About This Program
Young adulthood is a period of enormous change, opportunity, and vulnerability. Between the ages of 18 and 26, the brain is still actively developing, particularly the prefrontal cortex responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and risk assessment. This biological reality, combined with the social pressures of college life, early career stress, and the desire for peer acceptance, creates a perfect storm in which substance use can quickly escalate from experimentation to dependence. At Trust SoCal, our JCAHO-accredited treatment center in Fountain Valley, California, we recognize that young adults require a fundamentally different treatment approach than older adults.
The substances young adults encounter today are more dangerous than ever. Fentanyl-laced pills, high-potency cannabis concentrates, and widespread availability of stimulants like Adderall and cocaine mean that what begins as casual use at a party or in a dorm room can turn fatal without warning. Social media amplifies peer pressure and normalizes substance use while simultaneously contributing to the anxiety, depression, and loneliness that drive young people to self-medicate. Our clinical team understands these dynamics and addresses them directly in treatment.
Young adults often resist traditional treatment approaches that feel paternalistic or disconnected from their reality. That is why our young adult track emphasizes peer connection, experiential therapies, and practical life skills development alongside evidence-based clinical interventions. Group therapy sessions are composed of peers within a similar age range, creating a therapeutic community where young adults feel understood rather than judged. We also address the co-occurring mental health conditions that are prevalent in this population, including anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, and emerging personality disorders.
Academic and career concerns are major barriers to treatment for young adults. Trust SoCal helps clients communicate with universities about medical leaves of absence, develop plans for returning to school or work after treatment, and build the executive functioning skills needed to succeed in early adulthood without relying on substances. If your son, daughter, or loved one between 18 and 26 is struggling, call Trust SoCal today at (949) 280-8360 to learn about our young adult program in Fountain Valley.
