by Tammy Bell

About the author: Tammy Bell is the director of the Relapse Prevention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Poor recovery rates for chemically dependent adolescents have continuously plagued the field of addictions treatment. Once we finally get adolescents to understand that they are chemically dependent and need to get sober, the real work begins.

Why, after receiving the same type of treatment as adults, do the adolescents fail to stay sober? This question requires a multi-faceted response. Everything from lack of community resources to environment, parental absence, limited and overmanaged treatment dollars, and the immaturity of the population itself contribute to poor adolescent recovery rates.

Alone in Sobriety

One major factor contributing to adolescent relapse has been the adolescent’s inability to develop a sobriety-centered social life and/or lifestyle. My experience with...