When a teenager is struggling with addiction, it can feel hopeless trying to get help. There are so many changes happening during adolescence as they head into adulthood. Teens get caught up with other kids doing drugs or learn to self-medicate to soothe anxiety or other mental health struggles. There are so many different factors at play, including influence from peers and family.
This is why it’s so important to seek out professional care and treatment from an addiction center. When you are trying to help your teen, here’s what you want to look for in a treatment center.
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Proper Accreditation and Licensing for a Teen Treatment Center
If you’ve been on social media, you may have seen videos of young adults who were sent to drug treatment programs that were not properly licensed or accredited. The experience was traumatic and only now do they have a voice to share what happened. Because unlicensed programs are out there, it is crucial to ensure that any program you consider is licensed as a teen addiction treatment center.
You can look for facilities that have accreditation from organizations like the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, or CARF for short. This is only one option out of many that are available. Having the right credentials helps to ensure that there are minimum standards and best practices that they adhere to. This ensures that you are sending your teen to a safe environment for rehab and recovery.
Qualified and Experienced Staff
When you’re sending your child to get treatment for drug addiction, you want to ensure that the staff are all qualified and experienced when it comes to working with teens. It’s important that teen addiction treatment facilities have licensed therapists, medical professionals, counselors, and other staff available to care for your child. It’s okay to ask questions about their experience working with young people and how they approach challenges.
Individualized Care and a Complete Assessment
No two people are alike and that applies to teen addiction treatment. Each patient should be treated as the unique individual that they are. This means that a good facility will complete a thorough assessment to include medical history, mental health history, and what drugs they’ve been using. They can also assess different social needs. Watch out for places that offer a cookie cutter approach. These are often ineffective and don’t have good outcomes long term for teens who need unique care.
Additional Therapeutic Services
Good treatment centers are not just about therapy sessions and detoxing. The best places offer a variety of therapies, including art therapy, recreational activities, yoga classes, nutrition information, and more. These services provide an essential component to the recovery journey. Finding healthy ways to relax, de-stress, and connect with others is an important part of the process. Teens can find these skills in many additional therapeutic services.
Conclusion
It’s important to take your time to choose a teen treatment center that offers comprehensive services and care that can support your teen in getting free from drugs or alcohol. Look at major factors like the assessment process, licensing and accreditation, compassionate staff, and more. The best teen rehabs also provide aftercare services to ensure that your youngster gets ongoing support even after they return home.
