About Drug Rehabilitation Centers for Teens

Overview

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that by the 12th grade, more than 23 percent of teens have used illicit drugs. While the government agency reports a decline in teen drug use of marijuana and crystal methamphetamine, it reports an increase in nonmedical prescription drug abuse, particularly Vicodin, barbiturates and opiates. While many drug rehabilitation centers for teens are incorporated into facilities for the general public, there are a number of programs designed specifically to treat teenage substance abuse.

Residential

Long-term residential treatment centers are most successful in treating adolescents with substance abuse problems, report researchers at Sober Recovery, a drug treatment resource site. Teens typically spend anywhere from several months to a year or more in the centers and receive educational instruction in addition to supervised drug treatment counseling. Also referred to as therapeutic communities, teens are supervised 24 hours a day and follow strict rules and regulations.

Wilderness Programs

Wilderness treatment programs are popular alternatives for teens with drug problems. In programs such as Outback, an SUWS program, teens are subjected to natural outdoor challenges that teach them self-reliance, coping skills, teamwork and responsibility in a drug-free environment. Wilderness therapy programs help teens to acquire self-confidence by learning survival skills and working with therapists and counselors trained in outdoor therapeutic techniques.

Boarding Schools

Boarding schools such as Sunhawk Academy provide substance abuse treatment in addition to strong academic and physical activity programs. Students live at the school and focus on academic achievement while receiving ongoing counseling for their addiction problems. Students can earn a high school diploma and participate in sports and other extracurricular activities at residential boarding schools tailored for teens with behavioral problems and substance abuse issues.

Outpatient

Inpatient drug rehabilitation centers for teens often are expensive and not covered by insurance, since many involve private school instruction in addition to drug treatment services. For parents that cannot afford inpatient treatment, state and community-run drug rehabilitation centers for teens such as the Memorial Herman Prevention & Recovery Center in Minnesota provide day counseling and groups that teens can attend to receive specialized treatment.

Families

The entire family is affected when teenagers begin using drugs, say researchers at Helpguide.org, a nonprofit online resource. Recovery programs for teens should include therapy for the family that consists of communication training and education. Families learn what to expect when their teen returns from treatment and how best to deal with possible mood swings and erratic behavior. Families also need counseling to recover from the damage that has been done to the family so that it does not continue to suffer from a teen's drug abuse and the consequences it brings.