Johnny Patout, CEO of New Beginnings Adolescent Recovery Center, discusses parents' role in helping a child recover from alcoholism
Recovering teens have some tough days, weeks and months ahead, and the home environment must not only be supportive, but alcohol-free.
Opelousas, LA (PRWEB) January 06, 2014
Alcoholism can be one of the toughest addictions for parents to identify in their teenage children. However, it runs rampant among today’s youth. Johnny Patout, CEO of New Beginnings Adolescent Recovery Center, the leading teen residential treatment program in the Southwest and one recognized nationwide for teen rehabilitation, has outlined five things that parents and family members should remember when helping a loved one through the recovery process.
1. Engage in the recovery process. “Like many diseases, addiction is not isolated to the individual, but instead is like a cancer that affects the entire family,” says Patout. “Teens who have struggled through addiction and made it through treatment often return to a home full of sadness, anger and hurt. Family members may be angry at the teen for the trouble their addiction has caused. However, now is the most important time to work together and repair the family bonds that were damaged.”
2. Get rid of the alcohol in the house. “Recovering teens have some tough days, weeks and months ahead, and the home environment must not only be supportive, but alcohol-free,” says Patout. “Too often than not, family members assume that because they are not the ones addicted, they can continue to drink freely. Not only does this send the wrong message to the child about alcohol use, but it also establishes an environment of isolation for him or her. The temptation must be removed and full support must be given for the best chance of success.”
3. Hold him or her accountable. “While a teen was drinking, people most likely enabled him or her by making excuses and allowing the behavior to continue out of fear of damaging the relationship,” says Patout. “Once the teen is home from rehabilitation and continuing through the recovery process, it’s important to hold the teen accountable for everything he or she does. While it may seem harsh, teens with parents who are actively involved in the recovery process stand the greatest chance against relapsing.”
4. Find personal support. “Find a family support group to attend during the teen’s recovering process,” suggests Patout. “Many cities have chapters of Al-Anon, an international organization that offers support to those affected by a family member’s alcoholism. In addition, families involved in churches or other religious activities may be able to find a support group at their place of worship or one-on-one counseling with their religious leader. These kinds of options will offer support, answer questions and give guidance during this tumultuous time.”
5. Encourage the teen to complete the entire treatment regimen. “Recovery is difficult and there will be times when the recovering teen may want to give up,” explains Patout. “Returning to old environments, friends and temptations makes this time even more challenging. Encourage him or her to stay actively involved in recovery, but remember to remain committed to helping him or her achieve these goals. These goals include attending treatment sessions, 12-step meetings and group therapy. In addition, identify new hobbies that might be of interest to the teen and encourage involvement in other activities that will lead to making new friends.”
The most important thing to do is work together throughout the span of recovery. The needs of the family and the recovering teen are of equal importance. By making that clear, parents can begin to rebuild a loving, healthy family environment – one that will help everyone get through the tough times and celebrate the good times.
About New Beginnings Adolescent Recovery Center
New Beginnings Adolescent Recovery Center, the leading teen drug rehabilitation program in the Southwest and one recognized nationwide, has been helping teens overcome addiction for more than 30 years. New Beginnings offers a continuum of care for inpatient treatment, residential treatment, partial hospitalization and outpatient programs, and works with private insurance providers to find the lowest costs for their patients. For more information, visit http://www.newbeginningsteenhelp.com/.
