ABSTRACT
Youth with addictions are often kicked out of foster homes and group homes, possibly locked in a residential facility, or denied access to supported independent living (SIL) programs because they are not seen as being stable or acting responsibly. Youth shift from being parent focused to peer focused and they tend to take more risks. While from an evolutionary sense, this has helped in finding mates who are not close relatives, risking taking and ignoring routine, combined with immature judgement, can make teens more prone to addiction. The relationship a youth has with self-harming can also be to stop flashbacks or painful affect coming into consciousness. Positive connections and experiences can result in youth being more open to talking about and attending to their addictions and physical and mental health issues instead of waiting until they are in a serious state requiring longer-term hospitalization and longer follow-up care.
