Can You Study During Addiction Treatment? A Guide to Adolescent Treatment

Yes, you can study during addiction treatment. Many programs offer academic support, educational planning, and flexible scheduling to help teens stay on track while attending a recovery program.

Key Takeaways

• Many families are concerned that addiction treatment will cause their child to fall behind in their schoolwork. However, treatment centers often have academic programs built into their curricula to avoid disruptions.
• Academics can look different depending on the level of care. For example, students in outpatient programs can schedule sessions around their academic schedules. With inpatient programs, students will have time set aside for studying.
• School programs are typically taught by licensed and accredited teachers and tutors, ensuring your child doesn’t lose credit and or fall behind.
• While balancing school and recovery is challenging, most students benefit from a sense of normalcy, self-esteem, peer-connection, and easier reintegration when treatment is complete.

Table of Contents

• Can You Study During Addiction Treatment?
• What Are Treatment Options for Substance Use Disorders in Teens?
• How Do Different Levels of Care Affect School?
• How Do Rehabilitation Centers Support Academic Progress?
• What Are the Benefits of Balancing Recovery and Education?
• What Challenges May Students Face When Balancing Schoolwork and Recovery?
• BNI Treatment Centers Supports Academics and Recovery
• FAQs

Introduction

According to SAMHSA research published in the Wiley Online Library, only 7% of teens with substance use disorders get the treatment they require. Academics could be a barrier. Teens and their families may hesitate to enroll in a treatment program for fear of falling behind in their academic studies.

However, many programs allow teens to study and even offer academic programs. This article reviews how recovery plans ensure teens don’t fall behind in their schoolwork.

Can You Study During Addiction Treatment?

Yes, teens and young adults can study during addiction treatment. The approach varies depending on the level of care. However, programs that assist students often integrate academics into the treatment plan, treating it as something ongoing- not paused.

What Are Treatment Options for Substance Use Disorders in Teens?

Treatment for substance abuse in teens typically consists of evidence-based therapies, family involvement, and dual diagnosis support, as follows:

Evidence-Based Therapies

Various evidence-based therapies address the underlying cause of drug use. For example:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy helps teens identify and address negative thought patterns and learn coping skills to manage their emotions more effectively.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy takes a more mindful approach to emotional regulation, with a focus on distress tolerance. It promotes skill-building for addiction recovery.
• Motivational interviewing encourages behavior change in addiction treatment.
• Experiential therapy engages emotions to aid addiction recovery.

These methodologies can be integrated into individual and group therapy sessions.

Family Therapy

Family involvement is essential in teen drug addiction treatment and has been proven to be highly effective in treating teens with behavioral problems, including drug abuse. Support from family can reduce relapse rates in recovery. Families are often brought into therapy sessions so they can learn more about their teens’ addiction and what’s behind it to ensure they provide a healing home environment.

Dual Diagnosis

Many teens turn to substances to handle emotional issues, such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. While drugs and alcohol may provide temporary relief, they often lead teens on a downward spiral, leading to the development of substance use issues that exacerbate the existing condition. A dual diagnosis approach simultaneously treats addiction and underlying mental disorders to support recovery goals.

How Do Different Levels of Care Affect School?

The academic approach will differ depending on the level of care the teen is receiving. Some allow teens to split time between school and treatment, while others provide on-premise services.

• Outpatient/IOP Programs: These programs offer flexible scheduling, allowing students to attend therapy sessions after school or during the evening, with minimal disruption to their academics.
• Residential Programs: Teens in these programs live at the facility 24/7 for a more structured approach. With inpatient treatment, schooling is typically integrated with on-site accredited teachers and structured academic hours.
• Full-Time College Students: College students should speak with their school to discuss options such as medical leave, withdrawal policies, collegiate recovery programs, and online or flexible coursework. Many universities offer counseling centers and support groups for students in recovery.

How Do Rehabilitation Centers Support Academic Progress?

Treatment centers support academic progress with on-site teachers and tutors, individualized education planning, coordination with the student’s home school or college, flexible scheduling around therapy, and IEP/504 and re-entry support.

• On-Site Teachers and Tutors: All are licensed and certified. Many are also accredited by Cognia (formerly AdvancED), the largest K–12 accreditor in the US, which reviews schools against performance standards through external evaluation and periodic renewal.
• Individualized Education Planning: Educational planning is created to suit students’ needs, based on their academic goals, learning abilities, and progress.
• Coordination with the School or College: The facility works with the teen’s school or college to ensure the curriculum stays on track and no assignments are missed.
• Flexible Scheduling: Schedules are tailored to the student’s school schedule, especially for outpatient treatment.
• IEP/504: IEP refers to an Individual Education Program, which is required for students with disabilities that impact learning. A 504 plan ensures students with disabilities have special accommodations so they can learn comfortably.
• Re-Entry Support: The treatment center will work with the school to ensure that students who complete recovery programs can easily re-enroll in a traditional school program.

What Are the Benefits of Balancing Recovery and Education?

Students who balance recovery and education tend to benefit from routine and structure as protective factors, preserved purpose and momentum, self-esteem, a sense of normalcy and peer connection, and a smoother reintegration when treatment ends.

Education provides structure and routine to teens in treatment, reducing stress and taking their minds off drugs and alcohol addiction. They maintain purpose through schoolwork and self-esteem through their accomplishments. The approach can instill a sense of normalcy, and those who attend traditional school during treatment can maintain peer connections during treatment.

Continued schooling preserves momentum, making reintegration into school less stressful. Students are also less likely to feel lost in their schoolwork upon returning.

What Challenges May Students Face When Balancing Schoolwork and Recovery?

Although attending school during recovery is beneficial, students may face challenges due to brain fog, catching up on schoolwork, stigmas, time management, and school-based triggers.

• Cognitive Fog: Drugs interfere with brain function, and students don’t bounce back the moment drug use stops. While teen brains are resilient and do recover, the effects of drugs can be a temporary setback.
• Catching Up on Missed Coursework: Even with the best coordination, coursework can get shifted, and students may need to make up assignments and review missed lessons to get back on track.
• Social Re-entry and Stigma: For many students, the most stressful part of returning to school isn’t academic, it’s social. Students often report inquisitive questioning, stigma, and judgment. Counseling sessions typically guide them on what to share with whom and how.
• Time Management and Executive Function: Scheduling treatment around academics can be challenging. Explicit coordination is necessary.
• School-Based Triggers: Students will face triggers after completing recovery, including academic responsibilities, peer pressure, and cravings. Advance planning can help. Clinicians should work with students to identify likely triggers and determine responses to support relapse prevention.

BNI Treatment Centers Supports Academics and Recovery

Balancing addiction recovery and educational programs can be challenging, but BNI Treatment Centers provides the support families require. We integrate academics into our program and pair them with evidence-based treatments geared toward optimal well-being. Our team addresses a wide range of mental health and addiction issues and offers various treatment options, ensuring a personalized approach.

Contact us to learn more about our effective treatment and comprehensive services.

FAQs

Can my teen keep going to their regular school during outpatient addiction treatment?

Yes, in most cases, students can continue going to regular school during outpatient addiction treatment. Therapy sessions will be scheduled outside of school hours to ensure students can focus on schoolwork while getting the care they require.

Will my teen lose academic credit for time spent in residential treatment?

Typically, no. If the treatment center program is properly accredited, credits should transfer over, ensuring students stay on track.

What if my teen has an IEP or 504 plan at their current school?

IEPs and 504 plans don’t stop when treatment starts. Reputable organizations will offer accommodations so students can learn comfortably. They will also be able to adjust their approach to evolving needs.

Can college students take medical leave for addiction treatment without losing their enrollment?

Most colleges and universities have formal medical leave policies that allow students to step away for treatment and return without reapplying or losing accumulated credits. However, the specifics vary by institution. A conversation with the dean should help define your options.

How involved will our family be in our teen’s treatment?

Families are typically very involved in teen recovery treatment, as it’s essential for family members to understand their loved one’s addiction and what causes it to ensure they provide a healing home environment. Expect regular family therapy sessions, parent coaching, communication updates, and active participation in discharge and re-entry planning.

Sources

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2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Profile of Adolescent Discharges from Substance Abuse Treatment.” Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) Short Report. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1967/ShortReport-1967.html
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