Beyond Just Say No: Modern Harm Reduction and Youth Substance Misuse
If treatment centers are going to prevent youth substance misuse effectively, the old-fashioned approach of “Just Say No” is no longer the best option. Given the rise of fentanyl abuse and the spread of powerful psychedelic drugs, the risks associated with substance use disorders (SUD) are significant. Indeed, youth substance misuse in the form of casual drug experimentation often leads to fatal overdoses and tragic loss.
As a provider of Youth SUD Treatment Services, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) understands the significance of providing services that work in practice. When a teenager goes to residential treatment, it is not a typical thirty-day break from the party. Instead, no matter what the time frame, treatment for youth substance misuse needs to be effective and lasting. Therefore, the best approach is the dual adoption of modern harm reduction techniques and holistic perspectives on the challenges.
Harm Reduction and Youth Substance Misuse
People often reject modern harm reduction approaches when the “Just Say No” perspective is dominant. However, TTC knows that such approaches work in practice. For example, TTC is one of the only treatment centers that offers Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) for youth. Unfortunately, youth substance misuse quickly descends into dependence and addiction. For youth caught in the vise of opioid use, MAT Services are often the key to a successful recovery. By reducing withdrawal symptoms and managing cravings, MAT Services opens the door to a sustainable recovery.
Moreover, in prevention outreach, TTC recommends that parents and caregivers add Naloxonenasal spray to their medicine cabinets. As the most effective opioid overdose reversal tool, Naloxone nasal spray saves countless lives. Therefore, if youth substance misuse causes an opioid overdose, the life of a child is saved. Once that life is saved, then everything, including recovery, becomes a future option. As a harm reduction technique, Naloxone is a miraculous drug that is easy to administer in crises.
Talking Straight About Youth Substance Misuse
When it comes to Generation Z, pounding the table and demanding total abstinence is not the answer. Hence, the “Just Say No” approach is a stale dinosaur to these kids. Instead, a different approach is necessary that takes a holistic perspective on youth substance misuse. Such a perspective allows treatment providers to speak the language of this generation.
Aaron Weiner, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and past president of the American Psychological Association’s Division 50 (Society of Addiction Psychology), emphasizes this approach in his practice. As Dr. Weiner explains, “The goal is to impress upon youth that far and away the healthiest choice is not to put these substances in your body, while at the same time acknowledging that some kids are still going to try them. If that’s the case, we want to help them avoid the worst consequences.”
A Holistic Approach to Youth Substance Misuse
Therefore, a critical part of TTC’s treatment programs is empowering youth to make their own decisions in a developmentally appropriate way. By providing teenagers and young adults with counseling and psychological support, they learn how to practice informed decision-making around youth substance misuse. By addressing risk factors like adverse childhood experiences and mental health challenges, TTC takes a holistic approach to helping youth.
As a Youth SUD and Mental Health Treatment Services provider, TTC believes in integrated healthcare. Rather than just addressing sobriety, TTC looks at the whole person. By taking such a holistic approach, TTC speaks a language that young people can hear. Hence, by embracing harm reduction and avoiding outdated perspectives, TTC increases youth recovery rates and successful treatment outcomes. To learn more, please contact us today.