Teen Heroin Rehab Tips, Stategies and FAQ

Table of Contents
Basic Tips for Helping Parents
Strategies for Success
Frequently Asked Questions

Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs that teens can choose to use, and once they start, they just might not be able to stop without help. Parents, teachers and other adult figures are more likely to notice changes in behavior and habits immediately. While parents may feel as though they can combat their addiction on their own, with support from family and friends, this is just not the reality of heroin drug use for teens. Teen drug use requires a greater level of support and treatment in order to make for a full recovery. This means that teens require rehab, and usually an in-depth treatment program in an inpatient setting.

Tip 1: When a Teen Doesn’t Need a Rehabilitaion Program

There are on occasion a few circumstances in which teen heroin rehab may not be immediately necessary. Timing can be important to the effectiveness of treatment, so take a moment to review the information below before determining whether or not your child needs immediate heroin addiction treatment.

Abused Heroin Once

If your teen comes to you and confesses that at a party or a friend’s house she once tried heroin, there’s no need to panic and send her to rehab. Teen heroin rehab provides medical treatment and intensive psychological care for kids living with the medical disorder of addiction. If your teen has abused a drug once or twice over a long period of time, no medical disorder exists and therefore no medical treatment is required.

Pay very close attention when your teen confesses to abusing heroin or other drugs. Why is she telling you? Is she asking for help or is she bonding? If it’s help that she needs, consider counseling or a less intensive form of care to start with. Make sure, too, that your teen is telling you the full truth. Keep a close eye on her in the coming weeks and make sure that continued heroin abuse isn’t an issue and that her confession of a single usage isn’t a deflection.

You Find Heroin or Associated Paraphernalia

Don’t jump the gun if you find certain items you believe to be drug-related among your teen’s possessions. Though unlikely, there is always the possibility that these things belong to a friend, that they are left over from a one-time night out or that they are months old. Though heroin paraphernalia like glass pipes, lighters, cookers, needles and small baggies that have residue inside are an important indicator that something might be brewing with your teen, it’s important to take these items as a singular sign and do some more investigating to find out whether or not your child is living with a full-blown heroin addiction that requires treatment at a teen heroin rehab.

Tip 2: Know What You’re Getting into for a Successful Rehab Experience

Before you send your teen to heroin rehab, make sure you know what to expect. Familiarizing yourself with the schedule and types of treatment your teen will experience as well as what is required by you as their parent can help you better reinforce what your teen learns in treatment. Showing up for educational workshops designed for parents, parent support groups and family therapy sessions with your child will help improve the relationship between the two of you and assist you in building a more positive foundation for their recovery. When your teen is supported at home Õ¢__Î_ÑÒ and knows it Õ¢__Î_ÑÒ it can help them to be more focused and hopeful about their future without heroin addiction.

Tip 3: Help a Teen Be Successful in Recovery with a Surprise Approach

Teens who know that heroin rehab is imminent may take drastic measures to avoid it. Many attempt to run away. Others binge on heroin or other drugs and end up getting into accidents or overdosing as a result. It is far safer to enroll your teen in treatment and then let them know it is happening either on the way to the treatment center or in the form of an intervention immediately before they leave for heroin rehab.

An intervention is often a positive way to prepare your teen for heroin rehab and what they can expect in the coming months from treatment before it happens. When faced with the loving concern of family members, many teens even come to see that treatment is an inevitable necessity, even if they still don’t like the idea. An intervention is not necessary, however, and many parents prefer to simply take their teen to heroin rehab, explaining to them along the way where they are going and why.

Strategy: Inpatient Heroin Treatment

Heroin is a severe addiction that is not easy to overcome. Teens that try to do it on their own or with the help of parents are not likely to be successful. During the rehab process teens need to be properly detoxed from the drugs that they’ve been using. This means that medical supervision is required in order to treat the withdrawal symptoms that can occur and can also be harmful to the health of a teen if not moderated properly. Trying to do this on their own, teens are not going to have the proper care and may find that they’re tempted back into drug use to stop the withdrawal symptoms. With detox in a rehab facility, medications can be administered to manage the symptoms, and teens will become more comfortable while they’re in good hands. With other solutions to treat the withdrawal, the will not need to turn back to drug use. Teens will also receive counselling and support in inpatient heroin rehab to allow them to learn how to cope in their lives without the use of the drugs. This happens after detox, and teens may even receive peer support from others dealing with similar addiction issues.

With inpatient rehab, teens do not have the option to return home at the end of the treatment day or session. They remain in the treatment facility and are under the care of addiction specialists. This is especially beneficial because it keeps them away from the temptations that they face when they are home and back into regular routines. Once they are out of rehab, they’ll have better skills to cope with these circumstances without the use of drugs.

Strategy: Aftercare for Recovering Heroin Addict

After treatment, teens can return home and go about their regular routines, but regular support will still be required. There is a period of time where relapse is a more major risk while teens are being reintegrated into society. But, with a little will-power and support, it is possible for them to do so without falling back into the habits of their addiction.

FAQ: Questions to Ask a Counselor

Knowing what to expect Õ¢__Î_ÑÒ and what is expected from you Õ¢__Î_ÑÒ at your teen’s heroin rehab program will help your teen get the most out of the experience. Contact us at Newport Academy with these and other questions to determine whether or not our program is a good fit for your teen.

Is a Medical Heroin Detox Included in Teen Heroin Rehab?

If your teen experiences withdrawal symptoms when he or she stops taking heroin or goes too long without a dose, then a medical heroin detox may be necessary. Make sure that the teen heroin rehab you choose is equipped with the medical resources and specialists that your child needs to get through heroin detox safely.

Should I Enroll My Teen in Outpatient or Inpatient Rehabilitation?

The type of program you choose for your child will depend on how much of the drug they use daily, whether or not they need medical heroin detox, if you think you can keep them from relapsing in the first weeks of recovery, and the existence of co-occurring disorders like depression, eating disorders, anxiety, ADHD and other issues. Many parents opt for inpatient treatment to ensure that their child remains focused on treatment while others choose outpatient treatment to maximize the benefits of a positive school environment.

What Types of Therapy Are Provided During Teen Treatment?

The teen heroin rehab you choose should provide a heavy emphasis on therapy throughout their weekly schedule. Personal therapy is a must, as is group therapy. A wide variety of experiential and alternative therapies like Equine Assisted Therapy and others can also be extremely beneficial in getting through to the hard-to-reach teen. The more therapeutic options employed by the teen rehab program, the more likely your teen will find a therapy that speaks to his experience.

Is There an Emphasis on Health and Wellness?

It’s important that your teen learn how to feel good without drugs and alcohol and emphasizing good nutrition and exercise can assist in that. Make sure that the teen heroin rehab you choose offers a wellness counseling option for your child.

Is There an Emphasis on Academics?

For every teen, academic progress should play a big part in treatment. No teen will be able to function well upon returning home if he or she is far behind peers as a result of enrolling in an inpatient teen heroin rehab program. An effective teen heroin program will work with your child’s teachers to create an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that will help your teen make progress on his or her education during treatment. Teachers and tutors should also be provided to help teens move forward academically at their own pace.

Are Boys and Girls Kept Separate at Teen Heroin Rehab?

Boys and girls do better in treatment when they are kept separate. It allows for a higher level of focus on everything from education to therapy. At Newport Academy, we never have more than 12 teens on our estate at any given time Õ¢__Î_ÑÒ six boys and six girls Õ¢__Î_ÑÒ in separate residences and in separate treatment locations.

Can I Take My Teen Out of Treatment if I Need To?

Only in the most extreme emergencies will teens be allowed to leave and return to most inpatient teen heroin rehab programs. Legal guardians are, of course, welcome to take their children out of teen heroin addiction treatment at any time.

Will I Be Able to Contact My Teen While She Is in Heroin Rehab?

During the first couple of weeks, teens are encouraged to get focused on their treatment and they have limited contact with friends and family members. Over time, they earn the privilege of calling home or accepting visitors on visiting days. You are always welcome to call the teen heroin rehab center to check in with staff members on the progress of your child. Progress reports should always be given freely to legal guardians of enrolled teens.

How Long Should My Teen Stay in Rehabilitation?

This, too, is a personal decision that should be made based upon the needs of the teen. According to studies, longer inpatient stays do more to solidify the principles of treatment for teens than shorter programs, but if you can only afford a brief stay in treatment, this is far better than avoiding treatment altogether.

What Aftercare Services Are Offered to Teens?

Aftercare services like alumni groups and outpatient addiction treatment are a big part of helping your teen to maintain focus on the treatment principles they learned during heroin rehab after they return home. Though you have the option of enrolling your child in a different program to meet these needs, it often provides a more fluid experience for your teen when they can continue to see the same counselors and experience the same rules and expectations at the same facility where they received heroin addiction treatment.

Will Your Treatment Facility Work with My Insurance Company?

Paying for teen heroin rehab can take a huge chunk out of the family finances, and many insurance companies will be able to provide you with at least a small bit of financial relief. Make sure that the teen heroin rehab you choose will work with your insurance company so that you can take advantage of those benefits.