Troubled Teens Resources

Caroline and Dave, parents of a drug addicted teen learned their lesson the hard way. When they first discovered their son’s drug abuse they were entering totally uncharted territories and were guided primarily by a therapist that they engaged without exploring all of the possible therapeutic options available for troubled teens. After completing a thirty day residential treatment rehab at a local psychiatric unit, they thought their problems were behind them. Within three weeks, their son was back to getting high.

This time they did their research and chose to place their son in a troubled teen boarding school where he could become immersed in an environment that would support his recovery efforts with additional cognitive and behavioral therapies that, if used, would equip him to continue to fight the pull of addiction long after he graduated.

But what about parents who for reasons of finance or personal preference choose instead to put their troubled teen through a 30 or 60 day rehab program? What measures can these parents take to enforce their teen’s sobriety once they have exited the program and are back in a public school environment?

The following 5 suggestions are given by Author Dr. Larry Smith to encourage an addict and their parents to make sure that effective after care support is provided. You can read them in their entirety here.

• You are 100% responsible for your own recovery — Nobody else can do it for you!
• New behaviors, attitudes and skills require practice.
• Old behaviors will quickly return unless you have new behaviors to replace them.
• You are setting a good example for your peers and for society.
• Your disease will always be waiting for you.