All over the United States, young adults and teens struggle with addiction. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is stressful, and many teens and young adults turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with this stress. Over the past 40 years, substance abuse disorders have soared among people ages 18 to 30. About one out of two high school graduates have tried an illegal drug or alcohol. Those who experiment with drugs or alcohol at younger ages are more likely to develop a substance use disorder. Teenagers and young adults have different treatment needs when it comes to recovering from addiction. At Long Island Treatment Center, we offer specialized programs for young adult rehab.
Table of Contents
- Which Drugs Do Young Adults Abuse?
- Why Do Teens and Young Adults Develop Substance Use Disorders?
- How Experimentation Leads to Addiction in Young People
- Why Don’t Young Adults Seek Help for Addiction on Their Own?
- How Drug Rehab for Young Adults Is Different from Other Programs
- Why Professional Help Is Needed for Overcoming an Addiction
- Inpatient Alcohol and Drug Rehab for Young Adults
- Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Rehab for Young Adults
Which Drugs Do Young Adults Abuse?
Young adults often experiment with prescription drugs, such as stimulants used to treat ADHD and other common conditions. They may also experiment with opioid painkillers they find in the medicine cabinet at home. Other drugs commonly misused or abused by teens and young adults include
Why Do Teens and Young Adults Develop Substance Use Disorders?
Teens and young adults experiment with drugs for many reasons. These experiments are often the first step in addiction. Some of the reasons why young people turn to alcohol and drugs include
- Stress relief
- Social cohesion
- Chasing bliss
- Pressure to perform
- Depression
Stress Relief
School, athletics, college applications, and jobs cause anxiety and stress in teens and young adults. They may use alcohol or drugs as an outlet for stress and tension relief.
Social Cohesion
Teens and young adults want to fit in with their friends. If a friend invites them to try drugs or alcohol, they may feel as if there’s no harm in trying something new. They may want to feel a sense of belonging to their social group.
Chasing Bliss
Many illegal drugs deliver a sense of pleasure or euphoria. For a person who often feels stressed or as if nothing good ever happens to them, they may desire this sense of overwhelming joy. After they experience the high of drugs once or twice, they begin to crave that feeling of happiness.
Pressure to Perform
Teens and young adults feel the pressure of needing or wanting to be the best athlete, most talented scholar, or leader in their first job. Some drugs improve performance and increase the likelihood of winning, but those improvements are only temporary once the addiction takes over the young adult’s life.
Depression
Some teens and young adults try to self-soothe with alcohol or drugs. Many people joke about getting drunk after a breakup. Young people may use drugs to numb feelings after not getting into the college or internship program they wanted or after getting turned down for jobs or promotions.
How Experimentation Leads to Addiction in Young People
Using alcohol or drugs is often seen as harmless by young adults. They have a sense of immortality and a mindset that addiction can’t happen to them. However, addiction can develop after just one use. After a time, the brain can’t make its own oxytocin and other feel-good chemicals, and the young adult becomes dependent on the substance to create those feelings.
Why Don’t Young Adults Seek Help for Addiction on Their Own?
Despite the rise in drug use among teens and adults, people under the age of 30 are less likely to seek treatment compared to older adults. Many teens and young adults don’t understand the severity of the addiction or the consequences of substance use disorders. In many cases, teens and young adults won’t attempt to stop using drugs or alcohol until they experience a serious adverse effect, such as getting a DUI charge or losing their job or significant other. Even when a serious consequence occurs, the young adult will often attempt to self-treat with more alcohol or drugs rather than getting help from a young adult rehab program.
How Drug Rehab for Young Adults Is Different from Other Programs
At Long Island Treatment Center, our addiction medicine specialists understand that young adults need different treatment programs to forge a path for recovery. Recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all process for every teenager or young adult. We tailor the program to address the whole person’s needs. This addresses the triggers or causes of the addiction in addition to the substance use disorder. In our young adult rehab, we offer activities, therapies, and amenities that young people need in order to move on from a substance abuse disorder. With a personalized treatment program, addiction to drugs or alcohol doesn’t have to be a lifelong battle for a young adult.
Why Professional Help Is Needed for Overcoming an Addiction
If you or your loved one has a substance abuse disorder, professional treatment is a must. Coming off harmful drugs, such as opioid painkillers or heroin involves intense withdrawal symptoms. When the detox takes place in a supervised medical setting, this reduces the risk of relapse and promotes lifelong sobriety. Our young adult rehab programs have tools to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and address the reasons behind the addiction. We also offer ongoing support to help you or your loved one stay motivated to be sober for life.
Inpatient Alcohol and Drug Rehab for Young Adults
We offer several types of inpatient alcohol and drug rehab for young adults. The duration of the program depends on the type of drug or alcohol addiction, the severity, and duration of the addiction, whether or not the young adult has a concurrent mental health disorder, and their overall health.
An inpatient young adult rehab program is the most intensive type of treatment option. It’s also the most effective at promoting long-term sobriety. Inpatient treatment is a multi-stage process. At the end of the process, participants often transition to ongoing outpatient services to maintain their sobriety.
The duration of inpatient young adult rehab programs typically ranges from 30 to 90 days. Upon admission to our residential facility, you’ll go through an intake and assessment. This evaluation includes a physical exam. It also includes an evaluation of your mental health and diagnosis of any concurrent disorders, such as anxiety or depression.
In our inpatient programs at Long Island Treatment Center, we offer structured and medically supervised detox. The detox period may take a few days to several weeks, depending on the type and severity of substance abuse. Once the detox stage is complete, we work with you to create an individualized treatment and recovery plan. We set up clinical milestones, and when you reach them, we celebrate. During your inpatient stay with us, you can work on your recovery and life goals in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment.
After detox, you’ll start the therapy process. We offer individual and group therapy. This continuing period of care also includes counseling on developing healthy coping mechanisms for stress, managing difficult situations and relationships, and creating healthy habits and routines for self-care. Many people who plan for a 30-day inpatient stay choose to extend their stay for another month or two in order to ensure their chances at a successful recovery.
After your inpatient stay at Long Island Treatment Center, you may opt to move to a sober living home. In this environment, you live with others who are in the early stages of recovery from a substance use disorder. These facilities are also called halfway houses. Each facility has 24/7 supervision from social workers, addiction treatment specialists, and psychologists. You’ll learn how to socialize and engage in activities that aren’t centered around drug or alcohol use. You’ll also develop real-life coping skills for handling stressful situations. Sober living homes have requirements for mandatory meetings, cleanliness, and curfews. Rooms are checked for illicit substances, and guests are strictly limited. You may be required to undergo random drug or alcohol testing as part of your residency in a sober living home.
Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Rehab for Young Adults
Your or your loved one’s treatment doesn’t end after inpatient drug rehab for young adults. We offer ongoing recovery and support groups at Long Island Treatment Center and in the surrounding community. These outpatient services provide continuing accountability and help for maintaining sobriety. Some of these groups are for particular participants, such as people who identify as LGBTQI+, and others are geared toward specific types of addictions, such as alcohol. We also offer groups that any young adult with a drug or alcohol abuse disorder may attend.
Another important part of alcohol and drug rehab for teens and young adults is family therapy. Families can be a source of stress as well as a source of support. In many cases, addictions run in families. We help families nurture healthy support and repair connections damaged by addiction.
Young people can move past addiction and lead healthy, productive, and satisfying lives. If you or your loved one has an addiction to drugs or alcohol, we’re ready to help. For more information about drug rehab for young adults, contact us at Long Island Treatment Center today.