Answering the Call

When I first entered treatment as a teen, I didn’t know what to expect. I was scared, uncertain, and unsure if recovery was even possible for me. What I found was connection. People believed in me before I could believe in myself. That experience planted a seed that, over time, grew into the foundation of my own recovery and ultimately into what is a beautiful, sober, and serene life today.

Today, I see too many teens just like me standing in that same place of uncertainty. Their pain is real, their risks are growing, and the support available is often not enough.

 

The Numbers Are Unmistakable

We are in the middle of a youth mental health crisis. In 2023, nearly 4 in 10 high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. About 20 percent seriously considered attempting suicide, and nearly 9 percent made an actual attempt.

On the substance use front, the data is equally sobering. Nationally, about 7.8 percent of adolescents aged 12–17 met criteria for a drug use disorder in the past year. In Arizona, 7.3 percent of teens reported trying alcohol for the first time within the last year. While the Arizona Youth Survey shows some declines in alcohol, marijuana, and e-cigarette use between 2022 and 2024, the underlying need for early intervention and wraparound mental health care remains urgent.

Suicide among youth ages 10–24 has increased roughly 62 percent over the last decade. These aren’t just numbers on a chart. They represent lives, families, and futures.

 

Why Adolescents Need a Different Approach

Adolescents are not miniature adults. Their brains are still developing, especially in areas that control impulse, judgment, and long-term decision making. What may be effective treatment for someone in their thirties does not necessarily meet the needs of a 15-year-old.

Young people live in a web of influences: family, school, peers, and social media. Ignoring any of these pieces means missing critical context. Programs must be designed to engage the whole picture of an adolescent’s life. They must be flexible, engaging, and built on relationships.

 

A New Step: Virtual Adolescent IOP

In response to this need, Revive Recovery Center is introducing a Virtual Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) designed for youth ages 12 to 17.

• Days: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
• Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Format: Group therapy, individual counseling, family involvement, coping skills, and trauma-informed practices

The program was built to meet adolescents where they are. Virtual access removes transportation barriers and makes treatment more accessible to families with busy schedules, while still offering the connection, accountability, and structure that recovery requires.

 

Why This Matters to Me

My own journey in treatment as a teen showed me the power of someone planting a seed of hope. Even when I doubted myself, others believed in me and refused to give up. That experience became the foundation of my life in recovery and is the reason I fight for young people today.

At Revive, we want every adolescent who walks through our doors, or logs into our groups, to feel seen and heard. We want them to know there is a way forward, even if they cannot yet see it for themselves.

 

Community Call to Action

We cannot stand by while the crisis among youth grows. Every adolescent who falls through the cracks represents a story cut short. But every adolescent who finds support represents a life reclaimed.

 

Here are some steps we must take together as a community:

• Expand funding and capacity so families don’t face long waitlists.
• Integrate mental health into schools and primary care settings.
• Talk openly about mental health and substance use, free from stigma.
• Involve young people in program design and leadership.
• Support parents and families with education and peer support.

 

At Revive, our new adolescent IOP is one piece of the puzzle. But the solution will take all of us: schools, faith communities, policy makers, and families working together. Today, I want to extend that same hope to the next generation.

Every adolescent deserves a chance to be heard, to heal, and to discover that recovery is not just possible…it’s real.

 

Brayden Younghusband is the Founder and CEO of Revive Recovery Centers. Brayden is in recovery and has made it his career and passion to be an advocate to people struggling from substance use and mental health disorders.  He has nearly a decade of experience in the behavioral health field in operations, executive leadership, and marketing. He saw a need for authentic and quality care in our community and decided to open Revive Recovery Center to provide innovative, accessible and exceptional clinical care to individuals struggling with addiction and mental health. reviverecoverycenters.com/