The Shortage of Mental Health Specialist for Children

The HealthDay News, reported on Friday, January 21 that teens experiencing severe mental disorders are not receiving treatment for their mental problems.

According to research, from a sample of 6,483 teens, age 13 to 18, only 36.2 percent received treatment for their mental health disorder.

Study author Kathleen Ries Merikangas, of the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, and colleagues found that the disorders most likely to be treated are attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and behavior disorder, such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder.

Research also shows only one in five adolescents received mental health treatment for problems such as anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse.

As research also shows that there is a national shortage of mental health specialist for children, parents who are at loss with the behaviors of their teens can find help at Inspirations for Youth and Families. Inspirations is a highly specialized treatment center, providing treatment for adolescents who are demonstrating a pattern of negative, defiant and disobedient behavior (Oppositional Defiant Disorder -ODD), Conduct Disorder and other self destructive behaviors such as substance abuse.

For most parents and professionals, it is comforting to have a point at which teen problematic behavior can be identified or diagnosed. For most people, this denotes the beginning of the search to find a solution and an understanding of the behavior. For insurance companies and subsequently, mental health professionals and medical doctors, a diagnosis is necessary to establish a basis for which insurance payment for treatment or therapeutic services can be granted. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder, are commonly diagnosed disorders for teenage behavioral problems. There are other disorders associated with behavioral issues such as Adjustment Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).

A diagnosis is not the only source or beginning point for which teens, parents, and professionals begin to work toward a solution. Therapeutic approaches such as Solution Focused Therapy, Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychotherapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (to name a few), are also the first steps towards solutions and healing for everyone involved.

Reach out to us. For more information on complete treatment programs for Adolescents:
Inspirations for Youth and FamiliesAddiction Treatment for Teens:
1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

Cove Center for Recovery Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults :
1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

Teen Marijuana Abuse the Gateway to Other Drugs

The most used illegal drug in the United States among teens is marijuana. Marijuana has maintained its popularity for decades as the number one illicit drug in America. Marijuana is often considered "safe," and is also considered a "gateway drug" because of the teens’ perception that it is mostly harmless. However, marijuana is mind altering substance, and it does have very real and lasting effects on the body.

Rumors about marijuana been better for your health than smoking tobacco is actually just that, a myth. In reality, marijuana smoke can have between 50 and 70 percent more harmful carcinogens than is found in tobacco smoke.

The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics, Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set, estimated 321,648 admissions in 2008. So it is important to note that marijuana use can cause problems, despite being considered "safe" by many.

Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns of drug use show that very few young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana. Though few young people use cocaine, for example, the risk of doing so is much greater for youth who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. Although research has not fully explained this association, growing evidence suggests a combination of biological, social, and psychological factors are involved.

If you suspect your child is marijuana, seek professional help and remember these three C's: that 'you didn't Cause, can't Control and can't Cure' your child's problems. But you can and must take charge and seek help for your child. The earlier you act upon your child’s addiction problems the better off your child will be.

Inspirations for Youth and Families
Addiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com

Cove Center for Recovery Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com

Professionals and Families Helping Teens Face Addiction Problems

Drugs and alcohol addiction has reached the epidemic level in United States. Worse yet, there are kids that are dying using these substances. We all need help in addressing and fighting the adolescent drug addiction. Our kids need help to face abuse and addiction issues and get their lives back.

Unfortunately the statistics are not in our favor. Year after year the incidents of teen drug abuse and death from overdoses are going higher and higher. The problem is getting worse when you look into the ease with which teens have access to prescription medication. No one talked about teen prescription drug abuse a decade ago. Today we are learning about “pharm parties”, the type of party where teens bring pills from their homes and dump them into a large bowl for everybody to reach and pick one as if they were jelly beans. Mostly, they ingest the pills but other times they crush the pills and snort, smoke or inject the powder. In the case of OxyContin, this has led to heart attacks and comma, when the pain medication, meant as a time-release drug, quickly reaches the bloodstream. These parties are a tragedy waiting to happen.

We at Inspirations for teens offer hope and inspiration to our teens and parents. During all the years that we have been providing treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, there has not been one single case that a child came into our substance abuse treatment facility and did not have a dream for his or her future. Kids, regardless of how carelessly they throw away their hopes and future, still dream about a better tomorrow and a better life. We owe it to our kids to show them the path back to a normal and productive life. As Karen Walsh, co-founder of Inspirations Youth and Families, says: “Every child has a dream. If we can show them that they haven’t destroyed it, then we have something to work with.” As professionals and the family, we and you have to work together in the hardest times of our kid’s life to help them rescue their future.

In such critical and vulnerable ages of our teens lives, it is sad to know that not even one third of adolescents who need help for substance abuse, received specialty treatment, in part because such facilities are few and far between.

Inspirations Youth and Families staffed with masters level therapists has specific programs designed to address the present and future of teen addiction. Inspirations focuses on continued education with its on-site school programs and its 90-day residential addiction treatment program emphasizes on living skills. Each of our youth is responsible for cooking, keeping their apartment in the villa, laundry and grocery shopping. They also have the opportunity to re-enter the real world, participating in outdoor activities such as going to the movies, attending a gym, bowling, skating and participating of several local seasonal recreational activities.

Chris Walsh, also co-founder of Inspirations, worked on secluded facilities prior to establishing his own adolescent addiction treatment and he found that patients who relapsed, most often, were those who were not ready to deal with the outside world. He says. “ We bring the world to the teens and make sure they are engaging it …… we want them to use the tools available to make healthy choices.”

If you suspect your child is abusing drugs or alcohol, seek professional help and remember these three C's: that 'you didn't Cause, can't Control and can't Cure' your child's problems. But you can and must take charge and seek help for your child. The earlier you act upon your child’s addiction problems the better off your child will be.

Inspirations for Youth and FamiliesAddiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

Cove Center for Recovery Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

Signs of Teen Marijuana Use - Teens Smoking Pot

It can be difficult to identify marijuana use if you don't see your child after he or she has smoked, when they are still experiencing the effects of the drug. But below are a few signs you should watch for:

• Blood shot eyes
• Clothing and hair frequently smell like smoke
• Drug paraphernalia in the room, or carried about (most notably a bong)
• Memory seems to be deteriorating
• Starts to lose interest in outside activities, including work, family and school
• Dramatic changes in weight and/or sleeping habits

If you suspect your child is smoking pot, seek professional help as marijuana may lead to other drugs. The earlier you act upon your child’s addiction problems the better off your child will be.

When choosing a teen marijuana rehab treatment program, it's important to ensure that the program is specifically for teens due to their developmental needs. Also, if the teen has mental health issues, the facility should be able to treat them at the same time. Some adolescent teen rehabs provide alongside addiction treatment an educational program which will help your child in keeping their school credits while away from home in a treatment center.

Some specialized addiction treatment facilities for teens offer extra-curricular activities such as sports and special outings. These types of activities will help teens complete the treatment and will positively influence teen’s social behavior like team play skills, trust in others, sense of responsibility and self confidence.

Inspirations for Youth and FamiliesAddiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com

Cove Center for Recovery Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com

Teen Marijuana Abuse the Gateway to Other Drugs

The most used illegal drug in the United States among teens is marijuana. Marijuana has maintained its popularity for decades as the number one illicit drug in America. Marijuana is often considered "safe," and is also considered a "gateway drug" because of the teens’ perception that it is mostly harmless. However, marijuana is mind altering substance, and it does have very real and lasting effects on the body.

Rumors about marijuana been better for your health than smoking tobacco is actually just that, a myth. In reality, marijuana smoke can have between 50 and 70 percent more harmful carcinogens than is found in tobacco smoke.

The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics, Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set, estimated 321,648 admissions in 2008. So it is important to note that marijuana use can cause problems, despite being considered "safe" by many.

Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns of drug use show that very few young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana. Though few young people use cocaine, for example, the risk of doing so is much greater for youth who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. Although research has not fully explained this association, growing evidence suggests a combination of biological, social, and psychological factors are involved.

If you suspect your child is marijuana, seek professional help and remember these three C's: that 'you didn't Cause, can't Control and can't Cure' your child's problems. But you can and must take charge and seek help for your child. The earlier you act upon your child’s addiction problems the better off your child will be.

Inspirations for Youth and FamiliesAddiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com

Cove Center for Recovery Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com

Kids Do Not Perceive Drugs as Dangerous or Addictive

Kids who begin to use drugs think they will not become addicted. But addiction is a disease characterized by a compulsive drug-seeking behavior regardless of the consequences. Research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse clearly shows that virtually all drugs that are abused have a profound effect on the child’s brain. Prolonged use of many drugs including cocaine, heroin, marijuana and amphetamines can change the brain in fundamental and long-lasting ways, resulting in drug craving and addiction.

If and when a child drug abuser becomes addicted depends on the individual. Research shows that children who use alcohol and tobacco are more likely to use marijuana than children who do not use these substances. Children who use marijuana are more likely to use other addictive drugs. Certain genetic, social, and environmental risk factors make it more likely that certain individuals will become addicted to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. These include:

• children of alcoholics who, according to several studies, may have inherited genes that make them more prone to addiction, and who may have had more stressful upbringings;
• sensation-seekers who may like the novelty of feeling drunk or high;

• children with psychological problems, such as conduct disorders, who self-medicate to feel better;
• children with learning disabilities, and others who find it difficult to fit in or become frustrated learning;

• children of poverty who lack access to opportunities to succeed and to resources when they're in trouble.

The more risk factors children have, the greater their vulnerability.

Regardless of how "cool" drugs may look, there is nothing glamorous about the reality of addiction, a miserable experience for the addict and everyone around him. Addiction causes an all-consuming craving for drugs, leading a caring person to destroy relationships, work, and family life and many times getting caught up with the criminal system.

If you suspect your child is using illegal drugs, abusing alcohol or prescription drugs, seek professional help and remember these three C's: that 'you didn't Cause, can't Control and can't Cure' your child's problems. But you can and must take charge if you find your child involved with drugs and alcohol. The earlier you act upon your child’s addiction problems the better will be the outcome for your child.

Don’t let your child become a statistic. Reach out to us.

Inspirations for Youth and FamiliesAddiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com

Cove Center for Recovery Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237

http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com

Spring Break Camp for Troubled Teens

Spring Break is right around the corner and the kids are out of school. The question for many parents is how to get their teens safe and busy during spring break. For those of us parents of troubled teens this question takes on special importance. We, like all parents, want to entertain and keep our teens active; however our concern about our teens safety is more than non troubled teen parents.

Looking for an ordinary spring break camp is not the answer anymore. Troubled teens need exceptionally tight supervision, approved educational activity that have therapeutic values and counseling from certified counselors.

Traditional spring break camps are not equipped to handle troubled teens, such as teen suffering from drug addiction, alcohol addiction, ADHD, obesity and other behavioral problems.

Nationally recognized, Inspirations for Youth and Families, offers an excellent program for teens with behavioral problems. The indoor and outdoor activities for troubled teens at Inspirations offers structured activities that combines counseling by certified counselors mixed with fun to create a safe summer vacation for teens ages11 to 18.

Art, music, fun activities and exercise at one of the established gyms are all part of the daily program at Inspirations for Youth and Families.

If you are a friend or family member of a teen struggling with behavior, drug and or alcohol abuse problems and need a spring break camp for your child call now for reservations.

Inspirations for Youth and Families
Teen Behavior Problems &
Addiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/