Some 24 million people today are battling addiction. And about 80 to 90 percent of those individuals started using before they reached their 18th birthday. Unfortunately, only one in 10 teens and young adults who have had a substance use disorder get the help they need: professional substance abuse treatment.

What is Substance Abuse Treatment?

To understand exactly what substance abuse treatment is, we must first understand the definition of substance abuse. Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the repetitive misuse of any addictive substances, including alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and prescription drugs. It is the prerequisite to drug dependency. It is the commencement of a clinical addiction, or the start of a substance use disorder. 

When a user becomes chemically dependent on drugs, when a user is tolerant to the effects of drug and alcohol, it can be said that an addiction has developed. When a user continues to abuse drugs and alcohol, despite the negative and harmful consequences they may cause, it is a clear sign that substance abuse treatment is needed.

Perhaps that is why you are here – you believe your loved one is addicted to drugs. Maybe your son has lost his self-control and ability to resist drug cravings; maybe your daughter is exhibiting the physical and emotional signs of drug addiction. What do you do? Your friends and family, perhaps even the law or a trusted professional, has told you it is time to seek out professional substance abuse treatment.

Substance addiction is a chronic disease. Like diabetes or any other chronic diagnosis, it cannot be treated overnight. People with a drug dependency cannot simply stop using drugs on their own. They cannot quit for a few days and be completely cured. Healing from addiction takes time. Most people battling addiction need long-term or repeated care in order to achieve a successful recovery. That is where substance abuse treatment can help.

The goal of substance abuse treatment is to help users not only quit drugs, but stop drug use and remain drug-free. These drug treatment programs not only encourage sobriety, but also self-discovery, responsibility, and productivity in the family, in work, and in society. A great substance abuse treatment center will take into consideration all aspects of a person and their addiction: their drug of choice, the cause for their substance abuse, the emotional and physical implications at stake, as well as any co-occurring mental disorders that may exist. They take all of these components to help build the most effective treatment plan for each client.

What Makes Substance Abuse Treatment Effective?

There are many types of substance abuse treatment programs out there today – there are inpatient and outpatient rehab centers, short-term and long-term drug treatment programs, as well as luxury and residential facilities. No matter which type of substance abuse treatment you select, you will want to be sure you are making the best possible choice. After all, you want the absolute best for your loved one. You want their recovery to be long-lasting and successful.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are specific principles at the foundation of every great treatment program. As you consider your many substance abuse treatment options, look for a program that:

• Recognizes that treatment is not one-size-fits-all – Every treatment plan must be tailored to a person’s individual needs.
• Understands the need for accessible treatment – Addiction can happen to anyone, and it can often and preemptively spiral out of control. Effective substance abuse treatment programs recognize that people will need quick access to quality treatment.
• Takes into account all of a patient’s needs – More often than not, drug use is accompanied by other emotional traumas, psychological disorders, or legal troubles. An effective treatment center will address all these different variables.
• Offers long-term treatment – The National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that the most successful outcomes are rooted in long-term drug treatment programs.
• Enacts counseling and other behavioral therapies – Behavioral therapy, in addition to group and one-to-one therapies, are essential components to the recovery process.
• Has a dual diagnosis treatment program – Integrated dual diagnosis treatment is specifically equipped to help individuals battling both an addiction and a mental health disorder.
• Recognizes that medical detoxification is only the first stage of treatment – Regaining life skills, learning coping mechanisms, and relapse prevention often requires repeated, long-term care.
• Understands that treatment plans may change – As patients’ needs change, substance abuse treatment plans must be reviewed, monitored, and modified to meet them.

Substance Abuse Treatment for Young Adults

As a concerned parent, you may be discouraged and unsure of how to handle and cope with your loved one’s addiction. You may not quite understand why or how your loved one become addicted to drugs. You may be upset or hurt by the actions he or she has taken in recent months. You be confused as to why he or she has not had the willpower to quit.

The truth is, addiction is a very complex disorder, and repeated drug use actually changes the chemical makeup of the brain: making it very difficult for a user to make rational decisions, resist drug cravings, and quit bad habits – even those who want to make a change. Fortunately, research has come a long way in recent years, and more than ever addiction professionals understand the impact of drug addiction on the mind and body. Today, substance use disorders are in fact treatable, meaning that your loved one can go on to live a healthy, productive life.

He or she just may need your help to get there. About 90 percent of drug addicts do not seek help on their own. Your loved one just may need that push.

Because drug addiction is both a physical and psychological dependency, users are not always able to recover on their own. An effective substance abuse treatment program will enact group and individual therapies, behavior-cognitive therapies, and 12-Step facilitation to guide individuals to the most successful recovery. At Turnbridge’s young adult drug rehab, we do just this. Here, young adults learn how to channel their drug cravings into healthier outlets. Through long-term, residential treatment, they can also build supportive relationships necessary to maintaining a sober lifestyle. Our substance abuse treatment for women and young men are just one call away.

If you are concerned that your son or daughter has a substance abuse disorder, contact a substance abuse treatment center as soon as possible. Call Turnbridge for immediate assistance at 1-800-581-1793.