Adolescent Intervention Throughout the U.S.

The VIP Recovery team cares deeply for young people struggling with self-destructive behaviors, including drinking alcohol, drug abuse, smoking, sexual activity, cutting, depression, suicide, anxiety, and eating disorders. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), boys first try alcohol at the age of 11 and girls at the age of 13. In the U.S., alcohol is the number one abused substance for teenagers. Additionally, according to Drug Free America Foundation, 41% of teens have tried marijuana, and it is the most widely used illegal substance among teens.

Some people believe that drinking alcoholic beverages and/or using drugs is a rite of passage or simply a phase that teens go through. How do you know if your teen is engaged in a brief period of experimentation, a pathological or addictive pattern, or behaviorally dependent on chemicals? We can help you determine if an intervention is necessary based on the four levels of recreational chemical use. These levels include:

1. A brief period of experimentation followed by abstinence

2. Irregular or occasional use of illicit chemicals

3. Regular use of chemicals

4. Addictive pattern or the pathological use that is the hallmark of physical dependence on chemicals

It is extremely scary for families to see their teenagers suffer from addiction or substance use disorder problems. Because the brain is not fully developed as a teenager, alcohol or drug abuse can have permanent effects. It's imperative to receive help for your teen to prevent any further damage. Please call us for additional information, and to make it easier, we will travel throughout the U.S. to help plan, rehearse, and stage an intervention for your teenager. 

High school is a difficult time for most adolescents because of hormone and emotional changes and increased responsibility. On top of the normal changes, if the teen has stress at home, is being bullied, has a mental illness, or is starting a new job, this could trigger a need to reduce the stress. Sometimes, instead of engaging in positive behaviors, teens seek alternative solutions that might impact their health and mental well-being. In some cases, a teen might abuse a certain substance, act out sexually or emotionally, self-harm, experiment with food, isolate themselves, or become addicted to video games or the internet. If not treated, these could have lasting impacts on the emotional and mental health development of your teen. If you notice that your teen is acting out or engaging in harmful behaviors, it's important to give us a call so we can determine if an intervention is helpful for your family's situation. The VIP Recovery team knows teenagers have very different needs compared to treating adults so we consider everything holistically when planning an intervention.

Planning the intervention

One of the most important parts of staging an intervention is the planning that goes into it. During the first part of the planning phase, we will gather information, including learning about the teen's family or friends dynamic to understanding their biological, emotional, or developmental responses. This will help us choose the best intervention type, such as The Johnson Model, The ARISE Model, or The Systemic Model, for you and your teen. Before we meet with your loved one, we will discuss the location of the intervention, strategize the intervention model type, determine who is involved, create letters or messages, rehearse, plan for treatment and transportation after the intervention, and define consequences. We will also prepare for unanticipated behaviors to ensure the safety of everyone.

Staging the intervention

An intervention is an act of love. It's important to help your teenager realize that so he or she doesn't feel ganged up on or betrayed. The VIP Recovery team members will help provide emotional support and lead the tough conversation to ensure the family members discuss how the teen's behavior has impacted them. Depending on the intervention model, we will likely have an open conversation between all group members. While staging the intervention, parents should refrain from yelling or avoid using examples that do not pertain to the teenager's current, harmful behavior. Once he or she admits they have an issue, the intervention will stop. Unfortunately, if the teenager chooses to not accept treatment, the family will need to set strict consequences.

Throughout each phase, we will be with you along the way. Most of the time, an intervention is successful and your teen admits they have a problem. Admitting they have a problem will make it more likely for them to be successful in a treatment program. Once they are no longer in denial, we will transport your teen to a treatment center and help check them in. Based on the issue, your teen might enter a detox program to safely withdraw from the substance. This phase must be completed under medical supervision to assist with any types of emergencies. After the detox, the family and teen begin therapy sessions, learn how to help during the recovery, and develop strategies for maintaining sobriety. Throughout your teen's recovery, we will continue to have follow-up meetings and help parents learn how to reinforce positive behaviors while renewing hope and promoting healing for everyone involved.

However, sometimes an intervention is not successful. This means the teen did not admit they have a problem. If this happens, we might offer several courses of action, depending on the strategy chosen for the intervention. This includes things, like attending cognitive behavior therapy, continuing the conversation outside of the intervention, and applying strict consequences. As a last resort, we will help the family set strict consequences for your loved one. We know how hard this is, but to help them overcome their harmful behaviors, parents must reinforce the rules. No matter how much they retaliate or yell, we encourage parents to maintain their stance. We will provide help and guidance if this happens. For other, more sensitive cases, such as self-harm or thoughts of suicide, we will take the teen to a treatment center for help.

No amount of chemical use is legal or safe for adolescents. We can help to determine if any intervention or treatment is necessary. Our team of adolescent intervention specialists is the key to redirecting these young lives. If an intervention is necessary, the intervention process provides education, support, and guidance for teens and their families. Additionally, we will help you learn how to effectively communicate and develop an open, strong, and trusting relationship with your teen. To make it easiest for you and your family, we travel nationwide to stage a safe intervention. Please call us today to speak with a caring staff member.