It is in every parent’s nature to worry about their child. This feeling intensifies even more when the child is in their formative teenage years. Adolescents are exposed to many things that are beyond their parents’ control and knowledge. It is up to them to distinguish right from wrong. Parents must cling to the hope that they did a good job instilling in them the life lessons necessary for dealing with challenging situations. But if you suspect that your teen has begun drinking alcohol, immediately start reading up on teen alcohol treatment in Los Angeles.
As soon as you suspect that your teen may have a drinking problem, get them into an alcohol treatment program for teens. Try to tackle the problem quickly, before it starts to have a significant effect on your teenager’s life. Alcoholism robs your child of the sober life that they deserve.
Types of teen alcohol treatment
Alcohol abuse among teens needs to be handled appropriately — children require a different treatment approach than alcoholic adults. Adolescents are in their formative years, so a drinking problem will have a significant negative impact on their lives. Rehabilitation centers in Los Angeles that acknowledge this fact would be your best option.
There are several types of teen alcohol treatment approaches, from inpatient or outpatient programs to mentoring and companioning. All of these seek to help both teenagers and parents combat alcoholism. The best programs focus on rehabilitation, recovery, and creating a healthy home environment and social relations.
In these programs, teenagers are exposed to behavioral therapies that often include their families as well. Both individual and group therapies are effective ways to help teenagers overcome their drinking problems.
Crash course: Dealing with a recovering alcoholic teenager
Although a drinking problem directly affects the teenager, there is no denying that family members also face its impacts. There is no immediate resolution for that. As a parent, you will have to face these issues after your teen’s rehab. Some of the ways to help a recovering teen involves:
- Being realistic with your expectations
Even if your child has completed a treatment program, it does not mean that they have completely overcome their alcohol issues. Recovery is a continuous process — it can sometimes be a lifetime challenge. Your teen will experience symptoms of withdrawal, such as mood swings. Don’t let yourself get carried away by unreasonable expectations, and you won’t get disappointed. At the same time, don’t take it out on your child. Always be positive, no matter what missteps might occur. Your support will be a solid foundation for your teen’s recovery.
- Educating yourself about recovery
Getting through rehab is an excellent feat for teenagers with alcohol problems. But what awaits after that — the recovery process — is a long-term, complicated stage. You’ll have to learn everything you can about recovery and how its effects might impact your home environment.
- Enforcing changes at home
Your home life will need to see changes to prevent any relapses. Something about its previous setup might have been inadequate. To maintain your teen’s sobriety, you need to make some necessary adjustments. Start by removing all the alcohol at home. Go with the mantra: ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’ Also, avoid attending social gatherings that will involve alcohol. Exposing them to these triggers can make them want to drink again.