Rehabs for Young Adults (18-27)
Your adult child or other young adult loved one with a drug addiction may not know or perhaps is in denial regarding the effects of the drugs on his or her body, the effects on their future and the effects of their addiction on their loved ones. If you are a young adult between the ages of 18-27 with a substance abuse problem or are wondering if you are addicted to drugs, it is time to consider getting treatment at a rehab for young adults.
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Substance Abuse and Young Adults
There are a variety of drugs commonly abused by young adults. While some parents likely assume that the substance abuse is an issue only because their young adult child is hanging with the wrong crowd of peers at college, quite the opposite may be true. In fact, the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids explains that young adults who do not attend college “are more likely than their peers who are enrolled in school” to abuse prescription drugs. The findings come after analysis of data from nearly 37,000 young adults. Among those who graduated from high school, 13.1 per cent admitted to abusing prescription drugs, while among young adults who graduated from college 11.3 per cent admitted to prescription drug abuse. Young adults who did not attend college and who did not have a high school diploma admitted to an increased rate of non-medical use of prescription drugs, with 13.2 per cent stating they abused prescription drugs. This compares to a 2010 report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) that indicated just 5.9 per cent of young adults reported abuse of prescription drugs.
Young adults abuse other types of drugs, indicated by the fact that NIDA stated “Youth who abuse prescription medications are also more likely to report use of other drugs.” Some of the other drugs commonly abused by young adults include alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. In June 2014, the National Institutes of Health reported that heroin use has been increasing since 2007, particularly among young adults. Heroin is cheaper than many opioids. As with other drugs abused by young adults, the effects, including the long-term effects and serious dangers associated with heroin addiction is either ignored or not realized by many of the young adults addicted to drugs.
Effects of Drug Addiction on Young Adults
MedLine Plus, a division of the NIH points to the fact that one of the dangers of drug abuse in young people is the fact that their brain is not yet fully developed. This has the potential to make the brain of young people more susceptible to drug abuse and addiction. Researchers recently determined that abuse of methamphetamines causes more brain damage in teens than in adults. Compared to the MRI brain scan of adults and teens who do not abuse meth, the brain scans of teens who use meth showed “greater and more widespread changes in their brains,” particularly in the frontal cortex which is believed to control organization, reasoning and cognitive ability.
When young adults abuse alcohol, heavy drinking does not just put them at risk of getting drunk; it can lead to serious health problems or even result in death. As the NIH points out, young adulthood is an age of exploration. Young adults are just getting out on their own, moving away from home for the first time, making friends with other young adults who are also at the age of exploration. One of the ways that young adults often explore is through alcohol consumption. The National Institutes on Health says that “Research consistently shows that people tend to drink the heaviest in their late teens and early to mid-twenties.” The NIH points to data that concluded that approximately 46 per cent of young adults engaged in drinking that exceeded the daily recommended limits at least once in the previous year and that 14.5 per cent or 3.9 million young adults consumed alcohol in excess of the recommended weekly limits. The recommended daily limits on alcohol consumption are two drinks for men and one for women.
In a June 2014 report, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) indicated that among young adults in the United States, more than one third reported at least one episode of binge drinking in the previous one month period and one fifth of all young adults reported using an “illicit substance” during the past one month period. In addition to heavy alcohol use, abusing marijuana and prescription drugs, young adults are the biggest abusers of opioids, anti-anxiety drugs and ADHD stimulants according to the NIH.
Rehab for Young Adults
While a young adult or their loved ones may wish to seek treatment, how to go about finding affordable inpatient rehab for young adults may be an issue. There are many substance abuse treatment programs specifically geared to young adults. Several factors go into determining the best treatment location or the best type of treatment program for the young adult who is ready to obtain treatment. There are treatment facilities that only serve young adults in need of treatment for their alcoholism or addiction to other drugs. Other treatment programs also serve younger adolescents or more mature adults, but keep each group of residents separate in their treatment. Still other treatment programs serve young adults by gender, giving young men and young adult women the ability to focus on needs specific to their gender. There are also treatment programs for young adults with co-occurring disorders. It is imperative to remember that no one particular treatment program is right for every young adult.
How Much Does Rehab Cost
The cost of rehab for young adults is naturally a concern for many families or young adults who may have to pay for their own treatment. The cost of a substance abuse treatment program will vary according to details such as type of treatment, length of the program and other factors. Research will help to find the best program to treat young adults in need of treatment for drug abuse.
At Sober Recovery, we help you find the best young adult treatment facility. Our comprehensive directories are the largest virtual directories available online. There is no need to fight the insurance company over the phone; we provide you with a free, confidential insurance benefits check to help you find the best treatment program with the insurance that you have.
[Source: drugfree.org, drugabuse.gov, nih.gov, drugabuse.gov, nih.gov, drugabuse.gov, samhsa.gov, nih.gov]