Teens and Young Adults

If you ask most teens and young adults about their favorite season, they would probably say summer. After all, summer is the season when most kids are out of school and enjoy days of playing, reading, relaxing, and spending time with friends. As fun as it sounds, having a schedule is one of the most important healthy habits for young adults. Learning how to make and stick to a schedule will help teenagers transition to adulthood successfully. For those in recovery, a schedule can help them succeed during each step of their progress. Creating a Basic Schedule Teens are often [...]

The pressure to succeed during the teenage years can lead many teens to develop patterns of substance abuse. Peer pressure can only heighten the feeling of social inadequacy many youths face. Drugs and alcohol can seem like an attractive escape from these pressures. Teens in recovery sometimes find that they have nothing else to fill the hours with. This boredom can quickly lead people back to negative habits that contribute to substance abuse. Parents can help their children find positive ways to spend their time. Cultivating interests and hobbies is a great way of stimulating kids who are struggling to [...]

Drug and alcohol addictions can severely damage a teenager’s academic performance. If your teen’s grades have suffered due to addiction, it may be time to intervene at school. Your support is essential as your student goes through addiction recovery. It pains you to watch your child struggle—all you want is to see them succeed. Develop a system with your child’s school authorities to help your student get back on the right path academically. Be Proactive Connect with your teen’s guidance counselor before the school year starts or within the first week of school. Make an appointment to discuss what your [...]

As a parent, you may feel helpless when your teen is struggling with addiction. Finding the right resources and knowledgeable people to speak to can empower you and point your teen to the right path to recovery. The following resources are trusted and reliable with long-standing programs. As always, if you find yourself in a crisis situation, it is best to call emergency services right away. National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a federal government agency, NIDA provides information on substance abuse for teens and parents, including: Prevention, treatment, and educational resources with [...]

1 in 5 teens and young adults live with a mental health condition. Over half of these youths develop the condition by age 14. Chances are your child or one of their friends will develop a mental health condition during their teen years. Opening the conversation for your child to talk about mental health problems with you is extremely important. It can help create a comfortable environment for discussion when instances occur. Be Open and Honest Opening yourself up to talk about mental illness is one of the first ways to start discussing mental health with your teen. Having the [...]

The United States has the highest rate of teen and young adult drug abuse in the world. Over the years, there have been many programs within this country that aimed to prevent substance use disorders. Many of these programs encouraged an abstinence only approach. However, current research shows that the best prevention strategy is to delay the age of initiation of substance use. Most people use drugs for the first time when they are teenagers. There were just over 2.8 million new users of illicit drugs in 2013, and over half were under 18 years of age. The average age [...]

Despite how many parents feel, experimentation with drugs and alcohol is not “just a phase.” Teens using such substances are in danger of so much more than a poor high school experience. Casual experimentation can quickly escalate to a substance use disorder. The incredibly pervasive and detrimental effects from substance abuse may continue far past graduation and affect a teens whole life if not handled properly. Substance use disorders negatively affect a teen’s environment, mental health, physical health, and safety. Environmental and Mental Health Effects Studies show that 33% of teens experience problems at home, school, work or in the [...]

Recovery high schools are a concept new to many. The documentary “Generation Found” is a fascinating introduction to the new solution Houston has been implementing recently. The movie showcases Archway Academy, a sober high school designed to aid in supporting the educational needs of teens in recovery. Defining a Recovery High School The primary purpose of a recovery high school is to educate students recovering from substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. These schools are academic institutions, not treatment facilities. They meet state requirements for granting a diploma. However, they do offer recovery supports not available in ordinary high schools, which [...]