1. Recognize the differences between teenage and adult alcoholism.
When you couple the fact that adolescents become addicted to substances more quickly than adults do with the reality that alcohol abuse frequently results in adolescent suicides and traffic deaths, the need for swift intervention becomes obvious. Teens are more likely to abuse multiple substances, while adults tend to foster a singular addiction. Furthermore, teenagers who abuse substances are more likely to have family problems, psychological disorders and higher homicide rates.
When it comes to intervention, the warning signs for adolescents are more subtle than for adults. Treatment generally takes a different course as well. Group therapy has been proven more effective with adolescents than individual counseling, the primary focus of adult treatment. Family involvement and educational components are also prerequisites for successful substance abuse management. Common “red flags” to look for in the life of your teen include possession of drug-related paraphernalia, a sudden drop in academic performance, memory lapse, bloodshot eyes, diminished motor coordination, disinterest in favorite activities, changes in peer group and legal problems. If other family members abuse substances, then the chances that the adolescent will model their addictive behaviors are dramatically increased.
2. Understand the family’s role in alcoholism.
Family members are usually unaware that substance abuse is occurring in their home. Because of this, parents may become “enablers” by helping their teen to avoid the consequences of his or her actions. Despite an enabler’s good intentions, making excuses for an addict’s behavior actually promotes substance dependency. In some cases, children fill the role of “scapegoat” by hoping their misconduct will draw attention away from substance abuse or other family dysfunction.
In either case, the need for family therapy is apparent. Because a child’s environment has a direct impact on his coping strategies and identity, the family can be a place that serves to either heal or hurt. Therefore, it is unwise to treat the adolescent’s addiction, and then place him right back in a family system that could promote relapse. Family therapists encourage family member to make positive lifestyle changes that lead to a happier and more functional environment. Although parents may be tempted to believe their child when he denies substance abuse, this is a tragic mistake. Allowing your teen to manipulate you, failing to enforce rules or letting marital problems affect your teenager only intensify the addictive cycle.
3. Combat denial.
When symptoms of alcohol abuse emerge, the family may be tempted to attribute these signs to other, less-threatening conditions. For example, lethargy, vomiting and severe headaches may be seen as a bad case of the flu when, in reality, the adolescent is exhibiting symptoms of intoxication and its resultant hangover. To make matters worse, family members with detrimental roles, such as the enabler, the scapegoat, the mascot and the lost child, ignore the true causes of family dysfunction and instead channel their energy into concealing serious problems. Denial is not simply something the addicted teenager must thwart; it affects the entire family. The key to successfully overcoming denial is recognizing the real causes of addictive symptoms, and then facing them with steadfast determination. Only then will the teenage alcoholic and his family be in a position to initiate effective treatment.
4. Provide adequate support.
In most cases, great strides are made during the initial months of substance abuse treatment; however, this may breed overconfidence in adolescent alcoholics, leading them to discontinue treatment before its conclusion. When this happens, teenagers sabotage their progress and risk relapse. For this reason, adolescents need the encouragement and support of both parents and friends in order to press through to the final stages of recovery.
Because teenagers are intensely motivated by peer pressure and external perceptions, their treatment should include drug-free social activities, nonalcoholic friends and nonthreatening environments. By providing avenues for teenagers to share their feelings with receptive peers, parents help their children develop new friendships and coping strategies that do not rely upon chemical dependency. The importance of parental support cannot be overstated. According to psychiatric professors at the University of Chicago, “minimal or nil parental support” is the primary indicator of which teenagers will drop out of addiction treatment programs.
5. Consider treatment options.
The first steps to effectively treating alcoholic adolescents are overcoming denial and minimizing family dysfunction. If the family refuses to participate in correcting their maladaptive interactions, then the youth should be placed in an alternate home environment. During the initial stages of recovery, it may be necessary to admit the teenager to a residential treatment facility or hospital where they will receive medical supervision, education and constant support. In addition to curtailing issues such as PTSD, learning disorders, anxiety and depression, common treatment methods include counseling, behavior modification and medication.
During this time, psychotherapists help the adolescent sharpen her social and problem-solving skills in an effort to build trust and self-esteem. It may also be necessary to teach the teenager how to ask for help or share his feelings when he is tempted to resume alcohol consumption. Aftercare involves the creation of positive peer groups and enrollment in self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Finally, adolescent alcoholics must learn to recognize life stressors that could trigger relapse, and then actively surround themselves with additional family support during these difficult times.
