Teen Drug Abuse and Alcohol Abuse

Drug Treatment Programs and 12 Step Programs are not only an abysmal failure for teens, but they actually exacerbate the problem!

The St. Jude Program offered at the St. Jude Retreats has been shown to be the most effective program for helping adolescents to change their lives forever.

The number one problem when teens enter treatment for alcohol and drug use problems is that addiction "professionals" assume that each teen's problem revolves around their drug and alcohol use, or worse, a mental disorder; (erroneous diagnosis for co-occurring disorders among adolescence has risen dramatically in the last 20 years.) Whether a teen was caught smoking a joint or shooting up heroin there is a "one-size-fits-all" approach within the treatment community. St. Jude's changed that, today there is an alternative.

Unfortunately, when participating in any program besides St. Jude's, a seed is planted within the mind of each adolescent. This is the notion of disease. When a teen learns that they are powerless and diseased they learn:

The list could go on forever and each bullet point would be just as negative as the one preceding it. Use your common sense; is there a mystery here as to why drug treatment fails for teens?

So what is the answer? Some teens develop drug problems and need help. Other teens are at serious risk for developing drug problems, and they need help, too. The answer is: Education.

There is no need to lie, manipulate and fabricate horrific stories to control adolescent behaviors as these methods fail over and over again. Adolescents are smart; they know from watching adults in their life that drinking alcohol seems to provide some pleasurable results; i.e. relief, relaxation, lowered inhibitions and social acceptance. They also know from watching adults that using drugs can have much the same results. For some teens it is worth what they perceive are the minor risks to obtain the pleasurable effects. This is the point where teens begin to experiment with substance use.

During the stage of experimentation adolescents may try inhalants, alcohol, marijuana, pills, or any number of club drugs. Whether or not they continue the behavior depends largely on whether or not they like the effects and what their societal and familial values are. Many adolescents try one or two substances only to decide this is not for them and they move on to experimenting with different ways to cure boredom, anxiety, fit in and have fun. For others using these substances provides them exactly what they are seeking and they continue using. As they make a conscious choice to continue using drugs and/or alcohol, they naturally begin to surround themselves with others that use, and subsequently build a life that will allow this behavior to continue.

From the teen that is experimenting with drug use to the full blown substance user who has centered their life on their drug use, they both have one thing in common; they have found nothing else that provides them with the benefits that drugs and alcohol provide. The key then to helping adolescents to overcome substance use is providing motivation (why should they change), education (so they know they can change) and inspiration (a positive outlook on the vast possibilities for them and their lives.)

The St. Jude Program was founded around young people and is the most effective program to help adolescents and young adults to change their lives, not just with respect to substance use, but in all areas of their lives. The St. Jude Program literally opens the door to a vast new world of possibilities.

By showing each adolescent their true potential for success, teaching them the truth about substance use habits, dispelling the myths of addiction and alcoholism, and allowing them to make their own informed decisions on the people they want to become, the St. Jude Program is a breakthrough in helping adolescents with substance use problems.

To learn more about the St. Jude Program for adolescents please call or contact us by email using the form. Help for your adolescent is one call away.