Addiction that Started at the Age of 12
Douglas Clarke
From age 12 through 18, Doug began to experiment with any and all forms of drugs that he could get his hands on, from ecstasy to crystal meth. Over the course of the next few years, oxycodone became the dominant Idol that consumed him and which eventually transitioned into a full-blown heroin addiction. Doug shares his journey into drug addiction, including how being raised “in the church” left him feeling so empty that he searched for, and found acceptance through the fans of a band called Insane Clown Posse. Their message of sex, drugs, and violence filled the empty hole in his heart. In this far reaching conversation, Doug touches on how parents should respond to the manipulation of a drug addict, whether or not coming off of drugs cold turkey as he did is always the best way, why addicts are willing to destroy their lives and loved ones for that fix, and why addicts often go back to drugs after rehab. Doug offers hope, not only to the person addicted to drugs, but also to the people who love them.
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Douglas Clarke has over a decade of experience in the correctional, substance abuse, and mental health treatment fields. His experience includes a variety of executive-level administrative roles, supervisory roles, and clinical roles. These roles have included program development, program implementation, program compliance, financial oversight, operations management, and clinical practice. Doug is a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor through the Delaware Certification Board and is licensed to preach in the Presbyterian Church of America. Doug holds a Bachelor of Science in Religion and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University. Doug is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Westminster Theological Seminary. Doug is the author of Freedom from Substances: Ending Addiction through the Gospel. Currently, Doug serves as the Campus Chaplain at Bowling Green Treatment Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and is tasked with developing their distinctly Christian faith-based treatment track. He is engaged to be married to his fiancé, Danielle, in November. Most importantly, he is a dad to Anthony, Chloe, Zeke, Jake, and Amelia.”