While some teens respond to gentle encouragement to make healthy choices, others reject them outright. It’s a fine line as teens chase rewards, risk, and freedom from their parents. Here is how to help if they’re struggling with addiction.

Don’t Confront Them at a Bad Time or Place

First and foremost, a conversation with a teenager about their addiction must be a conversation, not a confrontation. You should always choose a time and place where you and your partner are comfortable. Ideally, this isn’t somewhere you could be interrupted or distracted. It should be somewhere quiet and talkable.

Ask Them for Their Views on What They’re Doing

Let them guide the conversation. Ask them for their opinions and views on their addiction. Let them know they can be honest. Avoid lectures, scare tactics, or advice on how to start.

Get them talking about their actions and where they’re coming from. If they feel heard and can openly discuss their thoughts, this creates a pathway towards helping them.

Be Available to Them If They Need You

A teenager may not recognize they have an addiction and not want to quit. At a certain point, there is very little an adult can do if a teenager is not ready to take the step themselves.

However, you can let them know you’re there and available. If they need your help paying for treatment or anything else, you will be there to help them. This action can mean a lot.

Arrange for Help from an Addiction Treatment Center

Addiction treatment centers are available for all sorts of addictions, from alcohol and substance abuse to food addiction, pornography addiction, and more.

If a teenager is in the throes of abuse and addiction, it might be time to arrange therapy at an addiction treatment center. Help is available when professionals supervise treatment.

Emphasize Consequences with No Judgment

When discussing addiction with them, it is essential not to judge them. Do not shame them. Work to ensure you’re not using any language that might put them or their decisions off. Instead, focus on the consequences. When/if you do ‘x,’ the consequence is ‘y’. As a result, they will be made aware of the results of their actions without being judged.

Provide Support and Build Their Self-Esteem

A person in addiction needs support. Offer praise and encouragement when a teenager succeeds. This creates a strong bond and builds their self-esteem. Please don’t give them unearned compliments, but when they accomplish something, highlight it and let them know you see it. Many addiction sufferers suffer from low self-esteem.

Arrange For Them to Speak with a Counselor

There is an underlying cause to why a teenager has an addiction. Arrange for your teen to speak to a mental health counselor. Address the underlying cause, whether depression, anxiety, or another disorder.

Investigate the underlying cause of that. Counseling can be extremely helpful to teens with a history of traumatic events or abuse, low self-esteem, and who are dealing with themes of social rejection.

Encourage Your Teen to Get Involved in Other Activities

Get them out of the environment in which they engage with their addiction. Get them around new people, do something that interests them, and get them involved in something else.

If a teenager wants to quit their addiction, they have to replace the time and energy that they would put into that behaviour with another activity.

Encourage Them to Share Their Struggles with Friends

It is difficult to kick an addiction alone. If your teenager does not want to connect with you and lean on you for support, encourage them to talk to their friends about quitting the addiction.

Supportive friends can contribute positively to addiction recovery. Let the addicted person know that you’re ready to support them if they need your support.

Establish Your Boundaries

Set up rules and boundaries if a teenager refuses to deal with their addiction. Ensure they know where it’s acceptable or not acceptable to pursue their addiction as it relates to you.

If you’re a parent, you might tell them you don’t want them doing it in the family home. You might also threaten to kick them out if the addiction is particularly traumatic. Whatever the boundaries and consequences are, enforce them.

Also read:

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Image attributed/purchased through Bigstock, Xavier Lorenzo

The post How to Help Your Teenager with Addiction first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Approaching the situation with empathy, understanding, and open dialogue can pave the way for healing and recovery. Here, we want to provide guidance on how to talk with a teenager you suspect might be suffering from addiction.

Timing is Everything

Timing and environment play a significant role in how well your conversation will be received. Pick a time when both you and the teenager are relaxed and have ample privacy. Create an atmosphere that is free from distractions and conducive to open discussion.

Approach with Empathy

Start the conversation by expressing your genuine concern and empathy. Begin with statements like, “I’ve noticed that you seem to be going through a tough time lately,” or “I want you to know that I care about you and I’m here to listen without judgment.”

Listening Non-Judgementally

It’s important to create a space where the teenager feels safe and supported. Listen actively and without interruption, as they share their thoughts and feelings. Avoid making accusatory or judgmental remarks, which can cause them to shut down.

Use “I” Statements

When discussing your concerns, use “I” statements to convey your feelings rather than placing blame. For example, say, “I’m worried about your well-being because I’ve noticed certain changes,” instead of, “You’re causing me a lot of stress with your behavior.”

Express Your Observations

Share specific instances or changes in behavior that have raised your concern. Be factual and non-confrontational, focusing on observable actions rather than making assumptions about their intentions.

Educate Yourself

Before approaching the conversation, take time to educate yourself about addiction and its signs. This knowledge will not only help you understand the situation better but also demonstrate your commitment to helping them through this difficult time.

Offer Support, Not Solutions

Rather than imposing solutions, ask how you can be of help. Offer your unconditional support and let them know that you are there to assist them in finding the right resources, whether it’s therapy, counseling, or support groups.

Avoid Lecturing

While it’s natural to want to share your wisdom, avoid delivering lectures or moralizing. Focus on being collaborative and encourage open dialogue rather than a one-sided conversation.

Be Patient

Recovery is a journey that takes time, and relapses can happen. Be patient and understanding, offering ongoing support even if progress is slow or nonlinear.

Maintain Boundaries

While you’re striving to be supportive, it’s important to establish and communicate boundaries. Let them know that while you’re there to help, certain behaviors will not be tolerated. This can include destructive actions or continued substance use.

Seek The Help of a Professional

If you suspect a teenager is struggling with addiction, involving a professional is crucial. Consult with a therapist, counselor, or medical professional who specializes in addiction. They can provide expert guidance and recommend appropriate interventions. In some instances, reaching out to a criminal defense lawyer to discuss the legal ramifications of such a lifestyle may even be helpful.

Celebrate Small Wins

Recovery is a series of steps, and every positive change is worth celebrating. Acknowledge and praise their efforts, no matter how small they may seem.

Communicating with a teenager who might be suffering from addiction requires sensitivity, patience, and an open heart. Your support can be a guiding light on their path to recovery. Remember that they need to know they are loved and valued regardless of their challenges. By approaching the conversation with empathy and understanding, you can make a profound difference in their journey toward healing and a brighter future.

Also read:

Why Residential Therapy Works

5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

The post How to Talk to Your Teen About Addiction first appeared on Help Your Teens.

For the most part, teens don’t have the emotional maturity to cope with some of the issues they face today, which can lead to substance abuse as they attempt to find a way through the situation.

Many parents fear that drug and alcohol abuse will lead to death by overdose, but there is also a risk for death by suicide when substances come into the picture, especially if there was already a mood or mental disorder present that is exacerbated by drugs or alcohol. With emotions already running high for young people, adding a substance into the mix can only makes things worse and, frighteningly, causes impulsive behavior that may make self-harm easier. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-34.

For this reason, the risk for suicide is heightened when a teen has access to a weapon, which is why all families who own guns are strongly urged to keep them locked up or secured in a hidden place, preferably with a lock on the trigger and the bullets in a separate area.

Teens–especially those who suffer from an undiagnosed condition such as bipolar disorder–may begin to feel as if there is no way out when they experience a difficult life event. These feelings are dangerous, especially if there has been substance abuse present that could make the individual impulsive. Drugs and alcohol can lead to depression, isolation, a decline in physical health, and can affect sleeping habits, which could lead back around to substance abuse as the individual tries to get rest.

The reasons a teen may turn to drugs or alcohol are myriad. It can stem from an unhappy home life, a recent big life change such as divorce or a death in the family, chronic illness, or it could be something unseen by friends and family, such as a struggle with sexuality or cyber-bullying.

In order for parents to help, it’s always a good idea to know who their child is spending time with and what they do in their free time. This can be useful when it comes time for the teen to open up about any issues they may be having.

Some of the warning signs of addiction in teens include:

• Loss of interest in things that once brought joy
• Isolation from friends and family
• Too much or too little sleep
• Decline in physical health or appearance
• Slurred or impaired speech
• Detached emotions or being overly emotional
• Being secretive
• Lashing out
• Getting into legal trouble

If you have a loved one who is exhibiting these behaviors, it’s important to open up a conversation with them and let them know you’re listening. Don’t be judgmental or introduce guilt; chances are, they already feel guilty about something, or perhaps they are suffering from low self-esteem. Let them know you’re there for them and encourage them to seek help in the form of counseling, or to make an appointment with a doctor. It’s a good idea to talk one-on-one, as too many people in a room can make the individual feel like they are being ganged up on.

If you feel that self-harm is imminent, don’t leave the individual alone. Remove any items that could be used for harm from the area and call for help. Remember that you won’t have all the answers, and you may not be able to reach your loved one the way they need to be reached. There are professionals waiting to help when this is the case.

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK

Contributor:  Michelle Peterson 

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Success in Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Why Residential Treatment Works When Home Therapy Fails.

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Contact us today for a free consultation for your teen and the right therapeutic boarding school. 

The post Addiction and Teens first appeared on Help Your Teens.