Why is it Essential to Get Alcohol Addiction Treatment?
The consumption of alcoholic beverages by those under the age of 21 is a prevalent issue throughout most areas in the United States. Along with the many legal implications this problem can present, there are also many health concerns that can affect youths who drink. In order to get your child or loved one help with underage drinking, you must understand the causes. You must also understand why professional treatment is essential for their recovery.
Why Do Adolescents Participate in Underage Drinking?
Adolescents often cite many different reasons for getting involved in underage drinking. For some young people, alcohol seems more innocent than other addictive substances. Other young people say they were curious about the effects that alcohol would have on their body and mind.
Another reason teens begin using alcohol is to relieve stress. Teens are under an enormous amount of pressure today. A recent study found that 1 in 3 of adolescents struggled with an anxiety disorder. There are multiple causes of that stress anxiety, including:
- Pressure to succeed
- High expectations
- A world that feels threatening or scary
- Social media
Moreover, most parents don’t realize that their child is struggling with anxiety or disregard it. Therefore, the child feels like they have no choice but to turn to alcohol.
Another reason that our children struggle with alcohol is because they want to fit in. We’ve all heard the phrase, “Bad company corrupts good character.” This phrase is especially true in middle and high school. If your child is at a party where all their friends are drinking your child most likely will, too. They want to fit in and for their friends to like them. They see using alcohol as their key to that.
There are a variety of other reasons that a teen might become addicted to alcohol, but a key one is that adolescents see drug and alcohol use in the media. According to the media around us, part of high school is drinking at parties. Hollywood has fed our society the lie that this is normal. As a result, when our children see their friends using alcohol, they think that this is a normal part of growing up. Combined with the desire to fit in, this sets them up for a terrible fall. No matter how the problem gets started, the repercussions of underage drinking can be severe and long-lasting.
We use a range of useful therapy programs, such as:
- Relationship therapy
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dialectical therapy
Issues Associated with Underage Drinking
Most people of all ages are aware of the legal issues involved when minors are caught consuming alcohol. Aside from monetary fines and potential jail time, these types of illegal activities can be far-reaching for many adolescents. However, there are many other problems associated with underage drinking.
Decline in Quality of Schoolwork
Many teens suffering from alcohol abuse issues begin to display a lack of concentration and memory when it comes to their schoolwork. As a result, their grades may drop, or they may even consider leaving school.
Failure to Meet Important Obligations
Obligations with school, employment, and family can also begin to suffer when an individual becomes involved in drinking under the legal age. Teens who are employed may start showing up late for work or getting into trouble on the job.
Declining Health
Regardless of the age of those consuming it, alcohol can have serious detrimental health effects. Your health may decrease even more the longer you drink over time. However, these health effects can potentially be even more severe for those who are still developing and growing.
Serious or Fatal Accidents
Drinking and driving is a related issue that can have fatal consequences in many cases. While it’s almost never the intent, teens who are driving under the influence of alcohol can cause accidents that take their own lives or the lives of others.
In 2018, SAMHSA estimated that 863,000 adolescents needed treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab facility but did not receive it.
The time to act is now. Contact Zelus Recovery today, for the sake of your child.
Seeking Treatment with Zelus Recovery
]Professionals who specialize in alcohol addiction treatment understand the complexity of underage drinking. They also comprehend that each person is different and may respond to treatment differently. Therefore, substance abuse programs need to be unique to fit the needs of each person seeking help.
Zelus Recovery is an addiction treatment center located in Meridian, Idaho. By providing in-depth help aimed at adolescents and young adults, Zelus Recovery can help those suffering from substance abuse to experience a full recovery. Using a multi-disciplinary approach involving early intervention, family programs, and outpatient protocols, Zelus Recovery can provide personalized care for all those seeking help.
We treat a variety of addictions, including:
- Alcohol addiction
- Marijuana addiction
- Opioid addiction
- Adderall addiction
- Heroin addiction
3.7 million 12-17-year olds in the United States received addiction treatment from 2017-2018.
Don’t let your teen suffer from addiction any longer. Contact Zelus Recovery today and get your teen on the path to recovery.
Don’t allow underage drinking to ruin your life or the life of your loved one. Contact Zelus Recovery today at 208.518.0797 to find out how to start recovery.
Both counselors are very dedicated to helping the entire family deal with a very complex issue. They have a solid methodology, provide information and a game plan to try to stop drug use before it becomes a dependancy problem. The guidance they provide can prevent the need for full outpatient treatment, if you follow their guidelines. Even if you don’t need treatment, I highly recommend you and your at-risk loved one go for counseling. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure!
-Gina F.