Teens Volunteer, Stay Sober

VILLAS – When people start on the road to recovery and decide to kick drugs, what are they going to do to fill the time they spent getting high?
For teens in the THRIVE Youth Treatment Program through Families Matter LLC, Bayshore Road, making amends is part of their recovery, and the program is looking for more opportunities where they can volunteer, ideally about two hours a month.
“In the summer, there’s so much for teens to do,” noted Amelia Finney, one of two outpatient therapists working with teens 13-17 with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.
“As part of their recovery, we want the teens to have positive, healthy alternatives to getting high,” she said. “In the fall and winter, though, there’s so little to do. We’re looking for opportunities where they can pay it forward.”
There are eight teens in the program, according to Finney, and they can accommodate up to 12. Depending on the individual’s circumstances, treatment could start at two afternoons a week until they achieve 12 weeks of sobriety.
Once 12 weeks of sobriety is achieved, there are another 12 weeks of weekly sessions, sober. Each individual has a customized treatment plan and drug testing occurs randomly.
“We increase testing around holidays,” she added. “We like when they are honest and tell us they relapsed, but sometimes, accountability and honesty is tough to achieve in the beginning.”
For some of the teens, they spend the time they used to spend getting high, working on homework to improve their grades so they can participate in school athletics. Others get jobs, exercise more or volunteer.
During the summer, Finney said they tended a vegetable garden, learning to “nurture, gardening skills and eating healthy.
“In December, we volunteered at Toys for Tots, helping clean up after collections,” Finney said. “Families Matter gave the teens a budget so they could buy items for teens their age, learning how to budget and handle money. They also helped organize a local thrift store. One-time projects are great.”
The goal of THRIVE (Teaching Holistic Recovery Integrating Values and Education) is simply stated, although much tougher to achieve – to grow or develop successfully; to flourish or succeed. It is offered at no cost to the family, and transportation is offered to and from the program for participants.
The program is funded through Medicaid, state insurance monies and a South Jersey Initiative for Youth 13-24 with drug problems.
“The program uses a holistic approach and draws from evidence-based treatment practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and contingency management,” according to a program description. “It offers individualized, values-based, culturally-sensitive drug and alcohol counseling, family counseling and education.”
Finney has been involved with the program for three years, and during that time said she has noticed an increase in teens vaping. “Now there is an odorless form of marijuana that is being vaped,” she said. “It has an increased concentration of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis).
“It’s so readily available, and peer pressure is strong,” she said, “because you’re hanging around with friends and it’s passed around so everyone can take a hit. They think vaping is healthy, but you’re still inhaling something into your lungs, getting high.
“And addiction is a progressive disease,” she stressed. “Your tolerance increases the more you get high, and eventually pot doesn’t do it for you.”
Most teens who have been in the program are treated for marijuana use, followed by alcohol abuse and then other substances, according to Finney. There is no follow up after teens complete the program. However, “we keep the door open,” she said.
“Our goal is a healthy teenager,” Finney said. “Teens are going through so much. Although they are still minors they are learning adult decision-making and critical thinking. They are learning social skills, emotional development and how to handle stress. 
“We really try to help them holistically,” she added.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.