Drug Addiction Help

Drug Addiction Help for Adults

Adults who are suffering from drug addiction are more apt to seek help than their younger counterparts. Even so, sometimes it takes an intervention from family members, friends, or the court system to make an individual realize that drug addiction help is necessary.

Though there are many different treatment options available for teens, those who are over the age of 18 have almost unlimited access to drug treatment resources. Some of the most common treatment programs include:

• Addiction counseling
• Behavioral therapy
• Drug Detox
• Group therapy and support services such as Narcotics Anonymous
• Medication programs

Many formal drug rehab programs combine two or more of these treatment options to enhance and encourage the recovery process. Before entering into any of these treatments, it is a good idea to explore your options and do the best to pick the one you think will be most helpful to your individual situation.

Drug Addiction Help for Teens

Experimentation with drugs is common among teenagers. Unfortunately, many of the teens who experiment don't consider the long-term consequences of their actions. They also don't realize that certain drugs can lead to a debilitating addiction.

Drug addiction is becoming a serious problem among teenagers. Below are just a few of alarming statistics associated with teen drug abuse:

• More than 60% of teens surveyed said drugs were used, kept, or sold at their school. (http://www.gdcada.org)
• By the 12th grade 52.8 percent of teenagers will have used illicit drugs (http://www.teendrugabuse.us)
• The average age of first marijuana use is 14 (http://www.focusas.com)
• Ten percent of teens surveyed say that they have attended a rave where ecstasy and other drugs were readily available. (http://www.teendrugabuse.us )

Often, teens that have a problem with substance abuse do not get the drug addiction help they need because parents are unaware of the situation or unfamiliar with chemical dependency. This is why it is so important to be involved in the lives of your children and to get the education you need to make smart choices about their physical and mental well being.

Here are just a couple of the substance abuse treatment options available to teens:

• Counseling. No matter which treatment option you inevitably choose, addiction counseling or behavioral therapy will prove to be a critical component. In counseling and therapy sessions, teens can learn how to resist peer pressure and replace drug using with other more fulfilling activities.
• Medical detoxification. For teens who are on hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, and OxyContin, medical detoxification can help to reduce some of the physical symptoms of withdrawals. Detox alone is not usually sufficient when it comes to long-term abstinence, but it can be a starting point for drug addiction help.

It is important to remember that not every treatment option will work for everyone. Addiction recovery is a long-term process and treatment may need to be repeated and reinforced in order to be effective.

It is also good for parents to keep in mind that treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. In some cases, parents will need to be the motivators if they want their teens to get help.

Off-Site Resources

If you are interested in learning more about drug addiction help for adults and teens, consult some of the following resources:

• http://www.soberrecovery.com/
• http://www.drug-addiction.com/
• http://www.nida.nih.gov/
• http://www.nicd.us/
• http://www.teen-drug-abuse.org
• http://www.na.org/