According to facts gathered by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), almost 25% of fifteen to twenty year old drivers who were killed in a car accident in 2006 had a blood alcohol level of 0.8 or even higher. In fact, this blood alcohol level makes teens drinking and driving eleven times more likely to die. It seems that teens drinking and driving often forget or ignore the most basic of safety rules and exhibit behaviors that are riskier than normal. Consequently, of drivers ages fifteen to twenty who were killed in a car accident in 2006, 77% of them did not have their seat belts fastened.

Sleep deprivation and speed also played a role in the fatality of teens drinking and driving. Seventy-five percent of those killed in a vehicle accident involving alcohol were driving in the early hours of the morning, between 12:00 AM and 3:00 AM, and most were going at speeds significantly higher than those posted. Law enforcement officers find that alcohol impairs the judgment of these inexperienced drivers, causing poor decisions and risk-taking behaviors.

Parents are often surprised to find that beer, rather than hard liquor, is the number one substance consumed by teens drinking and driving. They are not surprised; however, that alcohol related deaths are several times more likely to occur at night and on weekends when teenage social activities are at their height rather than during a normal weekday. This is the reason many cities have enacted curfews during these times, hoping the increased adult supervision during peak drunk driving hours will save lives.

Because teens are just learning the skill of decision making, adults must step in to rehabilitate those teens drinking and driving. This can be done through education, community programs, and laws enacted for protection. Though costly, if these efforts save the life of one teenager, they will have been worth the price.

The answers below address common concerns of families considering therapeutic boarding schools.

Who should attend a boarding school for troubled teens?

The notion of “troubled” is of course subjective and includes a wide range of behaviors and feelings. Some teens are troubled but merely lack discipline and focus. These students are not appropriate candidates for residential treatment centers; they would be better served by traditional military academies and boarding schools. Programs for troubled youth are targeted at those with more severe acting-out behaviors.

Many troubled students enroll in boarding school during their junior year of high school. Their families aim to improve the student’s academic record and emotional preparedness for college in time for the college application process. Many boarding schools offer customized lessons that fill in the gaps in students’ academic transcripts. They also feature extensive college counseling and standardized test preparation assistance.

How are boarding schools for troubled teens different from military schools?

Boarding schools for troubled teens differ from traditional military schools because they include therapeutic components. Thus teens are able to simultaneously improve their grades and outgrow their problem behaviors. Many therapeutic boarding schools even specialize in learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD. Teens with more severe issues such as substance abuse problems and oppositional defiant disorders can also be treated in specialized boarding schools.

How much does boarding school cost?

A Christian boarding school for troubled teens is not cheap: room, board, schooling, and therapy typically form a combined monthly bill of $3500 to $7500. Although this price tag may be staggering, financial aid may be available. Furthermore, considering that residential schools may profoundly impact a troubled teen’s life, they may be well worth the investment.

When seeking treatment for depression teenagers are often left under-addressed by physicians and other clinicians. Parents often miss the initial warning signs of depression which can lead to more serious consequences, such as eating disorders, self-mutilation, and even depression.

Recognizing the signs

Much of the adolescent and teen years are marked with ups and downs, and mood swings as a result of hormonal fluctuations are common, making the diagnosis of depression problematic in this population.

Warning signs of depression in teenagers include a marked drop in grades or attendance at school; dropping out of sports, clubs, or other activities; avoidance of friends and family; excessive sleeping; a significant change in eating habits; frequent bouts of crying or vomiting; obsession with death and dying; and even substance abuse and criminal behavior can all be indications that your teen is suffering from depression.

Lifelong or prolonged depression that extends into the adult years often begins during the adolescent and teen years. Teen girls are almost twice as likely as teen boys to develop depression, and a family history of the condition can significantly increase the risk in both girls and boys.

Getting help

Parents or caregivers are often the ones most qualified to determine if their teen is displaying any of the signs or symptoms of depression. As soon as these symptoms become evident, parents are advised to seek the aid of the child’s pediatrician or primary care physician. Additional resources include school counselors, as well as a host of psychological counseling agencies that may be available privately or through the public health system. In all cases, getting help quickly is the most effective key in helping a teenager deal effectively with depression. Faced with mounting pressure from peers, school, and other activities as they reach the adult years, teens are often left feeling lack of control over their own lives. Guidance by qualified professionals can help teens identify areas in their lives where they can feel in control, and regain a sense of belonging in society during a tumultuous period of their lives.

There are many different types of schools for teens with behavioral problems. For kids that have had difficulty paying attention in class or picking the right friends, some public schools will have correctional programs. However, if the student has been suspended, expelled or in trouble with the law, outsourcing schooling to an alternative school may be necessary. Most alternative schools have credit recovery programs that allow students to graduate on time in a positively reinforced environment.

For students who require a more intense level of correction, boarding school for troubled teens may be a good option. A boarding school for troubled teens can be located all over the world, and are usually segregated by sexes. Students live on campus and are monitored twenty-four hours a day, eating all of their meals together and going to school together. Students are usually allowed to come home on holidays and special occasions.

Some parents prefer military school for troubled teens or for particularly unruly kids. While it is a harsh environment for the teenagers to live in, it is often the very measure that turns a troubled teen around and puts them on the right track. In military school, students do go to school, though there is much physical interaction and strenuous activity that is mixed in to everyday life. Military officers often wake students up in the wee hours of the morning to go run in the rain, make them hike long distances, and give them a limited amount of time to eat their meals. While it may seem like a difficult environment to live in, military school has a high success rate of giving teens a second chance to start living their life with discipline and morals.

Many parents have troubled teens. It is not always necessarily the fault of the parents or anyone else that a student is having behavioral issues. However, there are steps that a parent can take to avoid a more unruly future with the teen. While boarding school for troubled teens, military school, or correctional programs may not be right for every parent, they are certainly a viable source of correction and discipline for those with troubled teens.

Temporary Types of Programs for Troubled Teens

Many teenagers have difficulty adjusting to new responsibilities and perceived expectations.  They may turn to drug abuse or become unproductive and fail at school from lack of confidence.  Finding a program that helps renew their self esteem could make the difference.  Getting involved in community service, helping the elderly or handicapped or caring for younger children or animals renews a sense of self worth.  For teenagers with an interest in music or the arts, a program that enhances their talents could change their focus and give them a new goal. Other young people may find comfort in the outdoors and will grow into responsible adulthood after attending wilderness camps.

For young teenagers, spending a week or two at a summer camp may break the pattern of bad behavior.  Maybe just being away from Mom and Dad and other family members will help the teenager mature and gain a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. Summer camps provide plenty of both physical and cultural activities and a chance to interact with other young people.

Long Term Program for Troubled Teens

For teens that seem to be continually falling in the wrong direction, it may be necessary to enroll them in a six month or year long program away from home.  Boarding schools that specialize in helping troubled teens provide a 24 hour method of both supervision and constructive programs.  Some teenagers respond well to military schools or private academies and graduate with goals and career objectives.

Across the U.S. and abroad, a variety programs for troubled teenagers offer parents an opportunity to regroup and restore family harmony.  It may be a difficult decision to enforce a program for a troubled teen, particularly on a long term basis.  But troubled behavior including drug abuse, gang activities and unmanaged anger may ruin the teenager’s chance for a bright future.

Teenagers’ role vis à vis authority figures changes as they age.  No longer children, but not yet adults, this ambiguity invariably leads to tension as teens test their limits with curfews, relationships, perhaps even alcohol, tobacco and drugs.  Teenage responsibilities in school increase as do the stakes of success or failure.   They are expected to make preliminary decisions about career choices – all before they have attained full maturity.  Sometimes these pressures result in the shutting down of manic depression in teenagers.  Unable to cope with daily tasks, the teenager finds him or herself unable to finish things or takes to sleeping excessively.  Signs of depression in teenagers are shown by acting out and engaging in risky behavior.  For others depression may manifest itself in more subtle ways, via memory loss or inability to concentrate.

One of the most difficult issues for parents, friends and teachers is to sort out the normal from the abnormal or pathological.  When is sadness no longer simply sadness, but depression?  The psychological answer is that sadness is a response to an event.   Depression is the result of a psychological event.  Time is the best measurement.  An unfortunate or tragic event will bring sadness, but it should be proportionate to its cause and dissipate over time.  The causes, scope and duration of depression are less regular.

The sources of teenage anxiety and depression are indeed many.  But caring friends and parents need not be confused over sadness versus depression – both should be taken seriously.  The role of families as a support is crucial, teenagers need to feel loved and cared for.  The judgments of parents carry extremely high stakes for children, their happiness and well-being must be paramount.

Though any persistent negative teen behavior is cause for worry, some of the most overt symptoms of depression in teens are:

Persistent sadness or persistent anger

While most depressed adults exhibit signs of sadness, some depressed teens may show more irritability, anger and hostility. Perhaps fueled by hormonal changes or the inexperience in how to handle strong emotions, teens may act out their depression by yelling, screaming, and actually becoming violent toward others. If this behavior is occasional, it’s probably normal; however, if it persists, it’s one of the leading signs of depression.

Physical complaints

While a lot of depressed adults may complain of stress or tiredness, depressed teens tend to complain of actual aches and pains, such as stomachaches or headaches.

Change in sleep patterns

Though teens often overtax themselves and need their required 9 hours of sleep, watch for excessive need for sleep, or a decreased need in sleep. Lack of sleep can increase depression.

Change in peers, amount of peer contact, or activities

 This symptom can be tricky. For example, while depressed adults often isolate themselves from others, depressed teens may withdraw from most peers, but maintain contact with one or two. Or, a teen may withdraw from one circle of old friends and begin to associate with an entirely new circle.

Agitation and restlessness

 Though all teens exhibit signs of restlessness at times, it’s important to note if the restlessness or agitation is ongoing and interfering with normal schedules and the ability to concentrate.

Weight gain or loss

A lot of depressed people will either increase or decrease their eating. Though teens may want to be thin and often diet, lethargy with weight loss or gain should be noted.

Change in appearance

Since most teens are very concerned about their appearance, when a teen no longer cares how they look, it may be a sign of depression.

Getting your teen into teenage drug rehab is the most important step you can take to help your addicted teen. You may believe that you can simply remove the drugs to help your child, but an addiction to drugs can cause your teen to continue to seek out the drug even after they have been caught. By getting your teen into rehab, you take the option of continuing to do drugs out of their hands. Your teen is too young and inexperienced to realize the consequences of their actions, so it is up to you to make sure they stay safe and off drugs. Rehab can help your teen accomplish this while treating their addiction.

In rehab, your teenager will get the help they need to stay drug alcohol free. Your teen will get counseling that can help them make better decisions in the future while they are in rehab, as well as treatment for their addiction. The rehab counselors will help your teen understand the importance of making good decisions now so they can be productive members of society when they become adults. A teenage drug rehab program will concentrate on helping your teen make decisions that will get them on the path toward college and a good career. By meeting other teenagers struggling to put drug problems behind them, your teen will receive the social encouragement they need to stay drug free and on the right track.

By getting teenage drug rehab for your addicted teen, you take an important step toward getting their life on the right track. Drug addiction is a frightening and recurring problem, so helping them deal with it early through rehab is a good choice for keeping addiction issues from creeping up on them later in life. Rehab can help your teen put drugs firmly in the past.

The connection between drugs and teenager’s is no longer the sleazy character standing on the corner offering to get them high or show them a good time anymore. It is the medicine cabinet of their own homes. Consider how many old partially used prescriptions you still have in your home. Many of these drugs have a street value of twenty dollars and more per tablet.

It is not just the prescription pain pills either, though those do command the highest prices. Prescription birth control pills are also very popular. The connection between this drug and teenagers is rather obvious on the surface but often teens take them for possible side effects benefits. Many birth control pills are said to aid in the battle against acne. Whether this is true is irrelevant to a desperate teen.

While cocaine and marijuana are the most common topic in any “Drug abuse and Teenagers” discussion they are not the most popular drug and alcohol with teens. Adderall and Ritalin are favored for getting through testing periods at school. Then drugs like Xanax and Klonopin are purchased to ‘come down’ from the high of the amphetamines.

Schools are hard pressed to keep track of which students should be taking these drugs and which students should not. It is possible that even if a teacher knows your teenager is in possession of one of these controlled substances they will assume the child has a prescription for it. Therefore it falls to you, the parent, to be aware of what your child is taking.

These drugs may have a short term benefit that can convince a teenager they are harmless. In fact, they are not. One of the most common side effects of drugs like Xanax and Klonopin is suicidal ideation. While drugs like Adderall and Ritalin can cause dangerous changes in heart rhythms.

Drug use and teenagers are a combination that should always be closely monitored. The teenage body is in a constant state of flux so even minor dosage changes in prescribed medications can have surprising results. Combine these dosage changes with consumption of an unknown drug and your teenager may need emergency medical attention.

The best defense you have against your teen using illicit drugs is honest communication. Drugs and teenagers needs to be a discussion in every home. If you need more information on how to handle this topic you can find many books about teenagers and drugs.

The local library in your town will offer many teen programs that your child will want to take part in. Many libraries have updated and added to their collection of teen centered books. In the reading area, there is a comfortable sitting area with tables they can study at, computers for games or research for school, and places just to relax. Some libraries will have Wiki tournaments for teens or families, where they will pick a particular sport, such as bowling, for friendly competition. Another great summer programs for teens offered is a reading group that might be centered on a current popular book that they can study.

Another place for programs for teens is at the local Boys and Girls Club. This organization offers wonderful sports opportunities throughout the year and after school where young people can go and vent their energy. There also might be co-ed sports, tournaments, and teams that that he can sign up for. Your church will usually have a youth group of some brand that will have bible studies, trips, and related social gatherings for your teen where he can intermingle with his peers in a religious environment.

During the summer months, check with your local parks and administration department in your town for activities designated for this age group which can range from fishing days to sports. If there is a national park near you, or a state run park, you will be surprised at how many teen related programs that are offered.  A few phone calls or an internet search will net you quite a variety of options to discuss with your teen.

With the variety of programs available for your child, he will have no problem finding ways to enjoy his time that are healthy, interesting, and safe. Using some of the suggestions discussed above, you will have a great start on choosing one that matches his interests.