Many parents justify postponing the enrollment of their child in a treatment program out of concern that they will fall behind academically. The truth is that waiting to enroll your child in treatment when it’s clear that substance abuse is an issue can cause them to miss out on far more academically – and invite a host of other problems as well. If your child is functional at school and has a chance to make up any work missed due to substance abuse, then outpatient treatment can be an effective choice.
Need more information about the outpatient teen treatment options available to your child? Contact us at the phone number listed here and speak to an admissions coordinator who can connect your child to a program that has the resources to effectively meet his or her needs.
Academics Are a Part of Teen Outpatient Recovery
It is expected that teens continue to attend classes during the school year when they are enrolled in an outpatient treatment program. In some cases, there may be additional academic assistance for your child through the rehabilitation program, including:
- Independent education plan (IEP) designed to incorporate your child’s recovery goals and utilize resources in treatment
- Tutoring assistance
- Supervised study groups with sober peers
- Another place for accountability for keeping up with homework, organizing and scheduling, and academic goals
- Assistance with applying for college and creating and working toward college goals
Benefits of Outpatient Care During the School Year
When you allow your child to begin the treatment process while remaining in his current school program, you provide him with the opportunity to:
- Feel safe at home as he begins what can be a difficult and uncomfortable treatment process that asks him to look deeply at who he is and what he wants for himself
- Have access to your guidance as he begins to address different difficulties that may come up for him during treatment
- Undergo a “trial by fire” approach that allows him to practice the principles of sobriety while he’s learning them
- Interface with teachers and put in the extra work necessary to make up for skipped classes, failed tests, and missed homework
- Fill the hours after school constructively when he or she might otherwise get into trouble
When your child has the benefit of support at home, support at rehab, and continually progresses academically, he or she can see real success on the front of sobriety as well as the academic front – a real confidence boost that will help them to stay sober.
Get Involved in Your Child’s Recovery
When you choose an outpatient addiction treatment program for your teen, you can stay actively involved in their progress in recovery. Because you are the foundational support in your child’s life, your understanding of addiction and treatment is crucial to their development and ability to remain relapse free in early sobriety. You can take part by:
- Attending family nights for educational workshops and support
- Attending family therapy sessions
- Attending support groups for parents of teens struggling with substance abuse
- Interfacing regularly with staff members to check in on the progress of your teen
Take the first step in helping your child move past substance abuse when you contact us at the phone number listed above and speak to a counselor about outpatient treatment options available to teens.