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Most parents and guardians know their children well.

They know their behaviours and their temperaments, their normal "attitudes" and their normal teenage rebellion.

Most parents and guardians will also notice when their child has a significant change in behaviour - different friends, attitude changes, behaviour changes, rebellion beyond the normal.

In some cases, these behaviour changes may be attributed to substance abuse by the youth. If a parent or adult caregiver, or even a friend, notices a child is struggling with substance abuse issues, they can contact an organization called Portage.

The name itself is reflective of its mission: "Finding a pathway around an obstacle in order to continue one's journey." In the case of the youth of Portage, the obstacle is substance abuse and the pathway is Portage.

The Portage organization originated in Montreal in 1973. Portage Atlantic was founded in New Brunswick in 1995 to address the issue of substance abuse and lack of treatment for youth.

Youth for Portage is defined as 14-21 years old. A recent "graduate" of the Portage program credits her turnaround in her life to the program.

"I honestly, probably wouldn't be alive here today," she said. "I was hating everybody. I was hating myself. I didn't like who I was any more and I didn't want to have anything to do with people.

"My Mom told me she didn't know what to do with me any more, so she took me for an interview with Portage."

Since then, this young lady has received her high school diploma, is living at home and is set to begin college. Several graduates have similar success stories of their life turning around. Even those that do not complete the entire program often find out more about who they are and why they are abusing.

The Portage program is a residential program - it takes the youth out of their home and community, and away from those with whom they may be abusing. It provides a safe environment where residents are supported by both peers and staff.

The treatment facility is located at Cassidy Lake. A service centre is located in Fredericton.

Over the past 10 years, 1,200 Atlantic youth have been treated at the facility. The average program is about six to nine months in duration and is broken into phases.

The first phase allows the youth to work on their interpersonal relations, self knowledge, confidence and dignity. Phase two is about the social and personal skills required to have successful relationships.

The final phase is the counselling and support required to re-integrate with their family and community - substance free.

The client profile at the Cassidy Lake Centre is a 60 per cent male and 40 per cent female split. Most have dropped out of school, or are ready to do so. They have been abusers of drugs and/or alcohol for over two years, have been alienated from their family and community due to their behaviours, and often engage in delinquent or destructive behaviours. Service is available in both languages.

The Portage family is a supportive community.

"Happy people, people that can handle life, don't have to use (drgs) all the time," said graduate Haley Beer. "It's about learning how to handle life that you are not handling."

Beer admitted it was hard to live by the rules and deal with her issues. However, she admits that now "I felt like I used to feel when I took drugs, only I don't come crashing down."

Programs like Portage provide youth an opportunity to change their life before it becomes too late. Such programs reduce the burden on the health-care and justice system by teaching youth to make the right choices in life and maybe inspire others to make a life change as well.

For more information on the Portage organization, check out its website at www.portage.ca or call 472-4847.

Cindy Sheppard is the executive director of the Fredericton Community Foundation. Her column profiling non-profit agencies appears Thursdays. Please send comments to letters@dailygleaner.com.