Adolescent Substance Use Disorder

Substance use disorder starts early – 90% before 18 years of age.

Teenagers are at a disadvantage when experimenting with substances because their brains lack full development. Teens struggle with impulse control and decision-making with their developing prefrontal cortex.

Add raging hormones, peer pressures, and a developing sense of self into the mix, and we have a recipe for experimenting with high-risk behaviors.

When teenagers begin using substances at a crucial developmental stage, it alters their moods, decisions, and the way they think, feel, and act. Substances jeopardize their forming views of the world and how they view themselves.

If you’re seeking treatment for your teen, we will explore past and high-risk factors to understand the cause for their behavior fully, help your teen resolve it, and move forward.

Our teens have different treatment needs.

Teenage substance use disorder requires a different approach from the approach used with adults. Adolescents have unique developmental issues, differences in their values and belief systems, and unique environmental considerations.

Treatment for adolescent substance use disorder should identify developmental delays and their connections to academic performance, self-esteem, or social interactions.

Effective therapy must incorporate the nuances of the adolescent’s experience – including cognitive, emotional, moral, and social development – to understand why substance use becomes a part of their maladaptive coping skills and identity.

The solution to the problem is as unique as your child is to you. There are many paths and ways to help your child change their relationship with substances.

Let’s take a family-based approach.

Parenting is very hard. If you have found your way here, you are likely a concerned parent trying to find ways to help your teen.

You may have noticed changes in your son or daughter, decreased communication, isolation, high-risk behaviors, changes in school performance, increased anger, or more.

As their parent, you are more likely to face judgment, shame, and misunderstanding from your family and community. Substance use disorder in the family can feel incredibly isolating.

Having a deep-rooted fear of what could happen if your child continues to use substances and feeling like no one understands what you are going through impacts your teenager and you.

There is hope.

There are evidence-based, effective ways to help your loved one with a substance use disorder. Despite what you may have heard about enabling and detaching with love, you can learn proven strategies to help your teen.

Treatment is different for each teen and their family, and finding your unique path to healing is what matters most.

When you walk into a new darkroom, you need a shining light to begin to navigate the new terrain. Therapy and understanding can be that light for you and your teen to come together and heal.

The studies show that early intervention is key to stopping substance use disorder in its tracks. I can provide parents with one-on-one coaching if they would like tools and strategies to communicate with their teens and decrease the risks of developing substance use disorders. Prevention and education are essential.

Find hope today by contacting me.