Perhaps you are a parent worried about your child or an educator aware of warning signs that a student is abusing drugs. Maybe you are a member of the clergy whose young parishioner is exhibiting signs of addiction. If an adolescent you care about is engaged in risky behavior with an addictive substance, you have…
Details
The human brain is complex, with countless pieces of the puzzle evolving from birth through the mid-20s. Every segment or center within the brain develops in its own time. Babies learn to babble before they learn to talk in sentences, and there is a great deal of nuanced development between those two benchmarks. Similarly, the…
Details
Despite the increase in awareness and education about opiates, heroin addiction is still rising in the United States. Genetics plays a role in who will become addicted, but that is not the only factor putting Americans at risk. As long as people continue to suffer from trauma, poverty, isolation, and violence, they will be vulnerable…
Details
Among the countless ways the world has transformed in the last fifty years, the advent of the internet opened the door to a cascade of cultural changes that affect all aspects of society. Social media is one of the most pervasively influential innovations of the last few decades in teen culture. At Pennsylvania Adult &…
Details
No one wants to go through drug withdrawal. For those who are addicted to drugs, the addiction itself is what keeps them using. For those who eventually realize that they must stop using drugs for their own health and longevity and that of their families and loved ones, what then? It is often fear of…
Details
The links between mental health and substance use are well-documented. Teens and others who are affected by depression or anxiety are often diagnosed with a co-occurring addiction. People who struggle with anxiety or depression may self-medicate to alleviate symptoms. Social anxiety disorder is a common form of chronic anxiety, affecting nearly 10% of American youth.…
Details
Concern about teenage substance abuse is all too common among parents, educators, and family physicians. The data supports an ongoing rise in the misuse of alcohol and drugs and addiction among adolescents age 12 and up. More than three-quarters of American teens self-report that they have access to illicit drugs. Nearly half have tried them,…
Details
Addiction is on the rise in the United States. Government experts have made strides regarding prevention, education, and treatment. However, many Americans are still vulnerable to this terrible disease due to risk factors relating to genetics, trauma, poverty, isolation, and more. Stimulants, such as meth and crack, opiates, such as heroin, and synthetic opioids, such…
Details
The fentanyl crisis is a significant part of the nation’s opioid crisis. This synthetic opioid is one of the strongest opioids in existence. However, for anyone struggling with this deadly substance, fentanyl addiction treatment can help. The Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge (PAATC) offers a fentanyl addiction treatment program that we’ve designed to support clients…
Details
Not all addiction treatment programs are created equal. What works for adults is not necessarily what will work for teens. Adolescent-focused rehab programs have a high success rate. We design all our services, from detox to counseling and group support, specifically to this age group. In a teen rehab program, medical and wellness professionals understand…
Details