality Disorder Recovery

New Study: Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Borderline Personality Disorders in Adolescents

In recent news, a study from the Dr. Paul Ammiger and his esteemed colleagues recently published the results of their study, which investigated whether or not Omega-3 fatty acids would “improve functioning and psychiatric symptoms in young people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) who also meet ultra-high risk criteria for psychosis.” The study showed a decrease in the severity of symptoms in young adults who were at high risk for developing psychosis. The study studied 81 young people between the ages of 14-18 who were at “high risk for psychosis.” From this group, they found 15 who had borderline personality disorder.

 

For a period of 12 weeks, half of the group took 700 mg of EPA and 480 mg of DHA a day, while the other half took a placebo. Of those taking the placebo, 29% showed signs of psychosis. However, those taking the Omega-3 fatty acids showed significant improvement.

 

This is really encouraging. Borderline personality disorders are tricky and can be hard to address. The major symptoms revolve around interpersonal interactions, negative sense of self, significant mood swings, and impulsivity. The work involved in treating all mental illness requires a nexus of therapeutic support and a desire for positive change from the patient themselves. We’ve learned that applying Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), for example, has shown positive results in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorders–recent studies have confirmed this, showing lower suicide rates, less self-harming incidents, and less self-removal from treatment.

 

Psychiatry is still a relatively young science, and growth and change are happening quickly as practitioners eagerly seek resolution to some of the most challenging psychological issues. Dr. Ammiger’s discovery regarding the use of Omega-3 fatty acids is profound. The study, though small in scope, produced impressive results: the data “suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, at the right doses for a long-enough period of time, can significantly improve the quality of life for people with borderline personality disorder.”

 

More research around the use of Omega-3 fatty acids will need to be done to ultimately determine the long term efficacy of Omega-3 fatty acids, but Ammiger’s study has shone a light into what is a dark corner for many.

_______________________________

References used for this blog:

Omega-3s in adolescents with borderline personality disorder

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in adolescents with borderline personality disorder and ultra-high risk criteria for psychosis: a post hoc subgroup analysis of a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

 

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Recovery

Find Treatment For Eating Disorders in Malibu CA

Parenting a teen with an eating disorder can be a struggle.  An unhealthy relationship with food can cause problems in a number of areas in a teen’s life, which in turn effect the family as a whole.  Often, food issues are indicative of a bigger emotional issue, one that is best treated professionally.  A clinically based, professional eating disorder treatment program can provide your teen with the tools they need to address and overcome their eating disorder.  

It can seem difficult or even overwhelming to find an eating disorder treatment program that best fits the needs of your teen.  Knowing what to look for in a high quality treatment center can help you to select the best treatment center for your teen and your family.

Adolescent Focus

One of the most important factors in choosing a treatment facility should be their area of focus.  Adolescents with eating disorders have needs that are completely different than adults with similar issues.  Treatment centers that specialize in treating the unique needs of adolescents provide the best setting for adolescents to feel comfortable.  Additionally, a treatment center that focuses on teens provides an environment for your child to form bonds with their peers who are experiencing similar issues.

Treatment Plan

No two individuals are exactly the same.  Therefore, each client should have a treatment plan that is specially designed to address their specific issues, goals and objectives.  Standardized approaches to treatment are often unsuccessful and can leave the client feeling dissatisfied with their treatment.  By involving each teen in the creation of their treatment plan, the teens are more likely to be successful and more likely to be engaged in their treatment.

Family Involvement

Family involvement is extremely important in the lives of adolescents.  Because of this, parental involvement is often a requirement of admission.  The ideal treatment program will have sessions that focus on the specific needs of the adolescent as well as group and family therapy.  It is important that treatment includes helping to rebuild the family unit.  Additionally, family therapy should help families identify areas in dysfunction and to address them as they occur.  These two things combine to create a positive, more successful home environment.

Treatment Options

Adolescents can have vastly different requirements for successful treatment of their eating disorders.  Some may require a stay in a residential treatment program.  Others may benefit from outpatient treatment or day school.  Selecting a center that can treat adolescents in a number of ways can help to facilitate success.

Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers

With locations throughout southern California, Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers focus on providing individualized care to adolescents with mental health issues, addiction issues or eating disorders.  They pride themselves in creating a culture of clinical excellence and have the goal of providing each adolescent with the specific tools they need to be successful in treatment.

Although each client of the eating disorder treatment program has a unique treatment plan, there are multiple goals that apply to all clients:  

  • Encouraging and motivating program participants to achieve a healthy relationship with food and to maintain that healthy relationship.
  • Providing the tools to develop coping and problem solving skills that do not control eating in an attempt to regular another area of life.
  • Helping each client to see the real effect their eating disorder had on their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
  • Establishing benchmarks so that teens can recognize situations that are unhealthy and to adjust those situations to avoid a relapse.
  • Partnering with each teen’s family in order to further support treatment and to begin to heal as a family unit.
  • Developing an aftercare plan that continues treatment using resources in the community.

For additional information on the eating disorder treatment programs available at Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, please contact them today.  Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.

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Addiction Parenting Prevention Recovery Safety

Prevention: The Best Way to Store and Dispose of Prescription Drugs

We see a lot of adolescents who have been abusing prescription drugs, and prescription drug use is being hailed as the new gateway drugs. Parents are often concerned their teens will experiment with street drugs and/or alcohol, but many teens are dipping into a familiar medicine cabinet, looking for a free and easy way to get high. A sticker that says, “May cause drowsiness,” can be misinterpreted to mean one can get high from it. Unfortunately, this sticker can be found on all sorts of medications, including anti-depressants and blood pressure medications.

Sometimes, prescriptions are stolen by teens for their own use, and sometimes it’s for the purpose of trading from friend to friend or at parties. Pharmaceutical bartering amongst the teen set is far too common; two driving factors of adolescent prescription drug abuse are:

1: The misperception that prescription medication isn’t harmful

2: Ease of access to these drugs at home or a friend’s house

 

Some kids start experimenting with prescription drugs because they are trying to find ways to cope with their stress or anxiety; some use it to try to get an “in” with a certain crowd. There are those, too, who have been prescribed a medication for one thing, but notice a “benefit” for something else (like more focus on a test), and begin misusing it or sharing it with friends.

 

  • According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, more than 71, 000 children ages 18 and under are seen in the ER for unintentional overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
  • Two-thirds (66%) of teens who report abuse of prescription medications get them from friends, family, and acquaintances.
  • Among young people ages 12-17, prescription drugs are the second most abused drug (behind marijuana)
  • Teens ages 12-17 have the second-highest annual rates of prescription drug abuse; young adults 18-25 have the highest rate.
  • Every day, 2700 teens try prescription drugs for the first time with the intent of getting high.
  • Nearly one in four teens have taken a prescription medication that was not prescribed to them.
  • One in three teens report being offered a prescription drug or OTC medication for the purpose of getting high.
  • One in three teens report having a close friend who abuses prescription pain medications.
  • One in four teens report having a close friend who abuses cough medicine to get high.
  • One in 10 teens report abusing cough medicine to get high.

 

Parents must take preventative action with their medication. It’s imperative that all medications are accounted for and kept locked up. Do you safely dispose of unused medications? Or do they reside in the dark corners of your medicine cabinet, collecting dust on their exhausted expiration dates?  Are they loosely out on a counter or tabletop for easy access?  Our kids watch us all the time; they learn from our actions and reactions, and they mimic us our behaviors. It’s important to mirror positive actions so our kids do the same. Kids will try anything on, and if taking a lot of medications is part of your habitual behavior, they may try that on too.

 

Here are some guidelines to support healthy means of communication around the use and misuse of prescription drugs, and the safe way to store and dispose of all prescription medications:

  • Communicate with your kids and educate them about the risks of prescription drug abuse. Be honest and age appropriate.
  • Don’t take medications that aren’t prescribed to you. (A recent study by The Partnership at Drugfree.org showed that 27 percent of parents have taken a prescription medicine without having a prescription for it themselves.)
  • Store your medications in a secure place..
  • Keep a record of what medications you have and how much you have – have this information before you lock the meds up.
  • Keep note of your refills;
  • If your teen has been prescribed a medication, make sure YOU monitor it, not them;
  • Educate your friends and relatives about the danger of prescription drugs and encourage them to store them properly;
  • Discard drugs that are either expired or are no longer needed;

 

See HERE for the the list of medications you can flush; beyond this list, please ensure that medications are disposed of as follows, per FDA.gov:

 

1: Remove medication from their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter (this makes the drug less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through the trash seeking drugs).

2: Place the mixture in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container to prevent the drug from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag. Then you can toss them in the trash.

 

Please stay on top of this. The public has access to many viable resources like SAMHSA, Partnership for a DrugFree America, and the Medicine Abuse Project for more information and free pamphlets. If you suspect your child is abusing prescription drugs or any drugs at all, seek help.

Categories
Recovery

Where Should I Send My Child For Inpatient Rehab in California

As a parent, the decision to send your teen to a residential drug treatment program is a brave one.  The choice means you’ve acknowledge that your child requires professional help that is above and beyond the assistance you can provide at home.  It also means that you love your teen so much that you want to give them the best chance at becoming and remaining sober.   To give your child the best chance at success it is important to select the best residential drug treatment program.  Keep the following in mind while reviewing residential treatment options:  

Age Groups

Teenagers are still developing physically, mentally and emotionally.  Because of this, teen drug addiction programs must tailor each teenager’s treatment to reflect their level of the development.  Additionally, staff at the residential drug treatment program must be prepared to deal with issues that are unique to teenagers.  A treatment center that specializes in adolescent addiction issues is the safest choice for drug rehab care.

Personalized Attention

Each client in residential drug treatment has a unique set of experiences and issues.  This means that each person’s treatment plan should be designed to address their specific needs.  Standardized approaches are often unsuccessful and leave the client feeling dissatisfied.  By involving teenagers in the process of creating their own they become engaged in the process and begin to become invested in their own success.  Be wary of any residential drug treatment program that is so rigid that all clients receive the same treatment.

Treatment Team

The ideal residential drug rehab treatment center will have a dedicated therapist and counselor that they will work with throughout the program. Interaction with these two individuals should be supplemented with experts from a number of backgrounds including:

  • Licensed therapists
  • Counselors
  • Psychiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Medical Doctors
  • Registered Dietician
  • Art Therapists
  • Equine Therapists

These highly trained individuals work together to ensure each teen gets the full support they need to overcome their addiction and remain sober.

Family Involvement

The highest rated residential drug treatment centers will have programs that support the family unit as a whole in addition to the treatment each teen receives.  At this stage in their development, adolescents are more likely to follow the lead of their parents which can impact the success of the treatment program.  Chances are the teen’s addictive behavior had a negative impact on not only the individual but their family as well.  Family sessions and family therapy can help to rebuild those bonds and to establish a way of communicating with one another without dysfunction. Be wary of any treatment program that does not allow for parental communication.

With locations throughout southern California, Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers provides individualized drug treatment in inpatient and outpatient settings.  Requirements for admission to their adolescent residential treatment program include:  

  • Residents must be between the ages of 13 and 18
  • Active involvement by a family member or guardian
  • A minimum stay of 45 days and a maximum stay of 90 days

The residential treatment center has separate sleeping quarters for males and females and is constantly supervised for the safety and security of all residents.  Crisis teams are available around the clock so that clients receive the immediate clinical support they need.

Although each client’s treatment plan is unique, there are multiple universal goals for clients with addiction issues including:

  • Development of problem solving skills that do not rely upon drugs or alcohol
  • Educating clients to be able to identify negative behaviors and surroundings that can result in a relapse, and walking away.
  • Introduction of clients to the benefits of a 12 step program

For additional information on the residential drug treatment programs available at Visions Adolescent Treatment Center, contact them today. Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.

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