It’s no secret that there’s a widespread opioid epidemic in American teenagers, but that doesn’t explain how to treat the issue. If you’re a parent whose teen is abusing prescription painkillers, then you’re likely struggling to find a way to effectively treat your child’s addiction. Let’s look at what treatment methods work best and which ones just aren’t right for teenagers.

Consult Your Doctor

While some teens get their opioids through friends or family, most teen addiction cases start with the family doctor. Your family physician likely started your teen on a round of painkillers, and your teen became addicted to the opioids as time went on. To get the best treatment for your child, it’s essential to know exactly what your teen was given and the dosage that they were exposed to.

To get this information, it’s best to consult the doctor who prescribed the medication. Not only will they know what your teen was taking, but they’ll know how these drugs affect the brain and will likely have suggestions on what treatments work best for your teen’s specific addiction. If nothing else, by checking in with your doctor you’ll have more concrete details to give rehabilitation professionals, which could greatly help your teen’s addiction treatment.

Unique Treatment Needs

Because teen brains are still developing and thus more susceptible to addiction, traditional opioid treatments may not be as effective for their addictions. For example, short-term, non-residential rehabilitation facilities are often enough for adults to overcome their opioid addictions. For teens, however, this treatment is entirely too lackluster to be widely effective.

Instead, many adolescent and drug abuse therapists recommend that teens go to residential treatment centers like Diamond Ranch Academy to provide a space that is specialized for teens and will continue treatment throughout the long-term. Rather than simply detoxing for a week or two, locations like Diamond Ranch Academy combine the benefits of a proactive anti-drug school with the professional know-how of a rehabilitation center to maximize their addiction treatments for their students.

Ongoing Treatment

Even after a teen leaves a rehabilitation or treatment facility, it’s important that they keep up regular forms of treatment. For many teens, this is something simple like talk therapy, but however an addicted teen gets help after leaving a treatment facility, it’s important that the treatment remains consistent.

Why the emphasis on continued treatment? Because when teens return to their homes they are exposed to the same people and situations that led them to become addicted to opioids, which can be a painful and triggering experience for teens at any stage of recovery. By keeping up with their treatments, however, teens can keep their coping mechanisms sharp and will have a way to deal with stressful situations without falling back to opioid abuse.

Talk With Your Teen

Nobody chooses addiction, and it’s important to have a frank conversation with your teen without judgment toward their opioid abuse. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of treatment facilities, talk about the pros and cons of each location with your child. While going to a treatment facility may be necessary for them, allowing them to have a say in where they go can make them feel a sense of control, which will help them face their addiction at the facility.

You’ll likely feel a wide variety of emotions during this discussion, but try to remain as understanding as you can. Many addicted teens don’t respond positively to these talks, but remember that your child is going through a crisis and is likely as scared as you are. Be prepared to offer them a choice in their treatment, but also remember that it’s your job to make sure that they go to a reputable and helpful rehabilitation center.

Trust Yourself

Trust your knowledge and instincts as you go through the process of finding treatment options for your teenager. Use the above information as a resource for how to find the right treatment facility for your teen, then follow through and ensure that they’re receiving the best care possible. By using these tips as guidelines, you’ll have your teen enrolled in a reliable treatment facility in no time.

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