Does Addiction Education Really Help Teens?

As the country collectively deals with an opiate abuse epidemic, the attention falls on the nation’s youth. These are the most vulnerable people among us when evil comes a-calling. For decades, experts and the government have debated the best path for protecting teens from the power of drugs and alcohol. No matter what options people put forth, one important solution seems to be addiction education. The question at hand is “does it really help?”

The Causes of Teen Addiction

It’s difficult for us to always pin teen drug and alcohol addiction on emotional and psychological problems. The initial culprits seem to point towards things like boredom and experimentation. Without the proper addiction education, very few teens can gauge the dangers they might encounter from substance abuse. They are more in the mindset of if it feels good, do it. Many a Florida drug rehab center stay in business for this very reason.

Once teens get access to drugs or alcohol, the landscape quickly changes. It’s then that any preexisting emotional or psychological issues can begin to feed the teen’s desire to self-medicate. That’s the point where they genuinely become vulnerable to addiction and require teen drug rehab programs.

Addiction Education – Does It Work?

The short answer to the question at hand is yes. In this day and age, it’s difficult to find teens who don’t know the names of popular street drugs. In many cases, they even know what to expect from using drugs and alcohol. What they don’t understand is how dangerous it is to abuse substances and the ramifications of addiction on their young lives.

That’s where addiction education can make a difference. For the teens prone to substance abuse because of personal problems, education may be a deterrent. For the kids who just don’t know they are playing with fire, education can make a difference. When dealing with teens, the focus should be on things like:

• Long-term health issues caused by drug abuse
• Onset of severe personal problems at home and school
• Potential for encounters with law enforcement
• Possibility of a drug overdose that could result in death
• Severity of withdrawal symptoms with any attempt to stop using

Help for Teens at Beaches Recovery

Our Jacksonville, Florida facility has programs specifically designed for addicted teens. We can take them from detox to recovery, using the following treatment options:

• Student addiction treatment
• Residential drug rehab
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Family counseling services

If you have concerns about your teen abusing drugs, we can offer you information about addiction education and treatment. The sooner you address any potential problems, the more likely your teen will stay clear of trouble. If you would like our help, contact a Beaches Recovery addiction specialist at 866.605.0532.