Young Adult Addiction Treatment in Texas

Teenagers are caught in an awkward stage of life where they’re held to many standards of adulthood but don’t have the autonomy that adulthood allows. They’re often eager to participate in the world of adults and be taken seriously. Being able to defy the rules set by surrounding adults and (in their eyes) party on the level of adults may feel empowering to a teenager wishing to grow up.

Teenagers are prone to experimenting with substances and discovering their personal limits. If someone isn’t in this age group and isn’t interested in trying drugs, they may be ostracized or considered “lame.” They may even be considered a “narc” capable of telling parents or police about the drugs being used by other teens. Participation in drug use may be for social reasons just as much (as not more) as personal curiosity.

Teenagers frequently have a desire to go into the world and have fun, but often don’t have the money or transportation options to make it happen. If they live in a small town, there may not be many options for activities that don’t require transportation and/or money. They may turn to drugs in an attempt to have fun in a way that is accessible and easy to hide from parents and authority figures.

Much has been discussed regarding anabolic steroids used to bolster athletic performance, and younger athletes are no exception. When a young person is depending on athletic performance to provide them a path to college or even just local popularity, they may be much more willing to turn to illicit drugs to give them an edge. They may also turn to drugs like opioids to help them maintain performance despite nerves or injuries. Off the field, students may turn to stimulants like Adderall to stay awake to study or to participate in activities they feel they need to do to achieve their personal goals. We offer stimulant addiction treatment to address these cases.

Young people are constantly under pressure to have a plan for their future and succeed, both at school and socially. In the struggle to achieve good grades, get into a good post-graduation program, perform to a certain standard in athletic or artistic activities, and maintain relationships, it’s easy for a young person (who is still developing organizational skills and executive functioning) to become overwhelmed. The idea of enjoying a night of drinking with friends or getting high in a peaceful setting can become incredibly tempting.

Keep in mind that not every young person uses drugs for the same reason. Risky behavior by young people doesn’t always look the same. Many young adults specifically wait until they can drive, are active college students, or have some measurable amount of autonomy from their family before experimenting with addictive substances.