What Resources Do Juveniles Have for Drug Help?

Treating juveniles with drug problems can be a very stressful and emotional experience for the juvenile as well as for concerned friends and family. Often, juveniles with drug problems resist help, because they deny that they have a problem. Also, juveniles with drug problems often suffer from other social, emotional or psychological problems, making their recovery hard. Though they may be resistant at first, juveniles do have several resources for drug help.

School Counselor

• School counselors often are the first resource for juveniles with drug problems. This is because students caught on school property with drugs may be forced to meet with a school counselor before they serve any punishments exacted by school or local authorities. School counselors are knowledgeable about teen drug abuse and are experienced in helping teens with drug problems. They are trained to engage students in a non-threatening but authoritative manner. They are sensitive to a juvenile's emotional and psychological needs. Further, school counselors know about other resources in the community. They can refer juveniles or their parents to other drug-addiction and mental-health professionals.

Pediatrician or Family Doctor

• Pediatricians or family physicians can play an important role in a juvenile's drug abuse rehabilitation. Licensed medical professionals know how drugs can affect a person's physical, social and emotional well-being. Doctors can help young patients to restore their bodies and minds to good health by recommending activities that promote well-being. Family doctors also may have treated a juvenile for several years, perhaps even since birth. Thus, they may already have established a relationship with the patient. The patient may find it easier to talk with a doctor whom they know and trust.

Mental Health Professional

• Perhaps the most important resource for juveniles with drug problems is a mental health professional who specializes in teenage psychology and/or drug and alcohol addiction. This mental health professional may be a licensed counselor, psychiatrist or psychologist. Most importantly, this figure will help the juvenile to overcome the drug problem by helping them to address the emotional, social or psychological problems that are driving them to use drugs. Mental health professionals know how to treat juveniles clinically and professionally. They are trained to communicate effectively with juvenile patients, even when those patients resist treatment and try to withhold.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse has created a website specifically for juveniles and adolescents. This website provides users with information and facts about drug abuse. The content is specifically designed to meet the needs of a younger readership, answering real teenagers' questions about drugs, the effects of drugs on the body, laws about drug abuse and much more. The site also features animated illustrations, games and interactive activities to keep young people engaged as they learn important concepts and facts about drugs.