The question parents and professionals ask most isn’t “Why are teens using marijuana?” — it’s “How do we help them stop?”

At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, the answer starts with resilience. Teens don’t just need warnings. They need skills — tools that empower them to handle discomfort, manage emotions, and face adversity without turning to substances.

“We’re not just treating drug use,” says Jeff Noles, Clinical Director. “We’re treating a generation of teens who haven’t been taught how to sit with hard feelings or navigate stress. When they learn that skill set, it changes everything.”

Why Resilience Matters

Resilience is the ability to cope with challenges, bounce back from failures, and adapt in the face of difficulty. It doesn’t mean being perfect — it means being equipped.

“Letting our kids experience things that allow them to build resilience is one of the most powerful tools we have,” says Bryan Fikes, Co-Founder and CEO of Stonewater. “But in today’s culture, we often shield teens from discomfort — and then they’re unequipped when it inevitably shows up.”

Without that skill set, many teens reach for what’s easy and accessible: marijuana. It offers temporary relief from anxiety, pressure, boredom, or social stress — but at the cost of long-term emotional development.

What Building Resilience Actually Looks Like

At Stonewater, helping teens build resilience isn’t a concept — it’s a practice. Every aspect of treatment is designed to:

• Introduce healthy stress in a controlled, supportive environment

• Help teens recognize and regulate their emotional responses

• Show them they can survive discomfort — and grow from it

That might look like:

• Trying a ropes course while managing fear and anxiety

• Participating in group therapy even when it feels vulnerable

• Working through conflict with family instead of shutting down

• Taking responsibility for daily routines, chores, and commitments

“It’s about capacity,” says Noles. “When teens begin to trust that they can do hard things, marijuana becomes less appealing because it’s no longer their only tool.”

The Role of Parents

Parents play a huge part in this process — and often, they’re working against their own instincts. “We want to protect our kids,” says Elizabeth Fikes, Co-Founder and Director of Outreach. “But sometimes protection looks like preparation. Letting them experience challenge, failure, and recovery in safe ways.”

Ways parents can build resilience at home:

• Let teens solve problems without immediately stepping in

• Talk openly about your own struggles and how you’ve handled them

• Encourage reflection over perfection

• Praise effort, not outcomes

• Model healthy ways to deal with stress and uncertainty

Creating a Life Worth Staying Present For

Recovery isn’t just about saying no to marijuana — it’s about having something better to say yes to. As teens build confidence, develop identity, and discover purpose, their reliance on substances naturally begins to fade.

At Stonewater, Elizabeth shares, “We see kids come in who can’t imagine life without weed. And then we see them leave with a toolkit — friends, goals, insight — that makes them proud of who they’re becoming.”