Troubled Teens

Troubled Teens are considered to be one of the most important client types or target populations for treatment centers that handle the behavioral problems associated with troubled teens. Troubled teens are in a very precarious position that can be considered as one of the first of many turning points that can shape and mold the way a young adult chooses to lead their life. The belief that troubled teens are simply experiencing an awkward phase or that they will soon grow out of it with more time and maturity is a dangerous generalization.

The problems and pressures that face troubled teens are just as important as those experienced by adults and must be negotiated with the highest degree of concern and understanding. The factors involved in contributing to the emotional state of troubled teens can be the same precursors that can create future drug and alcohol dependency, youth violence, problems with family, interpersonal relationships, social and working skills, , mental disorders, and ultimately suicide.

The American Medical association defines addiction as “ Any pathological relationship with a mood or mind altering experience that has life damaging consequences.” The core of the problem that exists when diagnosing troubled teens for chemical dependency is to separate experimental usage apart from addictive usage. One out of ten teenagers that experiment with drugs and alcohol will become addicted. While the other ninety percent will feel out of control and mentally incapable of maintaining a proper emotional balance, it is the other ten percent that will go beyond the social realm of experimentation and feel comfortable with the experience. They need to drink and/or use in order to function and they will continue to drink and/or use despite the negative consequences.

Peer groups pose the greatest threat to the personal growth and overall well being of troubled teens. Even if the individual appears to be surrounded by positive role models the pressure to conform socially by a single negative influence is more than enough to enable the teenager to break the boundaries set forth by parents, teachers, etc... This is why it is so important for family members to become involved in the treatment and recovery of troubled teens. Family and positive role models need to be educated on the proper methods and techniques to understand the behaviors and issues that the teenager is experiencing. They must learn to acknowledge and take action at appropriate times. In turn, troubled teens need be reacquainted with family and positive role models to understand why these boundaries exist.

It is the responsibility of any good treatment program to present positive role modeling in a manner that troubled teens can relate to. Providing a clean and sober environment that contains other young teenagers who are working a twelve step program of recovery can often help to reinforce that the quality of life is much better and the prospect of the future is much brighter when drugs and alcohol are taken out of the equation.

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