Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment for Teens and Young Adults
The most effective teen and young adult substance use programs don’t just address addiction, they also build resilience, strengthen relationships and heal underlying mental health issues.
Newport Healthcare’s alcohol use disorder treatment for teens and young adults creates long-term recovery through whole-person care. We help young people develop self-worth and healthy coping skills so they can move forward into a thriving life.
If you or someone you love has an alcohol use disorder, it’s essential to seek care as soon as possible. Contact us today to learn more about our teen and young adult alcohol use disorder treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder in Teens and Young Adults
When a teenager or young adult is struggling with an alcohol use disorder, parents may notice some or all of the following signs:
- Changes in behavior: Increased irritability, mood swings, or changes in personality
- Decline in academic or work performance: Drop in grades, lack of interest in school or their job, skipping classes or work
- Physical appearance: Neglect of personal hygiene
- Social changes: New friend groups and withdrawal from family and old friends
- Health issues: Frequent complaints of headaches, stomach problems, or fatigue, especially after social events
- Changes in sleep patterns: Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Risky behaviors: Engaging in dangerous activities, such as reckless driving, fighting, or vandalism
- Lying or evasiveness: Being secretive or dishonest about their whereabouts or activities
- Possession of alcohol: Finding empty bottles, cans, or containers in their room or belongings
- Changes in eating habits: Loss of appetite or changes in eating patterns
What Is the Criteria for Alcohol Addiction?
Here’s how young adults can tell whether their alcohol consumption has become problematic.
The criteria for alcohol use disorder is based on whether, during the past year, someone has experienced any of the following signs of alcohol addiction and problematic use:
- Your drinking behavior included more drinks or lasted longer than you intended, more than once
- Wanting or trying to cut down or stop drinking but were unable to
- Spending a lot of time drinking or getting over the after-effects of drinking
- Found that drinking or the after-effects often interfered with daily life
- Continuing to drink alcohol even though your drinking habits caused problems in your relationships
- Reducing activities that you used to find enjoyable in order to drink
- Experiencing a craving for alcohol
- Finding yourself in risky situations, more than once, during or after heavy drinking
- Continuing to drink alcohol even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem
- Having to drink much more than in the past to get the effect you wanted
- Suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, restlessness, nausea, or sweating, when the effects of alcohol were wearing off
What Causes Alcohol Addiction?
The following factors make it more likely that a teen or young adult will start using substances and become dependent on them.
Peer pressure
Young people may feel compelled to drink to fit in with their social circles. This desire for acceptance can lead to increased consumption and risky behaviors.
Family environment
Teens who grow up in environments where alcohol use is normalized or where parents struggle with addiction may be more likely to develop similar habits.
Genetics
Genetic predispositions can play a role in alcohol use disorder, making some individuals more susceptible to addiction.
Mental health issues
Teens dealing with anxiety, depression, or trauma may turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. This can create a vicious cycle, where alcohol use exacerbates mental health problems.
Inherited traits
Young people may turn to alcohol to ease tension related to work or academics, or to feel more comfortable in social situations.
Take a Quiz
If you’re noticing signs and symptoms that could indicate an alcohol use disorder or other mental health condition, take a quiz to get guidance on next steps.
What Happens When Addiction Isn’t Treated
Untreated alcohol use can have a wide range of long-term impacts on teens, young adults, and their loved ones. Here are some of the key long-term effects:
- Physical health consequences: Prolonged alcohol use can lead to chronic health conditions such as liver disease, cardiovascular problems, respiratory issues, and infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, hepatitis).
- Neurological damage: Substances like alcohol and drugs can cause lasting changes to brain structure and function, leading to cognitive deficits, memory problems, and mental health disorders.
- Co-occurring disorders: Alcohol use often coexists with mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, which can get worse if left untreated.
- Cognitive impairment: Long-term use can impair decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
- Relationship strain: Problem alcohol use can lead to conflicts and breakdowns in relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
- Employment issues: Young adults may face job loss, decreased productivity, or difficulty maintaining employment, leading to financial instability.
- Legal problems: Alcohol use disorder can result in legal issues, including arrests, losing a driver’s license, and related costs.
- Isolation: Young people struggling with alcohol addiction may withdraw from social interactions, leading to loneliness and isolation.
Getting sober and healthy has brought me back up to speed and my memory is back. I treasure it now, all of the moments I thought once lost to time. The memories of the life I lived are now accessible to me again.
John F.
Diagnosing Alcohol Use Disorder in Teens and Young Adults
Diagnosis of alcohol use disorder in teens and young adults involves a complete physical and mental health assessment. An evaluation for alcohol use disorder may include any or all of the following:
Physical Exam
A physical exam will help determine how alcohol use is impacting physical health in addition to mental health.
Lab Tests
A doctor may conduct tests to screen for potential medical impacts of long-term alcohol use, such as liver disease.
In-depth Interview
A physician, psychiatrist, or other addiction specialist or healthcare provider may conduct an interview regarding alcohol use.
Teen and Young Adult Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Newport Healthcare
AAt Newport Healthcare, we address alcohol use disorder by helping young adults process past trauma and replace destructive behaviors with healthy coping skills. Our addiction treatment does not include withdrawal management (“detox”). Once young adults have completed detox, our program is the next step to support them in achieving long-term healing and recovery.
Rather than addressing symptoms alone, we guide young adults to dig deeper so they can create the foundation for a thriving, substance-free life. Clients uncover the root causes of their problem alcohol use and learn coping and emotion-regulation skills to support ongoing recovery. Young adults develop healthy ways to work with challenging emotions rather than using heavy drinking to self-medicate.
One of the primary benefits of alcohol use disorder treatment in a residential treatment center is connection with others who are also on the healing journey. Newport Healthcare also has a robust alumni program, providing support groups and resources to help ensure ongoing recovery.
Addressing alcohol addiction alongside mental health
What Our Alcohol Rehab Treatment Includes
Psychiatric and Clinical Care
- Psychiatric care and medication recommendations for co-occurring mental health issues
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to shift unhelpful thinking and build coping skills
- DBT-Informed Skills to increase stress tolerance
- Attachment-Based Family Therapy to rebuild disrupted family relationships so young people can rely on their parents and other loved ones for support
- EMDR to heal from underlying trauma that may be contributing to substance use
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy to break through resistance to treatment
Experiential
Modalities
- Mindfulness and meditation to help balance the nervous system, including yoga and reflection exercises
- Creative art therapies, including music therapy and art therapy, to enhance self-expression and process trauma that may be contributing to substance use issues
- Adventure therapy to empower young people to handle challenges and master new skills
- Community service, as doing good for others is proven to increase life satisfaction and well-being
Academic, Career, and Life Skills Support
- Accredited academic component for teens, and assistance with college applications and admission
- Support with career planning, resume building, and planning next steps
- Life skills training, including daily skills for independent living
- Executive functioning support, to enhance emotional regulation, organization skills, and self-awareness
Are you or a loved one struggling with problematic alcohol use?
Get in touch today to schedule a complimentary call with one of our admissions experts and explore next steps.
Our Team of Experts
At Newport Healthcare, our team of addiction and mental health specialists includes psychiatrists, therapists, teachers, registered nurses, and more. Many of our clinical professionals at our drug treatment centers for teens and young adults bring their own stories of recovery and healing to their work.
Our team of industry experts provides results-driven treatment, delivered with compassion and led by personal experience. We are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of young people.
From Our
Chief Clinical Officer
Our staff’s clinical expertise is matched only by their compassion and desire to see lives changed. They offer unconditional love that supports clients’ self-worth and self-acceptance as they do the work of healing.
Barbara
Nosal
,
PhD, LMFT, LADC
Where to Find Our Alcohol Rehab Centers
Newport Healthcare locations are in close proximity to multiple cities across the United States. We treat adolescents ages 12–18 and young adults ages 18–35 (depending on location) from all 50 states and abroad, providing a full continuum of care.
Our residential treatment centers offer serene environments, within beautiful natural settings, where young people can find long-term healing and recovery from substance use disorder and related mental health conditions. Our outpatient programs are located in major metropolitan areas, with easy access for young people and families.
Newport Healthcare’s alcohol use disorder programs for ages 12–18 and 18–35 are located in Northern and Southern California, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington State, and Wisconsin, with more programs in development in areas where mental health and substance use treatment are most needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not all young people who binge drink have an alcohol dependence. However, those who regularly engage in binge drinking are at a higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. Thus, they may need alcohol addiction treatment at some point in the future.
Problem alcohol use in teens and young adults is often a symptom of an underlying mental health issue. Young people who experience pain and distress as a result of anxiety, depression, or trauma may use alcohol as a way to numb the pain.
Problem alcohol use is a pattern of compulsive use of alcohol despite negative consequences for school, work, and relationships. Alcoholism is a physical dependence on alcohol that requires detoxing as the first stage of alcoholism treatment.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, ongoing heavy drinking actually changes the structure of the brain. That means brain functions like memory, balance, speech, and judgment can all be impacted.
First, initiate a calm and open conversation with your child about their alcohol consumption. Let them know you’re worried about them and assure them that you are there for them no matter what. If you have concerns after this conversation, the next step is to schedule an evaluation to determine whether your child would benefit from a teen or young adult rehab program. Rehab will not only change your child’s life for the better, it may even save their life.
