Teen Substance Use Treatment in Las Vegas

When Teen Drug or Alcohol Use Needs Attention

Experimentation does not look the same in every family, and one sign cannot diagnose a substance use disorder. A pattern deserves assessment when substance use is linked with:

• Falling grades, missed school, or lost interest in activities

• Changes in friends, secrecy, or unexplained absences

• Mood swings, anxiety, depression, or unusual sleep

• Driving or riding with an impaired person

• Overdose, blackouts, injuries, or dangerous mixing of substances

• Repeated attempts to stop without success

• Conflict, theft, legal trouble, or other serious consequences

• Using substances to cope with distress

Validated screening tools are available for adolescents ages 12–17, but screening is only a starting point. A qualified assessment must look at the substances involved, pattern of use, mental and physical health, safety, and family context (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2019). At Rise, we consider substance use and co-occurring mental health needs together when assessing treatment options.

What Teen Substance Use Treatment Should Address

Adolescent treatment should be tailored to the young person’s developmental needs. NIDA notes that youth may benefit from behavioral approaches designed for adolescents and that many approaches involve caregivers (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2025).

A useful plan may address:

If your teen is showing several of these signs, seeking an assessment can help clarify both substance use and mental health concerns.

Our current Treatment page explains our individual clinical work, group support, and family involvement. Our available services also include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-focused services, experiential modalities, and family therapy. These services are selected according to the teen’s needs rather than guaranteed as a fixed package.

Detox and Ongoing Treatment Are Different

Choosing the Right Level of Drug Rehab

Residential treatment

Residential treatment may be considered when a teen needs a live-in setting and more structure than outpatient care can provide, but is stable enough for planned residential treatment.

Partial Hospitalization Program

PHP is a structured day program. The teen returns to an approved living setting outside program hours.

Intensive Outpatient Program

IOP offers more treatment contact than standard outpatient care while allowing the teen to remain in the community.

Standard outpatient treatment

Outpatient care may fit when risks and symptoms can be managed safely with periodic appointments and support at home.

An assessment should decide whether the current level is sufficient. Family preference, insurance, or convenience cannot replace a safety and clinical review.

Explore related guidance on dual diagnosis care, residential, PHP, IOP as you compare options for your teen.

Transition planning can also include outpatient referrals to help coordinate ongoing care with families, schools, and community providers.

Mental Health and Substance Use Together

Substance use and mental health concerns often affect one another. A teen may use alcohol or drugs while dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, attention problems, family stress, or mood disorders. Substance effects can also resemble or worsen psychiatric symptoms.

We offer adolescent mental health treatment and dual diagnosis treatment so both areas can be considered in one plan. Our multidisciplinary team brings different perspectives to assessment and treatment planning. This does not mean every diagnosis, withdrawal risk, or severity is within scope. Medical stability and clinical fit still matter.

CDC advises parents to seek early treatment when a teen is experiencing substance use or mental health problems. Treatment may include counseling, rehabilitation programs, medication, and support groups for teens and families (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026). Families should verify which services are available in a specific program.

How Parents Can Start the Conversation

Choose a time when the teen is not intoxicated and the situation is calm. Lead with concrete observations:

• “I noticed you missed school twice after going out.”

• “You seemed hard to wake and I was worried about your breathing.”

• “I found pills that were not prescribed to you.”

Ask open questions and listen. Avoid threats you cannot carry out or labels such as “addict.” At the same time, do not minimize overdose, impaired driving, unsafe mixing, or withdrawal risk.

Parents can also reduce immediate risk by securing medications and alcohol, following medical advice, and not allowing an impaired teen to drive.

Emergencies and Crisis Support

Call emergency services for a possible overdose, severe intoxication, trouble breathing, seizure, loss of consciousness, or another medical emergency.

For suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call or text 988. A crisis line or emergency department serves a different purpose from a routine drug rehab admissions call.

Admissions and Insurance

Our admissions team can discuss the teen’s substance use, mental health, medical stability, and possible level of care. Admission is not confirmed until the required review is complete.

We do not accept Medicaid. We work with major insurance providers, including while our in-network credentialing remains in process. Commercial insurance may be considered after an individual benefits review, but this does not establish in-network status. Coverage, authorization, reimbursement, and cost are not guaranteed.

Families can use the Verify Insurance form if they want to provide plan information.

Questions to Ask a Teen Drug Rehab

• Which substances and severity levels can the program safely treat?

• How does the program screen for withdrawal or medical risk?

• How are mental health concerns assessed, and how soon is an individualized treatment plan created?

• How are caregivers involved?

• What happens after return to use?

• How are school and outside providers included?

• What services require referral elsewhere?

• How is continuing care arranged?

• How does the admissions team help you verify insurance while explaining the appropriate level of care?