Teenagers are impulsive: they act out, they drink, they experiment. But did you know that, above other demographics, teenagers are also at high risk for getting addicted to drugs? According to addiction research, those who start using drugs before age 18 will typically experience more chronic and rigorous drug use later in life. They are also more likely to develop a substance use disorder.

Still, drug use among teens persists. Today, the average age of drug initiation is between 13 and 14 years old. And already, more than one million teens are addicted to drugs. Yet only one in 10 teens get the professional, integrated, active and attentive drug rehab they need.

Finding out that your teenage son or daughter is using drugs can be heartbreaking. As a parent, you’ve likely tried everything in your power to teach your child right from wrong, to follow the rules, to be healthy, smart, and to make good decisions. But now, your teen is going against your will and putting him or herself at risk. Not only are you disappointed, you are also worried about what your teen’s drug use may become. You want to get him or her help. The right help. The kind that will keep your child safe and turn his or her life back around. That is where Turnbridge comes in.

Turnbridge is a young adult and teen drug rehab center located in the heart of New Haven, Connecticut. Our treatment programs are uniquely designed to address the needs of young men and women battling drug dependency and co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and more. Day-in and day-out, we help adolescents like your child overcome not only their drug abuse and addiction, but also the feelings and circumstances that initially triggered it.

The teen drug rehab programs at Turnbridge are gender-specific and designed with the teenager in mind: Upon coming to Turnbridge, your son will interact and build relationships with other young men who are working towards sobriety. Once in our program, your daughter will meet and participate in activities and support groups with other young women – of her age and gender – in recovery. We feel this gender-specific, same-age-group approach allows teens to feel fully comfortable and safe while in treatment, and helps them better relate to others throughout their recovery journey.

As a follow-up to our article, “The Impact of Addiction on Teens,” this post details exactly what teen drug rehab means to Turnbridge, as well as how we aim to approach it uniquely and effectively in our treatment facility.

What is Turnbridge’s Teen Drug Rehab Program All About?

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, an effective treatment program is one that can be individualized based on a person’s needs: age, gender, background, interests, drug of choice, history of trauma, existing mental disorders, as well as his or her personal addiction story. This especially pertains to teen-specific drug rehab, where each activity, therapy, and conversation must be meaningful in order for a teen to express any desire to change, to move forward. At Turnbridge, we believe that every individual is unique, and consistently ensure that his or her journey to sobriety is equally so. Our program meets the needs of the young teen. It heals, teaches, inspires, standing as much more than a “teen drug rehab center.”

Something as simple as “drug rehab” implies fixing something that is broken. We believe that these teens aren’t broken, but rather, have yet to find their best possible selves. We do not aim to return teens to their previous state of being, before they were addicted to drugs. Instead, we help them to move forward, take steps in the right direction, and emerge into the best person they can be, drug-free.

Turnbridge does this by creating a sense of community, a sense of family, and a sense of purpose in treatment. In our young men’s program, teen boys can grow together in a fun and healthy environment and learn the skills necessary for sobriety. In our women’s program, teen girls are given a safe place to get to know their own selves as well as one another. They establish the confidence, the skills, and the healthy, meaningful bonds needed to live a productive, sober life after treatment is through.

What Happens in Our Teen Rehab Program?

Turnbridge enacts a three-phased Preparative Care℠ Program for each of our residents, allowing them to progress and takes steps towards greater responsibility and sober living, over time and at their own pace. At the core of this phased approach is an emphasis on regular schedules and ordered settings to support teens as they heal, mature, and move towards sobriety. In the first phase, teens are required to go to one-on-one as well as group counseling, exercise, eat nutritious meals, participate in recreational sober activities (e.g. team sports, music studio sessions, yoga and art workshops), attend 12-step meetings, and find a mentor. We believe these add texture to the typical inpatient, teen drug rehab experience, and help build the vibrant recovery community that is Turnbridge.

Why is Drug Rehab Essential for Teens?

We know that teens are especially susceptible to risky behaviors and substance addiction. We know that the earlier they use drugs, the more likely they are to become addicted. Why is this the case? Teenage brains are still developing (the brain doesn’t fully mature until age 25!), making impulsive behaviors more common during adolescence and contributing to a “don’t-think-before-you-act” approach. This often leads to progressive, repeated drug use. All the while, the adolescent brain is malleable, making it especially vulnerable to any changes that occur in the brain. Drugs are chemicals that alter the brain’s make-up. When teens impulsively use drugs, they put themselves at risk: not only for disrupted brain growth, but also for long-term deficits from early drug use.

For these reasons, it is crucial to address an early drug problem as soon as it occurs. This is known as “early intervention,” and is critical to a teen’s long-term success.

Make a difference in your child’s life by getting the help that he or she deserves. Call Turnbridge at 877-581-1793 to learn about our drug rehab programs for teens and young adults.