Sober High School Strives to Curb Teen Drug Abuse

Being a teen nowadays is tough. Many young people have to deal with more issues than past generations. According to The National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), 75 percent of adolescents have used addictive substances and 20 percent of them meet the medical criteria for addiction. Drugs are everywhere and are easily accessible to teens.. With all of the odds against stacked against this population, how is a teen addict supposed to recover and stay sober? Actress Kristen Johnston has led the crusade to give young addicts living in New York City a fighting chance to stay clean and lead a life of sobriety by establishing the first sober high school in the state. Over 30 high schools designed to address recovery and sobriety among teen addicts came into existence in the U.S. in 1987. However, in the state of New York, where addiction is a huge problem, there are no sober high schools. Johnston has created an organization, Sobriety, Learning and Motivation (SLAM), that brings New York a much needed addiction recovery high school. The problem of addiction normally starts at an early age. According to CASA, 9 out of 10 adult addicts started abusing drugs and alcohol before the age of 18. If more schools like the one Johnston is trying to establish existed, perhaps the number of adult addicts would decrease as the problem would be addressed at its early stages. At Stepping Stone Center for Recovery we commend the efforts of Johnston and understand the struggles addicts must overcome, especially when their addiction started at an early age. If you or a loved one is struggling with drugs or alcohol call one of our addiction specialists today, it will be the best decision you can make to turn your life around.