Our nation’s teens are particularly vulnerable to falling prey to drug and alcohol addiction. At the center of this vulnerability is the fact that most teens don’t know the truth about drugs and alcohol. They tend to operate around myths that their peers pass around. How can we combat this problem and better educate our…
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A substance use disorder is a chronic disease. Are you its victim? Is a loved one struggling with it? What are the signs of drug abuse? Here are the signs that may help you make that determination. Evaluating the Signs of Drug Abuse and Understanding the Condition Pain pills, alcohol, cough medicine, and street drugs…
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You’ve heard about the stereotypical alcoholic. This person lost a job, family, and home. In contrast, what is a functioning alcoholic? Do you recognize yourself as the individual who’s keeping a job, home, and family while struggling with chemical dependency and doesn’t even know they need an addiction treatment program? Alcohol Abuse is an Addiction…
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Debbie became a teacher because she wanted to help other people, especially kids. On a typical weekday, she would drop her son off at the high school then go to her own classroom of fourth-graders, where there’s no typical other than the subjects. Well respected by their small town and church, Debbie’s son had his…
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Let’s face it, change is hard for most people—this reality can be observed each year in the weeks before and after January 1st, as countless numbers of people either forgo making a New Year’s resolution or give up on their goals shortly afterward. For someone struggling with a substance use disorder or other form of addiction, the…
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Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling aerosol or vapor from a liquid that contains nicotine and other substances, such as THC. The vapor is produced by an e-cigarette or other device, like a vape pen or Juul. Juul and other e-cigarette companies have come under fire for deceptive advertising targeting their products to…
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Although treatment for substance abuse and mental disorders takes place in centers, addiction recovery is a lifelong process. September is dedicated to the awareness and celebration of recovery. The theme for Recovery Month 2018 is “join the voices of recovery: invest in health, home, purpose and community.” To kick off Recovery Month, Gateway’s Director of Alumni Events Marty Cook speaks to…
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One of the biggest concerns many teens and parents find themselves facing is alcohol and drug use. An estimated 1.3 million adolescents in the United States have a substance use disorder. Equally as worrisome, the majority of people who have a teen substance abuse disorder started doing drugs before the age of 18 and people who start drinking before 15 are four times…
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What is Marijuana? Cannabis, also called marijuana, pot or weed, is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of dried, shredded pieces of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main compound of marijuana, THC, is what is believed to alter chemicals in the brain to produce a “high.” Addiction…
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Staff and friends celebrated the Gateway Chicago River North opening with a ribbon cutting August 23. The new Gateway River North site is located at 415 N. Dearborn St., blocks from Merchandise Mart and Illinois Center and less than a 20-minute walk from Union Station and Ogilvie transportation centers to accommodate busy schedules with Outpatient care. The opening…
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