My Child Refuses to Enter a Substance Abuse Treatment Program: What Can I Do?
By Meghan Vivo
Young people with drug or alcohol problems are notoriously unwilling to get help. Your son or daughter probably doesn't even think there's a problem. So what is a parent to do?
Many parents think there's nothing they can do until their child is anxious and willing to enter treatment, especially if he or she is over 18 years of age. But the treatment professionals at Four Circles Recovery Center, a wilderness therapy program in North Carolina, have successfully turned around the lives of even the most defiant and treatment-averse young adults.
"Clients who want to be here work through the program more quickly, but they certainly don't have to want treatment to benefit from it," said Heather Schnoebelen, the clinical manager at Four Circles. "Many of our clients are here because their parents required them to attend. They may spend their first week or two struggling with the realization that they have a problem, but by the time they leave our care, they not only admit that they have a problem but are motivated to continue to change."
Greater Willingness to Try
Most older teens and young adults are more willing to "buy in" to the concept of wilderness therapy than they are drug rehab or a residential treatment program. Why? Because wilderness therapy appeals to young people in a way that other programs cannot. Wilderness therapy combines adventure, physical exertion, personal challenge, and peer bonding that can't be replicated in other settings, not to mention the innately therapeutic value of nature that is unique to wilderness programs.
The field instructors and therapists at Four Circles can relate to young people struggling with substance abuse. The staff members are some of the most interesting and dedicated people you'll ever meet. A number of the field instructors and staff at Four Circles have hiked the Appalachian Trail, an experience which they describe as "life-changing" and "empowering." Many have personal experience in recovery and understand firsthand the challenges of getting and staying clean and sober.
As Four Circles therapist Corinne Brown explained, "The field instructors are the biggest movers in this program, and in the field of wilderness therapy. They live with the clients 24/7, and give all their energy, compassion, and attention to these young people. There's no question the clients feel that."
A Life Without Distractions
When television, video games, and drugs and alcohol are at your fingertips every day, it's hard to develop the motivation to change. It's far easier to fall into a pattern of ignoring feelings and issues and convincing yourself you're just "having fun." By spending time in the wilderness, miles away from technology and other distractions, these patterns begin to change. Despite their opposition, wilderness therapy participants begin to realize they feel better out in the field than they ever have before.
One student at Four Circles described his wilderness experience as "non-doing instead of doing." In his time at the program, he had written 80 pages in his journal, documenting his thoughts and experiences. Despite being resistant to therapy at first, he said the time for quiet reflection made a real difference.
"There's something about the wilderness that speaks to us on a deep level," said Four Circles field director, Todd Ransdell. "Nature is the place where we became what we are today. After seeing it work hundreds of times now, I think just about anybody on the planet can appreciate nature and its calming effect."
Meeting the Unique Needs of Young Adults
Young adults have different needs than older adults. For example, it can be difficult for an 18- or 28-year-old to participate in substance abuse treatment with a 55-year-old who likely already has an established career, children, and has been married or divorced. It's often more effective for people in the 18-28 age group to understand and relate to others their own age and station in life.
"Young adults have different needs than older adults when it comes to substance abuse treatment, explained Tommy Lee, MaED, LCAS, a Four Circles therapist who worked with incarcerated individuals for nine years prior to joining the program. "Older adults often realize they have a problem because their drug or alcohol use directly impacts their jobs, their marriages, and their lives. Young adults are still in the process of becoming, and may not be as ready or willing to admit they have a problem."
Wilderness therapy is particularly beneficial for young adults who are stuck in the sensitive period between adolescence and adulthood. "So many young adults are struggling to hold down jobs and establish their independence well into their 20s, and have turned to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate the pain and frustration," said one Four Circles field instructor.
Wilderness therapy helps young people realize the extent of their drug or alcohol problem and understand that life can be better when they are clean and sober. Once this mental shift occurs, most clients are more willing to enroll in a follow-up course of care.
Confronting the Issues
Unlike traditional counseling where the client sits down in an office to talk for a few hours a week, therapy in the wilderness setting is hands-on and occurs 24 hours a day.
"You can't hide your issues in wilderness therapy," said Lee. "When they're challenged by hiking and living in the wilderness, young people really begin to show their true colors - how they stick to things or give up, how they respond to stress, and how well they work with others."
According to Schnoebelen, one of the most common and noticeable outcomes of wilderness therapy is that young people who used to be defined by substance abuse and the perceptions of others have stepped into themselves. "They are more confident in who they are and what they want, and most of them know they need continued treatment to mature into the person they want to be," she said.
Four Circles' clients frequently go on to attend college, pursue fulfilling careers, and even return to the program to work as field guides after they complete at least one year in recovery. "Often the most oppositional and defiant individuals end up growing the most," noted Schnoebelen.
Help Is Available
Whether or not your child is willing to consider treatment, if you think wilderness therapy may help, it's time to start a conversation. When your child is 18 or older, your role shifts from nagging parent to caring coach or guide, and your approach to communication has to shift as well. Without resorting to lectures or raised voices, tell your child what you've learned about the risks of substance abuse and explain specific behaviors or events that concern you.
If you aren't getting through to your child, enlist the help of an interventionist or counselor, or call the wilderness program you're considering for guidance. Even if your son or daughter doesn't initially agree on the importance of seeking treatment, their perceptions will likely change after the first few weeks in the field. Wilderness programs like Four Circles are trained to work with defiant or treatment-resistant youth and have an excellent track record of success. Whatever you do, don't give up on your child. When you reach out for help, there truly are brighter days ahead.
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Topics:
Drug Rehab
Addiction Treatment Centers
Substance Abuse Treatment
Recovery Programs