Wanting to "fit in" is very natural; taking it to an extreme can be dangerous and even deadly. Peer pressure is often blamed for why a young person tried alcohol or drugs for the first time. When teen-age drug or alcohol abuse reaches the point of addiction, many parents or guardians will look to send their teenager for treatment. While the student is in treatment the outcome looks promising and positive; however, how the teenager deals with life when they are discharged from treatment and heads back to high school can present problems. How do they or how will they "fit in"?
Last year we wrote about drug treatment in high school. At the time we talked about sober high schools and that there were 19 sober high schools in the United States. The number of sober high schools is now approaching 35, but the need is greater.
Here is a report by Kate Snow for NBC Nightly News regarding Recovery High Schools.
If you are having trouble viewing the video you can see it here. NBC News reports:
"According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, close to two million American students meet the criteria for drug or alcohol abuse. Yet less than eight percent of them receive the treatment they need. Those who do get treatment typically return to the schools they left in order to recover, and 75 percent of them relapse within their first year after treatment."
Our next post will give more details about sober high schools and college campuses that promote sobriety.
