If your teen is ready to get clean from drugs and alcohol, you can start the journey to being clean right away.  Getting clean is a process, so as with all other processes, the most important thing to do is start. Take the first step to getting clean by making up your mind to stop using drugs and alcohol. Decide that you want to get clean and prepare for the drug-free lifestyle you want to live. Then seek the help you will need. If you are the parent of a teen who is abusing drugs, take steps to push your teen onto the path to getting clean. If necessary, host an intervention with your teen and friends and family, and urge your teen to stop using drugs right away.

Tips on Overcoming Teen Drug Addiction and Alcoholism

• Be Informed. Learn more about the consequences of drug abuse and addiction. Having the information you need will help you to make it through the process. Don’t allow myths that others tell you to steer you off the path to getting clean. The truth is, drug abuse can be dangerous and can lead to addiction and other perils.

• Seek Professional Help. Professional help is important if you aspire to be clean of drugs and alcohol. In fact, dropping a drug addiction without the help of a doctor can actually be dangerous. If you are suffering from drug addiction, seek help from a doctor or treatment center that caters to your needs. Even if you are not addicted, professional help is still available. Talk to a counselor or behavioral therapist for help.

• Get support from your family and a support group. The teenage years can be some of the hardest, and getting clean from drugs and alcohol will be a significant challenge as a teen. During this time, support is critical. Tell your parents, close friends and family about what you are going through. Their love and support will help nudge you towards drug-free living with each day.

Tips for Talking to Your Kids about Drug Abuse

There are several common mistakes that parents make when talking to their kids about drugs.   By avoiding these pitfalls, parents are greatly increasing the odds that their children will stay away from illicit substances as they grow older.   Here are several key lessons on how to talk to your kids about the dangers of drugs.

• Don’t Wait. Far too many parents believe that they need to wait until their children are older before they talk to them about drugs.  This is simply not correct.  Statistics show that most kids have been offered drugs or alcohol by the time they are 13, so if one was to wait until later in the teen years, there may already be an issue.
• Be Honest. Don’t make up absurd horror stories about the dangers of drugs when talking to your children.   Be truthful and present accurate information about the genuine dangers of drugs and what they can do to your child’s future.  To do anything else will only undermine your efforts when the teen is placed in a very real situation concerning drugs.
• Set a Good Example. Finally, there’s nothing more important than setting a good example for your child.  Don’t do drugs – and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Whether or not your kids admit it, the example you set will make a long-lasting impression.

Helping Your Kids Find Teen Drug Rehab

If your son or daughter is currently struggling with drug addiction, it can be one of the most difficult times in your life.  But there is hope!   The professionals at teen drug rehab centers help young people overcome both the physical and psychological components of addiction.   Choosing a teen-specific drug treatment program is a good choice for several reasons, including:

• They address teen addiction issues.   Teenagers become addicted to drugs for reasons different from those of adults.   Teen drug rehab programs address issues such as self-image problems, peer pressure, academic pressure and problems in the home environment – all of which can lead to drug abuse or addiction.
• They give the teen a safe place to heal.   Drug rehab programs – especially residential treatment centers – give the young person a chance to leave their home environment behind and enter into a “safe zone” where the only thing they need to focus on is their recovery.   Removal from a destructive environment is a huge step in the right direction for many teens.
• They help the family heal. Teen addiction treatment programs incorporate the family into the healing and recovery process.  Family counseling, education and regular visits all play a key role in helping families communicate more effectively, which in turn aids the individual’s ability to overcome addiction for the long term.

Why do most teens start doing drugs? The majority will tell you that it was peer pressure, but that doesn’t explain why they continued using. Let’s take a look at some of the more common reasons that teens abuse drugs.

1. Excitement: Taking a hit of ecstasy is exciting, there’s no doubt about it. The danger adds something to the experience too, for many teens. However, if it’s thrills you’re looking for, there are other ways to get that rush of adrenaline. Try something like camping, extreme sports, or getting involved in a cause that you are passionate about instead.

2. Boredom: We all get bored sometimes and when the Xbox no longer holds your attention and there’s nothing good on TV, some people turn to recreational drugs to keep themselves amused. Want something to do that won’t cause slow brain cell death? Then you might need to get out a bit. To keep yourself busy take a class, start a business, or create a blog about something you’ve always been interested in. You could also meet up with friends and plan an event to pass the time.

3. To Fit In: No one really enjoys being the odd one out, so many teens start doing drugs just because everyone else does. If that’s your excuse, you’re hanging out with the wrong crowd. Find friends who are interested in the same things you are and stay away from those who bring you into bad situations. Your long term health is far more important than what people think of you.

4. Curiosity: It’s completely normal to be curious about drugs, especially if people you know are using them. That doesn’t mean you need to get sucked in. Focus your curiosity on something else instead. Learn a new language, go exploring, or pick up a new skill. If you really must know more about a drug, read up on its effects and mortality rate. Chances are, your curiosity will be more than satisfied!

5. Meaning: Some teens take drugs in an attempt to find meaning in the world. It can all seem pretty chaotic and some drugs promise to help you sort things out or at least not care. Sometimes you have to create your own meaning, though. Find a cause you are interested in and pursue it. Make something happen on your own instead of waiting for the meaning of life to come to you.

6. Escape: Not everyone enjoys their life. Drugs might seem like a great way to escape an existence that is causing you pain. While getting high might push back the worries of everyday life, it doesn’t do a thing to solve the root of the problem and when you come back down, it will still be there. Instead, see what you can do to fix the problems in your life, even if that means talking to a school counselor or someone you trust to help you out.

Drug abuse is never a good idea. Even those who appear to take drugs without any bad effects are messing up their bodies and brains on a cellular level, something that may not be apparent until later in their lifetime. You can avoid all that and get a headstart by looking into drug alternatives.

Anyone underage shouldn’t be drinking at all, but over 85% of teens have tried alcohol at least once, so chances are your teen has experimented with it at a party or while at a friend’s house. This is normal, though against the law. The big issues start when teens abuse alcohol and begin to drink on a regular basis. Fortunately, you can keep an eye out for the signs of alcohol abuse and seek help if you believe your teen is drinking.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse in Teens

• Sudden change in attitude: Many kids become more withdrawn or angry, even if they were relatively happy before. This will appear to happen almost overnight.
• Depression: Many chronic drinkers become depressed. The suicide rate among teens that drink heavily is nearly 3 times higher than non-drinking teens.
• Issues at school: Teens who are abusing alcohol tend to have very little concentration and they forget things easily. They may also get into trouble at school and end up with suspensions and warnings as well as bad grades. If your teen usually brings home A’s and is suddenly failing all of their classes, this could be a warning sign.
• New, secret friends: If your teen suddenly has several new friends that he or she hangs out with but doesn’t want you to meet, this is suspicious, especially if you notice the other symptoms on this list at the same time.
• Lack of interest in anything except hanging out with friends: You should investigate further if you see that your child is no longer interested in any of their hobbies, since this can be a sign of alcohol abuse.
• Smells of alcohol: While this may seem fairly obvious, chances are your teen will take steps to cover up any alcohol on their breath, so watch for sudden, constant gum chewing or if they try to dodge your kisses and stay at a distance.
• Alcohol or money goes missing: Notice your liquor cabinet supply diminishing? Or maybe your money is being used to buy replacements… stay alert to these signs.

Most of these behaviors on their own are pretty normal for teens. They are going through a difficult period of growth, hormones are running amuck, and they are struggling to become independent. However, when three or more of the above signs are present, you should definitely look into it further. No one wants to believe that their teen is abusing alcohol, but it’s better to admit it and get them the help they need than to deny the whole thing until it’s too late.

Whether you want to get sober yourself, or are trying to help someone else reach the point where they no longer depend on alcohol, no one method works for everyone. In fact, some people will need to try more than one method of getting dry before they actually make it. Persistence will pay off and knowing what your options are is often the best way to get started.

Alcoholics Anonymous

AA is probably one of the most famous methods of getting sober. They have a great success rate, thanks to carefully thought out steps and a buddy system that gives you the support needed to stay away from alcohol. If you decide to go with AA, you’ll be known only by your first name, to keep things private. Each alcoholic has a sponsor, someone who has already gone through the 12 steps and is ready to help another person make it through.

It really helps some to know that they aren’t the only ones going through this, but for loners or non-social drinkers, this might not be the best option.

Intervention

Sometimes, it’s just too difficult for a person to make the changes needed in their life to quit drinking. This is particularly true if they are hiding it from the world. Often, everyone knows that an alcoholic has a problem, but are afraid to confront him or her. That’s where intervention comes in.

Intervention can be very harsh, but at the same time, it is reassuring to know that so many people care about you. Basically, a group of friends and family get together, usually with a professional who has experience with interventions, and confront the alcoholic. They have to lay down some pretty harsh consequences, but if the person decides to seek treatment, everyone will be behind him or her 100%.

Medications

Sometimes, you need a little extra help to stop drinking and that’s where prescription medications come in. At the moment, there are three different ones available and it will be up to the doctor or therapist as to which is best in each situation.

Naltrexone is available in pill form and can also be injected. It works to help reduce the craving that an alcoholic normally feels when quitting drinking. Acamprosate is another prescription medication that helps ease the transition into non-drinking. This drug reduces the normal withdrawal symptoms like insomnia and anxiety. The final medication available, which can be used for those who are very stubborn about drinking, is Disulfiram, which actually makes you sick if you drink anything that has alcohol in it.

As mentioned earlier, not all of these treatments is ideal for everyone. Some people will need medications in order to overcome their alcohol dependency, while others simply need the support of friends and family. Don’t worry if your method isn’t the “traditional” method of quitting, the end result is what matters.

Almost two-thirds of teens admit to binge drinking. That’s two out of every three adolescents who is downing 5 or more drinks in a row (the definition of binge drinking in the US ). Many people assume that binge drinking means drinking over a long period of time, but it also refers to tossing back several drinks in a short amount of time.
Teens who binge drink tend to have a lot of problems due to the amount of alcohol in their system. Here are some of the more common issues binge drinkers face:

• Lack of concentration in school: This often leads to bad grades or even dropping out, something that will affect the quality of jobs a person can get and their perception of the world.
• Loss of friends: Alcohol binges can drastically change someone’s personality and their friends will drift away. We all need support and a real friend is far more useful than a bottle of tequila.
• Memory loss and blackouts: This is quite common during drinking episodes, but it can happen afterwards too, when the person is sober.
• Lack of judgment: Unfortunately, many teens that are binge drinking make other bad decisions, like getting behind the wheel of a car or sleeping with someone without protection. In best case scenarios, they have an embarrassing story to live down, worst case, they end up dead. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer for ages 15-20 and the number of fatal crashes caused by drunk driving is double for this age group than for those over 21.
• Trouble with the law: Underage drinking can not only cause personal problems, it can also get teens in trouble with the police. Drinking and driving can get your license suspended or worse.
• Suicide: Drinking boosts the suicide rate nearly 3 times by interacting with existing conditions like depression and making them worse . . . so much so that the teen feels the only way out is to kill himself.
• Alcohol poisoning: Not everyone who binge drinks gets alcohol poisoning, but it affects teens more than anyone else. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed through the stomach lining and drinking too much too fast can be fatal as many have found out.
• Depression in adulthoodA recent study reveals that an alcohol-filled adolescence could lead to depression in adult life.

While binge drinking isn’t a good idea at any time, there are certain circumstances where it is far more lethal. It’s easy to get caught up in chugging beer at a party or taking a dare from a friend to down an entire bottle of schnapps, but these are exactly what kill teen binge drinkers every year.

Most teens who die from an alcohol overdose are labeled as an accidental death or a choking victim (usually on their own vomit), but the truth is far worse. They drank so much alcohol that it actually stopped their organs from working and they passed out and died. Many of them received absolutely no help because their friends assumed it was normal to pass out, when in reality, they were slowly dying.

It’s important to get help if you suspect someone is binge drinking. It could save their life.

Alcohol abuse is the first step towards becoming an alcoholic. Many teens go through a period of alcohol abuse, which is often just considered to be a partying phase, but if it continues, you can definitely end up a full blown alcoholic. Whether you just enjoy a beer or two at a party, or head for the harder stuff like scotch and whiskey, alcohol has a tendency to cause problems. That’s why you need to know the symptoms so you can recognize them in friends or in yourself.

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is the first step towards alcoholism and it is probably the biggest problem that results from teen drinking. Alcohol abuse usually refers to repeated drinking with bad consequences, but it can also relate to one time incidents, like when a kid drinks and drives just once and ends up crashing. Here are the most common symptoms of alcohol abuse:

• Drinking at inappropriate times: This might include drinking alcohol at school, work, or while driving, often causing some major and even deadly problems.
• Drinking even though it causes problems: For example, if you find that you are always getting in fights while drunk, but continue to drink, this would be considered alcohol abuse.
• Repeated alcohol-related legal issues: Some teens always seem to be getting busted for underage drinking, drinking and driving, or other similar problems.
• Failure at school and work, due to being drunk or hungover: This is actually a pretty common problem. Someone has a long night of partying and shows up for work the next day still buzzed or too hung over to really do their job.

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is quite different from alcohol abuse. It’s another level up and usually causes quite a few problems, like any dependency. The alcoholic can’t function properly (or so they believe) without a constant supply of alcohol. Below are some of the common signs of alcoholism:

• Drinking more and more in order to feel that buzz: This happens because your tolerance toward alcohol can actually be built up if you drink fairly often. Frequent drinking will mean you need a lot more alcohol in order to get drunk.
• Most of the person’s time is affected by alcohol: When you find that you spend the majority of your time trying to get alcohol, drinking it, or recovering from a hangover, chances are you are an alcoholic.
• Physical symptoms appear when alcohol is not available: If an alcoholic tries to quit, they’ll experience the typical symptoms of any addict: trembling, nausea, sweating and nervousness. An alcoholic will also crave alcohol and might even go to extremes to get it.
• Loss of control while drinking: This doesn’t refer to getting drunk, but when someone says they are only going to have one beer and then find they can’t stop after one, this could be a sign of alcoholism.

Both alcoholism and alcohol abuse are serious issues. Everyone has heard stories of drunk drivers crashing into families, but that isn’t the only problem with drinking. You can also end up with a police record, or a number of other problems thanks to reckless behavior while under the influence of alcohol. Know what the symptoms are and be sure to get help if you feel that you or a friend are leaning toward alcoholism.

Before you can start treatment for your addiction, you have to get all traces of the drugs or alcohol out of your body. Someone who is high can’t really take steps toward recovery, so it’s important that they flush out their system first, something that is almost always done under medical supervision.

Alcohol Detox

When someone is dependent on alcohol, quitting cold turkey can be very difficult. Depending on how intoxicated the person is, it can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to detox. Here are a few of the symptoms that detoxifying can cause in alcoholics:

• Trembling
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Convulsions

Drug Detox

In general, coming down from drugs, particularly the harder ones like cocaine and heroin, is far more difficult than detoxing from alcohol. Most drugs are more addictive, so the body will have a stronger response to the withdrawal including the following:

• Sweating
• Tremors
• Cramps
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Confusion

While detoxing is definitely not pleasant, once the process has been completed, the person is ready for treatment. It’s important to complete treatment in order to stay clean. Between 22-32% of people coming off drugs relapse and 90% of recovering alcoholics relapse. Being prepared is the best way to avoid this problem and this is why it can be very helpful to receive the proper treatment after the detox process.

Staying Clean

Staying clean once the detox is over is usually fairly easy… as long as you are in isolation. As soon as the recovering alcoholic or drug addict returns home, the same pressures and situations tend to present themselves and this is what causes so many people to relapse.

Learning to avoid the situations and people that you used to do drugs or drink with is a good way to keep from relapsing. Identify when and where you tend to feel pressured to drink or use and stay away from those situations until you are in control. Often this means finding a new crowd to hang out with, since your old friends won’t understand why you’ve changed.

Detoxing and staying clean afterwards both require work and support. It’s very rare that someone can do this all on their own, so it’s a good idea to find support before attempting it and to make sure that there is ongoing help to avoid relapse.

There are many ways for a friend to show support. Just being there can help, but it isn’t the only way to help someone who needs to get clean and quit drugs. Sometimes, tough love is necessary, which is why interventions are so useful.

An intervention forces the addict to take an honest look at his life. Their friends and family members get together and basically ambush the addict. They then give them a very harsh choice . . . clean up, or lose everyone close to them. Some people don’t respond well to interventions, others will be shocked that everyone is so hurt by what they are doing to themselves and will accept the offer of support and help as they make the journey to quit abusing drugs.

However, not everyone has a family that can help them. If you or someone you know has virtually no support, then it can be next to impossible to quit. When all your friends are drug addicts as well, there’s no real incentive to stay clean. However, you still have options. Many people have found support groups like Narcotics Anonymous to be very helpful in guiding them through the process of getting clean. Following a 12-step program may work for some who are quitting drugs, but this is definitely not for everyone.

In some cases, medical help is necessary and at this point, it is a good idea to have support from friends and family, as well as a place to stay. Depending on the personality of the addict, staying in a rehab center might be a good option. It’s a controlled environment and there is a routine to follow, with therapy and group sessions to help make the withdrawal easier. Often, medications will be used to ease the transition and reduce the unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal or to eliminate the craving for a drug. These medications are most often prescribed for heavier drug use, particularly when dealing with heroin or meth addictions.

Some people actually do better outside of a rehab center. The medical treatment for drug abuse is the same and can be done on an outpatient basis in many cases. That means you get the meds and head home. The danger here is that it’s very easy to fall back into the drug habit when you are in the same situation all the time, with the same people. It’s a good idea to find a place to stay where drugs are not available, such as with a clean friend.

Quitting alcohol or drugs is never an easy process, but with the right support, it is very possible. 70% of those who have proper treatment for their addiction are able to remain drug free after the fact and enjoy living clean.

1. Saying “NO”: If you’ve ever seen a person fighting an addiction, it might clue you in on how serious being an addict can be. Sure, it can be fun in the beginning, middle, and maybe even the end. However, if you had not used drugs or drank ten beers a day in the first place it would have been much better. Unfortunately, most learn by making mistakes. If you are already in the grip of addiction, no matter what it is, you can find help. Your local church or community mental health center can help; there are many 12-step programs for every kind of addiction.

2. Fighting Denial: Often an addict is in complete denial about having a problem. If you are spending hundreds of dollars on a weekly basis, is it not a problem? If you have lost most or all relationships with friends and family, do you think your addiction had nothing to do with it?
To battle this denial you need to slow down for a moment, take in all that is happening, and see the chaos evident in your life. Denial is the old story. A wife may have a drinking problem, hiding behind alcohol to mask her emotions. She has to drink up to ten glasses of wine to cool down after a hard day. A son may be downing ten pills a day; he needs something better to battle depression. Battling denial will be crucial in fighting this illness. The key is to stop rationalizing your actions, saying you are just having fun, while your life is going down the drain.

How can it go down the drain? Think of Marijuana as an example. THC is far more toxic to your lungs than even cigarettes. Also, they call them illegal drugs for a reason: you can get arrested and thrown in the slammer. Where is the fun in that?

3. Choose Friends Wisely: Sure, it was fun partying and having tons of friends in the short term, but test a theory: tell your old addiction buddies you’re out of money and the car doesn’t have any gas. Some will stay with you. But most of your “friends” in addiction only really look out for themselves, and leave you hanging. They only hung around because you had money, maybe even a ride. If any of them stand by your side and loan you money, that is a rarity. Most are not positive influences. What is needed is a new way of thinking and a new set of friends to beat the disease of addiction.

4. Defeating Impulses: The major problem with addicts is impulse control. For example, you see something tasty at the snack aisle and want it. Or you see a brand new Corvette at a dealership. Both are impulses; you want something you really don’t need. If you can say no in the short term, by not buying the joint from the drug dealer or not buying another twelve pack, you will often make it much easier for yourself in the long term.

5. Defeating Negative Thinking: The next step in defeating addiction is your own thinking, the thoughts which always made you want more. This is not an easy process. You might become depressed without your drugs, or whatever you are addicted to. You might get edgy. Both make you curl up in a ball, not really wanting to do anything.

To defeat this, all you need to do is keep it simple. Keeping it simple will help you find new ways to have fun. Instead of a walk to the drug dealer, the casino, or the bar you can ride your bike through a park or go jogging or walking. It may sound boring, but once you get your mind clear of all the impulses and desires it will be easier to find small joys. There’s no definitive cure for any addiction except getting the right kind of help and the right state of mind.

6. Stay Busy: Lastly, you can’t go for bike rides every hour of every day. You need other things to keep you busy, whether it be a job, a class, an art, or hobby, it needs to be something to keep your mind off your problems. This can be helpful in defeating negative thoughts and can also be fun. Once you get excited about something, you will be less likely to think of your addiction. It’s good to keep busy. It’s good to be free of addiction.