If you thought that opiates and opioids were the same things, you are not alone. They are, in fact, different, though similar in many of the ways that count. At Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge (PAATC), we are well versed in the broad range of opiates available to users and the best treatment methods for…
If you suspect that you or a loved one is addicted to an opioid, like prescription narcotics, or opiate, like heroin or morphine, it’s the right time to look into treatment. If you feel suspicious and worry about your drug use, you have already entered the stage of recovery called “contemplation.” You are no longer…
What is an opioid? It is a synthetic or partly synthetic substance, meaning it was created in a lab. It acts on the human body the way an opiate does. However, opiates come from the naturally occurring poppy plant, but the makeup of opiates and opioids are very similar. Common opioids include Vicodin (hydrocodone), OxyContin…
Opioid overdoses have doubled in the United States during the pandemic. People in isolation and struggling with job insecurity, loss of loved ones, and fear of illness are relapsing or doubling their substance use as a coping mechanism. Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge (PAATC) is here to help anyone who is ready to take the…
Fentanyl has been around for a while, but it’s in the news more and more as our opioid crisis worsens. This medication is a synthetic narcotic 50 to 100 times more potent than the opium derivative, morphine. Fentanyl is one of the most potent opioids in existence. A fentanyl overdose can easily result in death,…
Among younger Americans, heroin abuse has doubled in the last decade. The term “opioid crisis” barely conveys the seriousness of the emergency. Heroin addiction endangers more than 600,000 Americans, a number that does not take into account other opioid addictions. Approximately 15,000 die in this country every year from a heroin overdose. Heroin, one of…
For teens struggling with substance misuse, dependence, and addiction, making a decision about rehab can be difficult. As with anyone who is ready to engage in rehab, teens’ families may be grateful for a less expensive, outpatient option. But there are other excellent reasons to consider an outpatient program for your adolescent. If you are…
Percocet is a narcotic analgesic that doctors commonly prescribe to treat acute pain and moderate to severe chronic pain. This medication is a combination of oxycodone, which is a derivative of opium, and acetaminophen, a non-narcotic analgesic. However, it is also highly addictive. During the pandemic, there has been a rise in substance misuse and…
Detox is short for detoxification, which refers to the process of ridding the body of toxins. For someone with substance abuse disorder, detox is the period of physical withdrawal when the body releases all remnants of the drug. There are two main reasons for someone suffering from drug addiction to undergo medically supervised detox. Health…
The consumption of alcohol is legal in the United States over the age of 21. Unfortunately, this intoxicating substance is also very commonly abused, creating a dangerous cocktail when combined with other prescribed, over-the-counter, or illegal drugs. Alcohol has the effect of compounding other substances’ side effects, which increases the risk of alcohol poisoning, overdose,…