Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program
According to the 2013 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey results
- About 37% of students used marijuana one or more times during their life (43% in Summit County), while 20% of students used during the past 30 days (26% in Summit County)
- About 60% of students have ever had at least one drink of alcohol during their life , while 31% of students had at least one drink in the past 30 days (41% in Summit County)
- In the past 30 days, about 11% of students drove a vehicle when they had been using marijuana, while 20% of students rode in a vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana
- In the past 30 days, about 18% of students rode in a vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol, while 8% of students drove a vehicle when they had been drinking alcohol
- 60% of students reported their mental health as not good one or more days during the past 30 days
How do I know if my adolescent has a substance use disorder?
Addiction usually starts when a person is young, although it can happen at any age. Addiction happens when a person continues to use drugs despite harmful consequences. If your adolescent begins behaving differently for no apparent reason, it could be more serious than teenage angst. It is easy to overlook these signs as a normal part of puberty.
Warning signs that an adolescent is developing a drug related problem include:
- Changes in sleeping or eating habits
- Frequently tired or depressed
- Acting withdrawn / Hostile attitude
- Trouble with the law or in school
- A change in group of friends
- Problems with school performance
- Skipping school or missing classes
- Problems in relationships with family and friends
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Inattention to hygiene
Through scientific research, we know that adolescents can lead productive lives and stop abusing drugs, when their addiction is successfully treated. It is critical to intervene early when the first signs of drug use appear, instead of waiting to seek help until after your adolescent has become addicted. However, treatment is the next step for teens that are addicted.
There is a solution! In our Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program, your teen will:
- Develop skills to stop or reduce substance use
- Learn basic skills for refusing drugs and alcohol
- Establish a social network that will support recovery
- Learn to cope with high risk situations
- Learn skills to solve problems, and to communicate more effectively
- Learn skills to decrease and more appropriately manage depression and anger
- Learn to cope with thoughts, cravings, and urges to use drugs and alcohol
- Address life needs, including psychological, medical, social well-being, as well as school, housing, and legal services
- Learn beneficial life skills that will help them to grow up to be a productive and healthy adult
Ambiance Counseling Services has selected the Youth Treatment Programs approved by OBH and developed by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and The Change Companies.
SAMHSA’s Cannabis Youth Treatment Series was created for adolescents who struggle with cannabis abuse and substance abuse. This effective, evidence-based treatment approach combines Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
The Change Companies Youth Intervention and Treatment Interactive Journals:
- Combine evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and The Stages of Change Model to help youth make positive, lasting change
- Explore strengths, resources and solutions to problem behaviors, as well as risks, needs and skill deficits in an interactive and dynamic way
- Achieve responsible living goals by assisting youth in making positive changes to their thoughts, feelings and behavior
- Applies leading behavioral-change research, in a way that is accessible, meaningful, and motivational
Ambiance Counseling Services is approved by the Colorado Department of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) as a Licensed Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program to provide:
- Minor in Possession (MIP) classes
- Youth DUI Education & Treatment
- Substance Abuse & Mental Health Treatment
As the only provider in Summit County, Colorado currently offering Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment, we can help your teen overcome their addiction with evidence-based treatment. We help teens learn life skills to overcome their addiction with compassionate, effective treatment that includes the family and community. Whether they are court-ordered to treatment, or voluntarily seeking treatment, we can help. This outpatient treatment is also ideal for adolescents transitioning from a more intensive inpatient treatment program.
Amber McCrackin is a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with extensive experience treating adolescents and adults with co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders. As a Certified Motivational Interviewing Therapist (CMIT), she has specialized training in both Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.