Seeking heroin treatment for addiction is a lifesaving decision and an essential first step in recovery. Although heroin use is still on the rise in the United States, only about 1 in 10 people who suffer from heroin use disorder end up seeking and receiving help at a heroin treatment center. If you or someone…
About 1 in 10 teens who use cannabis regularly will become addicted to it. However, the effects on the still-developing brain of a teenager are serious regardless of dependence or addiction. Marijuana impedes brain growth, including the formation of neural pathways, and can affect IQ, motivation, and cognitive processing. Even among those who may not…
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 &…
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…
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…
Inpatient rehab for opiate addiction is the highest level of care available for addiction treatment. It starts with medically monitored detox and continues with a full range of integrated mental health services. At intake, a clinical staff conducts a complete history that includes medical and mental health, drug use, and other personal factors that help…
Since it was first extracted from the coca plant in the mid-1800s, cocaine has been used and abused by people seeking a stimulant rush. For many years, experts failed to recognize the harmful nature of cocaine, but now we know it is a dangerous drug. Medical science understands addiction to involve changes to the brain’s…
An opiate is a drug that originates from opium, which comes from the poppy plant. There are synthetic drugs that mimic the structure and effects of opiates. They are called opioids. People often refer to the entire class of drugs using the umbrella term “opioid,” which encompasses opium-derived opiates and lab-created opioids. This group of…
If you or someone you know is looking for help with mental health and addiction recovery, then you may be interested in a dual diagnosis program. At Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge, we are proud to provide people with access to this specific program. At the same time, we also want to ensure that we…
If you are someone who is suffering from substance abuse issues, you are probably looking for help. Countless substances can be addictive, and some of them are legal, such as alcohol. One common example of an addictive substance is cocaine. If you suspect someone close to you is struggling with a cocaine addiction, there are…