Alcoholism Treatment Program for Teens

Many believe experimenting with drugs and alcohol is just a part of being a teenager. Everyone does it, right? Who hasn’t partied with their friends during their high school and college years? If my teenager is just experimenting, why would they need an alcoholism treatment program?

Maybe the drinking and drug use isn’t something to be too concerned about. But if your teen is starting to use these substances more frequently, get in trouble due to drinking, or participating in this behavior when they’re alone, it might be time to intervene and help them seek some sort of treatment.

If you’re worried about the amount of alcohol your child is consuming, you aren’t alone. Other parents in Flower Mound and the greater Dallas area are going through exactly what you’re going through, and there are ways to identify the root of the problem.

What could possibly be the reason for this frequent drinking? There are several potential reasons for this. Maybe it stemmed from peer pressure or just curiosity. These are valid reasons to consider, but self-medicating from the stress of adolescence is a more likely cause, especially if they are drinking in solitude.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University studied over 700 young adults’ drinking habits and found that teens and 20-somethings who drank alone had a 50 percent higher chance of developing alcoholism by age 25 than those who drank in a social setting.

We all remember what it’s like being a teenager. The stress of high school, applying for colleges and deciding what to study, SAT’s… most of these experiences are not thought of fondly. These intense pressures that come with being a young adult can be too much to handle for some, and even cause many teens to feel depressed or have anxiety.

Did you know that an estimated one in five adolescents from all walks of life will suffer from depression at some point during their teen years? Although depression in adolescents is fairly common, most teens do not receive treatment for their mental health issues.

Because most teenagers are not receiving professional treatment and do not know how to cope with these new, intense pressures in their lives, it makes sense that they would self-medicate by drinking.

Most pressures and stressful situations teens experience come and go. If they're in a slump, they'll move on eventually, and there won't be a need for treatment, right?

Maybe, maybe not. Every case of depression and every situation that a teen goes through is different. Although an alcoholism treatment program may sound extreme, it could be extremely beneficial for your child and the whole family. There are specific signs to watch for to get a better sense if your child has a serious problem with drinking or not.

Avoid shaming and blaming at all costs. Focus on understanding why your teen is using and then work together WITH them to find alternative strategies that could work. Help them envision goals in their lives and discuss ways to achieve them. 

When you talk with your child, just listening to them can be the most important thing you can do. Making your teen feel like they’re able to talk honestly about how they feel can help them open up and feel less isolated. 

It could also be beneficial to speak with their teachers, or even their friends to know how your teen is acting outside of your home. This could be especially helpful if your child is not willing to open up about their depression, anxiety, or drinking habits. 

Now you’re probably wondering how an alcoholism treatment program works, what kind of options are out there for your child and how they can learn healthy coping mechanisms that don’t involve drinking.