A Q&A on addiction treatment and recovery for youth

Dr. Joseph Lee looks at what works, what doesn't, and what's next

As medical director of Hazelden's youth continuum, Joseph Lee, M.D., A.B.A.M. oversees developmentally sensitive and sophisticated care for young people with addiction. Dr. Lee joined Hazelden's Center for Youth and Families in 2008 as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, having completed his fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital and his adult psychiatry residency at Duke University Hospital. He has worked extensively with adolescents from all walks of life in multiple regions of the country, from inner cities to rural communities.

Q: Are youth and young adults more at risk for addiction than other populations?

Most addiction starts young; a great proportion of people who have addiction started using in adolescence. But, at the same time, adolescents and young adults can be less open to treatment
because they haven't essentially hit rock bottom, or don't feel like there's an issue. And while hitting rock bottom isn't essential to the success of treatment, it is a factor that affects this population. Because of this, addiction is a major public health problem, similar to the obesity epidemic, and we need to have our eye on preventive care, shifting the focus away from reactive care. So many kids slip through the cracks and don't seek treatment until much later in life. Intervention and treatment need to start early.

Q: Why do youth and young adults require specialized addiction treatment?

Addiction is a disease that affects the entire family. The developmental needs youth and young adults have in this respect are far different than adults in treatment. For example, with this  population, dealing with relationships is fairly new territory--and, because addiction is, in a sense, a twisted type of love, learning to create and foster healthy relationships is completely unique. That's just one example of why developmentally specialized care is needed.

Q: How is addiction treatment at Hazelden unique to youth and young adults?

Adult addiction care has traditionally been pushed onto kids, but youth and young adults absolutely require specialized treatment. The way we assess kids, involve schools, parents and caregivers, and foster a dialogue with the world our patients live in is totally unique. The developmental approach and model we use at Hazelden's Center for Youth and Families is specifically tailored to this population. In addition, continuing care after residential treatment is stressed because many patients cannot change their home environment after leaving residential treatment, and we shouldn't underestimate Facebook, text messaging, and all of the other relapse triggers that affect youth more than other populations.

Q: Your patients have always been connected to technology--many adolescents don't even remember a time without email. How does that influence your treatment approach?

Instead of encouraging patients to get off the Internet and social media grid in recovery, we're starting to use the grid to our advantage--to attract and better serve this population. One of the things we know about recovery from addiction is that there's so much to be gained in learning from the experiences of others. Through social networks, the web and mobile applications, youth and young adults can stay in touch with the recovery resources and support they need--and they can stay connected with others who are making the same amazing trek.

Published in the Voice, Fall 2011