Guardian IOP Addiction Therapy
Age Specific Program

There is a large degree of variation in how alcohol and drug addiction affects individuals’ lives. For some, addiction results in more physical and health effects, but for others the worst effects are behavioral. As such, individuals who choose to overcome chemical dependency tend to have very different recovery needs, requiring a variety of programming options to effectively treat them. One of the most important factors affecting an individual’s needs in recovery is their age.

The Importance of Age-Specific Addiction Treatment

Everyone is susceptible to developing a substance abuse or dependency disorder, regardless of their gender, personal background or age. While there are a range of underlying and contributing factors that more commonly lead to the development of a substance use disorder (such as genetic predisposition and environmental factors), it is important to note that men and women, both young and old, can easily fall victim to a severe and life-threatening addiction to drugs or alcohol. While many adolescents and young adults experiment with dangerous chemical substances, substance abuse is a significant cause of morbidity in the population of individuals aged 65 and over. However, individuals in different age groups face a unique set of challenges and differing experiences when it comes to active addiction and addiction recovery. For this reason, age-specific addiction treatment is extremely beneficial.

Guardian IOP offers a comprehensive, personalized and extremely integrated program of age-specific recovery. We separate our clients into three main rehab programs: our young adults program, our adults program and our program designed specifically for older adults (over the age of 65). Not only does age-specific group therapy allow for a more thorough and focused treatment experience, but men and women of all ages are inclined to feel more comfortable openly discussing the age-unique challenges they are liable to face.

Why Age-Specific Substance Abuse Treatment is Beneficial

Recovery from alcohol and drug addiction is no easy feat. It requires conviction, strength of will, determination, and ongoing effort to sustain long-term sobriety. Therefore it is important for individuals in recovery to receive the support that addresses their specific needs. This requires a personalized recovery program that accounts for each person’s unique needs.

Individuals of differing ages develop and are affected by addiction very differently. In particular, those aged 40 and over represent a unique subset of the population. These individuals often suffer from  a specific set of underlying issues related to the development of chemical dependency. As such, individuals of advanced age require treatments that are tailored to their age-specific needs.

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How Does Guardian Intensive Outpatient Meet Age-Specific Recovery Needs?

Younger people experience alcohol and drug addiction in a much different manner than individuals aged 40 years and older, and techniques that are effective for them are not as effective for those of more advanced age. At Guardian IOP, we’ve found that those in treatment achieve optimal results when participating in group sessions with peers of similar age, allowing them to relate better to those with similar experiences and perspectives.

Guardian Intensive Outpatient treatment protocols for those over 40 includes age-specific group sessions with a focus on the professional repercussions of chemical dependency, screening and treatment of co-morbid conditions that can occur among those of advanced age, such as depression and anxiety, and even grief counseling for those who have experienced loss. Age-specific treatment at Guardian Intensive Outpatient ensures that those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction can achieve success in our recovery programming, no matter their age.

Our Drug & Alcohol Treatment Services Include


Our Young Adults Rehab Program

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that people are most likely to begin abusing chemical substances like alcohol, prescription drugs and tobacco during adolescence and young adulthood. By the time they reach their senior year of high school, roughly 70 percent of all students will have experimented with alcohol and nearly half of all students will have taken an illegal drug at one point during their high school careers. There are many reasons why adolescents and young adults use chemical substances. Some of the more common reasons include undergoing peer pressure in social settings, the desire to experience new things and attempting to deal with school-related stressors or problems at home. Environmental factors play a major role when it comes to adolescent drug abuse. These factors include the neighborhood in which the adolescent grows up, their local community, their school experience and their environment at home. For example, children that grow up in households with drug addicted or alcoholic parents are far more likely to experiment in substance use themselves fairly early on in their lives.

Our young adults rehab program focuses on a wide variety of the unique challenges and experiences that adolescents and young adults tend to face. Some of the topics we frequently discuss in group therapy sessions include:

  • Addiction education and the dangers directly involved in substance use
  • The neurological impact that substance use can have on brains that are still developing
  • Working through peer pressure and learning how to set and maintain personal boundaries
  • Effectively dealing with school-related stressors
  • Viewing addiction treatment as something to be grateful for rather than viewing it as a punishment for bad behavior
  • Effectively managing uncomfortable emotions and the development of healthy coping mechanisms
  • Communication skills
  • Relapse prevention training
  • Learning how to set personal boundaries with family members and deal with household-related stressors

Our young adult rehab program is geared towards helping those under the age of 18 maintain sobriety for years to come.

Our Adults Rehab Program

Our adults rehab program is geared towards helping men and women over the age of 18 and under the age of 65 overcome substance abuse and dependency and controlled and supportive setting. Just like young adults and older adults, those in this specific age bracket deal with a unique set of challenges. Most adults are financially independent and rely on a consistent job or career in order to provide for themselves and any dependents they may have. Many have experience in romantic relationships, and work to juggle those relationships with the relationships they have with their families of origin, their friends and their colleagues. Because of extensive personal responsibilities and obligations, it can be difficult for adults to come to terms with the fact that they need professional assistance and that in order to continue functioning in their day-to-day lives,  they might need to take an extended break from the hustle and bustle they have grown so used to.

Are adult rehab program focuses on numerous age specific challenges and experiences, including:

  • Healthy functioning in interpersonal relationships
  • Dealing with work-related stressors
  • effectively coping with and working through uncomfortable feelings and emotions
  • Learning how to set and maintain personal boundaries
  • Coping with financial stressors (which ties into the development of crucial life skills)
  • Relapse prevention training
  • Finding an important balance between professional life, interpersonal relationships and self-care

These are just some of the many topics covered in depth by our adult rehab program.

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Our Older Adults Rehab Program

While substance abuse is more common among young adults and adults, members of the elderly community do struggle with substance abuse at extremely high rates. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 1 million adults over the age of 65 live with a diagnosable substance use disorder, as reported in the year 2018. While very little is known about the effects that chemical substances have on the aging brain, it is understood that adults over the age of 65 metabolize substances relatively slowly, making their brains more susceptible to the impact of drugs and alcohol. Older adults are also more susceptible to substance-related fatalities, seeing as impaired judgment and coordination or reduced reaction time can easily result in life-threatening accidents. Rates of prescription drug abuse are exceptionally high among older adults, partially because this demographic is prescribed more medications in general,.and partially because of memory- related issues that could lead to an individual taking more than his or her recommended dose.

Older adults also face a unique set of challenges when it comes to addiction recovery. Some of the topics we discussed in our older adults rehab program include:

  • Managing chronic pain without the use of narcotic pain medications
  • Dealing with the loss of loved ones, such as the loss of a spouse
  • Navigating other health related concerns that tend to go hand-in-hand with old age
  • Coping with forced retirement or a significant change in income
  • Psychiatric risk factors
  • Social isolation and an inability to participate in activities that were previously enjoyed

If you or your loved one has been struggling with substance abuse and is over the age of 65, our older adult treatment program is likely an ideal option.

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Guardian IOP – Highly Individualized Care

Guardian IOP offers age-specific treatment services geared towards providing each and every client with the most focused level of clinical care available. If you or your loved one has been suffering at the hands of a substance abuse disorder of any severity, Guardian IOP is available to help. We generally recommend that our age-specific group therapy sessions act as a continuation of care for men and women who have already completed medically monitored detox and inpatient addiction treatment. Of course, we understand that substance abuse is far from a one-size-fits-all disease. If you or your loved one has been struggling with a mild substance abuse disorder that has not yet progressed and resulted in a wide range of significant personal consequences, our IOP program might be an ideal choice. Simply give us a call today and our treatment advisors will walk you through a brief pre-assessment, helping us determine which level of clinical care is the most appropriate for you or your loved ones needs.

Learn More by Contacting Guardian IOP Today

Addiction doesn’t happen in the same way for everyone; it follows that the journey to recovery isn’t the same for everyone either. At Guardian Intensive Outpatient Program individuals can personalize our programming with a variety of gender and age-specific treatments, and with a host of evidence-based supplemental and holistic therapies. If you or someone you love is suffering from chemical dependency and would like to learn more about what we have to offer, call Guardian Intensive Outpatient today. Our professional Treatment Advisors are available to answer questions and help individuals suffering from addiction find the treatments they need to return to lives of sobriety, health and fulfillment.

To learn more about any of our age specific outpatient rehab services reach out to us today and speak to one of our Treatment Advisors available 24/7 at (888) 693-1894