Child Addicts -- What Every Parent Needs To Know - by: John Giordano, Founder and President of G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center

North Miami Beach, Fl (PRWEB) April 24, 2008 -- Michele was twelve when she began experimenting with drugs and alcohol. It wasn't until more than twenty-years later and after a failed suicide attempt that she was finally freed from her drug and alcohol addictions. This is a true story" says John Giordano, Founder and President of G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center in North Miami Beach Florida, "and I've got a million more just like this one." Mr. Giordano is committed to preventing addictions in America's youth before they fall victim of this hideous disease by bring their telltale signs to the attention of their parents.

Under age drinking and drug abuse is growing exponentially according to Mr. Giordano. He sites the Health and Human Resources' most recent statics as an example. The nonmedical use of prescription drugs among young adults increased by nearly 20% percent in one year, due largely to an increase in the nonmedical use of pain relievers. The average age when a youth first tries alcohol is 11 years for boys and 13 years for girls. According to research by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, adolescents who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21. The survey also shows that the problems of substance abuse and mental illness are often intertwined.

On an average day:

- Nearly 8,000 adolescents drink alcohol for the first time;

- Approximately 4,300 adolescents use an illicit drug for the first time;

- Around 4,000 adolescents smoke cigarettes for the first time;

- Nearly 3,600 adolescents use marijuana for the first time; and

- Approximately 2,500 adolescents will abuse pain relievers for the first time.

A number of factors contribute to the development of addictive behaviors. Early childhood trauma -- including sexual and/or physical abuse, neglect, or abandonment -- is often the root cause of childhood addiction. Some people develop their addictions at an early age and never learn to cope with adversity, thereby propagating their addictive behavior. As these individuals grow older, these behaviors become more entrenched and their addiction grows stronger until it becomes increasingly more difficult to satisfy.

On this anniversary of Alcohol Awareness Month,' Mr. Giordano wants parents to know that:

- Working parents with strenuous job demands leaving less family-time creates an environment conducive to childhood addiction

- Children that are abused, neglected or abandoned are at a higher risk of becoming an addict in their lifetime

- A diet that doesn't provide the minimal requirements of nutritional values can influence the development of addictions in children

- Genetics does play an important role in addiction

- Drug and alcohol addiction knows no socio-economic boundaries

- Youths who experience a major depressive episode are about twice as likely to start using alcohol or drugs

Mr. Giordano Influential book: "Proven Holistic Treatment for Addiction & Chronic Relapse" (Tate Publishing 2007 ISBN: 1-5988637-5-4) is being utilized by several state hospitals and a number of treatment centers across the country. G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center, the facility Mr. Giordano founded over twenty-years ago is a 62 bed in-patient/out-patient JACHO accredited addiction treatment center.

John Giordano's Distinguisted Awards

The Martin Luther King Award

The Homeless Humanitarian Award

Black Belt Hall of Fame

National Karate Champion

Mr. Giordano's Website:

John Giordano (www.drugrehabcenter.com)

Addiction Treatment (www.holisticdrugrehab.com)

Credentials: John Giordano is the president and founder of the prestigious G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center he started over twenty years ago. Mr. Giordano is a therapist, a Certified Addiction Professional (CAP), a Master Addictions Counselor (MAC), and a Certified Criminal Justice Specialist (CCJS). Mr. Giordano also earned a Masters Certification in Neurolinguistics Programming (NLP), and is a Certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Specialist and a professional expert witness for the state and federal government. Mr. John is also a Karate Grand Master 10th degree black belt and a member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame.

Media Credentials: John Giordano is a media pro and an experienced public speaker. He has been a guest on countless radio and TV shows including: Evening News with Katie Couric, Geraldo, Tom Brokaw - NBC News, ABC news, CBS CNN, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, as well as "Interventions" on A&E. For several years John also hosted a weekly Miami television talk show discussing addiction, domestic violence, HIV and mental health issues.

To see Mr. Giordano's most recent national and local TV interviews, merely click on the following URL address.

John Giordano 's national and local TV interviews (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2708081769871516687)

Mr. Giordano is a regular speaker at professional rehabilitation functions. He has spoken at several professional conferences including the 2004 - 2005 Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association Annual Conference (FADAA), www.fadaa.org, and the 2004 Florida Statewide Annual Woman Substance Abuse Conference. He has also spoken at this year's National Association of Forensic Counselors (NAFC) Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV, www.nationalafc.com, and at the Newlife Expo in Fort Lauderdale, FL, www.newlifemag.com.

John has also written several op-ed articles for multiple newspapers and magazines including Addiction Professional and The Forensic Therapist.

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