There is no doubt that adolescents and teens require age-specific drug alcohol addiction treatment options. In the past, treatment offered to adults was modified to accommodate these age groups. However this is not viable as youth cannot be compared to adults in terms of the social, physical and psychological aspects of the effects of drug alcohol addiction.

Adolescents and teens in drug alcohol addiction treatment programs appear to have experienced more family difficulties.

Adolescents and teens are more prone to psychological problems and are more likely to have attempted suicide while under the influence of an addictive drug.

Teens tend to abuse more than one drug as they go through the experimental phase, while adults usually abuse just one.

Most adults are pushed into drug alcohol addiction treatment after loss of job or family, chronic medical problems and encounters with the law. The progression of drug alcohol addiction in adolescents and teens is more subtle and their abuse is most noticeable after a gradual drop in academic performance, for example. They are also pushed into drug abuse by their peers and interactions with family members who also abuse drugs and alcohol.

When it comes to drug alcohol addiction treatment programs, most adolescents and teens do not seek addiction treatment voluntarily and are signed up into a drug rehab facility by their family, the judicial system or on recommendation from their school counselor. Adults typically seek addiction treatment centers on their own.

Once in an addiction treatment facility, youth usually respond more favorable to group therapy sessions and prefer having a family member included in such sessions, when appropriate. Adults usually prefer individual, one-on-one private therapy sessions.

Most adult addiction treatment programs are not set up to deal with the oppositional or acting-out behavior characteristic of adolescent substance abusers and teenage drug alcohol addicts.

It is also uncommon to find adults and teenagers admitted to the same drug alcohol treatment program.

It is important that successful teenage drug alcohol treatment centers address effective problem solving and social skills that help rebuild a teenager's self-esteem while rebuilding their trust. They must also be able to learn how to ask for help as well as identify ways to communicate or express their individual feelings.

Additionally a proper teenage drug alcohol treatment program must be able to evaluate coexisting mental and emotional issues such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Addiction often hides such disorders which emerge too late and if left untreated, can trigger a possible relapse.