Adolescent Services

Young Adult Treatment

The Twelve Oaks treatment program for young adults is patterned after the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Our adolescent program has been developed by experts in the field of chemical dependency and incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach to accomplish the following key objectives:

1. Identify the need for chemical dependency treatment using:
   1. Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation
   2. Developmental history
   3. Psychological testing arranged on an "as needed" basis
   4. History and physical examination
   5. Social history
   6. Self-assessment
   7. A meeting at the end of the evaluation period reviews finding and recommend a treatment approach, if needed.
2. Provide comprehensive treatment and recovery services.
3. Treat the specific and unique needs of each adolescent.
4. Provide each adolescent with the opportunity to develop a proper foundation in recovery through a combination of:
   1. Group Therapy
   2. Experiential Group Therapy
   3. Relapse Prevention Group Therapy
   4. Individual Therapy sessions with the counselor
   5. Psycho-educational lectures
5. Discharge planning following drug treatment that will prepare the adolescent for re-entry as a newly sober person by addressing questions and concerns regarding what will happen when they return home. In addition to relapse prevention issues, they learn how to deal with friends, social situations and triggers during treatment, along with strategies to assist in dealing with them.

Adolescent and Teen Educational Services

Young adults will often experience emotional, mental behavioral and school related problems as a result of substance abuse and chemical dependency. At Twelve Oaks we know that keeping up with studies is essential, but the need to rekindle the interest in learning and to rediscover the larger, more important challenge of education is equally important. Education continues at Twelve Oaks so that the young adult can rejoin schoolmates in classes at the end of their treatment. The Twelve Oaks education program is based on cooperation with each young adult's home school. Education classes are direct by our Master's level certified teacher who will also provide individual tutoring.

Teen Alcohol and Drug Addiction

Teenage alcoholism and drug addiction touch the lives of over 24 million Americans. This total includes an estimated 4.8 million chemically dependent teenagers. In addition, each of these adolescents affects the lives of at least four other people, including family members, friends, classmates and unsuspecting motorists.

Viewed from another perspective, research indicates that drug addiction and alcohol abuse are major contributing factors in the leading causes of death for adolescents: suicide and traffic fatalities. While the mortality rate for all other groups has declined in recent years, the 13-20 year old group has shown a dramatic increase in the number of deaths that can be attributed to drug and alcohol abuse.

Drug and alcohol abuse among young people is not simply a phase or a normal part of growing up, nor is it a moral problem. It is a disease that threatens society and the future of millions of Americans.

Warning Signs of Chemical Dependency

As with any disease, the earlier the detection of chemical dependency, the greater than chance of successful treatment. Warning signs of drug abuse in adolescents ofteninclude:

• Drop in academic performance and unexplained absences from school
• Lack of interest in personal appearance
• Withdrawal, isolation, depression, fatigue
• Aggressive, rebellious behavior
• Hostility and lack of cooperativeness
• Deteriorating relationships with family including passive attitudes toward or withdrawal from family activities and discussions
• Change in friends and/or secrecy about new acquaintances and their activities
• Loss of interest in hobbies and/or sports
• Change in eating/sleeping habits
• Radical fluctuation in weight, appetite or thirst
• Excessive use of eye drops or breath mints
• Evidence of drugs or drug paraphernalia (e.g., runny nose not from cold, red eyes, coughing, wheezing, bruises, needle marks)
• Borrowing excessive amounts of money or cash and other items missing from home

The Scope of the Addiction Problem

• One out of every ten children 10 to 12 years old has experimented with marijuana and other drugs.
• Two out of three young people in the United States has experimented with an illicit drug before graduation from High School.
• One out of 16 high school seniors drinks alcohol or uses marijuana daily.
• The average consumption of alcohol by young people over the age of 14 is 10% higher than it was ten years ago.
• Approximately 3 million adolescents between the ages of 14 and 17 have problems with alcohol.
• Teenagers who are dependent on alcohol or other drugs experience an accelerated progression of the disease. What may happen to an adult in ten years will happen to an adolescent in two.
• Less than 10% of all junior high and 5% of all High school students surveyed would seek help from their families for problems resulting from alcohol use.
• The National Institute of Drug Abuse estimates 10% of our 48 million teenagers will become casualties of drug and alcohol dependency.