Adolescent substance abusers differ from adults in many ways. Their drug and alcohol use often stems from different causes, and they have even more trouble projecting the consequences of their use into the future. In addiction treatment, adolescents must be approached differently than adults because of their unique developmental issues, differences in their values and belief systems, and environmental considerations (e.g., strong peer influences). The use of substances may also compromise an adolescent’s mental and emotional development from youth to adulthood because substance use interferes with how people approach and experience interactions.
It is the philosophy of Visions that the effective treatment of adolescents with substance abuse and behavioral disorders involves a holistic approach that includes attention to adolescents’ emotional growth and development of:
- Physical health
- Psychological health
- Family relations
- Social supports
- Cultural factors
Every person who enters our facility is an individual with varied needs and problems. We avoid “pigeon-holing” anyone. We see each resident as a whole being, thus all aspects of recovery are addressed including psychological, environmental and physical. While the primary focus is on the need to maintain sobriety, other issues such as eating disorders, cross-addictions, low self-esteem, anger management, and family dysfunction will be assessed and addressed for the greatest success of our residents.
Visions believes teen recovery from chemical dependency, addictive behaviors and psychological disorders is a lifelong process. Visions teaches their residents the necessary skills required for on-going self-care and recovery including direct involvement in 12-Step community based programs. Following the initial recovery/stabilization period, each individual is encouraged to integrate a series of new living skills which focus on the development and nurturing of one’s mind, body and spirit and utilize the vast resources of adjunct therapies available. Such therapies include nutritional, meditation, yoga and experiential therapies.
The focus at Visions also accounts for age, gender, ethnicity, cultural background, family structure, cognitive and social development, and readiness for change. Younger adolescents have different developmental needs than older adolescents, and teen addiction treatment approaches are developed appropriately for different age groups.
Teen Program Goals and Objectives
- Encourage and motivate the adolescent to achieve and sustain abstinence.
- Assist the adolescent in identifying situations where drugs and alcohol were used to cope with life’s problems and in understanding that using drugs and alcohol to cope with or solve problems does not work.
- Help the adolescent to develop new, more effective problem-solving strategies.
- Introduce the adolescent to the 12-step philosophy and strongly encourages participation in Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and/or Cocaine Anonymous (CA).
- Assist the adolescent to recognize and acknowledge the existence of destructive behaviors and mental health issues in their lives and the impact they have on their family, friends and future.
- Help the adolescent to recognize and change problematic attitudes and behaviors which that may that may stimulate a relapse.
- Involve family and/or significant others in the rehabilitation process and reduce dysfunction within the family.
- Assess and meet the psychological and psychiatric needs of the adolescent.
- Assess and meet the medical needs of the resident, by referral.
- Establish a referral network system for services not rendered in our program.
- Assist the adolescent to resolve any legal issues, which may have involved criminal activity.
- Teach the adolescent to seek out and actively become involved in community-based resources including healthy peer groups.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact us today.
Originally posted on May 7, 2007 @ 11:52 am
