It isn’t always easy to know when someone has a drinking problem. When it’s someone close to you, it can be even harder. If you have seen a gradual change in a loved one over time, it might not register at first. Your loved one may normalize their behavior in numerous convincing ways, using humor,…
For parents who are concerned about their child’s substance use, the world can seem upside down. Knowing the statistics doesn’t help. Even when you learn that more than a quarter of teenagers drink regularly and that about half of those are addicted or will be by the time they hit age 20, the concept can…
Recent data about addiction in the United States is concerning. More than ten million people annually abuse opioids or opiates of some kind. However, only about 10% of the people who need professional rehab receive it. If you or someone you know is in danger of becoming a statistic, it’s time to seek an opiate…
Finding an adolescent rehab center means finding somewhere that hires professionals who understand teens, are trained to work with this age group. They should also work closely with families during and after treatment to ensure a continuity of care post-discharge. Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge (PAATC) has entire adolescent addiction treatment programs devoted to treating…
We all know that many teenagers skirt the alcohol laws and find a way to acquire liquor and drink. Many of them can find it in their parent’s liquor cabinet. That they do it with relative ease and we know about it (at least in theory) does not make it okay. Teen alcohol addiction is…
When someone with a substance use disorder leaves rehab, such as an inpatient addiction treatment program, what next? In rehab, you have withdrawn from the physical addiction and begun the healing process with therapy, group support, and other evidence-based protocols. Knowing how to move forward in your recovery is a vital step in the process.…
Alcohol addiction occurs in every part of the globe. Over 100 million people worldwide suffer from this chronic disease, and of those over 18 in the U.S., 15+ million people addicted to alcohol is a conservative estimate. Alcohol is a readily available substance that can be used in moderation by many. However, when certain risk…
Detox is the body’s process of ridding itself of the toxins that have built up due to addiction to drugs or alcohol. Detoxing triggers withdrawal symptoms in those with substance use disorders. Detox center programs offer medically supervised detox, during which health professionals monitor individuals with addiction. Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge (PAATC) offers professional…
Marijuana abuse often flies under the radar because many states are legalizing it. In addition, it may have legitimate medical uses and does not kill people. However, marijuana is a drug and can lead to physical and mental health consequences, and about 9% of users will develop an addiction to it. Those risks increase among…
Heroin and other opiates have been around for a long time. Still, it was with the introduction of Oxycontin and other synthetic opioids in the late 1990s when the opioid epidemic took off. Pharmaceutical manufacturers were less than transparent about the addictiveness of these substances, and as a result, doctors confidently prescribed them to patients…