SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Questions To Ask
Many children and adolescents use alcohol and other drugs. Some develop
serious problems which require professional help to control. Such as
inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, twelve step programs, and
dual diagnosis units for individuals with emotional and substance abuse
There are a variety of substance abuse treatment programs. The decision
to get treatment for a child or adolescent is difficult, and parents
are encouraged to seek consultation from a child and adolescent psychiatrist
when making decisions about substance abuse treatment. Other psychiatric
disorders often co-exist with substance abuse problems and need assessment
When substance abuse treatment is recommended, parents can obtain the
information they need by asking the following questions from professionals:
- Why do you believe this treatment in this program is indicated for
my child? How does it compare to other programs or services which
- What are the credentials and experience of the members of the treatment
team, and will the team include a child and adolescent psychiatrist
with knowledge and skills in substance abuse treatment?
- What treatment approaches does this program use regarding chemical
dependency; detoxification; abstinence; individual, family, and group
therapy; use of medications; a twelve-step program; mutual-help groups;
relapse prevention; and a continuing recovery process?
- Based on your evaluation, does my child have other psychiatric problems
in addition to the substance abuse problem? If so, will these be addressed
in the treatment process?
- How will our family be involved in our child's substance abuse treatment
-- including the decision for discharge and the after-care?
- What will treatment cost? Are the costs covered by my insurance
or health plan?
- How will my child continue education while in treatment?
- If this treatment is provided in a hospital or residential program,
is it approved by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO)? Is this substance abuse treatment program a
separate unit accredited for youngsters of our child's age?
- How will the issue of confidentiality be handled during and after
- How long will this phase of the treatment process continue? Will
we reach our insurance limit before treatment in this phase is completed?
- When my child is discharged from this phase of treatment, how will
it be decided what types of ongoing treatment will be necessary, how
often, and for how long?
- As my child's problem improves, does this program provide less intensive/step-down
Severe substance abuse and chemical dependence in adolescence may be
a chronic relapsing disorder. Parents should ask what treatment services
are available for continued or future treatment.
If questions or doubts persist about either admission to a substance
abuse treatment program or about a denial of treatment, a second opinion
may be helpful.
Daycare.com would like to thank American Academy
of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for this information in striving
to make daycare and childcare a more productive and efficient service.
You can contact them at: 3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.
20016-3007 voice: 202-966-7300 fax: 202-966-2891.