Adolescent Drug Abuse

The rate of adolescent drug abuse is alarming. According to the National Institutes of Health, by the time a student is in 12th grade, about half of them will have tried an illegal drug. Adolescents in this situation are in need of individual therapy in Jacksonville FL. With the proper therapy as well as drug rehab treatment, young people can live a healthy, happy life.

What Type of Drugs Do Young People Use?

While young people may try a variety of drugs, some are more common than others such as:

• Adderall (used for ADHD)
• Prescription opioids (prescribed for pain)
• Tranquilizers (prescribed for anxiety)
• Spice
• Hallucinogens

Any of these drugs can be very harmful to the young person’s developing brain and physical health.

Why is Drug Abuse Among Adolescent Prevalent?

Adolescents begin doing drugs for various reasons. The NIH found the following reasons the most prevalent:

They want to be like others

Fitting in can be a strong motivator for some young people. They may end up doing drugs just because others in their social circles are doing it.

They want to feel good

Drug abuse among adolescent affects the chemistry in the brain producing a temporary high, which makes the person feel elated.

They are self-medicating

Some young people have a mental health disorder that is not being treated. To ease symptoms, they then take drugs. Others have been traumatized or abused and use drugs to hide the pain.

They are experimenting

Adolescents sometimes like to experiment around with different drugs. This can be very dangerous especially if drugs are mixed together.

How Can Adolescent Drug Abuse Be Decreased?

Take proactive measures to decrease adolescent drug abuse. Loved ones with concern about adolescent drug abuse may wonder what can be done to reach the goal. Here are some steps adolescents can take to be drug-free:

• Participate in drug rehab
• Take advantage of counseling so you find the underlying cause of your using
• Remove friends who negatively affect your sobriety
• Join group therapy so you don’t feel alone
• Confide in those who will support your journey

Healing for Adolescent Drug Abuse

Welcome to Beaches Recovery where our staff has experience working with adolescent drug abusers also. We are JCAHO accredited and use evidence-based therapies proven to help young people. Among the therapies and treatments we offer, you will find the following:

• Mindfulness therapy
• Experiential therapy
• EMDR therapy
• 12-step program
• Non-12-step program
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dual diagnosis treatment

Don’t let adolescent drug abuse ruin your future. Seek help today and you can then overcome your addiction by going to a quality drug facility. Contact us at 866.605.0532, and we’ll walk beside you on the journey to healing.