Teen Drug Addiction Resources

When parents and families are facing a child’s drug addiction, it often seems there is nowhere to turn.

Orange County parents of a teen struggling with drug addiction may want to consider the California Youth Services JADE program.  CYS is a nonprofit organization providing education, prevention, intervention, assessment, and counseling.  It is a good start to understanding how to help your child.  Go to California Youth Services.

Teen Drug Addiction

Not sure if your teen may be using drugs?  Read more about what to look for as a parent with the article Ten Signs Your Teen May Be Using Drugs.

Other resources are also available for Orange County parents including: Addiction Help, Prevention, and Information; Parenting and Family Issues; Treatment Centers for Teen Substance Abuse and Behavioral Problems; and Twelve-Step Programs.  The websites listed below will help you find these resources.

Suggested Websites

Addiction Help, Prevention, and Information

211 Orange County – By dialing 2-1-1, people in need of immediate assistance reach a free, 24-hour information and referral help line linking them to thousands of local health and human service programs right here in Orange County, including problems with substance abuse and parenting.

Street Drugs – Provides information about various street drugs.

D.A.R.E. – D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America – By bringing together renowned scientists, parent experts and communications professionals, The Partnership at Drugfree.org translates the science of teen drug use and addiction for families.  At drugfree.org, you can find a wealth of information, tools and opportunities to help prevent and get help for drug and alcohol abuse by teens and young adults.

SAMHSA – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.  Parents can get publications on a variety of topics.

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition – The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition is a public-private effort to promote awareness and recognition of the under publicized problem of inhalant use.  The NIPC serves as an inhalant referral and information clearinghouse, stimulates media coverage about inhalant issues, develops informational materials, disseminates an electronic newsletter.

American Lung Association of California – The American Lung Association in California saves lives and improves the health of Californians and their lungs.  Through research, education and advocacy, the American Lung Association fights to reduce smoking, keep the air we breathe clean, prevent and treat lung diseases such as asthma and COPD, and eliminate lung cancer.

National Institute on Drug Abuse – The mission of the National Institute on Drug Abuse is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction via two critical components: 1) the strategic support and conduct of research across a broad range of disciplines, and 2) ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination and use of the results of that research to significantly improve prevention and treatment and to inform policy as it relates to drug abuse and addiction.

Parenting and Family Issues

Search Institute 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents – The Search Institute has identified the following building blocks of healthy development – known as Developmental Assets – that help young children grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.

The Parent Project – The mission of The Parent Project is to develop parent training programs for parents raising difficult or out-of-control children.

Treatment Centers for Teen Substance Abuse and Behavioral Problems

Chapman Medical Center – The Positive Achievement Center (PAC) is a comprehensive Inpatient and Outpatient Chemical Dependency Recovery Program for adolescents (ages 12 to 17) and adults.  PAC provides inpatient medical detoxification, an inpatient recovery program, a day care recovery program, a structured outpatient recovery program, and more.

Alternative Options Counseling Center – Alternative Options Counseling Center Inc. is a full service mental health and outpatient rehabilitation treatment facility.  Alternative Options offers intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization, serving both adults and adolescents, for substance abuse, mental health, and eating disorders.

Hope Institute – The Hope Institute is a licensed outpatient program specializing in adolescent treatment.  The Hope Institute offers a dual diagnosis program, treating both chemical dependencies as well as psychological disorders.

Laurel House – Laurel House provides a temporary home for teen girls in crisis with diagnose and treatment disorders including substance abuse.  Laurel House seeks to keep the girls in school and ultimately reunify the teens with their families.

SRS Education – SRS Education is a working ranch started in 1986 to help young men and women ages 12-18 who are struggling with emotional and behavioral issues including substance abuse. SRS Education has two facilities, one for boys and a separate campus for girls.  The students attend school on-site, participate in the Ranch Management program, and attend group therapy and individual therapy.

Twelve-Step Programs

Narcotics Anonymous of Orange County – Narcotics Anonymous is an international, community-based association of recovering drug addicts with weekly meetings.  It costs nothing to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. There are no dues or fees. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using.

Cocaine Anonymous Orange County – Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their addiction to cocaine and help others to recover from their addiction.  The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances.  There are no dues or fees for membership.

Marijuana Anonymous Orange County – Marijuana Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other to solve their addiction to marijuana and help others to stop using.  The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana.  There are no dues or fees for membership.

Alcoholics Anonymous Orange County – Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.  The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

AOCYPAA – News and events for Alcoholics Anonymous Young People Groups of Orange County.

Families Anonymous – A 12 Step recovery fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems.

Alanon and Alateen – Alanon and Alateen (for teens) is for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.  Sometimes, the active drinking has stopped, or the active drinker may no longer live in the same household.  Even though the alcohol may be gone, and the alcoholic gone or recovering in AA, those who lived with the alcoholic are still affected.