When it comes to educating parents on the dangers of gateway drug use, it’s true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Teenagers often times develop the attitude of “it’s only a cigarette. It’s only one drink. It’s only one puff.” Unfortunately, many of those same teenagers fall into a cycle of abuse, with the next hit being greater in quantity and greater in effect than the last one. That’s why it’s so important to educate parents on the dangers of the use of the four major gateway drugs: tobacco, alcohol, inhalants and marijuana.

“There are very few addicts who began abusing hard drugs initially,” begins a spokesperson for Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center . “And, that goes for alcoholics as well. An individual doesn’t suddenly wake up one day and think ‘I think I’ll go shoot up some heroine today’ or ‘I think I’ll drink a gallon of vodka today’. It starts with experimentation and generally speaking, experimentation with one of four major gateway drugs. Once those substances begin to lose their psychological, physical and emotional effects the desire for more, swells. The individual then looks at what else is out there to satisfy that hunger for more and, what started off as a seemingly innocent one-time puff of marijuana or a couple of occasional drinks, becomes a downward spiral towards full-fledged drug abuse. The important thing for parents to remember is that it’s never just one innocent puff or drink. Teenagers who begin experimenting, evolve into young adults with a potentially serious problem. It’s important for parents to learn how to talk with their children about the dangers of gateway drug use so that they can prevent the need for future drug addiction treatment.”

One of the most important things a parent can do to prevent their teenager from experimenting with gateway drugs is to model the behavior they are wanting their teenager to exhibit. For example, if a parent who smokes wants their child to abstain from smoking, they’ll either need to kick the habit themselves. They could also get their teenager actively involved in the cessation process: explain the dangers of smoking, why it’s important to quit and also share their struggles as they are trying to quit themselves. As uncomfortable as it may seem and as much as teenagers protest, they really do prefer honesty and nothing is more honest than transparency during the process.

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Cocaine addiction is growing at an alarming rate worldwide and is, perhaps, one of the most difficult drug addictions for an individual to overcome. Treatment requires a unique perspective along with a true understanding of the addiction in order to be able to help an individual get into recovery.

“All interventions for drug addiction are always tough, but with cocaine addiction, it seems particularly so,” states a spokesperson for Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center . “The high experienced from cocaine is really like no other. It often gives the user a superhero complex where they believe that they can conquer and/or do things a rational individual wouldn’t. It’s difficult to intervene in that situation because you’re asking a person to give up those “super powers”, even if those powers are only imagined. Many times, the cocaine addict’s self-esteem is tightly connected to that superhero feeling and when they enter into drug rehab, their ego takes a huge a hit, taking their self-worth with it. That’s why it’s important to have the proper support in place to help them understand that their value of self has nothing to do with the feeling they get from using cocaine.”

Recognizing the symptoms of cocaine addiction is paramount to saving the cocaine addict from a certain death. If you notice spurts of euphoria, nosebleeds or an excessive runny nose, dilated pupils, restlessness, inability to sit still, paranoia, hallucinations, periods of unexplained mania or tremors, you friend or loved one may be addicted to cocaine. Enlisting the help of caring professionals is your best course of action.

For nearly two decades, Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center has led the way in offering individualized alcohol and drug addiction treatment programs. As Mountainside’s licensed and certified counselors, social workers and treatment team serve, they strive to provide quality, compassionate care to each individual in a tranquil, peaceful environment conducive to optimal recovery.

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Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center has mounted a campaign to educate parents on the dangerous effects of OTC drug abuse that is growing at an alarming rate among teens.

Many parents don’t realize the dangers of OTC drug abuse and some actually think that since the medication is legal and accessible at the local corner pharmacy, there really is no danger. A medicine of particular concern is cough syrup containing dextromethorphan (also called DXM). When large quantities of this particular drug are ingested, your teen may feel the type of euphoria that is generally associated with illicit drugs.

While the complications may seem minor on the surface, they can range from vomiting, confusion, nausea, slurred speech all the way up to heart and breathing difficulties. Parents may brush aside these incidents and chalk them up to “teen experimentation”; however, it’s this very attitude that causes teens to fall into the trap of drug addiction as the cough syrup merely serves as a gateway drug—a doorway that leads to other serious drug abuse that will require drug addiction treatment for your teen.

“This problem doesn’t seem to be slowing down”, says a spokesperson from Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center. “The more talk there is about the simplicity of acquisition, the more teenagers are seeking to obtain this OTC drug. Many states have enacted laws that require you to obtain this type of cough syrup by inquiring at the pharmacy. It’s not that it’s a prescription or a controlled substance, but by keeping it behind the counter, they are able to regulate how many bottles can be purchased at a time, which is a very good thing.”

The most important thing a parent can do to guard against OTC drug abuse or any drug abuse is to be on constant guard, watching for any abnormal behavior or any new routines that just don’t make sense. Being arrmed with preventative information decreases the likelihood of a parent unknowingly waking up one day to a teen addicted to drugs.

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Over a decade ago, Mountainside Treatment Center set a standard for drug rehabs all over the world by offering personalized treatment plans for each individual who seeks drug addiction treatment at their facility.

Each treatment plan is approached holistically, addressing the full needs of the individual including Mind, Body and Spirit. This type of approach was unheard of prior to Mountainside’s ground-breaking efforts however, it’s proved to not only be a viable treatment model but a highly successful one as well.

Incorporating facets of traditional drug rehabs such as 12-step programs, individual counseling sessions and group sessions, Mountainside goes one step further and offers programs that reconnect the Mind, Body and Spirit. This innovative addiction treatment approach has found universal appeal in many drug rehabs.

Typically, an addicted person arrives at the point of drug addiction treatment completely disconnected and out of touch with reality as well as themselves. Their addiction has become an all-consuming monster and has not only psychologically but also physiologically created a disconnect between the mind and body function. Utilizing methods such as Yoga, Tai Chi and meditation helps the addicted individual begin integrating their total selves back into the life they had prior to becoming addicted.

Environment plays a part in the Mind, Body, Spirit connection. In order to be successful within this realm, the individual must exist in a stress-free, tranquil environment for the reconnections to begin. Chaos is the one true enemy of recovery. Mountainside’s colonial setting at the base of the mountains lends itself as a perfect location for recovery to begin and for the Mind, Body, Spirit program to work.

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Health care reform hangs in the balance. 1 in 6 Americans are uninsured. Health care costs are skyrocketing. With all of these factors, it’s no wonder that individuals who desperately need drug rehab believe they are unable to afford it.

It is estimated that the average daily stay in a drug addiction treatment program is $1,250, a cost that’s prohibitive to most addicts. Factor in the lack of credible information available to drug users and those two things just add to the growing list of reasons why individuals don’t seek the treatment that could definitively change their lives.

For the past 12 years, Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center has been providing affordable drug addiction treatment to those who may not be able to otherwise afford it. Their programs are cutting-edge, intuitive, flexible and empathetic- all the qualities of a top-rate residential program.

“Over a decade ago, we established ourselves as providers of quality drug addiction treatment. In addition, we were pioneers in providing affordable drug rehab in a comfortable, beautiful and relaxing environment. Those ideals have remained constant and today we are still determined to provide the best, most affordable drug treatment program available. At a per diem cost of $360, other programs pale in comparison. We’ve set out to help people recover from the addictions that prevent them from becoming productive assets to society. By providing quality, personalized care at a rate that is affordable for most, we believe we’ve put individuals in the position to become the best they can be. The next step is up to them.”

Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center is a comprehensive and innovative provider of treatment for individuals suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism.  Mountainside’s licensed and certified counselors, social workers and clinical treatment team and staff are dedicated to providing an unsurpassed treatment experience to its clients. With diverse areas of expertise, the treatment team works collaboratively with each client and their family to ensure that an individualized treatment plan is designed that will treat not just the symptoms, but the whole individual. With professionalism and compassion, each client is guided through every stage of recovery and encouraged to participate in a wide variety of evidence-based and cutting edge innovative treatment options.

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