Treatment Challenges and Approaches for Addicted Adolescents
continued from page 21
Their guardians have similar trepidations about reporting the illegal behavior of the minors under their care for fear that they — the guardians — may be held accountable . Research into the impact of drugs on the adolescent brain continues , but not without barriers . The impact creates difficulty for many involved .
There are many biological concerns for adolescents using drugs , their guardians , and the behavioral health professionals who treat them . While research indicates that the brain can , in fact , produce new cells and start a healing process ( see the works of Dr . Caroline Leaf at www . drleaf . com ), current research indicates that human actions ( using certain drugs , including alcohol ) can destroy the cells at a faster rate than the human body can grow new cells .
Though it is fascinating to consider the psychopharmacological treatments that might be available in the future , the current reality is that the professionals who treat addicted adolescents must contend with permanent damage being done to the maturing brain — effects that profoundly differ from the response of the adult brain to the same drugs / substances .
With marijuana , another concern is that its THC potency has increased over time — the THC content of top-of-theline marijuana in the 1970s was significantly less than what is available today ( see www . ncbi . nlm . nih . gov / pmc / articles / PMC6312155 and bit . ly / 3P7Dx19 ). Legalization of marijuana has created an interesting circumstance . The potency in what is legal and the potency of what is available on the black market can be considerably different , and the potency of marijuana sold in the black market varies and can ’ t be reliably predicted .
Legalized marijuana production , like the production of anything in Western culture , must undergo a rigorous inspection process . Obviously , this is not the case on the black market . In fact , some dealers put additives of various drugs into their product , which creates a different ( and often addictive ) response .
Still , users are drawn to the homemade product instead of what they can legally buy at the local distribution center because of access ( in theory , they cannot legally buy it in distribution centers ) and affordability — they can get smaller amounts more often through illegal channels . It ’ s important that those who work with addicted adolescents educate their clients about the added dangers of using a product from the black market as opposed to what is available legally in the United States .
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR ADDICTED ADOLESCENTS
The five aspects of effective treatment required for adolescents struggling with addiction are :
• Cognitive behavior therapy ( CBT ) with a foundational systemic perspective . Systems approaches postulate that the actions of one person affect others in the family or nuclear group . Perhaps nowhere is this concept seen more than in residential treatment . Here ’ s how the process typically plays out : A child gets in trouble with the law and is referred by the judge to residential treatment . Then , the guardians ( at least in some states ) are required to pay the state child support , visit the child in the residential treatment facility , and even participate in the treatment provided for the child . The negative trickle-down effect affects parents and guardians in several ways . For example , the parents may have to take time off from work to participate in family therapy . They incur additional costs through travel to and from the residential treatment facility . While the rise of tele-mental health as a result of COVID-19 has certainly helped to alleviate some of the inconvenience in certain situations , it is not always an option .
• A healthy dose of education for the client . The mixed messages of social media and current cultural influences convince many young people that certain drug use is safe . However , the verdict is still out concerning the potential long-term negative effects of drug use for people who begin using before their brain is fully developed . Adolescents with substance-use issues need not only a healthy dose of teaching about the potential dangers to them , but also authoritative information about the immediate dangers . For example , young people who use tobacco are not usually convinced of the need to stop when they are told about possible lung cancer and emphysema , because these are long-term effects . However , emphasizing the yellowed teeth and loosened facial muscles that tobacco use can lead to often makes them more inclined to discontinue use . That ’ s because the focus on appearance appeals more to minors in the short-term . A focus on secondary effects of what can happen when a person is drunk or high is also a good educational aspect of treatment .
• Education for the clients ’ parents or guardians . Many guardians find supervision difficult , yet it is crucial , even
continued on page 23
22 The Advocate Magazine 2022 , Issue # 2 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org