Teen Pill Addiction

Help Your Child Overcome Prescription Abuse At Artemis

Early intervention is critical for teens facing pill addiction. By giving your child the skills they need to overcome substance use at a young age, they can avoid future consequences of misusing pills and other drugs. Not all treatment spaces are created equally.

As a parent, you want to choose a center where the providers care about your teen or adolescent just as much as you do.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is an ideal solution. We treat teen pill addiction and other forms of drug use to help youth in our programs build a foundation for long-term health and success.

Talking About Teenage Drug Use

In 2022, 11% of eighth graders, 21.5% of 10th graders, and 32.6% of high school seniors had used some (any) form of illicit drug in the past year. While the “just say no” approach was prevalent in the past, we know now that it is equally as vital that parents and teens get education concerning harm reduction.

This is especially true since teenagers can be prone to dangerous situations, like taking pills that are laced with another drug.

Similarly, teens and adolescents must have access to treatment when they need it. Artemis Adolescent Healing Center offers a full continuum of care for youth facing pill addiction and other forms of substance use so that your child can get the customized, comprehensive support they need.

Help for Teen Pill Addiction at Artemis in Tucson (Our Programs)

Here are the programs at Artemis Adolescent Healing Center in Tucson, AZ. When you talk with Artemis Adolescent Healing Center about getting help for your child, we will walk you and your teen through the admissions process.

We are here to help ensure that your child does not fall behind at school while getting treatment and can help your family navigate school-related challenges or any other concerns you might have.

Sub-Acute Detox (Withdrawal Management)

When you first stop using drugs and alcohol, the body goes through an adjustment period that can be difficult, leading to physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous–for example, in some cases of benzodiazepine drug use.

We can refer your child to an inpatient detox center if needed. If your child does require more intensive monitoring during the withdrawal process, they will likely need to be in inpatient detox for about one week (this can vary depending on symptom severity).

Inpatient Pill Addiction Treatment for Teens in Arizona

Our inpatient treatment programs for teens abusing substances is the highest level of care at Artemis. In our inpatient addiction treatment program for adolescents, clients live on-site at our treatment center in Tucson and follow a full daily schedule of treatment activities in a 100% drug and alcohol-free environment.

This will include group sessions with other teens, family therapy, individual therapy sessions, recreation, and other activities.

Partial Hospitalization Program for Teen Pill Addiction

Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) for teens in Arizona meets daily during the week. However, unlike in inpatient rehab, PHP clients are able to sleep and live at home.

PHP can be ideal for teens facing pill addiction who can manage symptoms outside of treatment hours and do not need the 24/7 supervision of an inpatient rehab program. It can also act as a transitional step out of inpatient treatment.

Intensive Outpatient Program for Teen Pill Addiction

Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) for teens in Arizona consists of flexible therapy sessions a few days per week. This level of care lets teens balance school and other parts of daily life with treatment.

Our IOP for teens can be a starting level of care, or it can help your child transition out of a higher level of care.

Outpatient Services and Aftercare Planning

Outpatient services are generally used for ongoing care after another program, like our IOP for teens. Ongoing outpatient treatment usually involves therapy 1-2 times per week and other appointments (e.g., medication management) as needed.

Before your teen is done with their treatment program(s) at Artemis, we will help them create an aftercare plan that will support their ongoing recovery and overall mental health in everyday life.

Types of Pill Addiction Affecting Teens

Pill addiction can involve various types of drugs. Some teens with pill addiction may use more than one of the following types of drugs.

Prescription Medications or Pills

Teens who misuse prescription drugs may use:

• Opioids, like Vicodin, OxyContin, or Oxycodone.
• Benzodiazepines, like Xanax, Klonopin, or Ativan
• Stimulants, like Adderall or Ritalin

Although these medications have medical purposes–and stimulant drugs can actually decrease the risk of addiction in youth with ADHD–they can be misused by teens and others. It is crucial that prescription drugs are used only as prescribed.

Over the Counter Medications

Teens who have problems with drugs and alcohol often use the substances they have access to. In some cases, teen drug abuse may involve over-the-counter medications like cough syrup and anti-diarrheal tablets like loperamide, which is an opioid that is designed not to enter the brain.

Risk Factors for Teen Drug Abuse

Anyone can develop a substance use disorder. However, there are risk factors for substance abuse among youth that may be applicable. These include:

• Family history. People who have a family history of addiction are at a greater risk of developing a drug or alcohol use disorder themselves.
• Trauma and adverse experiences. Traumatic or stressful experiences–especially adverse childhood experiences–are linked to an increased risk of addiction. We provide trauma-informed care for teens facing addiction.
• Co-occurring mental health conditions. Sometimes, teens and young adults facing substance abuse will have co-occurring mental health conditions. Our programs treat dual-diagnosis disorders in teens to promote better treatment outcomes.
• Problems at school. Low academic performance and lack of school connectedness are both linked to drug or alcohol use in teens.

Peer pressure and other factors, like access to illicit substances, can also play a role in teen drug abuse and pill addiction. It is important that addiction in teens is not stigmatized so that adolescents and young adults can get the help they need.

Health Risks and Teen Pill Abuse

Alongside legal issues and other consequences, like problems at school, there are many possible health risks that can stem from the misuse or abuse of pills as a teen. These may include but are not limited to the following.

• Addiction and dependence. While not everyone who experiments with substances in their youth develops a substance use disorder, research shows that teens who use substances can be particularly vulnerable to substance use disorders in adulthood.
• Drug overdose. Anyone experiencing substance abuse is at risk of overdose, which can be and often is accidental. An average of 22 United States adolescents died per week in 2022 as a result of drug overdose.
• Physical health risks. Long and short-term physical health risks, like an increased likelihood of accidents or injury, brain damage, gastrointestinal distress, liver problems, and cardiovascular issues, can occur in teens who are misusing pills.
• New or worsened psychiatric symptoms. Although some teens may use pills to self-medicate, drug and alcohol abuse can actually worsen psychiatric symptoms or cause new and unfavorable mental health symptoms.
• Use of other drugs. Some teens who start out using pills (e.g., prescription opioids) may start using other drugs, like heroin, due to trouble accessing pills or for another reason. Getting help now can prevent this from happening.

Teen substance abuse can also be linked to high-risk behavior, like unsafe sex. Treatment can help your child avoid the health risks associated with teen pill addiction. If your teen has encountered legal issues or related challenges as a result of drug use, we can help.

Call Artemis Adolescent Healing Center for Help With Teen Drug Use

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is a substance abuse and mental health treatment center for teens and adolescents in Arizona. Our programs involve the whole family and use safe, evidence-based practices for substance use and mental health disorders in youth.

If you are ready to seek treatment for a young person in your life who is taking drugs, please call Artemis Adolescent Healing Center today. Our team in Tucson is here to answer your questions or verify your child’s insurance benefits for treatment today, commitment-free.

FAQs Regarding Teen Pill Addiction

What is considered a pill addiction?

Pill addiction refers to dependence on any potentially addictive drug that comes in pill forms. Examples of pills a teen might be addicted to or misuse include but aren’t limited to painkillers (like Oxycodone and Percocet) and benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Klonopin).

What is the number one drug used by teens?

Statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2023 suggest that alcohol, nicotine vaping, and marijuana are some of the most common forms of substance abuse in teens. Some teens may pair these with pills in some cases. Pairing pills with other substances can be dangerous and increases the risk of overdose.

References

1. https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2022/12/most-reported-substance-use-among-adolescents-held-steady-in-2022
2. https://drugfreeva.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/marcoticsLomo.jpg
3. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/111/1/179/28511/Does-Stimulant-Therapy-of-Attention-Deficit?redirectedFrom=fulltext
4. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/over-counter-medicines
5. https://www.cdc.gov/youth-behavior/risk-behaviors/substance-use-among-youth.html
6. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/release/about-22-high-school-age-adolescents-died-each-week