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When a young person is struggling with addiction, it can leave the people around them feeling worried and unsure of what to do. If you’ve noticed changes that concern you, support is available.
At Castle Health, our team has helped families and young people through recovery for forty years, providing youth addiction treatment, mental health input, and family therapy for everyone affected by dependency.
Understanding youth and addiction
Addiction among young people isn’t limited to illegal drugs. While cannabis is the most commonly used substance among 15–16-year-olds in Europe, other issues like gaming addiction, social media overuse, and prescription drug misuse are becoming more common.
Today’s teenagers are growing up under pressures that previous generations didn’t face in the same way. Between 2014 and 2024, the proportion of people aged 16–24 in England experiencing mental health issues rose from 19% to almost 26%.
Social media has created a culture of constant comparison, where young people measure themselves against carefully curated versions of their peers’ lives.
This constant exposure to idealised content has been linked to increased symptoms of depression, particularly among female adolescents, who may be more vulnerable to body image concerns.
There’s no single reason why a young person develops an addiction, but the teenage years involve a lot of change, both emotionally and neurologically.
Stress, curiosity, and the need to fit in can all play a role in how addiction develops. Some young people turn to substances or behaviours as a way of managing feelings they don’t know how to handle:
- Drug use might start socially before becoming more frequent.
- Alcohol misuse is often linked to peer pressure or attempts to manage anxiety.
- Gaming and social media can start to interfere with sleep, school, and relationships.
- Prescription medication misuse sometimes begins under pressure to perform academically.
Youth and drug addiction, youth and internet addiction, and other forms of dependence can all look different. What they have in common is the potential to affect mood, relationships, and mental health.
Our team of consultant psychiatrists and therapists support young people with addiction to harmful substances or behaviours in ways that reflect both the dependency and their wider lives.
Recognising the signs of addiction in young people
The early signs of addiction of drugs and alcohol in youth can be easy to miss. You might notice changes in mood, behaviour, sleep, or appetite. They might become more withdrawn or secretive.
On their own, these things might not seem significant, though together they can suggest a problem:
- Pulling away from family, or becoming secretive
- Sudden mood swings or emotional outbursts
- Falling grades or loss of interest in school or hobbies
- Changes in sleep, eating habits, or daily routines
- Money is going missing or unexplained spending
When to seek help
If things seem to be getting worse, or you’re concerned about safety, reaching out for help early can prevent patterns from becoming harder to change.
If you’re worried about someone you love, you can speak to our team about a referral at any stage. Castle Health provides youth mental health and addiction services designed to guide both young people and their families through the next steps with care and clarity.
Treatment options for young people
The right treatment depends on the young person’s age, their circumstances, and how their addiction is affecting their life.
At Castle Health, we offer a variety of flexible treatment formats for addiction to drugs and alcohol in youth.
Outpatient vs. residential care for youth aged 16+
Outpatient treatment allows young adults to attend therapy while living at home and staying in school or work.
Residential treatment may be considered for those aged 16 and over when addiction is more severe or home support isn’t enough. The right option depends on stability and personal health needs.
Castle Health’s approach to youth treatment
Castle Health provides youth addiction treatment through outpatient care, with access to residential treatment for teenagers aged 16 and over when appropriate. Our specialists focus on understanding the young person as a whole, not just their addiction.
The aim is to help them make changes they can maintain, while taking into account their emotional health and what’s happening at home or school.
Dual diagnosis and co-occurring mental health
Young people who have problems with addiction might also be dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, or low mood. This is known as dual diagnosis.
Treating child and youth addiction and mental health together supports more stable care over time.
Supporting families through the recovery journey
Addiction doesn’t impact one person alone; it can also have a strong effect on life at home, such as trust and communication between members of the family becoming strained.
That’s why youth addiction treatment includes families, through family therapy, education sessions, or recovery-based workshops.
You can continue to support a younger relative after their rehab treatment by learning healthy boundaries and how to respond consistently to any setbacks.
Their progress won’t always follow a straight line, but the family support programme helps you to learn ways to manage this without becoming overwhelmed.
Why choose Castle Health?
Castle Health brings together medical professionals and mental health specialists to provide compassionate, considerate care for youth with addiction.
Our rehab treatment is guided by evidence, using trauma-informed methods to help us understand and treat behaviour rather than judging it.
Our team approach helps us look at the whole person, especially when addiction overlaps with physical or mental health issues. The aim is to help young people feel safe and supported during their recovery.
Get help for a young person today
If you’re worried about a young person, you don’t have to manage this alone.
You can contact Castle Health directly to discuss your concerns. The conversation is completely confidential and will help us to understand what’s happening and how we can help you.
You’ll be guided through the next steps at a pace that feels right for your situation. This might involve an assessment, a conversation about treatment, or guidance on how families can be supported.
If youth and drug addiction or alcohol misuse have started to affect someone you love, you don’t have to carry it by yourself. A conversation with the team at Castle Health can help you understand what support might look like across youth mental health and addiction recovery programmes.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find online counselling services for youth addiction?</h3>
If you’re looking for online counselling to support a young person, Castle Health offers outpatient youth and addiction services that include remote therapy.
Sessions are tailored to young people and families affected by addiction, and they can cover substances, gaming, or mental health.
Can teenagers go to rehab?
Yes. At Castle Health, we consider teenagers aged 16 and over on a case-by-case basis after a detailed assessment.
This approach helps us determine if they are eligible for intensive youth addiction treatment away from home. Outpatient services and family support are also available for younger teens through our wider network.
What kinds of addiction affect young people?
Young people can develop problems with alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, or prescription medications. They may also engage in excessive gaming or internet use. These addictions often occur alongside other mental health problems.
Is internet or gaming addiction in young people treated the same as drug use?
Both are treated using the same evidence-based therapies, even though they can look quite different.
At Castle Health, each young person is assessed so treatment reflects what’s behind their addiction and how it’s affecting them. They then develop a personalised youth mental health and addiction recovery plan.
How involved can parents or families be in treatment?
Treatment for youth and addiction welcomes family members to be involved in the recovery process.
Parents or caregivers can attend therapy sessions, participate in recovery workshops, and be a part of planning their ongoing care. This enables the whole family to start recovering as a unit.
What if my child doesn’t think they have a problem?
It’s common for young people to deny or downplay addiction. The process of expressing concern gently, while obtaining professional advice and working with a family therapist, can help families start discussions about youth addiction treatment.
