Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused drugs among males and females between the ages of 12 and 20, and when teenagers consume alcohol, they often drink to get drunk. Binge drinking, which is defined as the consumption of four to five drinks within two hours or less, is a common practice among teens who abuse alcohol. The public service organization SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) estimates that within the past month, over 26 percent of underage persons consumed alcoholic beverages, and that 17 percent engaged in binge drinking.
What can parents do to help teens who have gotten caught in the dangerous trap of alcohol abuse? Alcohol rehab could be the answer. Addiction treatment centers for teens can help young people recover from the disease of alcoholism before it becomes a chronic, lifelong problem. Current statistics on alcohol rehab for adolescents indicate that these programs are often successful.
Statistics on Underage Drinking
A glance at the statistics on underage drinking confirms that there’s a growing need for alcohol rehab programs for young people. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 51.8 percent of Americans ages 12 and older reported that they drank alcohol in 2011. Out of the teens who responded to the survey:
- 22.6 percent had engaged in at least one binge drinking episode in the previous month
- 6.2 percent reported that they were heavy drinkers
- 11.3 percent of respondents between the ages of 11 and 13 drank alcohol
- 25.3 percent of those between the ages of 14 and 17 were current drinkers
- 46.8 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 20 consumed alcohol
Alcohol dependence, a dangerous condition in which the body relies on alcohol to function normally, was a problem for 3.8 percent of young people between the ages of 12 and 17. Alcohol dependence can lead to severe, life-threatening symptoms if alcohol use is discontinued too quickly without medical supervision. Alcohol rehab centers provide detoxification services to help underage drinkers get safely through the withdrawal process.
Alcohol Treatment Statistics
If your teenager has a problem with alcohol, getting professional help is a top priority. But where do you turn for treatment, and is rehab really effective? The NSDUH reports that 1.4 million Americans over the age of 12 went through detox and/or rehabilitation for alcohol dependence in 2011. The settings for treatment were broken down into the following categories:
- Self-help groups
- Outpatient rehab centers
- Outpatient mental health facilities
- Inpatient treatment centers
- Hospital programs
- Emergency rooms
- Jails
Self-help groups and outpatient rehab centers were the most popular treatment options in 2011, possibly because the cost of care is either free or less expensive in these settings. Self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous offer meetings for young people as well as adults, but participation in a community-based group is often not enough for a heavy drinker. Detoxification and rehab are important parts of the recovery process.
In 2011, more Americans received treatment for alcohol dependence than for any other drug. Yet 95.3 percent of people over the age of 12 who reported using alcohol also said they did not feel they needed treatment. Just over 3 percent reported that they needed treatment but didn’t try to get help, and only 1.5 percent perceived the need for treatment and made an effort to get it.
Is Alcohol Rehab Effective?
Alcohol rehab programs can be very effective under the right circumstances. According to WebMD, between 50 and 60 percent of individuals who seek treatment through an alcohol recovery program are still sober twelve months after finishing the program. Several important factors contribute to an alcoholic’s chances of making a permanent, lifelong recovery:
- A high level of personal motivation
- Strong support from family, friends and peers
- Participation in a professional treatment program
- Good overall health
There’s no way to guarantee that alcohol rehab will be effective for your teen, but in many cases, treatment is the deciding factor in a young person’s future success. Teenagers who go through rehab at a specialty treatment center for adolescents get the personalized attention and supportive environment they need to make it through this difficult time in their lives. Parents and families also receive counseling, education and support when a teen enrolls in rehab.
To learn more about teen alcohol rehab, contact the addiction specialists at Muir Wood. Our innovative, gender-specific treatment programs for boys can help families regain control over their lives. Call our central intake number or download our information packet to start the process of recovery.