REHAB FOR TEENS ABUSING OPIOIDS
OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Demerol, Fentanyl
Percs

Most teenagers turn to prescription drugs because they perceive them as less dangerous than illegal drugs. Because of this, teenage prescription drug abuse is on the rise.

What are Opioids?
Opioids are analgesic, or pain-relieving, medications. Among the compounds that fall within this class are hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin—an oral, controlled-release form of the drug), morphine, fentanyl, codeine, and related medications. Morphine and Fentanyl are often used to alleviate severe pain, while codeine is used for milder pain. Other examples of opioids prescribed to relieve pain include propoxyphene (Darvon); hydromorphone (Dilaudid); and meperidine (Demerol), which is used less often because of its side effects. In addition to their effective pain-relieving properties, some of these medications can be used to relieve severe diarrhea (for example, Lomotil, also known as diphenoxylate) or severe coughs (codeine).

How Teens Abuse Opioids?
Teens abuse opioids by taken them orally, or by crushing the pills into powder and then snorting it or injecting it. A number of overdose deaths have resulted from injecting the drug, particularly with the drug OxyContin, which was designed to be a slow-release formulation. Snorting or injecting opioids results in the rapid release of the drug into the bloodstream, exposing the teen to high doses and causing many of the reported overdose reactions.

Prescription Drug Opioid's Street Names: Hillbilly heroin, oxy, OC, oxycotton, percs, happy pills, vikes

What Happens When You Stop Taking Opioids?
Teens who are prescribed opioids for a period of time may develop a physical dependence on them, which is not the same as addiction. Repeated exposure to opioids causes the body to adapt, sometimes resulting in tolerance (that is, more of the drug is needed to achieve the desired effect compared with when it was first prescribed) and in withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt cessation of drug use. Thus, teens taking prescribed opioid medications should not only be given these medications under appropriate medical supervision, but they should also be medically supervised when stopping use in order to reduce or avoid withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms of withdrawal can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (“cold turkey”), and involuntary leg movements.

Teen Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment
Treatments for Opioid Addiction?
Teens who abuse or are addicted to prescription opioid medications can be treated. Initially, they may need to undergo medically supervised detoxification to help reduce withdrawal symptoms; however, that is just the first step. Options for effectively treating addiction to prescription opioids are drawn from research on treating heroin addiction. Behavioral treatments, usually combined with medications, have been proven extremely effective.

For all treatment needs and levels of care, Inspirations' employs a team of qualified and caring teen addiction treatment professionals, offering a Treatment Program for Adolescents/Teens, who are demonstrating destructive, rebellious, and defiant behaviors resulting in personal and family dysfunction. Our goal in teen addiction treatment is to treat the disease, build the teen's self confidence and reunite the family. Our teen prescription drug addiction treatment programs are designed around a positive environment to boost the teens self-esteem and produce long term results. Our teen addiction treatment combines a motivational program with the "accountability" concept, emphasizing, respect for family, respect for others, and a teamwork approach towards daily goals and accomplishments. During your teens enrollment to our Teen Prescription Addiction Treatment Center we will tailor a personal educational plan for your teenager. Inspirations for Youth and Families offer an "On-Site" Preparatory format school program in order for our teens to maintain High School Credits.

We understand, we care, we treat.

Inspirations Teen Rehab, teen prescription drug addiction treatment center is not a place for serious or violent juvenile offenders, but we do understand that occasionally, teens find themselves facing legal consequences for "poor choices" such as charges for trespassing, shoplifting, underage drinking, DUI, possession of illegal substances, and other minor offenses. Inspirations understands the unfortunate circumstances that arise as a result of a teen's poor choice to act in an irresponsible manner. Not only is a legal consequence the result of a teen's poor choice regarding behavior, it may also be and indication of a greater issue such as substance abuse or addiction, a mental health issue such as depression or other diagnosis. If your family is having a difficult time dealing with a teen addicted to prescription drugs, call us at our toll free teen treatment center helpline: 1-888-757-6237

If you have any questions, please know that we are here to provide you with support and guidance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions free of charge about teen prescription drug abuse and addiction, teen behavior, substance use, adolescent addiction, teen drug rehab, or other related matters. If you would prefer, please fill out our short form and one of our counselors will respond.