Greenleaf Hospital provides effective treatment for teens & adolescents struggling with prescription drug addiction. At Greenleaf, you can learn how to achieve lasting sobriety.
Treatment for Teen Prescription Drug Addiction
Understanding Treatment for Teen Prescription Drug Addiction
Despite the fact that prescription drugs, such as OxyContin and Xanax, offer the relief people need to overcome a whole host of medical and mental health conditions, these substances have a high potential for abuse and can easily fall into the wrong hands. Teens, for example, may come to misuse prescription medications in the hopes of achieving a mind- and mood-altering high, and find themselves developing a substance abuse problem if this type of behavior remains ongoing. Many young people assume that when consuming prescription drugs they are ingesting something that is safe because a doctor can recommend it. However, the truth of the matter is that prescription drug addiction has the ability to lead to chemical dependency, which can have a devastating impact in the end.
At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, we understand how distressing it can be when one’s child is struggling with an addiction to prescription drugs, and we are proud to offer world class rehab that can help young people become substance-free once more. Our proven effective treatment and unparalleled dedication in helping youth in this way are why Greenleaf is the best choice for teen substance abuse treatment.
Helping Your Teen
Helping a Loved One or Family Member Get Treatment
For many parents and legal guardians, it is not always apparent that their child is abusing or addicted to prescription medication. Because of this, it is important to learn the signs of teen prescription drug addiction and then take action. Among the many things that parents and legal guardians can do to help their child once it is realized that their teen needs treatment, the following are but a few steps to take that can help get a young person get the care that he or she needs:
- Consult with a mental health professional in your area to learn about options for care that may be appropriate for your child.
- Reach out to a few treatment centers to learn more about their treatment and to see if they are equipped to care for a young person’s needs.
- Enlist the help of other loved ones to learn how to best handle an emergency situation if your child experiences complications due to his or her prescription drug use. Also, encourage other loved ones to be conscientious with their medications so that your child is not tempted to abuse theirs.
- Speak with your child about his or her prescription medication addiction. It is normal to be met with denial and resistance, though it is important to remain calm, nonjudgmental, and caring. Also, during this conversation, talk about the need for treatment.
- Schedule an assessment at a treatment center and make arrangements for your child to attend services.
While your teen is receiving care, be sure to be part of his or her treatment via family sessions and/or visiting him or her when you can. Also, it is a good idea to get your own support so that you can be the most help to your child during this difficult time.
Why Choose Us
Why Consider Treatment at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital
Allowing a prescription drug problem to remain untreated can mean that your child is likely to experience a great deal of upheaval as a result. A teen will be unable to perform to expectation at school, be unable to form healthy relationships with peers, and may even develop strained relationships with loved ones. Additionally, and as with any type of substance abuse, teens who misuse prescription drugs are at risk of experiencing a potentially fatal overdose if care is not sought. Mental health condition symptoms can emerge or become worse, and there is a high potential for a young person to begin experimenting with other substances the longer the abuse of prescription drugs continues. For these reasons and more, it is imperative for a young person grappling with a prescription medication problem to receive proper rehab at a treatment center as soon as possible.
Types of Adolescent Treatment
Types of Treatment Offered at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital
Licensed to operate 113 beds, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital offers top notch mental health and substance abuse treatment for people of all ages. Situated in Valdosta, Georgia, this world class hospital is where individuals, young and old, can access the resources and support they need to heal from mental health concerns and issues with substances.
Included in our broad range of services is a high quality adolescent inpatient treatment center that offers treatment for mental disorders and substance use problems for teens between the ages of 12 and 17. Within this invaluable treatment regimen, young people work with an incredible staff of professionals who are highly trained and compassionate when working with young people battling such issues. Our treatment also only uses time-tested treatment protocols so that each parent or guardian who entrusts their child’s care to us can rest assured that they will be receiving excellent treatment.
After a youth’s needs are assessed during the streamlined admissions process, a personalized treatment plan is created that will outline the interventions and methods of care needed to treat the concerns that are plaguing the young person most. This high level of customization ensures that any and all treatment goals established will not only be reached, but exceeded while a teen is at Greenleaf. Among the types of interventions that a youth may partake in, the following are those that can be included in a teen’s plan of care:
Detoxification services: Because some substances of abuse must be cleared from an individual’s body before engaging in therapeutic treatment, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital offers detoxification services, or detox. Young people who come to us dependent on prescription medications or another substance, may be recommended to this type of treatment so that they can delve into our other treatment options with clearer mindsets and healthier bodies.
Medication management services: Teens who begin treatment at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital in order to overcome a prescription drug addiction will be assessed to determine if there is a need for medication in order to treat the symptoms of an existing mental health concern. When indicated, the youth will then meet with our staff psychiatrist to decide the type of medication needed, and then our mental health team will monitor the effectiveness of any medication given for the duration of the young person’s care.
Individual therapy: An addiction to prescription medications can cause a person to detach from his or her emotions the longer this type of behavior persists. For this reason, the treatment we make available to young people includes individual therapy sessions on an as needed basis. These sessions can serve as a time to process feelings, emotion, past experiences, and goals for the future so that the continued abuse of prescription drugs or other substances can be avoided.
Group therapy: As one of the leading treatment centers in Valdosta, we firmly believe that the individuals we care for can benefit greatly from being able to offer and receive support from one another. Group therapy sessions, which are offered multiple times per day at our treatment center, are the forums for this type of interaction, and allow teens entrusted to our care to heal and recover from prescription drug addiction alongside others who may also be struggling with similar concerns. Among the topics covered during these sessions, the following are those that teens can discuss with other youth under the supervision of our staff:
- Communication skills
- Anger management
- Addictive behaviors and triggers
- Stress management
- Life skills
- Effectively expressing emotions
Experiential therapy: Much can be gained when a teen is able to heal in mind and body while working to overcome an addiction to prescription drugs and/or other harmful substances. At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, we offer teens the opportunity to partake in physical fitness activities so that they can reap the benefits of being active as long as their needs allow for this type of care. Additionally, we also provide supervised art projects that are designed to help young people tap into their creative side and express themselves via this alternative medium.
Family therapy: So as to help teens and their families heal, we are pleased to include family therapy sessions on an as needed basis so that the young people we treat and those closest to them can become a united front against prescription drug addiction. These sessions are led by members of our dedicated staff, and can be a time to process what has been happening within the family unit and grow as a supportive, collective whole that will further empower teens to avoid the use of prescription medications going forward.
Family education: Understanding what caused one’s child to turn to the use of prescription drugs can be difficult for some parents and legal guardians. In addition, it can also be bewildering as to how one can help a youth refrain from the ongoing use of prescription drugs even after treatment is sought. For these reasons, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital provides families with education opportunities during which they can:
- Receive the resources needed to help their teen avoid further prescription medication use
- Become aware of the best means of support that can be used to help with their child’s recovery
- Gain an education on substance abuse, and its impact on behavior, emotions, and brain chemistry
Discharge planning: For the duration of a teen’s care at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, we aim to instill the skills, confidence, and hope for a prescription drug -free tomorrow. However, regardless of this mission, we realize that those we care for need to have tangible resources and services available to them after leaving our hospital in order for them to continue their treatment success. Because of this, we begin planning for each young person’s discharge from the moment they are admitted, and we formulate thorough aftercare plans that are designed to help teens continue their healing journeys. Much like our treatment planning process, we consider the needs of each youth and devise a plan of action that will support a prescription drug-free future via recommendations for additional resources and services.
In choosing our leading treatment center in Valdosta as the place to help your child break free from a prescription drug problem, you and your teen will become part of our healing community and gain the care, support, and resources needed to help your child become well again. As previously mentioned, we create detailed discharge plans for those who come to Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital for treatment so that they are able to thrive once they return home. Part of these plans can include our own partial hospitalization program (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP) as the follow-up services that will benefit teens who have completed inpatient treatment with us.
If your son, daughter, or other close loved one is in need of superior care to defeat a prescription drug problem, look no further than Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital. Our staff of superior professionals is excited to help your teen realize a better life, and we look forward to helping you access the resources needed to help your family heal.
At Greenleaf, a healthier tomorrow can begin today.