Adolescent Intervention for Drug & Alcohol Abuse

There is a growing concern across America that adolescents and young adults are increasingly vulnerable to drug abuse. The national institute on drug addiction (NIDA) has found that peer relationships, family and school can act as protective factors while early adolescent intervention with risk factors (e.g., aggressive behavior and poor self control) often has a greater impact on changing a youth’s life path away from problems and toward positive behaviors.

Adolescents and Teen Addiction Risk Factors

Many factors have been identified that help differentiate those more likely to use and abuse drugs from those less vulnerable to addiction. Factors that are associated with greater potential for teen addiction are referred to as “ Risk Factors”. Please note, however, that most Adolescents at risk for drug abuse do not start using drugs or become addicted. Also, addiction risk factors for one adolescent may be very different for another. It is important that when risk factors are identified, teen drug treatment is administered as soon as possible. Do not become addicted.

For children already exhibiting serious risk factors, delaying intervention until adolescence will likely make it more difficult to overcome risks by adolescents, children’s behaviors and attitudes are well established and not easily to changed. (NIDA), Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents).

What does it mean to be an addicted youth?

Addicted youth and young adults are trapped in their behaviors and cannot simply just quit on their own. Teen behavioral problems are a sign of an illness that requires biomedical treatment. For youth ages 12 to 17, an estimated 1.1 million persons needed substance intevervention abuse treatment in 2002. It is imperative to understand when dealing with children and adolescents suffering from addiction that we are dealing with individuals whose brains have been altered by drugs or alcohol. They need addiction treatment.