Drug addiction

Drug addiction of teenagers and young adults

Yes We Can Youth Clinics provides treatment for every type of drug addiction in teenagers and young adults, with the exception of heroin addiction. In such cases, we first refer to our partner detox centres before we can start the intake. What started out innocently with just a joint can lead to a serious drug addiction. Over and over again, promises were made that this was the last time he/she used (also to themselves), but they still decide to use again. This has nothing to do with some kind of personal weakness: they are addicted. They may believe that parents or partners fail to treat them the way they should. Often loved ones just want them to get better and improve their lives. You want to help, but you feel powerless. One is addicted to drugs when a person is no longer able to use one or more substances in a recreational way. Drug addiction has a huge impact on young users and their social environment.

Broadly speaking, drugs can be categorised into three different groups:

1. Stimulants such as cocaine, speed and XTC (Ecstasy).
2. Hallucinogens such as cannabis (marijuana, weed or hash) and magic mushrooms.
3. Sedatives such as heroin, GHB and prescription drugs.

Consequences of drug addiction

Drug addiction can cause irreparable brain damage. In addition, you risk developing serious heart and brain problems, such as:

• cardiac arrhythmia
• cardiac arrest
• heart attack/infarction
• heart failure
• brain haemorrhage
• cerebral infarction

It makes you aggressive, careless, suspicious and restless. It often leads to insomnia and exhaustion. It is harmful to your lungs, heart and entire cardiovascular system.

Recreational use or drug addiction?

It will often take quite some time before you realise that recreational use has turned into obsessive use. Admitting you are addicted to drugs and that you really want to address this problem truly is an important personal victory. But to move from talking about it to taking action requires a lot more courage. You will need all the help you can get. Yes We Can Youth Clinics truly wants to provide that help.

Our unique treatment approach

The Yes We Can Youth Clinics method is based on the principle of (positive) group dynamics. Our approach is both individualised and systemic. We use a tightly structured programme for fellows and parents to gain insight into their behaviour and its origins. Based on this approach, new tools are developed for helping our clients to get their lives back on track.

During group sessions, the fellows set their personal goals under the supervision and guidance of expert-by-experience counsellors. They also think along with each other. There is a lot of recognition during these sessions since the fellows and the counsellors have (had) similar problems. The fellows work together on their recovery in an open atmosphere. Each fellow receives a workbook on 'the steps of change' that makes the process transparent. 

At Yes We Can Youth Clinics, we help teenagers and young adults overcome their addictions and live and function in society pleasantly. We help young people with an addiction to slowly demolish the wall they have built around themselves, leave their destructive life behind them forever and face a bright future.

Other types of treatment

During the treatment, there are daily sports and outdoor activities where fellows work together, push boundaries and put their goals into practice. Behavioural therapy and skills training are also used in the treatment of drug addictions. The fellows have several weekly one-on-one sessions with their regular therapist, who works closely with our other (care) professionals. This way, we always know how the fellows are doing and what they need. In addition, much attention is focused on the fellow's family through our family coaching and counselling programme.

Drug addiction and medication

Fellows may have already been on medication before coming to our clinic. For example, Naltrexone, Vivitrol and Buprenorphine may have been previously prescribed. However, we opt for treatment without medication at Yes We Can Youth Clinics. The idea behind this is that we want to treat 'the real fellow' instead of the fellow who is under the influence of prescription drugs.  

Responsible phasing out

We strive to reduce any medication the fellows are already on to zero, or as little as possible, during treatment. We do this carefully and accurately, under the watchful eye of our psychiatrists.

The safe treatment climate at Yes We Can Youth Clinics, the positive environment and the entire treatment team that is present 24/7 to motivate, support and confront the fellows, where necessary, all ensure that medication withdrawal is usually successful. Even once the fellow has left the clinic and continues to work on recovery, medication is often hardly necessary anymore, if at all.

Contact us

Yes We Can Youth Clinics can effectively treat teenagers and young adults who are suffering from a wide variety of mental health issues. If you have any questions, any at all, you can always contact us. We cannot stress enough that we are always there for you, whether you sign up for a treatment in our clinic or not. 

You can reach us by phone from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (GMT +1) via phone number: +31 (0)85 02 01 222. After business hours – weekdays after 6:00 p.m. and on the weekends – your call will be forwarded. Please note that it might take longer than usual to answer your call. If we cannot answer the call right away, please leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible. You can also fill in our contact form.