When a teenager is struggling with substance use, their grades can suffer. Bad grades are just one of the many negative effects of substance abuse. Families may be able to help their struggling teens by getting them into treatment and learning how to address the causes of the use.
An adolescent drug abuse treatment program that also provides educational support can combat the academic side effects of drug use. To learn more about the academic program at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, call us today at 866.300.5275.
Academic Performance and the Side Effects of Drug Use
Parents can’t supervise teenage children 24 hours a day, and unfortunately, some of the environments we assume are safe are actually the most accessible places to find or use drugs.
Most teens can obtain prescription drugs, marijuana, alcohol, MDMA, and even heroin at school if they desire.
All types of drugs affect brain function in some way, depending on the drug and history of use. In general, the chemicals in drugs alter nerve cell activity, resulting in faulty communication within the brain’s receptors. Drug use can affect the brain’s ability to process or retain information. Research shows that teens who abuse drugs tend to:
- Have lower grades
- Miss more classes
- Participate less in education-related activities
- Have a higher rate of dropping out or being expelled from school
Fortunately, there are things that parents can do to help teens who are struggling with substance use. One of the key components to treating teenage drug use is a comprehensive approach that focuses on more than just addressing the substance use. A treatment program should also provide academic support and help with other issues related to teen development, such as building positive peer relationships, developing coping skills for stress, and finding new interests.
Other Ways Drugs Affect Academics
Affecting memory and brain function are the most obvious academic side effects of drug use, but a drug’s influence on cognitive ability is only part of the picture. All drugs can cause unusual or unpredictable behavior in a teenager, but methamphetamine and alcohol are more likely to be associated with violent outbursts.
Unfortunately, teens at higher risk for substance-associated violence can be expelled from school if they don’t get help from an adolescent drug rehab center.
Teens who do not get the adolescent drug treatment they need may also be at a higher risk of developing depression. In some cases, having depression may lead a teen to turn to drug or alcohol use to help relieve their symptoms. Unfortunately, this only makes symptoms worse in the long run.
How Does an Adolescent Drug Rehab Center Help?
A comprehensive adolescent drug treatment program address all of a teenager’s psychological, social, and academic needs. Participating in evidence-based therapies for substance misuse while receiving treatment for co-occurring disorders is key. Some of the therapies to expect in adolescent drug treatment include:
- Family therapy
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Trauma therapy
Academic support can be provided in a number of ways, depending on the client’s needs. Clients at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery receive the type of educational assistance that will help them excel.
Whether it is on-site or online coordination with the student’s current school, finding appropriate tutors, assisting with SAT prep, or the college application process, our educational experts provide the individual support that helps students excel.
Find Academic Excellence at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery
At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, we take a whole-person approach to adolescent drug rehab. We understand that every client has the potential to build a healthy, happy, successful life, and our goal is to help them reach that potential. Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery today at 866.300.5275 if a teen boy in your family needs the academic and therapeutic support of a high-quality recovery program.
