There is no bad time to arrange substance abuse treatment for your teen boy, but summer may be an ideal opportunity. Receiving treatment in the summer when spending time away from peers helps protect a child’s privacy. Attending a summer treatment program won’t interrupt school; it gets kids away from friends who may also be using drugs or alcohol.

If your teen is showing signs of struggling with addiction, call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery at 866.300.5275 and ask about our substance use treatment program for adolescent boys.

Treatment of Substance Use Disorders for Teens

Recognizing that your child has a substance use disorder isn’t always easy. Many of the symptoms of drug use overlap with the reality of being a teenager, including:

• Sleeping too much
• Withdrawing from family members
• Having mood swings
• Being irritable

Many symptoms of substance use could also be normal behaviors for someone whose hormones are on a roller coaster.

Drug and alcohol use among young people is a serious problem. The Centers for Disease Control report that nearly 6% of school seniors use marijuana daily, and about 5% have experimented with drugs like opioids, Xanax, and Adderall.

Even more worrisome, teen deaths from drug overdose are on the rise. They nearly doubled from 2019 to 2020.

Know the Risk Factors

Every child is vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder. However, some factors increase a child’s risk. The five main risks are easy to remember. They spell out the word “facts” and include:

• F: Family history of substance use makes children more likely to develop a disorder than children without a family history of substance use
• A: Age at which a young person begins using drugs or alcohol means the younger they are, the greater their risk for a substance use disorder
• C: Cravings in younger people can be more severe because their brains are still developing and are sensitive to substances
• T: Tolerance levels that progress rapidly are an indicator of dependence
• S: Surroundings that expose young people to substances, such as family or peer groups, makes drug use seem to be more normal

Genetics and co-occurring mental health concerns like anxiety and depression can also increase a child’s risk of developing a substance use disorder. Early treatment is the best way to prevent long-term problems related to substance use.

Instead of hoping things will be better next school year, get your child the help they need with substance use treatment this summer.

Signs Your Teen Needs Substance Use Treatment

Though some signs of substance or alcohol use can be hard to read, others are more obvious. Look for the following warning signs of substance use in your child:

• Conduct or mood issues that are progressing quickly
• Unexplained absences from school, work, activities, or family events
• A decline in personal hygiene or appearance
• Drug paraphernalia or evidence of drugs or alcohol among their belongings
• Sharing drug or “party” related content on their social media
• Their group of friends has changed significantly
• Inability to cope with minor obstacles or frustrations
• An uncharacteristic decline in academic performance
• Appears depressed or withdrawn
• Exhibits signs of intoxication, such as dilated or constricted pupils, giddiness, redness in the whites of the eyes, or slurred speech

Addiction prevention begins with communication. Talk to your adolescents about substance use. Ask them questions about any peer pressure they may feel to try drugs. Opening the door for honest communication could be the lifeline they need.

Find Substance Use Treatment for Your Teen This Summer at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery

With the support and experience of the team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, this summer could be a positive turning point in your child’s life. Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery at 866.300.5275 for more information about the treatment of substance use disorders in adolescent boys.