Many people don’t realize just how prevalent addiction in teens can be. Millions of teens around the world struggle with addiction every day. Yet, many of them do not receive the help that they both deserve and desire. The good news is that there is hope and help if they know where to turn.
How to Help a Teen Struggling With Addiction
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “15% of high school students reported having ever used select illicit or injection drugs – cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, or ecstasy,” and “14% of students reported misusing prescription opioids.” These numbers are also very high for teens who use alcohol.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “12.7 million people ages 12 to 20 (32.9% in this age group) reported that they have had at least one drink in their lives. This includes 6.2 million males ages 12 to 20 (31.4% in this age group),” and “6.5 million females ages 12 to 20 (34.4% in this age group).” So, with such high numbers, how can you help a teen struggling with addiction? The key is to make yourself available and know what to look out for.
The Signs and Symptoms of Teen Addiction
Teens are often very secretive when it comes to alcohol and substance use. There is a simple reason for this – they want to avoid getting in trouble. The issue is that this secrecy can lead to much more trouble, as it does not take long for addiction to take hold. This is why knowing the signs and symptoms of teen addiction can be so crucial. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Experiencing trouble at school (dropping grades)
- Not being able to stop drinking or using once started
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough
- Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems (like constipation)
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
- Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
- Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Causing harm to oneself or others
- Having suicidal ideations
Now, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can be deadly, even for teens. It is not just harmless “experimentation.” This is why reaching out for professional help sooner rather than later is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.
Recovery Options for Teens
The good news is that many effective means, methods, and modalities can help teens recover from addiction sooner rather than later. This includes nature-based therapies like nature-immersion therapy and surf therapy. These therapies can be highly effective because they add an element of excitement that can make teens more engaged and thus more successful in the therapy.
There are many benefits to be gained from surf therapy for teens and adults alike. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Carefully planned water activities tailored to the needs of the individual can contribute to correct psychosocial and cognitive development. The International Surf Therapy Organization summarizes the benefits of adequately indicated surf therapy as follows: improved physical health and mobility; improved mental health, including reduction of specific symptoms, such as posttraumatic stress and depression; improved well-being (strengthening of trust and confidence, encouragement of independence, resilience, and protective coping strategies), and improved social skills.”
A Focus on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is perhaps the most common form of therapy when it comes to helping teens recover from addiction. This is mainly because it has been shown to be highly effective and is evidence-based.
CBT can be particularly effective because it makes the teen an integral part of the process. They become immersed in the process. So, what exactly is CBT?
According to Clinical Psychology: A Publication of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association, “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychosocial treatment that is premised on learning principles. CBT aims to reduce symptoms and improve functioning through targeting behavioral and cognitive processes that underlie or contribute to psychological disorders. Specifically, CBT for SUD frames the use of substances as a behavior that can be both positively and negatively reinforced and is influenced by social and other environmental contexts.” It is also highly effective when used in tandem with other treatments.
Long-Term Success With Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term fixes. That is why all of our plans focus on the future, for both teens and adults.
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.
Many teens struggle with addiction. This includes teens who struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD). The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help teens recover from addiction and get their lives on track before long-term side effects set in. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right track to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about how to help a teen struggling with addiction, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
