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Many people have to be drug tested regularly for their job, or be drug tested before you start the job. If you cannot pass the drug test you may be out of a job. Not many people want to hire someone they cannot trust with a task because they have reason to believe the substance is messing with their thought process and therefore cannot take the task seriously and could cause themselves and many others injury or death; though they could finish the task but may not do it properly and could injure/cause death to many more people in the future. Future employers have intentions to prevent that from happening. Most people do not mind and would get an “under the table” job, but what may not occur to them is they are out of luck or the difficulty of buying a car, a house, or banking when it comes to that because no one has interest in selling something to someone with possibly stolen money.

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Many people want to do drugs to fit in, experiment, or maybe even to get away from their problems. Whatever the case may be some people get hooked on drugs and could mess with your brain. Many people do not understand they could "tamper with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information".

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About the Adolescent Brain

Research has shown that brain development continues into a person's 20s-a time that encompasses many important developmental and social changes in a young person's life. Yet important questions remain about the factors that influence brain development and their impact on physical, cognitive, emotional, and academic trajectories.

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study is the largest long-term study of brain and cognitive development in children across the United States. Findings from the ABCD Study will greatly increase our understanding of environmental, social, and genetic factors that affect brain and cognitive development and that can enhance or disrupt a young person's life trajectory. Read more about the ABCD Study.

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Adolescent Brain | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Research has shown that brain development continues into a person's 20s-a time that encompasses many important developmental and social changes in a young person's life. Y

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Most people would believe that adults are able to get addicted to drugs faster than adolescents, but the reality is that teens are more susceptible to drugs. Adults could take anywhere from 8-10 years to go from being experimental to dependent; while adolescents could take anywhere from 3-15 months to go from experimental to dependent.

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From what little I've seen, during the final stage of adolescence, trial independence (ages18 - 23) risk of addiction to substances tends to increase.

A number of factors seem to be involved. There is loneliness from living away from home, there is more personal responsibility to manage, there is a desire to escape the hard challenges of independence, there is fear of not finding an occupational foothold in the future, there is more availability and diversity of illegal substances, and there is much more partying with peers, for example. The last stage of adolescence can be a hard time to lead a sober life.

As last stage adolescents experience more of what it's like living in a drug-filled world, they can proceed through five progressively serious stages of use very swiftly. There is EXPERIMENTAL USE - when trying a substance to see what it is like. There is RECREATIONAL USE - when liking use and continuing it for intermittent enjoyment. There is EXCESSIVE USE - when enjoyment leads to accidental or intentional excess. There is ABUSIVE USE -- when use causes the user significant harm. There is ADDICTIVE USE - when there is remorseful awareness of harm being done but one cannot stop using.

The good news is that most last stage adolescents do not get into abusive or addictive use; the bad news is that some of them do.

Sometimes concerned parents will ask: is there such a thing as an "addictive personality?" I don't know. At most I can say that I have observed three kinds of self-defeating behavior that frequently characterize young people who, on referral for assessment, turn out to be substance addicted.

When it comes to COMPLETION, what they start they usually don't finish. When it comes to COMMITMENT, they fail to keep important promises they make to themselves and others. And when it comes to CONTINUITY, they make all kinds of resolutions to install healthy and constructive regimens of living, but they cannot maintain them.

What they frequently describe is a life where, despite constructive goals to the contrary, they spin their wheels, they can't catch hold, they don't get anywhere, and they are constantly letting themselves or others down.

To understand how deeply painful addiction can be, let a voice of youthful addiction speak for itself. What follows is from a letter I received years ago in response to a newspaper column I had written about adolescence and substance use. It reads thus.

"Dr. Pickhardt, several years ago, just out of college and curious to see what it was like, I accepted an injection of an opiate. My life has gone one direction since. Down. I blame no one but myself and I can live with that responsibility. But what I find increasingly impossible to live with are the losses I brought upon myself. Not monetary or possession losses, though both have been catastrophic. But personal and emotional losses which have left me unbearably alone. I feel isolated and abandoned. My heart feels frozen. I trust no one. I long for the desire to be interested in work, in friends, in just getting out and spending money on something fun, instead of looking at everything and everyone in terms of how they might enable me to get a drug. Recently my parents visited from out of town and confronted me about my use of drugs and some legal problems that have resulted. They kept saying I must be physically addicted. I insisted I was not physically addicted, but as I pressed this point with them I realized I was only confusing and frightening them more. Because if I wasn't physically dependent on drugs, how else could they or I explain my behavior? What I could not bring myself to tell them was about my psychological addiction, my love affair with the needle, a love more powerful than my love for anyone. After they left I began to ask myself why am I living my life this way? Why do I need to torture myself and those I care about with this drawn-out suicide? Then it came to me that one reason is power. The power to destroy myself gives me a kind of power over other people, like my parents, who are made powerless to help me.

"Another reason is anger. Inside of me is a competent, intelligent, caring, even successful person whom I refuse to let out. I only permit myself to do enough to get by. And that makes me so angry that every time I stick the needle in my vein it is like saying 'I hate you world! I'll show you how much I hate you by doing something hateful to myself!' I've lost so much - my self-respect, friends, something undefinable inside. I feel as though my heart is frozen. I withdraw around people. I don't want to be touched nor do I want to touch. Yet I am so very lonely. I'm dying inside. My pain is so deep that on the rare occasions that tears fall I feel as though they are being yanked from me. I am becoming less and less. I am so tired of having no choices. 'It's never too late to recover.' That's what you said in your article. You were right. There is always a choice. I guess that is why I am writing you now. Because I realize I have two choices - to stay on the bottom or go up. To die or to recover. I don't know which choice I shall make, but I do know this. No one can know what addiction is really like unless he has been there. No agony has been greater, no struggle so difficult, no guilt or self-hate so intense. If I grow well, perhaps I'll write and let you know."

I never heard further from this person, but the painful and courageous honesty of his or her words gave me hope that perhaps the relief that was sought was found in a life affirming and not a destructive way. The letter itself struck me like a word to the wise, perhaps capable of telling other young people that even though they don't think addiction can happen to them, it could.

Should this eventuality occur, older adolescents need to know that active addiction (becoming compulsively dependent on the self-destructive use of a substance to survive) need not be irreversible.

Addiction is a highly complicit disease because the addict's choices are partly responsible for the habit forming dependency. That's the good or hopeful part of addiction because it is by claiming some degree of personal choice and responsibility that recovery becomes possible.

Enrolling in an in-patient or outpatient treatment program can be helpful. And, of course, profiting from the support, guidance, and sponsorship of Alcoholics Anonymous or derivative 12-step groups is still the mainstay of most recoveries.

For parents, it's important to remember that although a young person's choices do lead him into addiction, he did not choose to use in order to become addicted. From repeated episodes of use and from a growing craving for what the substance can provide, a chemical dependency has developed.

So don't blame your child for becoming addicted, but do support his getting help to break addiction's hold if that is what he wants to try to do.

For more about parenting adolescents, see my book, "SURVIVING YOUR CHILD'S ADOLESCENCE," (Wiley, 2013.) Information at: www.carlpickhardt.com

Next week's entry: Early Adolescence and the Negative Mindset

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From what little I've seen, during the final stage of adolescence, trial independence (ages18 - 23) risk of addiction to substances tends to increase. A number of factors seem to be involved.

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Some people do not believe alcohol is a drug, but it is. Alcohol is one of the oldest known drugs and comes with a huge industry. Alcohol abuse is a major concern, but could also effect a person depending on their age, gender, physical condition, amount of food eaten, and other drugs and/or medication being taken.

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The teenage years are filled with many milestones. From entering puberty, learning to drive, getting a first job, going on a first date, the list goes on. For many teens, adolescence is also the time when they get drunk for the first time and experiment with illicit drugs. As much as you want to protect your teen from the dangers of adolescent life, you can't supervise him or her 24 hours a day.

What can a parent, guardian or family friend do to help a teenager understand the risks of alcohol consumption? Education is a great place to start. Learning how alcohol affects their brain and body may not stop a teenager from getting drunk. But, it might help to make safer, healthier choices in the future.

How Alcohol Affects Your Body

According to the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, up to 75 percent of teenagers have experimented with alcohol by the time they graduate from high school. More than 50 percent of high school seniors report that they've been drunk at least once. Even more disturbing are the statistics regarding accidents, violence and self-inflicted injuries among teens who are abusing alcohol. Alcohol plays a role in more than 30 percent of teenage deaths involving accidents, homicide or suicide.

The Dangers

It's important for teens to know the dangers that come with consuming alcohol, such as:

Accidental falls

Drowning

Car crashes

Fights

Sexually transmitted diseases

Teenage pregnancy

Adolescence is a time of rapid physical development. A lot of growing teens feel ambivalent about these changes. Facial hair, vocal changes and signs of sexual maturity can be both exciting and embarrassing. But teenagers may not realize that alcohol can cause delays in sexual development. Frequent drinking can also cause weight gain, which may put them at risk for developing high blood pressure and diabetes.

Teenagers who keep drinking into adulthood have a higher risk of developing liver problems. The liver is one of the most important organs in your body. It helps metabolize nutrients and rid your system of harmful toxins. Because your liver also metabolizes alcohol, excessive drinking can put a tremendous strain on this vital organ.

The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that long-term drinkers are more likely to get certain types of cancer. Alcohol consumption has been associated with higher risks of cancer of the head and neck, stomach and breasts. Alcohol can also harm the pancreas, causing a severely painful condition called pancreatitis.

Consuming alcohol as a teenager can also increase your chances of becoming physically dependent on alcohol. Recent clinical research shows that teenagers who start drinking before the age of 14 have a much higher risk of growing up to be alcoholics than teens who don't imbibe until they're 21, states the New York Times.

How Drinking Harms a Teen's Brain

You've probably heard the jokes about how heavy alcohol consumption can kill brain cells. Recent neurological research indicates not only that these jokes are true, but that teenagers may be more prone to alcohol-related neurological damage than adults. A teenager's brain is at a vulnerable stage of development. Alcohol interferes with this development, causing permanent changes in the ability to learn and remember.

Research conducted by neuropsychologists at Duke University indicates that in adolescents, drinking even a moderate amount of alcohol may damage the hippocampus, the part of the brain that enables you to learn and remember. Studies conducted on adolescent rats showed that younger drinkers may be even more likely to suffer neurocognitive deficits than older adults who drink, especially if they drink to the point of blacking out, or temporarily losing their memory.

The Duke research team also found that an alarming number of college-age drinkers experience blackouts during heavy drinking episodes. In an electronic survey of almost 800 college students, the researchers found that just over 50 percent of the students who responded reported that they had blacked out while drinking. The average number of blackouts reported in the survey was three.

Blackouts among teens are hazardous to neurological development, but they can also pose a serious risk to a teen's safety and overall health. Teens who black out are more likely to take dangerous chances, like driving drunk, having unsafe sex or getting in fistfights. Binge drinking, or drinking four to five alcoholic beverages in one or two hours is a common practice among teens. The frequency of blackouts may be even greater than the survey indicates.

Drinking and Social Relationships

Teenagers are preoccupied with issues of identity and social relationships. In this formative period, adolescents experiment with different styles of clothing and makeup, try out unique variations of their names and may hang out with different social cliques at school. Peer pressure becomes a big factor in the choices that a teen makes as he or she develops socially; that's why it's crucial that parents get to know their children's friends and their families.

For a lot of teens, alcohol may seem like a magic elixir that allows them to overcome shyness and social insecurity. But after awhile, teens who drink heavily on a regular basis will start to get a negative reputation at school. Kids who participate in sports, musical activities or school clubs will often avoid the teenagers who party all the time. Neglecting former friends and hobbies is one of the most significant signs of alcohol or drug abuse among teens.

The Cycle of Teenage Drinking

According to the National Institutes of Health, teens who drink may go through the following stages:

1. Focus more of their time on friends who drink: Teenagers who take up partying will often give up long-term relationships. Meanwhile, sober teens will eventually stop trying to make contact with a friend who parties all the time.

2. Start neglecting school and work: Students who drink heavily will start oversleeping, skipping classes and forgetting homework assignments. A student with a part-time job may stop showing up for work and eventually lose the position.

3. Display unpredictable behavior or pick fights at home: The effects of alcohol can alter a teenager's emotions, making him or her seem extremely moody. Teens who drink can become secretive, defensive and violent with siblings or parents. New tension around the house may indicate that a teenager has a substance abuse problem.

4. Have problems with money: Partying can get expensive. Teens who suddenly never seem to have enough cash left over from their allowance or part-time job may be spending too much on liquor, beer or cigarettes.

5. Become chronically tired and physically unhealthy: Frequent drinking can lead to weight gain, loss of sleep, problems remembering tasks or responsibilities and many other complications. While teens do need a lot of sleep, a teenager who starts sleeping more than usual or displays signs of fatigue and depression may have a drinking problem.

High school and college students who spend a lot of time with a drinking crowd may have trouble adjusting socially if they decide to seek treatment. An integrated treatment program for teens can help adolescents re-enter the world of their sober peers and learn how to build strong, lasting friendships that are based on something more substantial than a love of partying.

Talking to Teens About Alcohol Abuse

It's never too early to start introducing children or teens to the dangers of alcoholism. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention cautions that alcohol is the most commonly abused drug among American teenagers. The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past 30 days:

35% drank some amount of alcohol.

21% binge drank.

10% drove after drinking alcohol.

22% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

More teenagers abuse alcohol than any other drug, including street drugs or tobacco

If parents could stop teenagers from drinking simply by talking to them about the dangers of alcohol abuse, wouldn't these numbers be lower? Talking definitely is not the only way to reduce the risk that your teenager will drink, but it's a good place to start. Talking to your teen provides a number of important benefits, like conveying your concern, opening up communication and providing education. Even if your teenager doesn't appear interested in what you have to say, he or she is probably hearing and remembering more than you realize.

Pointers for Talking to Your Child

Tips for Talking to Teens About Alcohol Abuse

When you initiate a talk with your son or daughter, keep these points in mind:

Stay calm. Teenagers don't respond well to nagging, but they often respond to calm discussions. When you're talking to your teen about alcohol, it's important to keep your emotions in check. Although you may be angry, scared, anxious or all of the above, your teen will be more likely to sit still and listen if you aren't upset when you have your discussion. You'll also be less likely to blurt out accusations, make negative remarks about your child or say things you'll regret later.

Expect respect/give respect. No matter how you feel about what's been going on in your teen's life, criticism won't help you convince your child that he or she has a problem. Try to be as objective and compassionate as possible, remembering that many teens go through periods of partying. At the same time, you shouldn't accept any rude or disrespectful remarks from your teenager when you talk. If you have trouble feeling a sense of compassion, talk with an addiction counselor, a therapist or a pastor before you talk with your teen.

Be prepared to help. If you suspect that your teen has a drinking problem that requires more intervention than you can provide, be prepared to offer a solution. Do your research before you have the discussion so you can talk to your teen about treatment options. Whether you decide to pursue outpatient treatment, intensive residential care or attend local 12-step meetings for teens, you should be ready to establish a game plan.

Finding the Support You Need

It's not always possible for a parent to know when a teen's alcohol use turns into alcohol abuse. When a parent catches a teenager drinking, the typical reaction is one of shock or alarm. A casual experiment with beer at a summer party probably doesn't indicate that your teenager has a drinking problem. However, it's important to keep in mind that occasional drinking can easily turn into frequent binges if your teen is hanging out with a party crowd.

If you need help deciding whether your teenager needs more intensive intervention, talk with a knowledgeable counselor who understands the risk factors that teens face. Our experienced counselors at Newport Academy realize that teenage alcohol abuse often stems from complicated emotional or psychosocial factors. Teenagers who are drinking heavily may require counseling for depression, anger or grief issues as well as substance abuse treatment. Teen rehab doesn't have to be scary. Making a call can be the first step in getting the support you need as a parent to help your teenager start a healthy new life in sobriety.

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How Alcohol Consumption Affects a Growing Teen

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The teenage years are filled with many milestones. From entering puberty, learning to drive, getting a first job, going on a first date, the list goes on. For many teens, adolescence is also the time when they get drunk for the first time and experiment with illicit drugs.

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The central nervous system can be affected when in the stage of addiction because alcohol accelerates the loss of brain cells that leads to cognitive deficits. This then leads to brain damage.
The liver is effected when long term use leads to hepatitis and cirrhosis.
High levels of alcohol/drugs impairs the kidneys ability regulate the volume and composition of fluid and electrolytes in the body.
Increased alcohol use increases risk of heart disease and could worsen blood pressure and diabetes to risk factors for heart disease.

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It may take some time, and it may be hard, but getting help is the best way to help not only yourself but your loved ones if you have become addicted.

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Muir Wood is a world renowned northern California teen rehab center for kids struggling with mental health, behavioral, and substance abuse issues. Read more "

TRUSTED TREATMENT FOR TEEN MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL, AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.

A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM SCOTT SOWLE, OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Muir Wood's residential program treats only adolescent boys. Without the distraction of the opposite sex, boys engage in therapy more openly and effectively. Learn more "

OUR BOYS RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IS A GOLD STANDARD FOR TREATMENT.

Our San Rafael, CA Outpatient Program serves teen boys and girls 12-19 with mental health and behavioral issues as well as substance use disorder. Learn more "

OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR TEEN BOYS AND GIRLS IN MARIN COUNTY, CA.

Our on-site Learning Center is an accredited year-round school that boys at Muir Wood attend Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to noon. Learn more "

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS A TOP PRIORITY AT MUIR WOOD.

With individual family therapy, phone consultations with our therapists, and our Saturday Family Program, parents are involved in treatment 6-10 hours each week. Learn more "

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS CRITICAL.

TRUSTED TREATMENT FOR TEEN MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL, AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.

Muir Wood is a world renowned northern California treatment center for teens struggling with mental health, behavioral, and substance abuse issues. We offer residential inpatient treatment for teen boys 12-17 in Sonoma County, and outpatient treatment for boys and girls 12-19 in Marin County. Read more"
Getting Started

Boys Residential Teen Rehab Centers in Sonoma, CA

Our residential teenage rehab program for boys 12-17, situated on six idyllic acres in Sonoma County, CA, accepts just ten boys at one time. This small number of boys allows for highly individualized and extremely effective treatment for mental health issues such as trauma, depression, or poor self esteem that often lead to self-medication with drugs and/or alcohol. In this setting, where boys are valued and engaged, healing can and does occur.

Boys & Girls Outpatient Rehab Programs in Marin, CA

Our outpatient teen rehab program, located in Marin County, CA, serves teen boys and girls 12-19 with behavioral and mental health, and substance use issues. Our highly credentialed clinical team works closely with teens and their families to develop individualized treatment plans that may include group therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, dialectal behavior therapy, and when needed, medication management and neuropsychological testing.

Meet Our Teen Rehab Team

Leading our staff of professionals are some of the industry's best-known experts on the treatment of adolescent mental health, behavioral, and substance use issues. Take a moment to watch their videos below and learn about their respective roles at Muir Wood and how treatment at Muir Wood may be beneficial to your child and your family. Also take a moment to listen to the story of Brad Waldo, now a Muir Wood team member, as he shares his journey from heroin use through teen treatment to successful recovery. (844) 203-2388

David E. Smith, M.D., DFASAM, Chair of Addiction Medicine, discusses adolescent substance abuse and addiction and the concept of addiction as an adolescent disease.

Chanda Rankin Ph.D., CADC, Chief Clinical Officer, discusses adolescent treatment for substance use and how her own experiences inform her work.

Program Director, Burke Halinoych, LCSW, CADC, on the unique aspects of adolescent treatment and the root causes related to teen substance use.

Dr. Michael Genovese, Psychiatrist and Medical Director, explains the critical importance of gender-specific teen residential treatment.

Brad Waldo, our Director of Referent and Alumni Relations, shares his journey from teen treatment to recovery.

Sasha Brodsky, MFT, Director of Outpatient Services, talks about this level of care for teen boys and girls.

Validate Your Insurance Coverage Here

If you have coverage from a major insurance provider, your treatment may be covered. Click the button below, complete the form, and we'll quickly confirm the extent of your coverage. At this time, we do not accept Medi-Cal, Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

We are now an in-network treatment provider with Anthem Blue Cross, Regence Blue Shield and Premera Blue Cross, providing more families with access to the exceptional mental health and substance use treatment offered at Muir Wood. In-network recognition underscores our commitment to accountability, outcome tracking and evidence-based treatment.

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Teen Rehab Center | Mental Health | Substance Abuse | Sonoma CA

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Muir Wood is a world renowned northern California teen rehab center for kids struggling with mental health, behavioral, and substance abuse issues. Read more " TRUSTED TREATMENT FOR TEEN MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL, AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES. A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM SCOTT SOWLE, OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Muir Wood's residential program treats only adolescent boys.