Clearfork Academy has published a guide to drug and alcohol detox for teenagers as new research raises concerns about adolescents’ understanding of fentanyl-related risks. A July 2026 University of Michigan study found that about 52% of eighth graders surveyed did not consider experimental fentanyl use to carry a high level of danger.
The Clearfork Academy guide explains how withdrawal management may fit into adolescent substance use treatment, including the difference between medically supervised detoxification and stabilization. It also outlines factors that may influence the appropriate level of care, including the substance involved, withdrawal symptoms, mental health concerns, and a teenager’s individual clinical needs.
The University of Michigan findings come amid continued concern about fentanyl-related deaths among young people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75% of overdose deaths among people ages 10 to 19 between 2020 and 2024 involved illegally manufactured fentanyl. The CDC notes that fentanyl can be present in counterfeit pills and mixed with other illicit substances, meaning some users may consume it unknowingly.
"The concerning part of these findings isn't that teenagers are reckless, it's that many of them don't know what they're being exposed to," said Austin Davis, LPC-S, founder of Clearfork Academy. "A young person can make what they think is a low-stakes decision about a pill from a friend and not understand that the calculation has changed."
Clearfork Academy’s guide notes that detox is not the same as ongoing substance use treatment. Depending on clinical needs, withdrawal management may be followed by residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or other continuing care. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration similarly describes adolescent substance use treatment as a continuum that can involve varying levels of support for young people and their families.
About Clearfork Academy
Clearfork Academy is a Texas behavioral healthcare provider serving adolescents ages 13 to 17 with substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders. The organization operates programs in North Texas, including medical detoxification, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient care.
More information can be found at https://clearforkacademy.com/treatment-programs/detox/