While substance abuse disorders can occur at any age, many start in adolescence. Experimenting with drugs is common for teens. About 5% of high school students reported using drugs like cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, or ecstasy, while a whopping 14% reported misusing prescription opioids.
Unfortunately, experimentation can often lead to teen drug abuse. Teens at risk for developing severe substance abuse issues include those with a family history of substance abuse issues. In addition, those with low self-esteem or who are depressed and those who feel they don’t fit in are also at higher risk. Teen substance abuse can occur regardless of race or economic status and negatively affects teens’ lives.
If you or a loved one is looking for teen addiction treatment near Charlotte, NC, Foothills at Red Oak Recovery offers teen substance abuse treatment. We are located in Ellenboro, just a quick drive from Charlotte, and offer a variety of treatment programs to choose from. Please get in touch with our team today at 866.300.5275 to learn about our teen rehab center.
Recognizing the Problem
Negative consequences of teen drug use include an increased risk of drug abuse as they grow older, failure in school, and poor judgment, leading to accidents, violence, and suicide. Drug abuse also can lead to addiction. Addiction occurs when repeated drug use affects the brain, making stopping the use of the drug difficult or impossible to achieve on your own. Often parents have difficulty recognizing the signs of substance abuse or drug addiction, chalking them off to general adolescent behavior. Some signs that a teen may have a drug abuse problem are:
- Hanging out with different friends
- Caring very little about their appearance
- Skipping school, missing classes. or receiving worse grades
- Getting into trouble at school or with the police
- Changing sleeping or eating habits
- Losing interest in previously favorite activities
- Experiencing more conflicts with families and friends
- Participating in more high-risk behaviors such as unprotected sex or driving too fast
- Exhibiting physical symptoms such as fatigue and red or glazed eyes
The most commonly abused ones are marijuana, stimulants, LSD, PCP, opiates or opioid painkillers, heroin, and designer drugs.
Find Teen Drug Abuse Treatment Near Charlotte, North Carolina
Sometimes parents hope that the teen will stop abusing drugs on their own, but once the body has become dependent upon the drug, this becomes difficult. These teens need treatment. Because adolescent drug use behaviors are different from those of adults, adolescents can benefit from treatment programs designed specifically for them. Successful programs will also work with the family to repair relationships between teens, parents, and siblings. While some teens can recover through outpatient programs, many will benefit from inpatient treatment at an adolescent treatment center. That center also should focus on the needs of adolescents and include academic work, such as math, science, English, and art, in coordination with the teen’s school.
Seek Treatment at Foothills at Red Oak
Foothills at Red Oak Recovery is an adolescent treatment center located on a 94-acre working horse farm in Ellenboro, North Carolina, about an hour west of Charlotte. The holistic program treats only 14- to 17-year-old male adolescents. All its staff members, including operations and marketing directors, have clinical experience. The center also provides an academic program and works with the teen’s school to ensure he doesn’t fall behind on his schoolwork while recovering. The peaceful environment is conducive to healing, and part of the program includes animal caretaking and equine therapy. Other aspects of the treatment are:
- Substance abuse treatment
- Experiential therapy
- Treatment for co-occurring mental health issues
- Psychological testing
- Individual, group, and family therapy options
- Trauma treatment
Teens can recover from substance abuse issues and lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. Contact us today at 866.300.5275 to begin the journey.
