Substance Abuse Treatment Programs for Troubled Girls
Adolescent substance abuse is a family disease. When you discover that your daughter is using drugs or alcohol, it is perfectly normal to experience an onslaught of painful emotions. It is also customary to be flooded with questions that don't have immediate answers. However, try to maintain a level head. Laying blame on yourself or your child is not productive and could make matters worse.
What Is Substance Abuse Disorder?
"Substance Use Disorder" is a wide-ranging term used to describe a type of substance-related disorder where the user continues to use a substance despite that substance negatively impacting the user's overall quality of life.
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GET THE APP NOW!Ten classes of drugs are classified as substances that can cause substance abuse disorder. They are as follows:
- Caffeine
- Marijuana
- Hallucinogens (Eg, magic mushrooms, LSD, DMT, etc.)
- Inhalants (e.g., Paint thinner, certain types of industrial glues)
- Opioids (Eg. Prescribed drugs such as fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone)
- Hypnotics, sedatives, anxiolytics (e.g., Lorazepam, secobarbital)
- Stimulants (e.g., Amphetamines, cocaine, methamphetamines, Ritalin, etc.)
- Tobacco
- Other (this would include non-narcotic substances that can still harm the user's body and the overall state of their health, e.g., anabolic steroids.)
It should be noted that whether a drug is illicit or prescribed makes no difference in its being classified as a substance use disorder. As you will notice from the above list, most substances are entirely legal, prescribed by a clinically licensed professional.
"(Love) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered," 1 Corinthians 13:5
Adolescent Opioid Epidemic Crisis
As it currently stands, among the ten classified substances included in the diagnosis of a substance use disorder, no other drug affects adolescents more than opioids. Recent studies show that opioid overdoses have more than tripled in the past two decades.
According to Yale School of Medicine's most recent report on the subject, teens have mostly succumbed to opioids via accidental overdosing, abusing their parent or other relative's prescribed painkillers, as well as from those they illicitly purchased on the street.
According to the study, almost 9,000 youth have died at the hands of opioids since 1999.
According to another report by HealthDay News, older teens are even more at risk when it comes to opioid-related fatalities.
The US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of drug-related fatalities among 15-to 19-year-old males rose 15% and a staggering 35% among females of the same age.
According to the CDC's Findings, heroin was the most common cause of fatal opioid overdose in the 15-to-19 age group.
The rate of drug overdose deaths was consistently higher for males. For example, in 2015, the report found that the death rate was 70 percent higher than the rate for females.
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God,"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing is given, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will, He brought us forth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits among His creatures." James 1:1-18
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs for Adolescents
(The following comes from National Institute on Drug Abuse's Web Page titled, Evidence-based Approaches to Substance Use Disorders)
Research evidence supports the effectiveness of various substance abuse treatment approaches for adolescents. Examples of specific evidence-based strategies are described below, including behavioral and family-based interventions and medications.
Each approach addresses specific aspects of adolescent drug use and its consequences for the individual, family, and society.
For any intervention to be effective, the clinician providing it must be trained and well-supervised to ensure that they adhere to the instructions and guidance described in treatment manuals.
Most of these treatments have been tested over short periods of 12–16 weeks, but for some adolescents, longer treatments may be warranted; such a decision is made on a case-by-case basis.
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." John 16:13
The provider should use clinical judgment to select the evidence-based approach that seems best suited to the patient and their family.
Before seeking treatment for your child, you must know what is going on in their life. How long have they been experimenting? Are they in danger of developing a substance use disorder or worse, overdosing?
Answering these questions is necessary to develop a deeper understanding of the situation and know how to proceed.
As a parent, knowing the signs of teen substance use can help you decide whether your child needs professional intervention.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
