Substance Abuse Treatment for Young Adults

Alcohol and drug addiction in the young adult population between the ages of eighteen and twenty five are increasing every year. This population is often dealing with other physiological issues such as ADHD and Bi-Polar Disorder. They are frequently consequentially alcoholics or drug addicted as a result of their attempts to self medicate these problems. Often they are also dealing with depression, anxiety, guilt, shame, grief and the daily social pressures of fitting in with the other people their age.
 

Once the young adult starts developing addiction issues the problem often worsens due to their environment. Our culture is one of constant exposure to drugs and alcohol, especially in this age group. Alcohol is often the center of the social function. They go to sports bars to watch games with friends, go to the lake and have a few beers with friends, go to bars to dance and meet members of the opposite sex. Alcohol advertising and sponsorship is frequently targeted at this population. Often drugs are also present in these environments and there are social pressures to try them in order to fit in to the crowd. Once the dependency starts, it often spirals out of control because the young adult finds an escape from their biological or psychological problems in their drug or drugs of choice.

Many young adults have tried traditional drug and alcohol rehab methods only to fail and relapse time and again. Most drug and alcohol rehabs are based on the 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous which are founded in spirituality. While we at Breakthrough have the utmost respect for these principals and applaud the fine work that the AA program offers, the 12-Step approach is rarely effective for younger adults. To embrace these principals and achieve lasting sobriety the addict must realize that their life is unmanageable and be willing to look to a higher power to recover from their addiction. People in this age group are typically not spiritual and have minimal concepts, if any, of the progression of their disease and its eventual consequences. Even in the face of physical, family, social and legal issues, their feeling of immortality and invincibility prevail and deter any efforts of recovery.
 

Young adults with alcohol or drug addictions are seldom addicted to just one substance. There is frequently a drug of choice, but when it is not available or circumstances deter its use, the addict will use others to deal with the withdrawal problems they are experiencing. No matter what the drug of choice might be, it is very rare that problems with alcohol are not present. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and helps the dependent person hang on until they can use their specific drug. Drug and alcohol addiction is progressive and will only worsen if left untreated, especially in young adults. The addiction affects all aspects of their lives and the lives of the people who love them.
 

Breakthrough Addiction Recovery offers very unique programs designed to address the specific alcoholism or drug addiction issures of younger adults. We find that each client is dealing with specific underlying issues that have to be addressed in order for the addiction to be addressed and overcome. Our 18 to 24 years old non-12 step treatment features

·  Psychiatric Evaluation

·  Social Evaluation

·  Environmental Evaluation

·  Individual Therapy

·  Group Therapy

·  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

·  Sexual Issues

·  Anger Management

·  Education

·  Sober Living Skills

·  Relapse Prevention Skills

·  Aftercare

The client is assessed during their initial intake and an individual treatment plan is developed for the specific individual. This individualized plan is modified daily or as needed during the course of treatment to more effectively address their specific needs and issues. Each of these processes helps the client unearth the issues that drive their addiction and they learn how to stop the addictive response. In doing so, they begin to recover from the guilt and shame that encompasses their illness and develop a positive, healthy self image.

All of our drug and alcohol treatment programs are outpatient. Our clients that live out of the Atlanta area are housed in one and two bedroom suites. We encourage a family member or members to accompany the client during their treatment. The newly found sobriety is often an opportunity to reestablish relationships and to repair the damages that the addiction has created. If there is no family member available during the treatment, we can provide a professional monitor to stay with the client.
 

It is often very difficult for families to understand and deal with the young adult’s addiction. Parents and siblings frequently develop emotional and psychological problems while attempting to understand how the addiction progressed and in dealing with the myriad of accompanying problems. It is very difficult for a parent to watch the disease of addiction progress and destroy the life of the child that they have loved and nurtured to adulthood. The happy memories of childhood are soon replaced by the hopelessness of dealing with the changes brought about by drugs. Relationships between spouses are often strained and negatively impacted and divisions are formed.
 

We encourage family members to attend our Family Education program that helps them better understand the particular problems with which the addicted family member is dealing. Family Education plays an important role in the lives of those who are recovering. As family members gain a better understanding as to how their loved ones became addicted and the supportive role that the family plays in helping the addicted loved one in recovery the better the prospects are that the addicted individual will remain in recovery. It is also a very healing time for families that have been torn apart by the addiction.

Call us now for more information on non-12 step addiction treatment
770-933-6846