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Substance use is a persistent and pressing problem for adolescents and young adults. They tend to minimize the risk of addiction, which places them at greater risk for misusing alcohol or other drugs.

 

The effect of substance use on the developing brain

The human brain grows and evolves throughout adolescence into young adulthood, including the systems that govern emotions and impulses. Because these areas of their brains aren’t fully developed, adolescents and young adults tend to take risks, seek new sensations, and may be more easily influenced by their peers. The combination of these factors can lead to problematic alcohol or substance use.

Substance use at this age can interfere with crucial social development and compromise cognitive development. Many youth who need treatment don't believe they need help, or don't want it. Their parents may not realize the extent of the problem. But substance use can put a young person's dreams on hold — or end them forever. So early identification and intervention are essential.

 

Our treatment approach

Our clinicians utilize multiple modalities to individualize treatment including but not limited to motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and contingency management. Many of our clinicians are also certified in and utilize the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), a cognitive behavioral model for substance use treatment. This approach helps patients develop and strengthen relapse prevention skills by identifying external and internal triggers for use, patterns of using behavior, consequences of use, and effective techniques in resisting pressures to use.

We believe that an individual’s culture, background, family and belief systems are all important aspects of individualized care. We heavily emphasize the importance of parent or guardian involvement in care. In certain cases, we recommend separate parent guidance sessions, which are aimed to help parents/guardians navigate the challenges that accompany addiction. Patients are also strongly encouraged to participate in community support groups to assist in developing and strengthening their support network while in and after treatment.

 

What to do if you think your child needs substance use treatment

The first step is to receive a substance use assessment from a licensed professional. The Addiction Alliance of Georgia offers free, confidential phone-based screenings.

Our experts can tell you if it looks like your loved one is dealing with addiction or a mental health disorder and, if so, what treatment options would be most effective. They can also work with your insurance company to help you determine your coverage.

At the Addiction Alliance of Georgia, treatment for older adults address the following:

• Age-specific addiction issues related to physical health, family structure, career and financial security
• Health and wellness concerns such as chronic pain, nutrition, medication management and rediscovering purpose and meaning in life
• The stigma of addiction and how shame impacts recovery

 

Our specialized addiction care for older adults also includes:

• Comprehensive substance use and mental health assessments
• Group therapy
• Individual therapy
• Medication management for substance use and mental health
• Referrals to resources for education and support
• A supportive nonjudgmental recovery environment
• Individually paced care that fits your life, career, and needs

At the Addiction Alliance of Georgia, addiction treatment is integrated with mental health care. This is because addiction is often complicated by additional conditions such as anxiety, depression or trauma. These are known as co-occurring disorders.

With these complex conditions, the most effective care combines treatment for addiction and mental health — addressing multiple symptoms at the same time. Our team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals who provide diagnostic assessments, group therapy, family therapy and medication management.

Mental health assessments and counseling are important parts of your addiction treatment plan. Even in recovery, counseling and therapy can provide the support you need to continue healing.

Our outpatient mental health services include:

• Adolescent/young adult specific services
• Parent guidance and support
• Comprehensive behavioral assessments
• Group therapy
• Individual therapy
• Medication management
• Referrals to resources for education and support

 

Telehealth mental health services

If you're not located near our facility, or you have mobility/accessibility challenges, virtual appointments with our mental health experts are an ideal option. 

We specialize in treating patients with opioid use disorder with evidence-based services. We utilize FDA approved medications, buprenorphine and naltrexone, to reduce, stop, and prevent opioid misuse. We also provide individual counseling services that can help build recovery skills and develop a relapse prevention plan.

In order to plan the most effective opioid use disorder treatment for you, our clinicians will consider factors including:

• How long you’ve been using opioids like prescription pain medications and heroin
• The frequency and amount of your opioid use
• Whether you use other drugs or alcohol in addition to opioids

These provide us with important information about your specific situation. We’ll also take into account any medical conditions or other physical or mental health conditions to plan a treatment program that meets your individual needs.

 

How to tell if you are addicted to opioids

There is no blood test or lab work that can diagnose addiction, but there are distinctive behavioral signs that the disease has taken hold. If you spend the majority of your time obtaining, using, or recovering from opioids, then it is likely you have an opioid use disorder. Other signs include compromising your values, putting yourself or others in risky situations, or experiencing negative consequences that affect your health, relationships, or other parts of your life.

 

How we treat opiate addiction

At the Addiction Alliance of Georgia, we have identified key components of successful opioid addiction treatment. These include:

• Individualized planning
• Assessments including medical, mental health and substance use history
• Family services
• Group and one-to-one therapy services
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Mental health services

The length of time you participate in an opioid treatment program will be based on your individual needs. Our clinicians will work with you, your family and your insurance provider to come up with the best plan for you.

 

Medication management of opioid use disorder:

After an initial evaluation, your clinical team may recommend one of the following FDA approved medications:

• Buprenorphine/naloxone. Taken on a daily basis, buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®) is a combination of two medications in one film or tablet, which dissolves under the tongue. It is a “partial opioid agonist,” which blocks opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings without the effects of other opioids. The naloxone in Suboxone® prevents the euphoric effects and breathing problems if the medication is attempted to be inappropriately injected. You may experience opioid withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking buprenorphine/naloxone, but it will not be as severe as withdrawal from opioid use, and a slow taper of the medication may avoid withdrawal symptoms all together.
• Naltrexone. Naltrexone is an “opioid receptor antagonist,” which blocks the effects of opioids and helps reduce cravings and the risk of relapse. If you use opioids while naltrexone is in your system, you will not feel the typical euphoric sensations. Naltrexone itself has no euphoric effects and does not cause withdrawal symptoms, dependence, or breathing problems. This medication comes in a formulation taken by mouth daily as well as an extended release form that is injected every four weeks.

 

Paying for opioid treatment

The Addiction Alliance of Georgia is an in-network provider with most insurance carriers. Insurance policies and benefits vary greatly, but the majority of our patients can access insurance benefits to help cover the cost of treatment and medications. It is always recommended to check with your insurance provider to understand the details of your coverage and to confirm if treatment through Addiction Alliance of Georgia is considered to be in your network.

 

Keeping Naloxone at home

Individuals with substance use disorders are at elevated risk of intentional and unintentional overdose. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) both recommend having naloxone (Narcan ®) available if a member of the household has an opioid use disorder. Individuals at risk of unintentional exposure to opioids should also have naloxone available. Narcan is the brand name of the drug Naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

For more information and helpful resources about Naloxone, including Narcan, visit NIDA.

Helping families through education and support is essential to our treatment program at the Addiction Alliance of Georgia and is vital to recovery. For every individual affected by substance use disorder, there are countless others directly impacted. 

Families are often overlooked as a critical component of the treatment process. The family structure is often realigned with a focus on helping their loved one with a substance use disorder, and the family will often walk a parallel path of recovery with their loved one. Walking this path is a learning process that requires both the acquisition of new knowledge, skills and abilities and the letting go of unworkable strategies for addressing addiction. 

At the Addiction Alliance of Georgia, our primary purpose when working with families is to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for understanding addiction and supporting their loved ones. This provides the family with a clear path of recovery, creates a supportive recovery environment for their loved ones, and increases the likelihood of meeting individual goals.

We have several services for the family that include:

Family Education and Support Group: This group is open to all family members and provides a safe place to learn about substance use disorder, receive support from other family members, and receive practical guidance on healthy ways of supporting their family. Additionally, this group emphasizes learning to take care of oneself. Self-care is often neglected in the process of focusing on their loved one’s addiction. 

Parental Guidance: Our addiction specialists offer individualized parental guidance sessions aimed at meeting the specific needs of family members in a safe and supportive way. These sessions provide an intimate setting for families to process their feelings and ask questions about pressing issues.

Family Therapy: our licensed addiction specialists offer family counseling services to address many issues that arise in the recovery process. This service supports the individual work being done by family members. 

Student Immersion Program: This program provides education to healthcare students seeking to know more about addiction. Families have an opportunity to volunteer and share their experiences with students in a way that allows them to help others. Giving students the perspective of the family is a critical part of enabling them to effectively address addiction in a variety of healthcare settings.

Did you know that approximately 1 in 7 people who have experienced a traumatic event also meet criteria for a substance use disorder (Degenhardt et al., 2022)? At the Addiction Alliance of GA, we specialize in using evidence-based treatments to treat patients struggling with both substance use and a history of trauma because research and experience tell us that treating both at the same time is most effective.

We know that people with a history of trauma can experience a variety of symptoms, there’s not one response to trauma. Our team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals work with you to provide a mental health assessment and individualized treatment plan. This plan could include integration of evidence-based treatment for:

• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Borderline personality disorder
• Obsessive compulsive disorder

Evidence-based treatments that we provide include:

• Prolonged Exposure
• Cognitive Processing Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Exposure and Response Prevention
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Even in recovery, therapy can provide the support you need for continued healing. 

Call us today to start your road to recovery. If you’re not located near our facility, or you have mobility/accessibility challenges, virtual appointments with our experts are an ideal option. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Citations:
Degenhardt, L., Bharat, C., Glantz, M. D., Bromet, E. J., Alonso, J., Bruffaerts, R., ... & Wojtyniak, B. (2022). The associations between traumatic experiences and subsequent onset of a substance use disorder: Findings from the World Health Organization World Mental Health surveys. Drug and alcohol dependence, 240, 109574.