An often asked question is, “why do so many addicts suffer from other mental illnesses?" and also, “which came first, the mental illness or the addiction?”  Researchers at the Indiana University Medical School are looking beyond the widespread conclusion that addiction is the result of ‘self-medication’ in response to an existing mental health challenge, and are investigating the function and health of the brain itself. Dual diagnosis is common yet difficult to treat. Clinical reports cite that at least half the people who seek help with addiction or mental-health treatment have co-occurring disorders. The research team led by Andrew Chambers, MD, has found that the link between addiction and mental illness may be isolated to a walnut-sized part of the brain, the ‘amygdala’ as related to its integrity and development. Their findings are promising, leading toward improved effectiveness in the treatments for dual diagnosis.

"Given that the experimental and control rats were raised in the same tightly controlled conditions, the only difference being their brain status, researchers concluded that the integrity of the amygdala was the root cause of both impaired fear behavior and heightened drug response."

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The following article discusses the several prescription medications being developed and used to treat drug and alcohol addiction.  There is much work being done to investigate the brain's chemistry during addiction and how to restore it.  The article states that we are a long way off from finding a pill to solve addiction.  One reason is simply because addiction destroys far more than brain chemistry, what medication can fix.  At Gatehouse we believe in a combination of the Clinical approach and 12 step recovery process.  In addition to treating the physical, we strive to treat the emotional and spiritual aspects as well.

"It's not just the physical piece. It's not just the emotional piece or the spiritual piece. The whole self is involved. To have true sobriety, you have to address all these areas in your life. There are certainly some folks who stop drinking. Their lives don't drastically change if they don't address the other things, too."

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The following article is one the demonstrates the potentially harmful attitude that many college students have towards substance abuse.  The article references an online community with a group that celebrates college age women getting drunk and going too far.  Members of the group post pictures of their escapades for all to see.  The group has 172,000 members.  I still find it amazing how many of our residents started drinking and using with the thought that it was a perfectly normal thing to do.  I too, had the same thought when I started to abuse alcohol at 17.  I didn't even think about the risks that I was taking.

Forty percent of college students binge drink, according to a report this year by the Center on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. The report lists many ramifications of college binge drinking, including injuries, sexual violence and vandalism. In addition, college students who reported having considered suicide were more likely to be active binge drinkers.

The Facebook group doesn't talk much about these problems. It has more than 172,000 members, and nearly 5,000 photos.

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Gatehouse Academy is an extended care treatment center for young men and women in need of long term drug rehab or alcohol rehab. We offer the opportunity for young adults from the ages of 17-25 to learn life skills, continue formalized education, enhance physical well-being, and recover from the detrimental effects of chemical dependency.

If you have any questions please contact us.

Gatehouse Academy is really excited to announce the release of a book titled, Underbelly; The Palm Beach No One Talks About.  The book is written and photographed by David Geliebter, the father of a Gatehouse Academy graduate.  The book shows another side to the wealthy community of Palm Beach, FL.  David interviews a number of individual's that are homeless, suffer from drug addiction and/or victims of domestic violence.  This self published book cost a total of $40,000 to produce and all proceeds go to helping homeless and addicted people in the area.

The book shares the stories of a group of individual's who have found themselves homeless, drug addicted and/or victims of domestic abuse in an area otherwise known for its wealth.

To listen to an interview with David Geliebter, please click here. (MP3 7.5 MB)

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This story highlights the important role many parents play in the recovery of a young adult suffering from addiction.  Michelle is a recovering drug addict, she started drinking at the age of 13 and soon found herself addicted to crystal meth.  In three short years she couldn't live without the drug.  Her mother was able to intervene and stop the process of addiction.  Michelle now thanks her mother for the gift of a new life and the continued love and support.  It shows that a strong support system can allow hope for the addict to recover.  Also mentioned in the article is the importance of educating families on addiction.  At Gatehouse Academy we empasize the healing of the whole family by providing Family Therapy Workshops throughout the residents stay.  It allows the family the opportunity to show the same love and support that Michelle recieved.  The Workshops also educate families on addiction and the recovery process.

"Families need to support each other and love each other and get help for the whole family,"

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Here's some news from Palatka, Florida.  There, drug addicts and alcoholics are being given an alternative to jail.  The article discusses three recent graduates of the Adult Drug Court program.  By completing the Drug Court they were offered a solution.  An alternative to serving jail time where there is little hope of recieving the tools necessary to recover.  They have achieved sobriety and been given their freedom back after going through the structure of the Drug Court program.  Many of Gatehouse's residents also experience the same freedom after completing the highly structured year long program as an alternative to jail. 

“The point is to break the cycle,” Yingst said. “Once you begin treatment you begin to be given the tools that help."

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This is another story of an individual dedicating his life to helping others after recovering from a hopeless state of mind and body.  Rickie battled with alcoholism for years before entering recovery.  This article describes the bottom he dropped to and his struggles along the way.  The feelings and experiences he describes are similar to many of the residents at Gatehouse Academy.  This story is a great description of the hopelessness of Alcoholism and the incredible transformation that occurs through 12 step recovery.

“Part of me knew I was an alcoholic” but denial kept surfacing, Jones added. “For about 12 beers, I’d hate myself. But after 14 beers, I wouldn’t care anymore. After 30 beers, I wouldn’t remember.”

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There are plans to start a new drug rehab in Salem, OR.  The program will be for women and will allow them to bring their children.  There is definitely a need for this.  These types of programs are few and far between. Sadly, women often lose custody of their children when entering drug rehab.

Treatment for drug addiction often tears families apart, sending children to foster care while mothers undergo court-ordered rehab.

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The following article talks about a recovering drug addict who has dedicated his life to helping others that struggle with addiction.  The principle of one addict helping another addict is part of the 12 Step Recovery approach that we use at Gatehouse Academy.  This is because carrying the message of recovery is as equally beneficial to the person carrying it as it is to the person receiving it.

Probation officer Mike Carley said, “It’s absolutely fantastic for me to see somebody who’s been through the mill with drugs coming out the other end and doing something really positive like this.

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