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by James Heller
6. November 2012 15:24
The adolescent years can be emotionally rough, and almost all teens face pressure from friends to drink and use drugs. Too many of them make substance abuse a regular activity and engage in negative and harmful behaviors. It is important to start treatment as soon as behavior problems arise because they will otherwise multiply the likelihood of future problems with addiction.
Tarzana Treatment Centers provides vital youth substance use and mental health services so teens can get a better start on life. The combination of individual and group substance abuse therapy, along with family therapy, helps them to learn new coping mechanisms. Our Youth Services staff is trained to work with teens, and they only work with teens.
All teens deal with a rollercoaster of emotions and most of them work through the process, as awkward as that may get at times. Alcohol and other drug abuseusually begin with an inability to cope with emotions. Whether teens begin abusing substances based on genetics or environment is debatable, but the fact remains that the consequences are the same. Brain development is effected by alcohol and other drug use, accidents happen, and most alcoholics and addicts partied heavily in their teen years.
Parents approach the issue of teen substance use in the home with various solutions. Some allow drinking only in the home, and others forbid it completely. Most parents really don’t know the most effective way to deal with teen behavior problems. A calm and loving discussion is usually the best way to start, though. You can decide after that if a treatment assessment is necessary.
However you handle it in your home, Tarzana Treatment Centers would rather help your teen before adulthood rather than when addiction has set in. Our Medication Assisted Treatment services, including Vivitrol, are helping a lot of adults battle alcoholism and addiction. But some of them have suffered multiple relapses before these treatments. It’s better to avoid that fight and start treatment early.
We can help to foster communication in the family and rebuild relationships. We help you and your child to discover problems and work through them. This guidance leads teens to understand that processing emotions is better than escaping from them with alcohol or other drugs.
Please contact us today for more information.
Telemedicine services are also available with online medical care, online mental health treatment, and online alcohol and drug treatment.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
28. August 2012 15:03
Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to influence teens. Recent studies indicate that these sites are being used by adolescents to promote alcohol and drug use. Common sense suggests that these same sites can be used to discourage alcohol and drug use, and to promote recovery.
Alcohol and drug trends have not improved among high school aged children. Efforts to keep kids off of drugs have not softened, but this ever-evolving world creates new challenges for those of us who work to that end. Technology advancements, in terms of youth substance abuse, have created an entirely new world for teens to pressure each other into alcohol and drug use.
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Social media seem to be contributing to the overall trend, with 75 percent of teens saying that seeing photos of other teens partying on Facebook, MySpace or other social networking sites made them want to do the same.
Nearly half of teens who have seen such pictures perceived that the teens in the photos "are having a good time."
Kids who had seen such photos were three to four times more likely to have used marijuana, alcohol or tobacco compared to kids who had not viewed this type of picture.
The numbers may seem out of reach, but we must keep in mind that the battle to keep teens drug-free has never been easy. Education is a tried and true method of turning adolescents away from alcohol and drugs. Social media needs to be used to educate teens about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, or they will only see what they believe is “a good time”.
Tarzana Treatment Centers has been successful in promoting recovery on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. One message can be seen by thousands of individuals when only a few of our Friends and Followers click on a link. Our services, like Vivitrol treatment, gain exposure, and some new clients have informed us that they contacted us after seeing a social media post.
It is likely that everyone reading this, with a social media account, has at least one teen Friend or a Friend with one. This means that they can see what you post. Imagine how much of a positive impact we can all make if we post anti-alcohol and anti-drug messages on our Walls and Tweets.
Telemedicine services are also available with online medical care, online mental health treatment, and online alcohol and drug treatment.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
6. July 2012 15:16
Prescription drug use among teens has increased over the past few years. Benzodiazepines and opiate painkillers can produce a type of euphoria and carry the illusion of being safe, so adolescents are more inclined to try them over other drugs. Studies show youths saying that these drugs are easier to obtain than alcohol. So a program in Fresno, CA, named Lock It Up, aims to cut the supply from its largest source.
Lock It Up is an awareness campaign that will educate the public about prevention efforts that can be implemented in the home. Here is a little more information:
The article states that “More than 70 percent of teens who abuse prescription painkillers say they get them from family, relatives and friends.” What they don’t mention is that most of the people they get the drugs from have no idea that they are gone. This is why the Lock It Up project is such a good idea. Most parents will quickly take action if they know that they are unwittingly supplying the teen prescription drug trade.
When non-addict adults are prescribed painkillers or anti-anxiety medications, like Xanax, they will often not use the entire amount of pills prescribed to them. The need for them runs its course or they just don’t like them, and they leave remaining pills to be forgotten. This leaves 5, 10, 20, or more powerful tablets unattended in the medicine cabinet. Even if the empty bottle is found after the pills are long gone, a child may have already overdosed on them.
Fresno citizens will learn to lock away or dispose of medications properly. This can put a very large dent in the prescription drug street market. Both parents and teens need to know that prescription drugs are not safe for recreational use, and they can easily cause fatalities from an overdose. Opiates and benzodiazepines are highly addictive, and can ruin a teen’s growing years and cause struggles in adulthood. Let’s all follow Fresno’s lead.
Telemedicine services are also available with online medical care, online mental health treatment, and online alcohol and drug treatment.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
18. May 2010 13:48
Tolerance, as it relates to alcohol dependence and drug addiction, is often misunderstood by many in the general public. In the manner that drug and alcohol tolerance functions, it can be a safety mechanism to the body and, at the same time, deadly. This makes awareness of the subject critical for anyone who engages in alcohol abuse or drug abuse, as well as those in recovery.
It can easily be assumed that tolerance means that an individual can drink more alcohol without getting drunk, or handle drug use in a seemingly controlled manner. With this assumption comes the belief that these “abilities” are an example of the natural differences that exist from one individual to another. While this is partially true, the nature of alcohol and drug tolerance is much more complicated.
Alcohol tolerance is the example with which most people can relate. Consider the amount of alcohol you need to drink before you feel the effects, or “buzzed”. Let’s say this is 2 beers. If you drink 2 beers every day, over time you will feel less of an effect. If you want to feel the same effect, you must drink more alcohol. The amount of alcohol needed for the same feeling will continue to increase as you add more alcohol.
The same concept works with drugs. Alcohol abuse or drug abuse can result from tolerance since individuals will chase that feeling by drinking or using more on each occasion. If the cycle continues with regular daily alcohol or drug intake, the body can become physically dependent and alcoholism or drug addiction is the result.
On this road to addiction that we just followed, the brain has protected the body from overdose, with tolerance, by adjusting to the higher levels of substance use. This benefit of drug tolerance can become a dangerous consequence, though, for recovering individuals who relapse. The addicted brain still needs a large amount of drugs for an effect, but the body returns to a lower tolerance of what is essentially a poison.
At the time of first use on a relapse, the brain will dictate the most recent amount of drugs used to get a desired effect. If the formerly recovering addict is not careful, this amount can easily cause a drug overdose or even be fatal. Many drug addicts are not aware of this fact, and will even ignore warnings from fellow drug users because they don’t realize the consequences they face.
While alcoholics are less likely to overdose on alcohol during first use on a relapse, they may experience what is known as a lack of tolerance. At this point, a drunken feeling may result from only 1 drink. Lack of tolerance can actually occur with anyone who drinks alcohol, but it is typically coupled with alcohol dependence. Of course, that 1 drink will still not be enough to satisfy alcoholics and they can become a danger to themselves through inebriation and alcohol’s effect on the body.
This information is good to share with teens, friends in recovery, or anyone you may know who engages in alcohol abuse or drug abuse. Too many see tolerance as a benefit both early in substance use and in addiction. Tolerance is explained in effective alcohol and drug treatment as part of addiction education groups to prevent accidental overdoses among those who may relapse. Bringing this awareness to the general public may save even more lives.
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment and addiction education. We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
5. May 2010 12:37
Teen drug addiction does not only occur with drugs like heroin and methamphetamines. Prescription opiate and benzodiazepine abuse can quickly lead to addiction, and we should not forget about marijuana and alcohol which are still drugs. Parents need to be aware of these facts so they can easily spot the signs of impending drug addiction with their youth.
Don’t be fooled by the idea that if you don’t catch your adolescent using strong drugs, then it is not a big deal. Granted, finding evidence of heroin or methamphetamine use can scare any parent into contacting the closest drug treatment center. Too many parents, though, do not take the same drastic action with other drugs, and may simply resort to grounding or other minor punishments.
Alcohol and marijuana are the best examples. Many parents still believe it is okay to allow teen alcohol use in the home, in hopes that they will not drink outside the home. In most cases they will and put themselves at risk of injury and death. Adolescents, in most cases, simply don’t drink responsibly like adults. Getting a buzz is the purpose as opposed to having a social moment with friends.
The 21st Century has seen an equalizing with alcohol of the social acceptance of marijuana. The drug has become normalized with such a high percentage of the population having smoked pot in younger days. If marijuana use caused them no major problems, parents may allow their teens to use it or just wave it off as typical youth behavior. What they don’t know is that marijuana is now much more potent and addictive, and can also lead to injury or death if they drive under the influence of pot.
Now prescription drugs like Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin), and benzodiazepines ( Xanax and Valium) have become popular with adolescents. Adolescent prescription drug abuse is largely driven by a low perception of risk. Teens believe there is no danger that comes with the high, as long as they take the drugs in controlled situations. But drug addiction can take hold quickly with these drugs, which can lead them to try heroin addiction since it is cheaper and more potent.
Drug addiction treatment usually begins with drug detox or alcohol detox. Drug withdrawal symptoms include flu-like aches and intestinal problems among others, and alcohol withdrawal can be fatal in serious cases. It is best to avoid the need for medical detoxification before teen drug treatment. The way to do this is to treat all teen drug abuse equally, and seek treatment at the earliest signs of use.
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment, as well as prevention education. We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
22. April 2010 13:50
It’s no secret that a certain percentage of teens will recreationally use alcohol or drugs before they finish high school. We would all like to wave a magic wand and put a stop to it, but that is just a dream. We can only do our best to teach adolescents the damage that alcohol abuse and drug abuse will cause in their lives.
Sometimes it seems like a futile effort. Some of our youth will engage in substance use no matter what they are taught, or even if they face legal and academic consequences. Many of them begin using out of curiosity or peer pressure, and others do so in order to escape negative feelings. Some are even undiagnosed with mental health disorders, and find comfort in self-medicating.
The consequences of teen alcohol and drug abuse are evident to anyone whose primary work is in service to adolescents. At schools, we see promising students suddenly miss homework assignments or watch grades drop on tests. Youth organizations and similar groups notice that some kids just stop attending meetings and functions.
Sadly, there is no magic wand that will put an end to adolescent substance abuse. Prevention is an effort that must continue, though, because teens will otherwise not hear our message of consequences. They will be left only with reasons to try alcohol and drugs, and none make them think first about future problems. Although it may seem like a lost cause, at times, lives are saved every day.
In times of doubt, remember that when teens engage in alcohol abuse or drug abuse they increase the likelihood of future problems with alcohol dependence or drug addiction. Each and every adolescent that hears this message gets the opportunity to live into adulthood alcohol and drug free. At the very least, we can attempt to delay the start of substance use until after adolescence.
It is also important that we know when to refer teens to youth alcohol and drug treatment. There is often a delay because of the mistaken parallel between adolescent substance abuse and adult substance abuse. In actuality, teens need to at least speak with an addiction counselor at the first sign of abuse so the true nature of the problem can be understood in each case.
Adolescent alcohol and drug treatment helps teens to discover why they use alcohol or drugs. This allows them to grow by dealing with life problems instead of escaping with substance use. When mental health disorders are discovered, the treatment center should include in-house care for co-occurring mental health disorders.
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment, as well as prevention education. We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
21. January 2010 08:03
From 2002 to 2009 only Oxycontin abuse has held a steady trend among adolescent women, when looking at illicit drugs. The popularity of prescription drug abuse is dangerous for teen women for several reasons. They are perceived to be low risk, are highly addictive opiates, and can lead to illegal heroin use when these women become adults.
Prescription drugs have the lowest perceived risk among all teens. Since most teen women tend to seek security for themselves, it stands to reason that they would feel safer using prescription drugs over marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines. Even Oxycontin, a very strong opiate pain killer, can be considered safe by the most security-conscious teen women.
Opiates are highly addictive, though, so even one use can lead individuals down a quick path to addiction. As opiate tolerance builds in teen women, they need higher doses to get the desired effect from Oxycontin. Once dependence sets in the drug is needed to, at the very least, relieve opiate withdrawal symptoms.
As time passes and dependence increases, prescription opiate addicts usually switch to heroin in order to satisfy their habits. For adolescent women, this is certain to open the door to illegal activities and negative behaviors. Their friends and acquaintances also change, and they may frequent unsafe locales to obtain illegal drugs.
Opiate addiction must be addressed immediately when problems arise. Women face more physical, mental and emotional consequences than men from prescription opiate and heroin addiction. The first stop should be medical detoxification, followed by residential or outpatient drug treatment. Some women may find comfort in knowing that gender-specific treatment is available that includes childcare.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published a report on alcohol and drug use trends since 2002. It includes data that supports the information above at this link:
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k8NSDUH/tabs/Sect8peTabs1to43.htm#Tab8.19B
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides drug detox and women only alcohol and drug treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment. If you or a loved one needs help for drug addiction or alcohol dependence, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
19. January 2010 16:11
Adolescent alcohol abuse or drug abuse is especially damaging for women. It is these fragile years in the growth process that shapes who they will become both physically and emotionally. So if a dolescent alcohol or drug treatment is not used to put a stop to substance abuse or dependence, adult treatment may need to be gender-specific.
In general, when teens abuse alcohol or drugs they alter the course of their adult lives. Alcohol abuse and drug abuse has been proven to interfere with brain development. For women between age 12 and 17 this is critical. It logically follows that if the brain is not growing properly, then hormonal connections are not being completed or are being shifted in an abnormal direction.
Teen decision making, without adult guidance, is not usually regarded as being based on wisdom. Add alcohol or drugs to the equation and you lose inhibitions as well. This leads many adolescent women into abusive relationships due to low self-esteem, and to engage in unsafe sex and promiscuity. In these cases, women may see men as threats or tools for validation by the time they reach adulthood.
It is always recommended that adolescents receive alcohol and drug treatment at the earliest signs of a problem. For those who don’t, gender-specific alcohol and drug treatment needs to be an option. Some women who enter treatment will be distracted by men, making focus difficult. In women-only treatment the distraction can be removed, allowing for a better chance at long-term recovery.
Some deep-seated issues from adolescence may not be detected until women are in an alcohol or drug detox program. The feelings may seem very normal to these patients, so addiction counselors must take note when women begin habits in their youth.
The graph below is from a report posted on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website. It shows that in 2008, as a percentage, the only age range when women engage in substance abuse more than men is 12 to 17.
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-- Source: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k8nsduh/2k8Results.cfm#7.1.3 –
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment and women-only alcohol and drug treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
12. January 2010 16:08
Most parents take the “Not my kid” approach to teen alcohol and drug abuse. Statistics show, though, that many of them are not facing reality. Most of the adolescents who engage in alcohol abuse or drug abuse can fool their parents, unless the parents know what signs to look for.
It is difficult for parents to accept that teen alcohol abuse or drug abuse are the reasons why their children’s’ grades are slipping or friends are changing. They see it as a reflection on themselves. So teens are rarely confronted with the subject until parents find drugs, or after an automobile accident or arrest.
There are many reasons, other than the obvious, that parents should try to stop youth alcohol or drug abuse as soon as it begins. Besides being injured, causing injury or death to others, and having arrest records, teens do permanent damage to their minds and bodies by using alcohol and drugs. At the very least, brain development suffers and the likelihood of future problems with alcoholism is increased.
Some clear signs are the smell of alcohol or drugs, missing money from around the house, and finding drugs or paraphernalia in hidden places. These signs usually mean that teens have used alcohol or drugs for some time, and became complacent. Adolescents are very careful about getting caught in early stages of use.
By the time the above signs appear other things should be evident, and parents can address the problem early. Mood changes and defensiveness is difficult to measure with teens. So when an abrupt change in friendships occurs, parents should insist on meeting the new acquaintances. A sudden change in grades, loss of interest in favorite hobbies, and unusual outbursts are also very telling.
A very strong sign of teen substance abuse is when appearance and hygiene become messy, but perfumes and colognes are regularly used. They don’t seem to care about how they look, yet they must mask the smell of drugs and alcohol.
When parents see changes like those listed above, they should talk about them with their teens. There are too many consequences to ignore them due to what is most-likely pride. Adolescents need to hear the negatives of substance abuse from their parents to counter what they hear from their friends. Otherwise, they may end up in alcohol or drug detox and treatment.
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
10. December 2009 14:01
The holidays mean that teens will be out of school and, for many of them, a lack of supervision. Adolescent drug abuse is not going away, and parents would like to think they can trust the youth in their homes to abstain from such activities. But perceptions of risk may play a part in young minds, making them believe they are not doing anything harmful.
Many parents struggle to find positive activities for their teens during the holiday break from school. But even so, a lot of them are left seeking something to do with the idle time in between. And since boredom is a major reason given by teens for substance abuse, even the most trustworthy can be at risk.
Perception of risk is an important factor for teens who are faced with a decision of whether or not to use drugs for the first time. So parents should be aware of trends pertaining to the perception of risk for the age groups in their household. This is because perception varies due to both age, and the drug in question.
The graph below is from a report sent by the University of Maryland, College Park that shows variances in perception of risk by age group and the drugs marijuana, LSD, cocaine, and heroin. Parents can use this as a guide to discuss the real risk of drugs with adolescents at home. It is the best defense against teen drug abuse.
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-- Source: http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol18/18-48.pdf --
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides family services as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in youth alcohol and drug treatment. If you or a loved one needs help with drug addiction or alcohol dependence, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
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