Teenage drinking is a severe public health problem in the US. Alcohol is the most prevalently used substance among the youth, and underage drinking poses serious safety and health risks.
The repercussions of underage drinking could impact everyone—regardless of drinking status or age.
Regardless of whether directly or indirectly, we all experience the effects of the aggressive behavior, injuries, violence, property damage, and fatalities that could result from underage drinking. It is not jut a problem for some families—it’s already a nationwide concern.
The causes and effects of alcoholism in teens are very different to those seen in adult alcohol dependents.
Too often, for whatever reason, both adults and teens are treated as if they are one and the same. As a result the outlook for teen alcoholics is pretty bleak. Statistics show that teen alcohol dependents are more likely to go back to alcoholic drinking after 'generic' alcoholism treatment than their adult counterparts.
There are, however, treatment centers out there that treat only alcoholism in teens. There are also adult rehabs that have separate facilities for teens.
It is essential that when looking for a rehab facility for an adolescent that you ascertain whether they cater specifically to teens.
This page looks at the the different needs of adolescents suffering from alcoholism and how treatment should differ accordingly.
Teenage alcoholism treatment and adult alcoholism treatment programs follow similar structures. Both forms of treatment protocol focus on the psychosocial as well as the physiological aspect of the problem.
However, as outlined above, due to the disparate nature of the problem, these alcohol treatment programs need to follow completely different protocols (treatment types).
Choosing an alcoholism treatment center for an adolescent? Use the Alcohol Treatment Facility Checklist to discover if it measures up.
Teenage alcoholism treatment and adult alcoholism treatment adopt the same program outline. The difference lies in the focus or treatment objectives.
In an adult alcohol treatment program, the objectives focus on the need to keep the patient sober and enable recovering patients to maintain sobriety after their treatment while going through their normal daily routine.
Teen alcohol treatment programs come in two major forms.
Teenagers are naturally curious. They want to discover things, explore, and do things their own way. Nonetheless, the pressure to fit in and to belong may make it difficult to resist alcohol if it appears like everybody else is doing it. Thus, the best way to influence your teens to avoid drinking is to foster a trusting and strong relationship with them.
Studies have shown that teens are less likely to start drinking if they feel close and have a wonderful relationship with their parents. With a strong parental bonding, they’re less likely to give in to peer pressure to drink, and will make every effort to meet their parents' expectations not to try to drink.
Here are a few suggestions on building a strong relationship with your children:
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Lead Writer/Reviewer : Kayla Loibl
Licensed Medical Health Professional
Hello!
I am a Mental Health Counselor who is licensed in both New York (LMHC) and North Carolina (LCMHC). I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2015. I have worked in a residential setting, an outpatient program and an inpatient addictions program. I began working in Long Island, NY and then in Guelph, Ontario after moving to Canada. Read More
Sources:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Underage Drinking. October 2020. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking
Stanford Children’s Health. Alcohol Use Among Teens Is Epidemic. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=alcohol-use-among-teens-is-epidemic-1-2443
Medline Plus. Risks of underage drinking. April 9, 2020. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000528.htm
Mayo Clinic. Underage drinking: Talking to your teen about alcohol. October 5, 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teen-drinking/art-20047947
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