Where do you start when the addict is young?

treatment
children

#1

My son is 17 and started going to NA. There is no one else at his meetings that is his age. How does he find a group that is more relate-able ?


#2

Such an important topic, your son is lucky to have the support to help find the best resources for him! It is extremely important in these meetings to feel a sense of connection and belonging within the Fellowship. When my brother was an adolescent in treatment, he always did better when he was around people closer to his age that he could relate to. Yes, having older members provided mentorship and positive examples, but when no one else is in your age group it’s hard to relate on many topics experienced in adolescence. I would recommend NA Meeting Search where you can enter in where you live and how far you’re willing to travel for a meeting. Once the list is generated there should be meeting formats that indicate the type of meeting. Look for the word “Young” and those will be the meetings geared more towards his age group.
Other tips that may be helpful:

  • If he is engaged in any type of formal treatment, ask the staff for a list of Young Adult groups. In the outpatient settings I’ve worked in we had a list of groups for adolescents and young adults handy to give out!
  • If he isn’t, ask the school counselor if they know of any local resources. In addition, you can also ask his doctor (or yours).
  • If you attend Al Anon or Nar Anon, ask fellow parents if they know of any good meetings that their children attend.
  • Try looking for AA meetings as well, there are more AA meetings than NA as well as a wider variety of meeting types.

All of the above can also provide helpful guidance when beginning to navigate recovery with a young person. (Asking the school counselor, family doctor, therapist/psychiatrist if you’re engaged with any, peers in support groups for parents). I hope this helps, at the end of the day it’s great he’s starting to attend meetings and is open with you about wanting to connect with people his age! Having open and honest communication will be very encouraging on his road to recovery. Has anyone else had trouble finding meetings for their children, and if so how did you find a good fit?


#4

You need to find out in your town where all they have NA meetings and go from there. Help him find one for his age group, if there isn’t any, have him continue going anyway, because the older group can give him alot more info and insight in his addiction. He can actually see and hear how bad it can get.


#5

You can contact a treatment facility near you. They can provide the information. You can also Google “NA meetings for teens”.
While its true wisdom can come with age, young people can often relate to each other on a different level. Perhaps let him decide which he prefers.
All the best going forward.