Age-Specific Addiction Treatment
Age-Specific Addiction Treatment
Most Commonly Used Drugs Among Young Adults
Addiction Risk Factors for Young Adults
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 account for the highest prevalence of substance use disorders, with an estimated 7.5 million young adults needing treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction in 2015, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The risk factors for addiction in young adults are generally different than those for midlife adults.
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24
Trauma
Trauma, especially trauma in childhood, changes the brain in important ways, and it often leads to substance abuse as a way to cope with the resulting fear, nightmares, flashbacks and anger. Young adults who have experienced trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse, are around four times more likely than their trauma-free counterparts to engage in substance abuse.
Mental Illness
Mental illnesses like anxiety and depression impact young adults’ social and emotional functioning. A study of college students published in the journal Qualitative Social Work found that the mental health problems of today’s young adults are more severe than those of past generations.
Excessive Technology Use
A growing body of research suggests that an increase in depressive disorders among young adults may be due to heavy technology use. A study by Baylor University found that college-age women spend an average of 10 hours a day on their phones, and their male counterparts spend an average of eight hours a day looking at their personal devices. Excessive cell phone use can become a behavioral addiction that increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder.
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress among young people is often due to the pressures of school and work. Poverty, illness, relationship problems, and other issues can lead to chronic stress, which can be devastating to physical and mental health. Many young people use drugs or alcohol to relax and reduce stress, but substance abuse ultimately reduces the ability of the body to cope effectively with stress
Addiction Risk Factors for Midlife Adults
Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse Among Different Age Groups
While some signs and symptoms of substance abuse are universal among all populations, others are more likely to occur among specific age groups.
Older Adults
Older adults are more likely than younger adults to use drugs or alcohol in secret.
They may observe rituals surrounding drinking, and they may drink even though they’re taking prescription medications that shouldn’t be used with alcohol.
They may complain of illnesses that appear to have no cause and which are unable to be diagnosed, and they may experience memory loss and confusion as a result of substance abuse.
Older adults are likely to respond with denial when confronted about their drug abuse.
Young Adults
Young adults who are abusing drugs or alcohol may have frequent mood swings, and they may be hostile or defensive when confronted about their use.
They’re likely to spend time in isolation when they’re not using, and they may begin neglecting duties at work and school.
Their group of friends may change, and they may experience changes in sleep and appetite.
A gradual decline in personal hygiene is another common sign of drug abuse among young people
How Treatment Differs By Age
An age-specific addiction treatment program will address a wide range of issues common to people of a certain age.
Mid-life and Older Adults
Older adults typically benefit from a slower pace of treatment and non-confrontational types of therapy. Because midlife adults are often beginning or continuing on a spiritual journey, treatment for this age group may include non-religious spiritual teachings and practices, including meditation and yoga. Treatment for midlife adults with a spouse and children in the home will likely include family therapy to help restore function to the household. For retired empty-nesters, treatment may emphasize developing a greater sense of purpose in life and finding hobbies to stay busy. Twelve-step programs are common in addiction treatment programs, and this spiritually focused program is attractive to many older adults.
Young Adults
Young adult treatment focuses heavily on developing coping skills and practical life skills. In 2016, the number of young adults living with their parents surpassed other living situations for the first time in more than 130 years, according to Pew Research, and this can leave young people without the essential skills they need to succeed on their own. Life skills classes are common in young adult treatment programs, which may also emphasize educational and vocational rehab to help individuals find and maintain employment or return to school.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Since young adults abuse opioids at a much higher rate than older adults, a young adult treatment program is likely to offer medication-assisted treatment, which is the gold standard for treating opioid addiction. Medication-assisted treatment is a combination of medication and therapy that’s been shown to be effective for reducing illicit drug abuse, improving the chances of finding and maintaining employment, and helping to promote long-term recovery.
Secular Support Groups
Twelve-step alternatives are popular in treatment programs for younger populations, who may not be as receptive as older adults to the 12-step model. More secular support groups like Smart Recovery may be more suitable for young adults.
How Treatment Works
Addiction treatment works by addressing the multiple needs of an individual. During treatment, a variety of therapies are used to address the:
•Underlying causes of the addiction
•Brain changes and dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns resulting from the addiction
•Legal, financial, health and relationship problems stemming from the addiction
Traditional Therapies and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The most commonly used traditional “talk” therapy in any addiction treatment program, regardless of age, is cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT.
CBT is an evidence-based treatment for addiction and mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.
It addresses faulty thought patterns that contribute to the unhealthy behaviors that accompany addiction. Changing dysfunctional patterns of thinking and behaving is an important foundation for long-term recovery.
The principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy are used in a variety of other traditional talk therapies that may be part of a young or midlife adult treatment plan, including:
•Family therapy, which helps individuals in treatment repair damaged relationships and restore peace and balance to the household
•Dialectical behavior therapy, which is used to treat trauma, which is a common underlying cause of addiction
•Motivational interviewing, which helps people identify their own personal reasons for wanting to recover from an addiction
•Acceptance and commitment therapy, which helps to treat trauma and fosters emotional regulation
Other traditional therapies used in treatment include pharmacotherapy, or the use of medication to treat addiction or symptoms of mental illness, and psychoeducational classes, which provide education and practical skills for issues surrounding addiction and mental illness.
Holistic Treatment in Recovery
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stresses that a holistic approach to treatment is crucial for successful recovery. Complementary therapies round out the treatment plan and help engage clients in the program. These therapies don’t treat addiction on their own, but they enhance self-awareness, promote emotional healing and offer hands-on experiences that facilitate meaningful change.
Many traditional and complementary treatment therapies take place in a group settings, which has been shown through extensive research to be highly effective for treating addiction.
Complementary therapies commonly used in high quality treatment programs include:
•Art therapy, which involves creating, viewing and talking about art. Art therapy helps to heal emotional wounds, and it reduces shame and stress.
•Adventure therapy, which is more common in young adult treatment programs. Adventure therapy takes place in the outdoors and involves a variety of hands-on activities that are physically and mentally challenging.
•Horticultural therapy, which is more common in midlife adult treatment programs. Horticultural therapy involves growing and tending to plants as a metaphor for self-care, and it reduces stress and promotes growth and change.
•Meditation, which promotes mindfulness, enhances spirituality, increases self-awareness and reduces stress.
•Yoga, which increases body awareness, reduces stress and promotes physical and mental balance and flexibility.
•Group therapy promotes healthy relationships and provides a high level of peer support during early recovery. In an age-specific treatment program, group members are more likely to have issues and problems in common, which enhances feelings of camaraderie and belonging within the group.
Young adult treatment groups will have a different focus and energy than midlife adult treatment groups.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daphne_Watkins/publication/225308957_Increased_demand_for_mental_health_services_on_college_campuses_Perspective_from_administrators/links/00b49515dfe7bba2e7000000.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Beth_Han/publication/23768634_Substance_use_disorder_among_older_adults_in_the_United_States_in_2020/links/00463528a075bd88ec000000.pdf
Treatment Works No Matter The Age
We Work With Most Major Insurance Providers
The Safe Harbor Treatment Center Admissions Team works to ensure that we can help as many people struggling with substance abuse. Verify your benefits now and we’ll get back to you right away.
Receive the highest level of care available at Safe Harbor. We are here to answer your call or fill out our confidential contact form to get started.