As a parent, it’s challenging to know that your teen is struggling with alcohol abuse for many reasons. There’s a familiar narrative that kids will be kids and that they’re going to go out and have a good time. However, this saying isn’t always right, and some teens begin turning to alcohol as a way to cope with the stresses of life. If you’re concerned about teen alcohol abuse, you need to learn why teens abuse alcohol and what to look for.
If you find your teen is abusing alcohol, reach out to the professionals at the young adult alcohol rehab center for ways to approach the situation. Early intervention can mean the difference between alcohol abuse, dependency, and addiction.
Stress and Teen Alcohol Abuse
As adults, it’s easy for us to forget how stressful it can be a teenager, and it’s even worse in today’s society. We often look at teens and think back to the simple days when we didn’t have bills or kids to worry about. The reality is that to teenagers, their experience is their entire universe and it can be extremely stressful. When you take a look at everything a teen has to worry about, it begins to make a lot more sense.
Common stressors for teens:
- Grades
- Approval of parents
- Sports
- Approval of peers
- Social media and social interactions
When a teen begins to be overwhelmed by all of the stresses of life, he or she may turn to alcohol as a way to cope. If your teen isn’t opening up and discussing his or her life and what’s going on but is drinking, it’s an issue. Alcohol use disorder for teens often starts as alcohol abuse, which is why it’s important to notice this.
Isolation and Teen Alcohol Abuse
When an individual begins drinking intensely and regularly, they will start to withdraw themselves from friends and family. This is for a variety of reasons, but the main one is that alcohol abuse can lead to severe depression. The person no longer wants to interact with people who love and care about them, and they just want to be alone. Eventually, your teen may get to the point where they drink alone instead of going out to parties.
Attending a group therapy program helps show teens that they’re not alone. Individuals find peers who encounter the same or similar situations and feelings they struggle with. No one is alone in what they face.
Obvious Signs of Teen Alcohol Abuse
It’s important to talk about the obvious signs of alcohol abuse for teens as well because they can go overlooked. If you find empty beer cans or bottles of liquor in your teen’s room, remember that this is not healthy behavior. Those who begin developing an addiction to alcohol can get angry and upset when you confront them. They’ll even justify and rationalize why they’re drinking, but remember it’s important to find them help.
Teen Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Zelus Recovery
Zelus Recovery is an addiction treatment program that’s perfect for your teen if you need a Meridian rehab. We also serve other surrounding areas like Boise, Eagle, and Nampa right here in Idaho. We want to help your teen get back on the right path before it’s too late. Here are some of the programs we offer:
- Teen drug and alcohol rehab
- Early intervention
- Mental health treatment
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient treatment
- Dual diagnosis treatment program
- Relapse prevention program
If teen alcohol abuse is harming your child and family, contact Zelus Recovery for help. Find out more about our substance abuse programs by calling today at 208.518.0797.
