In the US today, the average age when teens try drugs or alcohol for the first time is between 11 and 13 years of age. If you suspect your teen is drinking, there are some clear signs of teen alcohol abuse that you can look for. Addiction causes behavioral and physical changes along with creating problems at school and in all aspects of their development. A teen addiction treatment program is the safest way for them to recover and keep up with their education.
At Crestview Recovery, our accredited treatment programs provide residential and outpatient treatment to address all aspects of the addiction and any underlying causes behind it. Teens will participate in group and private therapy to develop healthy coping skills and learn how to express themselves without any negative behavior. They will also work with their families to restore any broken relationships caused by alcohol abuse. For more information about our teen addiction treatment program, call 866.262.0531 or fill out our online form today, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Alcohol Addiction in Teens
Drug and alcohol abuse can have a severe impact on a teen’s education and development. Brain development continues until around the age of 25, and drugs and alcohol can prevent or alter this development. If teens abuse drugs or alcohol long enough, they may experience permanent changes to their chemical makeup that will make them more susceptible to addiction for the rest of their lives.
Because of our society’s relationship with drugs and alcohol, children can grow up with a subconscious desire to try them. They watch their parents drink and have fun with their friends and develop a connection between drinking and pleasure. Talking with your children about drugs and alcohol and their negative effects can help break that connection and delay the first time they experiment until they are ready.
At Crestview Recovery, our certified behavioral therapists have experience working with alcohol addiction in teens and their families. Our programs use the latest treatment modalities, which include behavioral therapy, holistic therapy, and medication management.
Recognizing the Signs of Teen Alcohol Abuse
Knowing the signs of teen alcohol abuse is important, even if your teen is healthy and happy. The teenage years can be very difficult as they face changing emotions, new sensations, and peer pressure to fit in. This can be too much to handle for some teens and can increase the chances of them trying alcohol for the first time.
Here are some of the signs of teen alcohol addiction:
- Alcohol intoxication symptoms – Common signs of intoxication in teens include slurred speech, lack of coordination, bloodshot eyes, and difficulty walking. They can also become easily irritable or agitated, appear disoriented, and may not remember their actions the next day.
- Behavioral/Personality changes – Teens who abuse alcohol will experience behavioral and personality changes the more they abuse alcohol. They can become shifty or refuse to answer questions about their activities, skip school or sneak out of the house at night. They may also develop depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders that can increase their abuse.
- School performance suffers – Alcohol addiction impacts memory and concentration. Eventually, it can lead to a decline in grades or dropping out of afterschool activities. The more teens drink, the more their bodies will crave the substance. As a result, it’s hard for them to think about anything else.
Recognizing the signs of teen alcohol addiction is imperative to know if you suspect your teen son or daughter is abusing alcohol. If left untreated, their abuse can lead to harder drugs, a lack of education and brain development, relationship problems, and an overall poorer quality of life.
Get Your Teen the Help They Need Today Through Crestview Recovery’s Teen Addiction Treatment Program
At Crestview Recovery, our team is well aware of the unique signs of teen alcohol abuse and has experience treating the addiction and any underlying causes fueling it. We are a full-service addiction treatment center that provides residential and outpatient treatment programs that utilize the latest treatment techniques. The types of therapy we use to treat alcohol addiction in teens include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Creative writing and other holistic programs
- Group and individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Trauma therapy
To give your teen the support they need to beat their addiction and lead a healthy life, call 866.262.0531 today to learn more about our addiction treatment programs for teens.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
