Inhalant Abuse and Addiction

Most inhalants are common household products. They include paint thinner, fingernail polish remover, glue, gasoline, cigarette lighter fluid, and nitrous oxide. They also include fluorinated hydrocarbons that are found in aerosols, such as whipped cream, hairspray, spray paint, and computer cleaners. Used as intended, these household products are safe. When these products are sniffed, however, their toxic fumes can produce mind-altering effects.

Inhalants are often among the first drugs that young children use. One national survey conducted in 2003-2004 found that 2.5 percent of 4th-graders had used inhalants at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Inhalants also are one of the few substances that younger children abuse more than older ones do. Yet, inhalant abuse can become chronic and extend into adulthood.

Data from national and State surveys suggest that inhalant abuse is most common among 7th- through 9th-graders. For example, in the Monitoring the Future study, an annual NIDA-supported survey of the Nation's secondary school students, 8th-graders regularly report the highest rate of current, past-year, and lifetime inhalant abuse; 10th- and 12th-graders report less abuse of inhalants.

Many kids think inhalants are a harmless, cheap, and quick way to "catch a buzz." The chemicals in the vapors change the way the brain works, making the user feel very good for a short time. Inhalants can be found around the house or purchased inexpensively at the local grocery or general store. What kids often don't know is that, in some cases, the harmful effects of inhalants can be irreversible.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers have programs to address the issue of inhalant abuse and addiction. Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

Ecstacy Abuse and It's Effects

“Ecstasy” is a slang term for MDMA, short for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a name that’s nearly as long as the all-night parties where MDMA is often used. That's why MDMA has been called a “club drug.” It has effects similar to those of other stimulants, and it often makes the user feel like everyone is his or her friend, even when that’s not the case.

MDMA is man-made—it doesn't come from a plant like marijuana does. Other chemicals or substances—such as caffeine, dextromethorphan (found in some cough syrups), amphetamines, PCP, or cocaine—are sometimes added to, or substituted for, MDMA in Ecstasy tablets. Makers of MDMA can add anything they want to the drug, so its purity is always in question.

Like other drugs, MDMA can be addictive for some people. That is, people continue to take the drug despite experiencing unpleasant physical side effects and other social, behavioral, and health consequences.

No one knows how many times a person can use a drug before becoming addicted or who's most vulnerable to addiction. A person’s genes, living environment, and other factors play a role in whether they are likely to become addicted to MDMA

In general, NIDA-supported research shows that abuse of any drug, including MDMA, can cause serious health problems and, in some instances, even death. Many drug abusers take combinations of drugs, including alcohol, which may further increase their risk.

MDMA users can also become dehydrated through vigorous activity in a hot environment. It may not seem like a big deal, but when MDMA interferes with the body's ability to regulate its temperature, it can cause dangerous overheating, called hyperthermia. This, in turn, can lead to serious heart and kidney problems—or, rarely, death. MDMA can be extremely dangerous in high doses or when multiple small doses are taken within a short time period to maintain the high. High levels of the drug in the blood stream can increase the risk of hyperthermia, seizures, and the ability of the heart to maintain its normal rhythms.

Cleabrook Treatment Centers have intense programs to help yourself or a loved one with a drug addiction to esctacy. Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

Marijuana Use

Some people mistakenly believe that “everybody's doing it” and use that as an excuse to start using marijuana themselves. Well, they need to check the facts, because that’s just not true. According to a 2008 survey, called Monitoring the Future, about 6 percent of 8th-graders, 14 percent of 10th-graders, and 19 percent of 12th-graders had used marijuana in the month before the survey. In fact, marijuana use declined from the late 1990s through 2007, with a decrease in past-year use of more than 20 percent in all three grades combined from 2000 to 2007. Unfortunately, this trend appears to be slowing, and marijuana use remains at unacceptably high levels, as the most commonly used illegal drug.

While most marijuana smokers do not go on to use other drugs, long-term studies of high school students show that few young people use other illegal drugs without first trying marijuana. For example, the risk of using cocaine is much greater for those who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. Using marijuana puts children and teens in contact with people who are users and sellers of other drugs. So, a marijuana user is more likely to be exposed to and urged to try other drugs. The effects of marijuana on the brain of adolescents—still a work in progress—may also affect their likelihood of using other drugs as they get older. Animal studies suggest this to be true, but it is not yet demonstrated in people.

Researchers are testing different ways to help marijuana users abstain from drug use. Currently, no medications exist for treating marijuana addiction. Treatment programs focus on behavioral therapies. A number of programs are designed specifically to help teenagers who are abusers.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers understand the difficulties people have with understanding marijuana drug abuse. Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

Long-Term Effects of Stimulant Abuse

As with many other drugs of abuse, repeated stimulant abuse can cause addiction. That means that someone repeatedly seeks out and uses the drug despite its harmful effects. Repeated drug use changes the brain in ways that contribute to the drug craving and continued drug seeking and use that characterizes addiction. Other effects of long-term stimulant abuse can include paranoia, aggressiveness, extreme anorexia, thinking problems, visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and severe dental problems.

Repeated use of cocaine can lead to tolerance of its euphoric effects, causing the user to take higher doses or to use the drug more frequently (e.g., binge use) to get the same effects. Such use can lead to bizarre, erratic behavior. Some cocaine users experience panic attacks or episodes of full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and hears sounds that aren’t there (auditory hallucinations). Different ways of using cocaine can produce different adverse effects. For example, regularly snorting cocaine can lead to hoarseness, loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, and a chronically runny nose. Cocaine taken orally can cause reduced blood flow, leading to bowel problems.

Repeated use of methamphetamine can cause violent behavior, mood disturbances, and psychosis, which can include paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and delusions (e.g., the sensation of insects creeping on the skin, called “formication”). The paranoia can result in homicidal and suicidal thoughts. Methamphetamine can increase a person’s sex drive and is linked to risky sexual behaviors and the transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV. However, research also indicates that long-term methamphetamine use may be associated with decreased sexual function, at least in men.

Cleabrook Treatment Centers know the long-term consequences of drug abuse and have developed many programs that ultimately may save lives. Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

How Do People Get Addicted to Drugs?

Think about how you feel when something good happens—maybe your team wins a game or you're praised for something you've done well—that's your limbic system at work. Because natural pleasures in our lives are necessary for survival, the limbic system creates an appetite that drives you to seek out those things.

The first time someone uses a drug of abuse, he or she experiences unnaturally intense feelings of pleasure. The reward circuitry is activated—with dopamine carrying the message. Of course, drugs have other effects, too; a first-time smoker also may cough and feel nauseated from toxic chemicals in a tobacco or marijuana cigarette.

But the brain starts changing as a result of the unnatural flood of neurotransmitters. Because they sense more than enough dopamine, neurons may begin to reduce the number of dopamine receptors or simply make less dopamine. The result is less dopamine signaling in the brain, what the scientists call “down regulation.” Because some drugs are toxic, some neurons also may die.

As a result, dopamine’s ability to activate circuits to cause pleasure is severely weakened. The person feels flat, lifeless, and depressed. In fact, without drugs, life may seem joyless. Now the person needs drugs just to bring dopamine levels up to normal. Larger amounts of the drug are needed to create a dopamine flood, or “high”—an effect known as “tolerance.”

These brain changes drive a person to seek out and use drugs compulsively, despite negative consequences such as stealing, losing friends, family problems, or other physical or mental problems brought on by drug abuse—this is addiction.

Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genetic makeup, the genes that make each of us who we are, and the environment each play a role. What we do know is that a person who uses drugs risks becoming addicted, craving the drug despite its potentially devastating consequences.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers understand that facing a drug addiction can be difficult and long-term. Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

Relationship Between Drug Abuse and HIV

Drug abuse and addiction have been closely linked with HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic. Although injection drug use is well known in this regard, the role that non-injection drug abuse plays more generally in the spread of HIV is less recognized.

Injection drug use. People typically associate drug abuse and HIV/AIDS with injection drug use and needle sharing. Injection drug use refers to when a drug is injected into a tissue or vein with a needle. When injection drug users share “equipment”—such as needles, syringes, and other drug injection paraphernalia—HIV can be transmitted between users. Other infections—such as hepatitis C—can also be spread this way. Hepatitis C can cause liver disease and permanent liver damage.

Poor judgment and risky behavior. Drug abuse by any method (not just injection) can put a person at risk for contracting HIV. Drug and alcohol intoxication affect the way a person makes decisions and can lead to unsafe sexual practices, which puts them at risk for getting HIV or transmitting it to someone else.

Biological effects of drugs. Drug abuse and addiction can affect a person's overall health, making them more susceptible to HIV or, in people with HIV, worsen the progression of HIV and its consequences, especially in the brain. For example, research has shown that HIV causes more harm to nerve cells in the brain and greater cognitive damage among methamphetamine abusers than among people with HIV who do not abuse drugs. In animal studies, methamphetamine has been shown to increase the amount of HIV in brain cells.

Drug abuse treatment. Since the late 1980s, researchers found that if you treat drug abuse you can prevent the spread of HIV. Drug abusers in treatment stop or reduce their drug use and related risk behaviors, including drug injection and unsafe sexual practices. Drug treatment programs also serve an important role in getting out good information on HIV/AIDS and related diseases, providing counseling and testing services, and offering referrals for medical and social services.

Cleabrook Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania understand the linke between HIV and drug abuse and thus offer ways to prevent and fix the problem. Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

Help Prevent Alcohol Abuse with Your Teen

Just a few of the many dangerous effects of alcohol use in teens include the following:

Alcohol decreases teens' ability to pay attention.

The younger a person is when they begin drinking, the more likely they are to develop a problem with alcohol.

Each year, almost 2000 people under the age of 21 years died in car crashes in which underage drinking is involved. Alcohol is involved in nearly half of all violent deaths involving teens.

More than three times the number of eighth-grade girls who drink heavily said they have attempted suicide compared to girls in that grade who do not drink.

Teens that drink are more likely to engage in sexual activity, have unprotected sex, or have sex with a stranger.

Excess alcohol use can cause or mask other emotional problems, like anxiety or depression.

Drinking in excess can lead to the use of other drugs, like marijuana, cocaine, or heroin.

What you can do:

Clear communication by parents about the negative effects of alcohol, as well as about their expectations regarding drug use, have been found to significantly decrease alcohol use in teens. Adequate parental supervision has also been found to be a deterrent to alcohol use in youth. Alcohol, and other drug use, has been found to occur most often between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m., immediately after school and prior to parents' arrival at home from work.

Teen participation in extracurricular activities has therefore been revealed to be an important measure in preventing use of alcohol in this age group. Parents can also help educate teens about appropriate coping and stress-management strategies. For example, 15- to 16-year-olds who use religion to cope with stress tend to use drugs significantly less often and have less problems as a result of drinking than their peers who do not use religion to cope.

Cleabrook Treatment Centers understand how difficult it is for teenagers to avoid alcohol. Thus, they have opened the Clearbrook Lodge, a place for specifically designed for teens who are chemically dependent. Established specifically for adolescents, this 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation center is the beginning of what must be a continued effort to maintain a lifestyle and lifetime of sobriety. The 12 steps of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are an integral part of the patient community’s daily activities and efforts.

Teens and Alcohol

It’s not enough to tell your young teen that he or she should avoid alcohol—you also need to help your child figure out how. What can your daughter say when she goes to a party and a friend offers her a beer? Or what should your son do if he finds himself in a home where kids are passing around a bottle of wine and parents are nowhere in sight? What should their response be if they are offered a ride home with an older friend who has been drinking?

Brainstorm with your teen for ways that he or she might handle these and other difficult situations, and make clear how you are willing to support your child. An example: “If you find yourself at a home where kids are drinking, call me and I’ll pick you up—and there will be no scolding or punishment.” The more prepared your child is, the better able he or she will be to handle high-pressure situations that involve drinking.

At some point, your child will be offered alcohol. To resist such pressure, teens say they prefer quick “one-liners” that allow them to dodge a drink without making a big scene. It will probably work best for your teen to take the lead in thinking up comebacks to drink offers so that he or she will feel comfortable saying them.

Cleabrook Treatment Centers understand the difficulty your teen may have with avoiding alcohol. For this reason, they have established the Cleabrook Lodge, a sanctuary for teenagers who are chemically dependent. Established specifically for adolescents, this 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation center is the beginning of what must be a continued effort to maintain a lifestyle and lifetime of sobriety. The 12 steps of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are an integral part of the patient community’s daily activities and efforts.

Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs. The National Institutes of Health estimates that nearly 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.

Some prescription drugs can become addictive, especially when they are used in a manner inconsistent with their labeling or for reasons they were not prescribed. Those include narcotic painkillers like OxyContin or Vicodin, sedatives and tranquilizers like Xanax or Valium, and stimulants like Dexedrine, Adderall or Ritalin.

Steroid abuse is also on the rise. Steroids are prescription drugs that are legally prescribed to treat a variety of medical conditions that cause loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS. Men consistently report higher rates of steroid use than women. In 2008, 2.5 percent of 12th grade males, versus 0.6 percent of 12th grade females, reported taking the drugs in the past year.

In 2000, about 43 percent of hospital emergency admissions for drug overdoses (nearly 500,000 people) happened because of misused prescription drugs. This type of drug abuse is increasing partially because of the availability of drugs, including online pharmacies that make it easier to get the drugs without a prescription, even for minors.

There may also be a perception, especially among younger people, that prescription drugs are safer than illegal street drugs. Most people don’t lock up their prescription medications, nor do they discard them when they are no longer needed for their intended use, making them vulnerable to theft or misuse.

Prescription drug abuse is generally the same between men and women, except among 12 to 17 year olds. In this age group, research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that females are more likely to use psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical purposes. Research has also shown that women in general are more likely to use narcotic pain relievers and tranquilizers for non-medical purposes.

Drug addiction is a biological, pathological process that alters how the brain functions. Prolonged drug use changes the brain in fundamental and long-lasting ways. These long-lasting changes are a major component of the addiction itself. It is as though there is a figurative “switch” in the brain that “flips” at some point during an individual’s drug use. The point at which this “flip” occurs varies from individual to individual, but the effect of this change is the transformation of a drug abuser to a drug addict.

Cleabrook Treatment Centers are there for you when you or a loved one is abusing and addicited to prescription Drugs. Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that alcoholism and chemical dependency is a primary disease and that the suffering addict and his or her family members deserve immediate help.

Help Prevent Your Teen From Using Drugs

Every parent wants what's best for their kids and when it comes to the topic of drug abuse you can never be too cautious. There's no way you can watch what your children are doing 24 hours a day but with a little bit of work and by making a few strategic moves there are ten proven ways you can prevent your teen from taking drugs.

Be there for your teen when they need help getting out of a tough situation. If your teenager faces a tough situation such as winding up at a party where drugs or alcohol are available, be the one who will pick them up without being too harsh or making repercussions.

Get to know your teen's friends and their parents (on a first name basis). When you know who your teen is hanging out with it will help you to know what they are doing.

Explain the dangers and consequences of drug abuse to your teen. Talk about how people who are using drugs often say or do things that they normally would not do. Set clear limits about what would happen if your teen uses drugs and follow through with those rules if they are broken.

Stay connected with your teen after they return from school. Establish a routine for your teen to keep them busy after school hours and try to remain connected with them. If you can't be home with your teen leave them notes, call them or have another adult supervise them. You can also sign your teen up for an after school program that can keep them out of harm's way.

Drop any baggage you may be carrying about the mistakes you made as a teenager. Try not to let your past influence your teen in a negative way. Tap into the mature adult you have become and let go of the past.

Talk to your teen often about drugs. By having frequent conversations (not lectures) with your teen about drugs, they are less likely to use. Use an ice breaker to make yourself more comfortable if you must, such as taking a message from a television or radio show.


Cleabrook Treatment Centers are there for you if your child or teen ever turns to drug use or abuse. To combat this issue, they have established the Cleabrook Lodge, designed specifically for adolescents. Established specifically for adolescents, this 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation center is the beginning of what must be a continued effort to maintain a lifestyle and lifetime of sobriety. The 12 steps of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are an integral part of the patient community’s daily activities and efforts.

Gay Teens and Drug Abuse

Though overall usage rates have decreased in recent years, drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers remains a cause for concern in the United States. The problem is particularly acute among certain high-risk demographic groups – one of which is comprised of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teens.

A study by Dr. Michael P. Marshal of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center revealed that LGBT teens are 190 percent more likely to use drugs and alcohol than are heterosexual teens, and that the usage rate is even higher among certain subgroups. For example, Marshal’s study, which was published in the April 2008 edition of the journal Addiction, documented that the prevalence of drug or alcohol use among bisexual youth is 340 percent greater than the rate among straight teens. Among lesbian youth, the number rises to 400 percent.

LAMBDA, an advocacy association dedicated to improving the quality of life of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, says the effects of pressure and discrimination are not limited to alcohol and drug use. In the Youth Outreach section of its website, LAMBDA reports the following:

•A 1999 study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than are heterosexual teens.
•According to this same DHHS study, 30 percent of successful teen suicides are by gay, lesbian, or bisexual youths.
•An estimated 40 percent of street kids – many of whom turn to prostitution or other abusive situations after running away or being thrown out of their homes – are gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
•Researchers have reported that more than one in four LGBT youth have severe drug or alcohol problems.

Cleabrook Treatment Centers understand the increased social pressure gay teens may face, especially when it come to drug and alcohol abuse. Clearbrook Treatment Centers established the Clearbrook Lodge to help combat adolescent drug use and abuse. Established specifically for adolescents, this 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation center is the beginning of what must be a continued effort to maintain a lifestyle and lifetime of sobriety. The 12 steps of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are an integral part of the patient community’s daily activities and efforts.

When to Seek Help if Your Child is Using

The earlier one seeks help for their teen's behavioral or drug problems, the better. How is a parent to know if their teen is experimenting with or moving more deeply into the drug culture? Above all, a parent must be a good and careful observer, particularly of the little details that make up a teen's life. Overall signs of dramatic change in appearance, friends, or physical health may be signs of trouble. If a parent believes his or her child may be drinking or using drugs, here are some things to watch for:

•Physical evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia
•Behavior problems and poor grades in school
•Emotional distancing, isolation, depression, or fatigue
•Change in friendships or extreme influence by peers
•Hostility, irritability, or change in level of cooperation around the house
•Lying or increased evasiveness about after school or weekend whereabouts
•Decrease in interest in personal appearance
•Physical changes such as bloodshot eyes, runny nose, frequent sore throats, rapid weight loss
•Changes in mood, eating, or sleeping patterns
•Dizziness and memory problems

Cleabrook Treatment Centers can help you determine if your child is in need of recovery. Because of the high-risk of adolescents using drugs, Cleabrook Treatment Centers have established the Clearbrook Lodge, designed to specifically deal with the issue of teen drug abuse. Established specifically for adolescents, this 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation center is the beginning of what must be a continued effort to maintain a lifestyle and lifetime of sobriety. The 12 steps of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are an integral part of the patient community’s daily activities and efforts.

Why do Adolescents Use Drugs?

Being a teenager and raising a teenager are individually, and collectively, enormous challenges. For many teens, illicit substance use and abuse become part of the landscape of their teenage years. Although most adolescents who use drugs do not progress to become drug abusers, or drug addicts in adulthood, drug use in adolescence is a very risky proposition. Even small degrees of substance abuse (for example, alcohol, marijuana, and inhalants) can have negative consequences. Typically, school and relationships, notably family relationships, are among the life areas that are most influenced by drug use and abuse.

There is no single cause of adolescent drug problems. Drug abuse develops over time; it does not start as full-blown abuse or addiction. There are different pathways or routes to the development of a teen's drug problems. Some of the factors that may place teens at risk for developing drug problems include:

•insufficient parental supervision and monitoring
•lack of communication and interaction between parents and kids
•poorly defined and poorly communicated rules and expectations against drug use
•inconsistent and excessively severe discipline
•family conflict
•favorable parental attitudes toward adolescent alcohol and drug use, and parental alcoholism or drug use

It is important to also pay attention to individual risk factors. These include:

•high sensation seeking
•impulsiveness
•psychological distress
•difficulty maintaining emotional stability
•perceptions of extensive use by peers
•perceived low harmfulness to use

Clearbrook Treatment Centers understand the difficulty in dealing with chemical dependency with your teenager. For this reason they have established the Cleabrook Lodge, to address the issue of adolescent drug addicition: Established specifically for adolescents, this 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation center is the beginning of what must be a continued effort to maintain a lifestyle and lifetime of sobriety. The 12 steps of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are an integral part of the patient community’s daily activities and efforts.

Parents of Addicted Children

If you've just discovered that your child is drinking or doing drugs, the first thing you need to do is sit down, relax, and take time to breathe

We know it's a scary time, but you're in the right place. We'll help you plan and determine what to do — how to gather information, have productive conversations, set tighter limits, and bring in outside help

We're all familiar with the kid's trick of going to the other parent when one says no. There are similar issues with drug and alcohol use-you will certainly hear about it if your spouse has different attitudes. It's best for you and your spouse to sit down to come to a common stance on drug and alcohol use before you talk about the issue with your teen.

One of the questions you'll be sure to be asked is whether or not you have done drugs yourself. There are many responses if you experimented in the past. Today's drugs are much stronger than they were when you were young. You can say that you're sorry, and wish you had never tried drugs. Just don't let your teen manipulate you into a position where your response becomes a justification for them to use.

You've probably have found evidence that your teenager is using. But what will happen if your teen says it belongs to someone else? It's good to anticipate all the different ways your teenager might try to deny usage. But in any case, you should bring the subject up.

If you think this conversation will be uncomfortable for you, imagine how uncomfortable it will make your teenager. Be prepared for your teen to say things that will shock you, to flat-out deny even the most convincing evidence, accuse you of distrust, and more. It's a good idea to think about how you're going to handle these responses

It's very important that teens feels supported at all times by their parent. Be sure to let your child know that he or she can always count on you and come to you for support. Remind him that you are always there to offer guidance.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers specialize in helping adolescents who are chemcially dependent. They even have entire program devoted to the successful recovery of teens, called Clearbrook Lodge! Established specifically for adolescents, this 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation center is the beginning of what must be a continued effort to maintain a lifestyle and lifetime of sobriety. The 12 steps of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are an integral part of the patient community’s daily activities and efforts.

Detoxification and Clearbrook Treatment Centers

The goal of drug detox is to rid the body of toxins accumulated by drug use. The first step of drug detox is drug withdrawal. The definition of withdrawal is "Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance, and the physiological and mental readjustment that accompanies such discontinuation." Once an individual has discontinued using drugs, physical and behavioral withdrawal symptoms may follow.

The nature and severity of the withdrawal symptoms vary greatly depending on the particular drug or drugs that were being used as well as the frequency of use. These days there are few people who use one drug exclusively. It is very common to see individuals in drug detox that use alcohol and cocaine, or alcohol and prescription medications for example. Drug detox is a process that applies to any individual who is addicted to drugs. Detoxification helps diminish the uncomfortable symptoms of drug withdrawal.

Drug detox is performed in many different ways depending on where you decide to receive treatment. Most drug detox centers simply provide treatment to avoid physical withdrawal to alcohol & other drugs. Ideally, a trained detox facility will incorporate counseling and therapy during detox to help with the psychological distress that the individual may experience as well.

Detoxification should cover all aspects of the individual's withdrawal and purification from drugs. The removal of drug residuals is a key goal in drug detox. Without this process, drug residues can remain in ones body and cause cravings for years after drug use has ceased. A vital step in a successful drug detox as well as drug rehabilitation is flushing out these accumulated toxic residues so that the individual no longer experiences unwanted adverse effects from the drugs they have taken.

Cleabrook Treatment Centers use the following to address the problem of detoxification: each patient is monitored for withdrawal symptoms and is provided with medical assistance if needed. Clearbrook maintains a 15-bed detoxification unit. If a patient is experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms he or she will stay at this unit until a physician releases them. Upon completion of the detoxification phase, the patient will directly enter primary treatment.

What is Addiction Counseling?

Drug dependency has become a severe problem in most countries with millions addicted to substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, alcohol and others. In recent years, staggering information regarding the amount of drug use and abuse prevalent in society has raised much awareness about the problem; yet treating drug addiction has not received the same amount of press.

Many people who know someone with a drug or alcohol problem believe that some time in a rehabilitation centre will make all their problems go away and that the person will be cured following treatment. This is not the case, as drug addiction is not caused by the drugs; the problem lies within the addict.

Treating drug addiction has progressed from the way the problem was previously dealt with centuries ago. Exorcisms and imprisonment in state mental hospitals were the normal way of dealing with addicts before more was known about the disease. These days, drug addiction counselling is based on helping the addict deal with their underlying issues in a caring and supportive way and in a safe environment. Individual counselling as well as group therapy has proved to be the best method of treating drug addiction through the positive results yielded by the combination

An important part of recovery from any addiction is a daily programme of recovery for the addict to follow. Addiction is incurable and if left untreated will prove to be fatal, yet with a recovery programme which the addict applies themselves to daily, an addict can stay clean and sober for the rest of their life, one day at a time. No matter how much therapy and counselling an addict may receive, life will still present problems and uncomfortable feelings. If an addict is unable to process these feelings in an appropriate manner, they will not be able to maintain abstinence. Because addiction is a disease, it will not simply "go away" - it can be arrested and managed, but this takes effort and willingness on behalf of the addict in question.

Cleabrook offers programs for youths and adults that address the problem of chemical dependency. Their addiction counseling is as follows: individual and group with emphasis placed on current behavior. Counseling addresses the disease concept, its manifestations, and psychological and social complications. Reality-oriented, therapy is focused on the issues of denial, powerlessness, unmanageability, unrealistic thinking and other defense system tactics.

Clearbrook Lodge Programs & Components

The Extended Care Program at the Cleabrook Lodge has the following components:

Successful completion of the Extended Care Program is not dependent upon completing all stages of the program, but rather is determined by the successful completion of individualized treatment plans provided for each patient. This individualized attention is what separates Clearbrook Treatment Centers from all the rest, personal programs and attention. Completeing the Extended Care Program is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the rest of your child's life! Some of these programs offered by Clearbrook Lodge contain the following:

Alcohol and Drug Treatment:

-Detoxification
-Diagnostic
-Medical
-Evaluation and Monitoring

Education and Group Experience:

-Behavioral-Emotional
-Disciplined Environment
-Code of Conduct
-Rank Earning System
-Grooming and Personal Care
-Personal Responsibility
-Time and Placement Requirements
-Self-Image Building
-Problem Resolution
-Anger / Conflict Management
-Team Building
-Character Building
-Earned Self Esteem
-Leadership


Clearbrook Lodge is your #1 source for helping to end your teen's dependence on drugs and alcohol in Pennsylvania. With dedicated and compassionate staff you can rest easy knowing your child is receiving total quality care. Choose Clearbrook Lodge for helping your child on the road to being drug free!

Clearbrook Lodge Extended Stay

Clearbrook Lodge is incorporated into its nationally recognized treatment program is an Extended Care Program for adolescents that has proven to be very successful in helping chemically dependent youth develop a behavioral foundation that will serve them in all life situations. Lasting 90 to 180 days, the Extended Care Program utilizes a 13-acre island as the starting point for rehabilitation.

Participants progress through stages depending on how well they perform and if they meet the mandatory criteria to pass through the course. If the show exemplary performance they progress further and more quickly and are eligible for more performance awards.

With a longer length of stay, we are able to teach new living skills and develop healthy behavioral patterns that increase the individual’s chance of a drug-free and productive life. Outdoor activities are important for group building and help build self-esteem and group cohesiveness and are more proactive in longer lengths of stay.

Extended Care Goals
• Abstinence from mood-altering chemicals (sobriety)
• Use of the 12-step program
• Demonstrated change in personal behavior and self-image, consistent with healthy recovery-oriented behavior
• Adherence to a value system that promotes healthy functioning
• Initiate an improved, chemical-free lifestyle

Clearbrook Lodge is your #1 choice for helping your teenager end their depedency on drugs and/or alcohol in Pennsylvania. The professional staff value compassion and committment above all else, so you can feel comfrtable that your child is receiving the utmost care. Choose Clearbrook Lodge for ending your teen's dependence on drugs!

Clearbrook Lodge

Established specifically for adolescents, this 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation center is the beginning of what must be a continued effort to maintain a lifestyle and lifetime of sobriety. The 12 steps of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous are an integral part of the patient community’s daily activities and efforts. This program is specifically designed for teens and their families to help them have better understandings together and meets the important needs of adolescents going through this difficult time in a difficult part of their life.

These programs are available to those between 13 and 18 years of age who are still in high school, and who have sufficient skills to participate in therapy. Clearbrook Lodge ensures that your child will complete all school work and ensure timely admittance of all work. Adolescent treatment includes both a short-term program and an extended care program for those who need an more in-depth treatment.

Can you afford to wait any longer for your teen to keep their dependence on drugs or alcohol? Clearbrook Lodge is your #1 choice for ending your child's dependency on drugs and alcohol in Pennsylvania. Their staff follow the rules of compassion and committment to quality to ensure that your teen receives the best patient care you won't find anywhere else. Choose Clearbrook Lodge and help your child on the road to recovery!

Clearbrook Retreat

Family treatment is viewed as a vital and necessary component to enhance the recovery of the chemically dependent person, as well as to promote overall family recovery from the effects that chemical dependency has on individual family members. Family members suffer from another memeber's drug dependency, and these may include feelings of denail, guilt, and self-blame. This program is intended to help ease these feelings and help to build a healthy relationship again.

The Family Program is provided by Clearbrook for family members of the chemically dependent one weekend a month beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening and ending at Noon on Sunday. Families participate in group therapy and individual counseling sessions.

The 12-steps of this program are reinforced through this Clearbrook Retreat program. Alcoholics Anonymous and A-non are also reinforced through this program as well.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers are your #1 choice for ending your dependency on drugs and alcohol in Pennsylvania! They pride themselves on compassion and patient care to make sure that each patient gets the quality care they deserve. Choose Clearbrook Treatment Centers for your drug dependency recovery needs.

Clearbrook and Patient Treatment

Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program believes that chemical dependency is a disease and can be treated through compassion and total quality care.

Clearbrook Manor invests over $3.5 million in patient comfort and care.

Scheduled for completion this Summer, Clearbrook Manor will be moving our patients into a new building. Featuring a 21-bed state-of-the-art detox unit, medical stations and private interview spaces, the new building is designed to provide the utmost in patient care.

The building sits on top of a beautiful mountain with stunning views of the Pennsylvania landscape. The President of Clearbrook specifically chose this spot and was there and throughout the entire construction process.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers are your #1 choice for drug dependency recovery in Pennsylvania. Compassion and committment to patient care are their best assets that will ensure total quality care. Choose Clearbrook Treatment Centers for your drug dependency recovery needs!

Admissions to Clearbrook Treatment Centers

Specialists handle admission to the Manor and the Lodge. Each call is handled in the strictest confidence. Weekend and evening admissions can be arranged. The average length of stay is 30 days for adults and adolescents in the short-term program. The adolescent extended care program is three to six months.

A preliminary treatment plan is developed upon admission based on data collected during the entry interview, referral and family sources. This is what separates Clearbrook Treatment Centers from the rest, individual attention and personalized rehabilitation programs.

Comprehensive plans are important, because every individual has different needs that need to be met in certain ways. Their individual plans are different from other treatment facilities because they are tailored to an individuals needs, as oppossed to one-treatment-fits-all mentalities.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers are their to help you on the road to recovery and are your #1 source for dependency recovery in Pennsylvania. Compassion and Committment to Recovery are what the people of Clearbrook specialize in. Choose Clearbrook Treatment Centers for your drug dependency recovery needs!

Clearbrook Treatment Centers Programs

The following are programs that are offered from Clearbrook Treatment Centers to help you or a loved one recover from chemical dependency:

Addiction Counseling – individual and group with emphasis placed on current behavior. Counseling addresses the disease concept, its manifestations, and psychological and social complications. Reality-oriented, therapy is focused on the issues of denial, powerlessness, unmanageability, unrealistic thinking and other defense system tactics.

Rehabilitation Management – Following an entry interview, medical exam and data gathered from family and referral sources, an individual initial treatment plan is executed during the first three days of therapy. AFter the initial treatment plan, a more comprehensive plan is developed to meet yours or a family members personal needs.

Detoxification – each patient is monitored for withdrawal symptoms and is provided with medical assistance if needed. If a patient is experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms he or she will stay at this unit until a physician releases them. Upon completion of the detoxification phase, the patient will directly enter primary treatment.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers are there for you, to help you on your road to recovery, and should be your #1 choice for drug dependency recovery in Pennsylvania. They have professional and compassionate staff who are there for you and make sure to take care of you. Can you afford to wait? Choose Clearbrook Treatment Centers for your drug dependency recovery needs.

Clearbrook Treatment Centers

Since 1972, the renowned Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been providing effective treatment programs for adults and adolescents who suffer from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Clearbrook’s rehabilitation program is based upon the belief that chemical dependency and alcohol dependency is a medical condition, a disease, that can be treated through compassion and total quality care.

Thousands of people have taken their first steps down the road to recovery on the beautiful landscape grounds of Clearbrook Treatment Centers. Quality patient care and a strong success rate have led to Clearbrook being recognized as one of the leading inpatient treatment centers in the nation for alcoholism and chemical dependency.

Clearbrook offers adult, adolescent and family treatment programs accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs. The principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon serve as the foundation of the treatment programs, bolstered by proven therapies designed to encourage the recovery process.

Clearbrook has a variety of treatment options available and should definitely be your #1 choice when it comes to dependency recovery in Pennsylvania. The professional staff cares about each patient's well-being and will ensure total quality care and satisfaction. Can you afford to wait to recover? Choose Clearbrook Treatment Centers for your recovery needs!