Just as it is with anything else with teens and young adults, there is always something to be said for the intricacy and difference with which you must approach them on certain things that you wouldn’t necessarily have to use on other individuals, adults, seniors, or even children.
Teens and young adults do not have the same sense of consequences and future results that older adults do, and they usually won’t be able to forecast or even catch a glimpse of the adverse effects of their drug and alcohol use and abuse, and as a result of that they just might be less likely to voluntarily to enter rehab as a result. Furthermore, teens and young adults are naturally much more confrontational and resistive than older adults are and tend to rebel or disagree with what others are tying to get them to do.
On the same note though, just as young adults must be handled differently than others, the issue is exacerbated by the fact that young adults are at much higher risks when they abuse drugs and alcohol than older adults are. True enough, the risks of teen drug and alcohol use are much, much greater than with other age ranges, as their brains have not fully developed yet, and there’s a greater chance of long-term damage to their minds and bodies.
Teens and young adults overdose and die much more often and much more easily than older adults do. They have less responsibility than older adults do, and they have less control over their substance abuse habit than older adults do too. The result and the consequence of this is that, if a teen or young adults drug user is not intervened with, then there’s a good chance that he or she could die. With this is mind, it really does increase the need to make sure that an intervention is done as soon as is possible and before it is too late.
How to Intervene with a Teen or Young Adult Drug or Alcohol User
Listed below are the exact steps to apply when confronting an addiction in a young adult or teen:
Assemble your team of interventionists
The more the merrier when it comes to an intervention, as grim as that might be. Try to assemble only people the addict cares about and no one that will upset him or her or make him or her angry. Try to get as many people as possible who are willing to help out and try to convince the addict to go to rehab.
Plan the intervention
Get together with the team and go over who will do what and who will say what. Try to put it together in such a way that each member of the team will be as involved as possible and will okay a key part or role.
Seek out professional help
It’s not a bad idea to call upon the help of a professional interventionist. True enough, the presence of a professional during an intervention can make or break success of an intervention, and most interventions have their chances of being successful doubled just by the factor of having a trained professional there to help out.
Stage the intervention
When the day finally rolls around that it is time to stage the intervention, you and your loved ones and team members need to and must take turns telling stories and providing facts about how your teen’s drug use has played a negative role in their life to one degree or another. Make sure that the teen or young adult hears these out and listens carefully.
Once you are your team of interventionists, family members, and loved ones is finished presenting their individual stories, you’ll explain and present the treatment options that’s available for your teen or young adult. It’s of the utmost importance to also highlight the consequences of their behavior, (should it continue to carry on any longer) and clearly state your decided ultimatums if he or she does not agree to get help.
It’s never easy to stage an intervention. It takes a lot of confront and resolve. It always has and it always will. This is the truth of the matter and has been for some time now. However, if the right tools and techniques are applied then it will be successful and you will be happy that you did one.
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