OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER (ODD) & Conduct Disorder - Diagnostic Features

Teen Behavior Problems are obvious when a teen demonstrates a pattern of negative, defiant and disobedient behavior, also known as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Teens will also demonstrate repeated and persistent refusal to adhere to rules and respect the rights of others, without concern or empathy, also known as Conduct Disorder.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

The DSMIV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) identifies Oppositional Defiant Disorder as “a recurrent pattern of negative, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that persists for at least 6 months and is characterized by frequent occurrence of at least four of the following behaviors: losing temper, arguing with adults, defying or refusing to comply with the requests or rules of adults, deliberately doing things that will annoy other people, blaming others for his or her own mistakes or misbehavior, being sensitive or easily annoyed by others, being angry and resentful, or being spiteful or vindictive.

Negativistic and defiant behaviors are expressed by persistent stubbornness, resistance to directions, and unwillingness to compromise, give in, or negotiate with adults or peers. Defiance may also include deliberate or persistent testing of limits usually by ignoring orders, arguing, and failing to accept blame for misdeeds. Hostility can be directed at adults or peers and is shown by deliberately annoying others or by verbal aggression. ”

Conduct Disorder

The DSMIV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) identifies Conduct Disorder as “a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated. There are four main groupings of these behaviors: aggressive conduct that causes or threatens physical harm to other people or animals, non aggressive conduct that causes property loss or damage, deceitfulness or theft; and serious violations of rules.”

Children who are diagnosed with Conduct Disorder are typically aggressive, initiating aggressive behaviors or reacting aggressively. Physical fighting, bullying, threatening, or intimidating is demonstrated. “Physical violence may also take the form of rape, assault, or homicide.”

For more information on teen behavior problems and teen behavior treatment visit Inspirations for Youth and Families.

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

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

Teen Behavior Problems Diagnosed

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.

For more information on teen behavior problems and teen behavior treatment visit Inspirations for Youth and Families.

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

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

Teen Behavior Problems - What happened to my Child?

What happened to my child? This is the question most often asked, when parents call Inspirations Teen Rehab seeking help for their teenage child. When parents call our center for help, their conversations quickly recount a time when their teenager was once a small child, and their world was happy, their child was obedient, warm, welcoming, and loving. Then, the conversation turns to the current situation of the struggle between the parent and the child, in which the parent is traumatized, baffled, and in a state of complete despair and desperation, needing the assistance of anyone, preferably a professional, to help understand and mend the alarming and chaotic behaviors of the teenager and the repair of the destruction of the family unit. Most parents are either heartbroken or angry or both. Their dream for their child, which began when their child was placed in their arms upon birth, now appears shattered.

Many parents are fearful of their teenager’s future, as teen behaviors often jeopardize their college opportunities and many times, put them at risk for incarceration. Incarceration or involvement in the juvenile justice program can quickly become a reality, as teens use or abuse drugs, become violent and cause dangerous domestic situations, or demonstrate aggressive or volatile behavior in public or while driving a vehicle.

Parents, family members, teachers, coaches, and other people involved in a teenagers life, often ask this question: When did the teen behavior problem begin? This is a question that is not easily answered. For teenagers who experienced a traumatic event, the trauma is often the catalyst for behavioral problems. For those teenagers who have a history of stable behavior and age appropriate behavior, it is difficult to identify the exact moment or incident (if one exists) at which the teen changed course.

Below are some of the behaviors, situations, or actions, commonly found in teens and families who are struggling with teen behavior problems which have been consistently identified by mental health professionals:

• Given a sense of immediate gratification or quickly satisfied
• Over-indulged, spoiled, or given money and objects without earning them
• Lack of consistent home rules and curfews
• Lack of consistent home responsibilities (chores)
• Lack of definitive expectations and goals
• Lack of Consequences
• Lack of physical or emotional safety (home or school)
• Lack of quality time shared between parents and children
• Severe dysfunction in the home, including violence, addiction, or mental health issues

For more information on teen behavior problems and teen drug abuse visit Inspirations for Youth and Families.

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

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

Seven Ways Parents Can Reduce Troubled Teen Behaviors and at Risk Potential

It is prudent for all parents to recognized risk factors for teens, focusing on “troubled teens”, as the most at risk group of high school teenagers. Teens are a population of people, most at risk for drug use, abuse, and addiction. For troubled teens, the risk that teens will smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs increases sharply if they are highly stressed, frequently bored or have substantial amounts of spending money.

Below are seven ways parents/guardians can reduce troubled teen behaviors and at risk potential

• Identify mental health issues including attention deficit disorder, depression, oppositional defiance disorder, bipolar, PTSD, and other conditions commonly found in the teenage population.

• Understand when and why your children are bored, upset or triggered to engage in negative behaviors. Engage them in activities, suited for their personality and ability.

• Limit the amount of money your children have to spend and monitor how that money is spent.

• Know who your children's friends are and keep their friend’s and parent’s telephone numbers available for your use.

• Create a rewards-based chore and responsibility schedule. Reward good behavior and goal-oriented chores, tasks, and academics.

• Participate in your children's lives: attend their sports events, musical or theatrical accomplishments, oversee their homework and remain knowledgeable about their grades and academic performance, participate in activities together, and talk with them about drugs.
• Identify the stress in your child's life and help them, offering individual therapy or boarding school, adolescent residential rehab, and alternative solutions.

For more information on teen drug abuse, teen addiction treatment, and teen drug rehab programs visit Inspirations for Youth and Families, aka Inspirations Teen Rehab.

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

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

Top 5 Reasons Teens Resource to Drugs

Teens are a population of people, most at risk for drug use, abuse, and addiction. For troubled teens, the risk that teens will smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs increase sharply if they are highly stressed, frequently bored or have substantial amounts of spending money. According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), below are the top five reasons teens resource to drugs:

1. To combat loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression

2. To mentally ‘check-out’ of family issues or school troubles

3. To ease discomfort in an unfamiliar situation

4. To look cool or change their image/reputation

5. To fit in with a desired group of friend

To learn more about teen drug use, abuse and addiction visit: Inspirations for Youth and Families, aka, Inspirations Teen Drug Rehab.

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 Teen Drug Rehab empowers parents/guardians to make decisions that will protect and guide teens through the journey of teenage years.

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

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

Teens are a population of people, most at risk for drug use, abuse, and addiction. For troubled teens, the risk that teens will smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs increase sharply if they are highly stressed, frequently bored or have substantial amounts of spending money.

According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), below are the top five reasons teens resource to drugs:

1. To combat loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression

2. To mentally ‘check-out’ of family issues or school troubles

3. To ease discomfort in an unfamiliar situation

4. To look cool or change their image/reputation

5. To fit in with a desired group of friend

To learn more about teen drug use, abuse and addiction visit: Inspirations for Youth and Families, aka, Inspirations Teen Drug Rehab.

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 Teen Drug Rehab empowers parents/guardians to make decisions that will protect and guide teens through the journey of teenage years.

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

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

Prescription Drugs - Juveniles in Trouble with the Law

If your son or daughter were to give another child prescription drugs that they might find at home and the child overdose and die, it is highly likely that a civil suit against you for negligence will result in your having to pay damages.

There is also a chance that you could face criminal prosecution for your leaving dangerous drugs around that could lead to the death of another.

Possession of controlled substances with intent to sell is a crime. The painkillers are mostly Schedule II drugs. Ritalin and Adderall are Schedule II drugs. Most benzodiazepines are Schedule IV drugs.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s report “Crime in the United States”, there were 143,639 juveniles arrested by state and local law enforcement agencies for drug abuse violations during 2006, representing 10.4% of the drug arrests in which the offender’s age was reported.

If your child is caught in possession of any amount of painkillers or stimulants here are the federal guidelines:

First Offense: Not more than 20 years. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 years, or more than life. Fine $1 million.

Second Offense: Not more than 30 years. If death or serious injury, not less than life. Fine $2 million.

If your child is caught with benzodiazepines, here are the federal guidelines:

First Offense: Not more than 3 years. Fine not more than $250,000.
Second Offense: Not more than6 years. Fine not more than $500,000.

Obviously, if your child is treated as a minor the guidelines can be different, but it is still drug trafficking. By leaving prescription drugs around and by not educating our kids about the dangers of prescription drugs, they risk not only serious injury or death but also prison.

For more information on teen drug abuse, teen addiction treatment, and teen drug rehab programs visit Inspirations for Youth and Families, aka Inspirations Teen Rehab.

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

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