A drug intervention takes significant planning and organization, and anyone who has never been involved with an intervention may not know where to start. It’s also a very delicate thing, with any number of elements that can go wrong. That’s why it’s best to work with an intervention specialist or interventionist who can help you plan your event, coach you on what to say, and provide you with the materials you need to educate your loved one about treatment options.

What does an interventionist do?

Close family members and friends of an addict often have raw feelings about the issue. The mere act of discussing how the addiction has hurt them can be extremely difficult, and talking about it to an addict’s face can be overwhelming. That’s why you need someone who is not emotionally involved in the situation to take the reins at the event. When things get off course or overly emotional, the intervention specialist is there to keep the event moving forward.

But even before the event takes place, your intervention specialist will be closely involved with all the planning and preparation. Your specialist will advise you on when to hold the event, how to approach your conversation with the addict, and how to deal with any difficulties that arise. All in all, he or she will be the guiding hand ensuring that everything goes well.

How to find an intervention specialist

Drug interventionists are available from multiple resources. As you begin to prepare for your intervention, you’ll be doing research into the treatment options in your area. Call around to treatment facilities and find out if they have staff with expertise in interventions. Meanwhile, support groups often have organizers who double as intervention specialists either as volunteers or for a fee. It can’t hurt to call and ask.

Do you suspect that you may have a problem with alcohol? If so, you don’t have to wait any longer to make the change, and you certainly don’t have to wait for your family to give you an alcohol intervention. You may feel understandably reluctant to openly admit that you have a problem—after all, quitting is hard—but you’re not you’re not going to change your patterns until you’re willing to confront this head-on. The fact that you’re reading this is a sign that you’re making progress; now it’s time to back these thoughts with real action.

Think of it this way: if a close family member were having long-term difficulties with drinking, you’d probably want to give them an alcohol intervention, right? No one knows you better than you know yourself, so who better than yourself to confront you with the hard truths about your problem?

One of the things that makes alcohol interventions so valuable is that they show alcohol abusers that their habits do affect others, often in very negative ways. As the first step of your self-intervention, be honest about the harm your habit has done to yourself and others. In what ways have you and your loved ones been hurt? How has your life been set back? What important things have you sacrificed to support your alcohol habit? If it helps, write out a list of all your answers. Be as honest as possible.

Next, educate yourself about your options. If you don’t have any personal experience with rehab or alcohol treatment, then you may have some misconceptions about how it works. Read all the information you can about the philosophies underlying rehab and alcohol recovery, and then find out about treatment facilities in your area. After that, all you have left to do is start the ball rolling on your treatment.

The idea of giving yourself an alcohol intervention may seem a little crazy, but if you’re the only person who knows how serious your problem is, then you can’t rely on others to set you straight. Make the change yourself by admitting that you have a problem, taking stock of the damage it has done, and taking steps to seek treatment.

Upon entering inpatient substance abuse programs, patients embark on a journey that will take them through several stages of treatment. Different inpatient substance abuse programs are based on different treatment philosophies, but most seek to ease patients through the difficult early stages while laying the groundwork for a stable, drug- and alcohol-free life in the long run. If you’re considering an inpatient substance abuse program for yourself or a loved one, here are the stages of treatment to expect:

Step 1: Intake

Upon admittance to the facility, the patient meets with a doctor to identify any medical concerns and to set a treatment plan. The doctor will decide how best to approach the detox stage, and they will provide any medications that may be needed to get through the withdrawal stage.

Step 2: Detox

Depending on the nature of the patient’s addiction, the symptoms of withdrawal may begin within a few hours or a couple of days. As the cravings begin to develop, the patient continues to meet with the doctor to help monitor and regulate the symptoms. It’s essential in this stage for the patient to be completely honest about their feelings so that the doctor can make withdrawal as pain-free as possible.

Step 3: Stabilization

Therapy and group meetings may begin as early as the detox stage, but most patients don’t fully get into these things until after the worst of the withdrawal has faded and it becomes time to confront the sober future face to face. While beginning therapy, the patient will also continue to work with his or her doctor to decide upon long-term treatment options (including drug maintenance therapy, if necessary).

Step 4: Release and long-term recovery

Inpatient treatment programs differ in how long they encourage their patients to stay. Some release their patients within a week, while other inpatient substance abuse programs allow their patients to stay for a month or more. But leaving the facility is by no means an end to your rehab. Upon release, you’ll still be in the early stages of your 12-step program (or whatever program you choose to use), and cravings will still be a constant concern. But with regular addiction therapy, family support, and group meetings, you can get through it.

Addiction recovery can be just as difficult for a spouse as it is for the addict. We like to think that everything gets better immediately after an addict enters inpatient drug rehab, but the hard truth is that rehab comes with its own set of problems. The early stages of recovery can put a strain on any marriage, and the spouse’s responsibilities in this stage can be overwhelming. You can get through this stage by keeping these tips in mind.

1. No negativity

A recovering addict needs nothing more than positive energy in his or her life. If your spouse is entering this phase, make an effort to end any habits that have in the past led to arguing or bickering, and avoid codependent behaviors as much as possible. Use this time when your spouse is in inpatient drug rehab to take stock of your own approach to the relationship, and try to approach your spouse with a fresh commitment to positivity.

2. Be calm

Emotional turmoil is one of the most common triggers of drug relapses. Your spouse is going to be experiencing a lot of difficult feelings during this time, and it’s your job to remain calm, avoid feeding any negativity, and set a positive example. Any time your spouse seems intent upon dragging you into an argument or a negative codependent state, take yourself out of the situation. Be the calm at the center of the storm.

3. Rely on others

When it becomes too much for you, don’t be afraid to let others take the primary role in supporting your spouse during inpatient drug rehab. Some family and friends might assume that there’s nothing for them to do while your spouse is in full-time inpatient drug rehab, so gently remind them that they’re perfectly welcome to visit, and use these opportunities to take some time for yourself.

4. Don’t let it get out of hand

Any time your partner’s difficulties become too much, don’t be afraid to remove yourself from the situation. It’s your job to be supportive, but this doesn’t mean you need to take abuse of any kind. Make sure your partner knows that there are limits to what you can handle.

For a drug intervention to be successful, everything needs to go right. It helps to have the intervention at the perfect setting and time, with all the important people in the addict’s life, and with all of the best treatment information on hand. Informal interventions can be effective without everything going perfectly, but if you’re planning an event after years of trying and failing to get your loved one to quit abusing, you don’t want to get things off track by doing it at the wrong time.

The first thing to consider is the addict’s comfort. Obviously, they are not going to be involved in the planning personally, so you’re going to have to rely on your knowledge of their habits. Try to have the drug intervention at a time when the addict is usually not on drugs, not tired or stressed out, and not liable to become defensive. In other words, schedule it at a time when he or she is most likely to be volatile.

While it’s important to have the intervention when the addict will be comfortable, it’s equally important to do it before the addiction gets out of control. Interventions may involve a lot of planning and preparation, but this isn’t like a wedding or a birthday party; time is of the essence, so try to schedule the event for the earliest possible time when all of the addict’s essential family and friends can make it.

Meanwhile, you also need to make sure that you have all the information about treatment options on hand. While there is plenty of easily accessible information about outpatient and inpatient rehab programs online, you might want to dig a little deeper in your research. Make a list of a few possible treatment facilities in your area, and also have on hand information about local support groups and addiction treatment therapists. Gathering all this information takes a little work, so make sure you have enough time.

When the time comes to sit a loved one down and confront them about a drug or alcohol problem, many family members get nervous. Even after weeks of planning the alcoholism intervention and thinking about what you’re going to say, the pressure can become too much, and you may be tempted to second guess yourself. But you can be strong and get through this by preparing adequately and having a good sense of what you do and don’t want to say.

Of course, what to say at an alcoholism intervention varies based on your relationship with the addict and his or her condition, but here are a few general guidelines to keep in mind.

1. Stick with the facts: It’s hard to avoid becoming emotional during an alcoholism intervention, and showing too much hurt or anger may just put your loved one on the defensive. You can prevent these issues by relying on the who, when, what, and how of the alcohol problem.
2. Make it a conversation: No matter how prepared you are, you must be ready for your addicted loved one to have objections to what you say. Don’t try to make it a one-sided conversation; listen to their objections and try not to become argumentative or defensive in your own right.
3. Rely on the others: If you get into a rough patch during the intervention or your emotions get the better of you, don’t be afraid to turn the conversation over to the other people in the room. You don’t have to get it all out at once.
4. Present options: Be prepared to present rehab options. If the addict appears willing to go along with a treatment program, it’s important to be able to impart realistic facts about the available options and what to expect in treatment.
5. Express your support: The most important thing during an alcoholism intervention is to be compassionate and supportive. Even if your loved one doesn’t respond well to the intervention, they need to know that they will have your support when they do come around.

When an addict decides it’s time to enter rehab, the first step is to choose what type of treatment program is best. There are advantages to both outpatient and inpatient substance abuse programs, but inpatient is usually the best choice for addicts whose problems are particularly severe and long-lasting. The treatment in inpatient substance abuse programs is much more comprehensive and intensive, which provides a greater chance of success for addicts who need to escape their patterns of substance abuse and live in a safe environment for a while.

For addicts with severe drug or alcohol problems, there are additional advantages of inpatient programs, including:

• Safe detox: Certain substance addictions (including alcoholism and opiate addiction) create particularly severe withdrawal symptoms for the quitting addict, and it’s helpful to be able to detox under the supervision of doctors and treatment professionals. While there is no such thing as a detox that is completely free of discomfort, inpatient treatment makes this stage must easier.
• Constant care: When you’re staying in an inpatient rehab program, you have non-stop access to doctors and other rehab professionals, which is comforting in those moments of despair and weakness.
• Comfort: The best inpatient substance abuse programs go out of their way to make sure that all of their patients are comfortable and feel safe in a support network. This comfort makes it much easier to get through the lowest points of addiction recovery. There will still be temptation to go off course, but the temptation won’t lead to disaster.
• Focus: Particularly during the very early stages of recovery, it’s important for the addict to be able to focus solely on her recovery until she feels a little more secure. In outpatient care, recovering addicts have to deal with all the distractions and stressors that may be found in the home environment. An inpatient facility becomes like a home away from home, where the patient can focus on getting clean and contemplate her next steps.

In drug and alcohol rehab, inpatient care involves full-time treatment at a specialized facility where the person in recovery can be monitored by doctors and treatment professionals. Outpatient treatment involves less intensive care, usually with the patient recovering at home while undergoing regular check-ups with a doctor.

The decision between outpatient and inpatient treatment usually comes down to the seriousness of one’s addiction. If your treatment is going to involve potentially severe withdrawal, then it’s best to recover under the direct care of treatment professionals in inpatient drug rehab. But if your addiction has lasted no more than a few months and will not involve severe withdrawal, then you may be able to recover at home.

Here are the other main points to consider when deciding between the two:

• In inpatient drug rehab, the patient is monitored throughout the detox stage, which helps make the process more controlled and less painful. In outpatient treatment, the patient may have to detox at home.
• Inpatient treatment helps give the patient a sense of breakage between the old life and the new one. With outpatient treatment, it can be more difficult to make the transition.
• Outpatient treatment allows you to continue with your work life without substantial disruption.
• Outpatient rehab can work for patients who have strong support systems at home. Without this, you’re probably better off in the supportive environment of an inpatient drug rehab facility.
• Inpatient facilities allow patients to immediately immerse themselves in the patterns and philosophies of sober living. You get to interact with other recovering addicts, and these early connections can be crucial for your long-term recovery.
• Most inpatient treatment facilities provide calm, relaxing environments where the stresses of early treatment lose their painful edge. Outpatient treatment, in contrast, casts the addict back out into his or her normal, everyday life, which makes it difficult to move forward.

Addiction recovery specialists recognize two types of drug intervention. There are formal interventions, which involve a high level of organization and planning; and there are informal inventions, which usually occur when a perfect occasion to have a talk arises unexpectedly.

In both cases, an intervention should occur whenever you feel the time is right. If your instincts tell you that a loved one is endangering himself or others with his drug habit, then it’s time to have a drug intervention as soon as possible. But even if your loved one hasn’t reached the dangerous stages of addiction, it’s never too early to show your support and make your feelings known.

Formal interventions

Formal interventions usually happen after family and friends have tried multiple other options to get the addict to stop abusing. Although a formal intervention is often thought of as the last resort, there’s no reason to wait until your loved one has gone off the deep end. As soon as you think it’s become a serious problem, start thinking about a drug intervention.

There are different formats that a formal intervention can take, but they usually involve having the addict’s loved ones gather at a set time and place to collectively and lovingly confront the addict about her habit. Many formal interventions are conducted with the aid of a trained professional. In fact, this is the preferred method, as poorly planned interventions can do more harm than good.

Informal interventions

An informal intervention may occur at any time and with no advanced notice. Some loved ones of addicts find themselves forced into this situation when an emergency arises or the addict becomes mean, self-destructive, or belligerent. In some situations, you have no other choice but to reveal your strong conviction that things have gone too far.

Of course, there are times when an informal intervention is to be avoided. For example, when the addict is high, he may not see the wisdom of the intervention. Also, an informal drug intervention should be avoided when there’s any danger that it will put the addict over the edge emotionally. Play it safe by having the talk in a warm, non-confrontational way. If you can recruit anyone to help you on short notice, all the better.

For the family and friends of an alcoholic, an alcohol intervention is often the last option. Many interventions come after years of failed efforts to make the addict change, and they’re often put together when things seem hopeless. At this point loved ones may already have raw feelings or understandable bitterness resulting from the addict’s persistent failure to change, and they often have to put themselves through the emotional wringer just to make the intervention happen.

So when an alcohol intervention fails, it can be painful and deeply frustrating, and family and friends may find it hard to figure out what to do next. When the addict snubs their efforts, some may simply give up.

Follow-up

As difficult and emotional as an alcohol intervention can be for loved ones, it’s even worse for the addict. Especially when the intervention doesn’t go well, the addict may come out of the experience feeling isolated, embattled, and hardened in his or her habits. But when these initial feelings fade after a few days or weeks, the addict may actually begin to think about what transpired at the intervention, and suddenly the idea of going to rehab may not seem so bad.

That’s why, even when an intervention for an alcoholic goes poorly, it’s important for family and friends to follow up. Let the alcoholic know that you will be there for her when she’s ready to begin her recovery. Remember that your loved one has a disease, and try not to let your personal hurt feelings get in the way of your promise to be supportive.

Second intervention?

Some alcoholics need to be confronted with three or four interventions before they finally come around. Putting together a second intervention may not seem like the most appealing idea in the world, but the good thing about it is that you can learn from the mistakes you may have made before. Bring in a new intervention organizer, change the setting, and rethink the things you’re going to say to your addicted loved one. Sometimes you have to fail at least once before you get it right.

November 2010 marked the first National Drug Fact Week. Recovery Now TV commends this effort in helping to fight teen drug addiction and promoting teen drug treatment.

Los Angeles, CA.  December 13, 2010

Recovery Now TV noted the significance of the first annual National Drug Fact Week, which occurred November 8th-14th 2010. The National Institute on Drug Abuse sponsored this event and partners included Discovery, MTV and Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America. The primary goal of National Drug Fact Week is to end inaccurate myths amongst teens pertaining to drug abuse and drug treatment.

The week included special events in various communities as well as interactive web activities. Teen attendees received a booklet entitled “Drug Facts: Shatter the Myths.” Additionally, the 2010 National Drug Fact Week included a GRAMMY sponsored music video contest in addition to a Drug Facts Chat Day where thousands of teens were able to ask experts their questions about drugs through an online chat format.

Mike Cohan, the primary spokesperson for Recovery Now TV, stated, “I was very excited to learn of the first annual National Drug Fact Week. Opening up a line of communications with teens is essential for combating the use of drugs and alcohol.” As Recovery Now TV is dedicated to assisting drug users and their families withdrug intervention and drug treatment programs, the company commends other organizations that are working to stop drug use from beginning during the teen years.

Drug Treatment is one important topic that is discussed in detail during National Drug Fact Week. Topics discussed include how to encourage a friend who is a drug user to get help, as well as the effectiveness of drug treatment programs. The next Drug Facts Week is scheduled to take place from October 31- November 6th, 2011 and groups across the country are encouraged to host and sponsor individual events.

About Recovery Now TV: 
Created by addicts for addicts, Recovery Now TV is designed to build awareness surrounding the recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The company also seeks to bring hope and treatment options to those who suffer from addiction. The Recovery Now television show, a 30-minute talk show, was developed to inspire addicts and their families through real life stories of triumph over addiction. Recovery Now TV was founded by Spencer Recovery Centers, one of the nation's premiere treatment facility networks. For more information about where to view Recovery Now TV or to see the show’s archives, visit

Parents of teenagers who do not think that their children have at least tried alcohol are fooling only themselves.   This fact is reinforced by various research studies.  In reality, what research is finding is that alcohol substance abuse in teenagers is increasing, and that drinking is starting at an earlier age than ever before.  These activities show widespread teen addiction.

A series of studies on adolescent alcohol abuse in the United States revealed that the average age that girls try their first drink is 13 years; while for boys it is 11 years old.  What is possibly more alarming is that the research also found that teenagers in the U.S. begin drinking on a regular basis at just under 16 years of age.

Starting Young Increases Long-Term Risks

In research conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), it was found that teens who start drinking before the age of 15 are much more likely to become dependent on alcohol than those who don’t start drinking until they reach the legal drinking age of 21 years.  Other alarming facts about early onset of teen addiction include the following facts:

• A lifetime of alcohol abuse and problems is more likely for a teen that starts drinking at 14 years old.
• At least 40% of teens that begin drinking at age 13 or younger are more likely to develop an addiction to alcohol later in life.  This number decreases to 10% for teens who don’t start drinking until at least 17 years old.
• A 2007 study by Science Daily found that drinking habits and behavior started during a person’s teen years are more likely to persist throughout their lifetime.  Therefore, teen addiction can impact one’s whole life.

Teenage Drinking Can Lead to Other Risky Behavior

In a variety of research studies on the impact of teenage drinking, it was found that young drinkers tend to engage in other risky behaviors while drinking.

• Teenage drinkers are much more likely to use cocaine than teens who have never taken a drink.  One study puts the figure at 50 times more likely.
• Teenage drinkers are more likely to engage in “binge drinking”, defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in one episode of drinking.  A recent survey of high school seniors revealed that 25-30% stated that they had consumed five or more drinks in one episode of drinking during the previous two-week period.  In a 2002 report on binge drinking, it was revealed that 2.6 million binge drinkers were age 17 or younger.
• Teens younger than 15 years old who have consumed alcohol are two times more likely to have sex than non-drinkers.
• Approximately four out of ten teenagers who are sexually active and consume alcohol have had sexual relations with four or more partners, increasing their risk of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease.
• One 2005 study indicates that large numbers of teens reported that they drove while under the influence of alcohol.

Teenage Drinking is Widespread

While no one wants to think that their teenager is engaging in any form of risky behavior, most would be startled to know how widespread the use of alcohol is with teenagers.  Many studies have been conducted on the subject, but some of the most alarming information comes from surveys of high school students reporting on their own behavior and teen addiction.

• Among high school seniors, one in four reported using alcohol on a daily basis.
• In one survey of high school seniors, half of them reported that they had consumed an alcoholic drink in the previous thirty days, while 32% reported they had been drunk at least once during that same time.
• Among younger teens, 40% of high school freshmen reported they had consumed alcohol before they reached the age of 13.  Another study of freshmen indicated that 41% of them reported they had been drinking at least once during the previous month.
• It appears that any age is susceptible to over indulging in alcohol.  One survey of teenagers indicated that 20% of eighth graders reported they had been drunk at least once, while the number for high school juniors was more than double that figure.

As alarming as these statistics are, many of the issues they highlight have been known for decades.  Yet nothing significant seems to be making much of an impact on reducing teenage alcohol substance abuse.  One of the most staggering statistics found is that 65% of the young people surveyed reported that they obtained their alcohol from a family member or friend.  Unfortunately, it appears that family members and friends are enabling this widespread epidemic of teenage alcohol abuse.

If you are the parent of a teenager, you no doubt worry about whether your teen has tried drugs or alcohol.  It is only natural that you would be concerned about protecting your child from the dangers of  substance abuse.

If you already suspect that your teenager has tried alcohol or some sort of illegal drug, you might be wondering how to find out for sure.  Unless your child comes right out and admits to drug or alcohol use, there is not really an easy way to know for sure if they are indeed experimenting with these substances.

Interestingly enough, many of the signs of substance abuse also happen to be symptoms of typical teenage adolescent behavior, as well as symptoms of some mental health issues such as depression.  This can make it more of a challenge to get to the bottom of changes that you observe in your teenager and figure out whether or not they indicate teen addiction.

Behavior Changes

If you notice behavior changes in your teenager, you should feel comfortable asking them about it.  This could start simply with a question asking if something is bothering them.  Depending on how your teen reacts coupled with the openness of your relationship; you might be able to have an open conversation about what is different in your son or daughter’s life that has caused these changes in behavior.

Some typical changes in behavior that are warning signs of substance abuse include:

• Hiding out in their bedroom.
• Not associating with the rest of the family.
• Hanging out with a different group of friends.
• Avoiding eye contact with you when having a conversation.
• Skipping meals or suddenly eating more than usual.
• Staying out late or not coming home at night.
• Lying to you or becoming secretive about what they are doing or where they are going.
• Mood swings that are unpredictable.
• Hyperactive and full of energy.
• Lethargic or complains of being tired all the time or sleeping more than usual.
• Unusually quiet or uncommunicative.
• Exuberant or unusually exited or loud.
• Stops going to school.
• Loses interest in activities at school such as sports, arts, or music.
• Getting into fights at school.

As you can see from this list of potential behavioral changes that could be present in a teenager who is abusing drugs or alcohol, some of the behaviors are exact opposites of each other.  That can make it a bit challenging to recognize if what you are seeing is a warning sign of substance abuse and teen addiction.

The key is to watch for behaviors that are not normal for your teenager in particular.  Each teen will have their own set of symptoms, and while they will probably try to cover up any changes, if you are observant, you will pick up the little details that tell you something has changed.

Physical Changes

While behavioral changes might be the first thing that you notice, there can also be some changes in the appearance of your teen that are clues to substance abuse.  These can include the following:

• A change in weight, either a loss or a gain that is otherwise unexplained.
• A generally messy appearance that indicates they don’t care what they look like.
• A flushed face.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Unexplained nosebleeds.
• Sores on the body, particularly on the face or around the mouth.
• Sores in the mouth.

Any change of appearance that you notice in your teen that is not easily explained could be a warning sign of substance abuse.  If addiction is indeed the case, you may have to look into a teen rehab and recovery program.  Of course, your child could be a teenager just being a teenager.  If there is any question in your mind, it is always best to investigate to ensure that it is not drugs or alcohol.

Parents can be the best deterrent when it comes to stopping their kids from using drugs or alcohol.  On the other hand, parents can also enable this kind of destructive behavior.  It all depends on what type of parent you want to be to your children.

Generally speaking, most parents would say that they want to be the kind of parent that helps their children live long, happy, and healthy lives, free of drugs and alcohol.  So, what are some things that you can do as a parent to prevent drug abuse by your kids?

First, you should know that research shows that the primary reason given by kids who don’t use drugs or alcohol is their parents, and a desire to not disappoint them by engaging in this behavior.  These kids have indicated that their parents are a positive role model and influence in their lives, and they want to maintain the good relationship that they share with their parents.  So, how do you establish and maintain this kind of positive relationship with your children?  It’s not as hard as you might think if you follow some of these tips:

Establish Good Communication

Having open communication with your children is one of the best things you can do.  This will establish a trusting relationship between you, which allows you the steer them towards positive friends and activities.  Some ways to establish good communication include:

• Talk to your children every day from a young age.  Ask them about their day and be willing to share with them what your day was like.
• Ask open-ended questions that can’t be answered with the nod of a head or a simple yes or no.
• Part of good communication is to be a good listener as well.  Give your children your undivided attention when you have these conversations.  They will notice if you are not really paying attention and will see through your efforts.
• Be sincere and open with your kids.  Answer their questions honestly and without being judgmental.  As they age, you need to be prepared for the types of questions that might come up, which might require some advance preparation on your part.

Get Involved With Your Children’s Lives

Studies have shown that kids and teens are less likely to get involved with drugs and alcohol if their parents are involved in their daily lives.  Knowing that an adult who cares about them also cares about what they do goes a long way towards deterring destructive behavior.  Ways to get involved include:

• Spend time with your children or teens each day talking or doing something that they want to do.  This can include helping them with homework.
• Understand their school and extra-curricular activities and make a point to attend games or performances to show your interest and support.
• Be tuned in to your children’s moods so that you recognize when something is bothering them, and then ask what you can do to help.

Set Boundaries and Rules and Stick to Them

It is important that your children know what your expectations are of them, and what the consequences will be if they don’t follow the rules.  Be reasonable and objective, and fairly enforce the rules on a consistent basis.  Research indicates that kids who live in homes where there are no rules, or rules that are overly harsh, are more likely to use drugs

Be a Good Role Model

While it might not always be obvious, children like to imitate the adults in their life.  For this reason, it is important that how you behave matches what you say.  If you tell your children that alcohol is bad for them, but then come home from work and have several drinks before dinner, your actions do not match your words.  Children see through this quickly and will not only imitate your behavior, but will also learn that you don’t mean what you say.

Talk to Your Children About Drugs

If you have open communication with your children from an early age, it should be a natural conversation to start talking to them about drugs when they reach the age of about ten.  If they ask questions before then, answer them in a manner that is appropriate for their age.

One thing that studies have shown is that children whose parents talk to them about drugs early and often are less likely to use drugs or alcohol.  In order to prepare yourself for these conversations, you should learn what you can about substance abuse, and then tailor it to be appropriate for the age of you children.  Repeating a consistent message in terms they understand for the stage of their life will go far in deterring drug use.  Through taking these actions, you can potentially do your part to prevent teen addiction.

In many ways, those who suffer from teen addiction are similar to teenagers who have a chronic medical condition like asthma or diabetes; they don’t want to admit that there is something about them that is out of their control.  They also don’t want to be different from their peers, which can be devastating as a teenager.  Further, they don’t want to listen to their parents or their doctors about what is needed to get better.

The good news is that there are treatment options for teenagers addicted to drugs or alcohol.  In fact, there are a variety of treatment and teen rehab program choices, allowing the addicted teen’s parents and medical professionals to select the program that is most likely to succeed for each individual.

The Growing Need for Rehab Programs

One thing that has been recognized in recent years is that programs that work for adults will not necessarily work for teenagers.  As a result, new types of teen rehab programs had to be created to support the growing population of teen addicts.  By one estimate from the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse, as many as 8% of American teenagers are in need of treatment for addiction.

One thing that researchers discovered when studying teenage substance abuse and treatment was the power of peer pressure.  Just as peer pressure can get a teen involved in using drugs or alcohol, it can also be an effective tool in treating addiction.  Studies indicate that teenagers respond best to treatment when in a peer group.

Types of Treatment Programs for Teenagers

Knowing that teenagers respond to peer pressure, whether positive or negative, it should be no surprise that the least effective teen addiction treatment program is one where the teen lives at home and attends outpatient classes and counseling sessions.  According to some statistics this type of program has only a 30% success rate.

At the other end of the spectrum of teen rehab is the residential rehab treatment program.  With this type of rehabilitation, the teen lives at a treatment center or therapeutic boarding school for the duration of their treatment, which can last up to 18 months.  These programs are very structured, where virtually every hour of the day is programmed with schooling, study sessions, counseling, group therapy sessions, physical activity, and even sometimes on campus jobs.

A newer type of program developed specifically for teenagers is known as the wilderness therapy program.  It could be described as hard-core summer camp for teens.  There is a strong emphasis on physical activity during the often three month long program.  The teens live in tents in the wilderness and must learn to fend for themselves and their fellow campers.  This involves cooking, gathering necessities like firewood and water, and participating in hikes and other physically exhausting activities.  There are also group therapy sessions, as well as individual counseling and other personal acceptance and growth activities to help overcome the addiction.

Many believe that wilderness therapy is a great way to get a fast start on the road to teen recovery.  Once the excursion into the wilderness is completed, the teens are ready for ongoing therapy and counseling, which might be on an outpatient basis or at a residential treatment facility.

The Good News

Now that programs have been developed specifically for teenagers, the success rate of rehabilitation from addiction is increasing.  If you have a teen that is abusing drugs or alcohol, it is important that you find a treatment and teen recovery program that is designed to work with this age group.  Fortunately, as the number of these types of programs increases, it will become easier for parents to find one that is right for their teen.

Many people are familiar with structured drug interventions where a group of family, friends, and a drug counselor or other professional confronts a drug abuser in a group setting.  The purpose of the intervention is to get the abuser to admit they have a problem and agree to enter treatment.  This familiarity might come from personal experience, an article that you read, or even from television programming that tracks various interventions.

A Different Type of Intervention

There is nothing that says a drug intervention has to be a structured event, or that it has to involve a large group of people.  In fact, it doesn’t even have to include a drug counselor or other expert in the field.  Beginning the process of providing substance abuse treatment can start as a conversation.

A teen intervention can be particularly effective when dealing with a teenager who is using drugs.  In fact, the earlier into the drug use the conversation happens, the better the odds of success.

Planning for the Conversation

In most situations, the teen intervention starts as a conversation between the parents and their teenager who is using drugs.  If that relationship is strained, the parents might want to call upon a trusted relative who has a good relationship with their teen.

Before talking to your teenager it is important to have a plan, and to ensure that both parents are in agreement on the issues.  You also need to have an agreed upon action plan that includes substance abuse treatment for your teenager.  This often means that teen rehab is most appropriate.  To complete this portion of the planning, you might need to do some research into drug use, drug abuse, warning signs, and teen treatment options.

The final step in the planning is to select a time for the conversation.  It is likely that you will need to be a bit flexible on this item as it is very important that the conversation take place when your teen is not high, drunk, or obviously under the influence.  It is best to do this when your teenager is calm and able to listen, absorb, and participate in the conversation.

The Message You Want to Convey

It is very important that you express your love to your teenager, and ensure that he or she understands that you are taking this step because of your concern for his or her welfare.  You also need to tell your teenager that what they have to say is important.  During the conversation, all parties need to listen and be respectful of each other.

A key portion of the conversation is to express your concern for the health, welfare, and well-being of your child.  As parents, these are all part of the job description, but it is important that your child understand that you are acting in their best interests and concern over teen addiction.  You then need to discuss with your teen all of the behavior and warning signs that you have observed in his or her behavior that have brought you to this point.  This should also include the impact that their behavior is having on the rest of the family.

Share with your teenager what you have learned in the research you have done on drug abuse.  Make them aware of some of the potential results of continued drug use, including the fact that out of control drug use can lead to death.

The Results You Want to Achieve

One goal of your teen intervention is to make your child understand the risks he or she is taking by abusing drugs, and to get him or her to acknowledge that they have a problem with drugs.  If you can get this much accomplished in the conversation, you have made good progress.

The ultimate goal is to get your child into a teen rehab program before their substance abuse becomes an even bigger problem.  In order to achieve this goal, it will be important to listen to what your child has to say.  If all parties stay calm, listen to each other, and are open and honest in what they have to say, you have a good opportunity to achieve success, or make solid progress towards your goal.

If you are concerned that your teenager is abusing alcohol or drugs, it is never too early to act to get him or her help for teen addiction.  While teenagers might not admit to a problem, and most certainly may not want your help, your responsibility as a parent is to do whatever you can to help your child.

Recognizing the Signs

The first step is to recognize the warning signs and symptoms that indicate your teenager is using drugs or alcohol.  With the staggering statistics on teen alcohol usage, it would be naive to think that your teenager has not at least tried alcohol.  Unfortunately, it has also been shown that teens that abuse alcohol are more likely to also experiment with drugs.

Educate yourself on the various signs of substance abuse and teen addiction, and then pay attention to your child.  As many of these signs take some time to manifest themselves, you will need to be tuned in to what is going on with your teenager and when changes in appearance or behavior occur.

It is also important to remember that teens are going through lots of changes physically and emotionally, so some of what you observe could actually be normal adolescent behavior.  For this reason, it is important to know your teen, observe your teen, and keep the lines of communication open.

Talk to Your Teen

If you see signs that indicate drug or alcohol use, it is important to talk to your teen.  This should be done as calmly as possible in a non-threatening manner.  You do not want to be aggressive in your approach, as this will likely make your child shut down and not talk to you.  It is very important that you also listen, and allow your teen to talk to you.

Talk to a Professional

Your family doctor can be a great resource if you see signs of drug abuse in your teenager.  Since many of these signs are similar to symptoms of other conditions, such a depression or anxiety disorders, your doctor can help by examining your teen.  This can help eliminate any medical conditions as the explanation for the symptoms.  In addition, your teenager might be more open and willing to talk with the doctor than with his or her parents about any drug or alcohol use.

You might also choose to take advantage of a substance abuse counselor or mental health professional that has experience in dealing with drug addiction issues.  It is important to find a professional who has worked with young people and knows how to relate to people in this age group.  Treating teen addiction is different than treating adults, making it all that much more important to find trained professionals with those skills.

Explore Other Resources

There are many resources available to guide a parent through the minefield that is teen drug addiction.  There is much that can be learned by doing research on the Internet.  Be sure to be careful of the sites that you visit, taking care to utilize the information from reputable websites.  There is a wealth of information on the Internet, but some of it can be suspect, depending on the source.

There are also several organizations that specialize in drug and alcohol abuse treatment, information,  and support.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration:  (800) 662-4357
• National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center:  (800) 784-6776 or www.addictioncareoptions.com
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence:  (800) NCA-CALL
• Narcotics Anonymous:  (818) 773-9999 or www.NA.org
• National Clearinghouse for Alcoholism and Drug Information:  (800) 729-6686

If you take advantage of all resources available to you, and most importantly keep the lines of communication open between you and your teen, you will be able to find the help that your teen needs to break the addiction to drugs or alcohol.