Substance addiction takes on a whole new meaning when it strikes a young person. Teens are particularly vulnerable to the temptations of drugs, because adolescence is usually the time in a person's life when he or she learns to experiment with new things (both good and bad). Young adults who are grappling with teen substance abuse or alcoholism are not just dealing with these issues alone; they are also grappling with the pressures of growing up.

Young adults (defined as persons aged 17 to 25) might be old enough to vote and to work regular jobs, but emotionally they are still quite insecure and immature. Such uncertainties are natural for everyone in adolescence, but young adults who aren't stricken with the disease of alcoholism or substance abuse usually figure out these problems on their own or with help from family and loved ones. The same can't be said for drug abusers or alcoholics. Drugs and alcohol solve problems by numbing the abuser to the pressures of growing up.

For many teen addicts, substance abuse has clouded their mental development as human beings for years. Thus, emotional instability is common among young adults during the drug abuse rehabilitation process. Being a teenager is often accompanied with a sense of anxiety and being overwhelmed. Young adults who have been stricken with the disease of teen substance abuse have learned to depend on drugs for the answers, and not family, friends, peers, or teachers.

One main difference between substance abuse treatment centers geared towards young adults and those focused on mature adults is that a greater emphasis is placed on the concepts of self-worth and responsibility for younger people. It is important for the substance abuse treatment center to provide the encouragement and support to lead young adults to the path of rehabilitation and recovery. For those young people who have grown accustomed to negative peer pressure and feelings of failure, building self confidence and esteem is often a central step in the drug abuse rehab process.

As rehabilitation progresses residents begin to feel more self-assured, they can start making significant progress through substance abuse treatment. Drug abuse can eat away at a teenager, part of the drug and alcohol treatment process is building a strong foundation of inner strength and discovering who to reach out to for support, so that when the outside environment begins to pressure or stress the young adult, he or she has the ability to make sound, positive decisions.

Before getting help, the drugs and alcohol clouded the resident's whole decision making process. In drug abuse rehab, people and the environment itself, do not support previously acceptable poor decision making. Young adults are held accountable for their actions, and they can now clearly see consequences – eventually they will start to see this before they act; evidence of their newly developed individual responsibility.

Residents of drug abuse rehab centers are in an environment where they learn that it is possible for them to live a secure and successful drug-free life. Residents see this as a real possibility as they become more confident with their own intelligence and abilities. Responsibility and accountability are two cornerstones of this philosophy.

Gatehouse Academy employs gifted, experienced counselors and staff that, along with the residents, form a positive support system instilling and then reinforcing residents with sense of pride and responsibility.  Contact us immediately on (888) 730.0905 if you or some one close to you may be struggling with a substance abuse problem.