By Phillip Giltman - Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

MARIETTA - A rehab center in Cobb County celebrated Father's Day in a unique way Friday night as several teenagers, who are attending the center and battling substance abuse, recited poems to their fathers for their love or lack thereof over the years.

Some fathers didn't bother to attend. Many of the poems brought tears to both the teens and their parents. One poem entitled, "Stranger in My Home," read by Mururi Wangu, questioned the whereabouts of his father, suggesting that maybe raising a child is too much of a burden for some people. Benson Suggs recited a poem entitled, "Dad, Now That You're Gone," which expressed his anger with his dad for leaving him and his mother, who had to fight back tears. In recognition of Father's Day, several songs were sung, including "The Greatest Love of All" and "Cherish," allowing the teens to express their appreciation for the fathers who have been there, even when times got rough.

Over the last 11 years, the George W. Hartman Adolescent Treatment Facility in Marietta, through family counseling and education, has been helping teenagers cope with substance abuse and drug addictions. "We are a long-term residential treatment program whose mission is to provide the necessary life-coping skills to help these kids get off of drugs and to find purpose in life and get back on track," said Mitra Ramlogian, who has been director of the center for the last three years. "We want them to develop healthy relationships with their families and friends."

In dealing with substance abuse, Ramlogian said the teenagers attending the center are typically battling with marijuana addictions, severe cocaine habits, excessive alcohol abuse and LSD usage. "These kids are on probation for possession charges, theft by taking, weapon charges, driving under the influence and even some felony charges," Ramlogian said. "They repeatedly violate their probation." By repeatedly violating their probation, either Department Family And Child Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice gives the center referrals. "Fifty percent of these kids don't want to come in because they feel they are being forced in to the center because of the court system," Ramlogian said.

The center currently houses 20 males and 10 females. According to Ramlogian, the center follows the Marietta City School's curriculum so all the teenagers must attend their core classes which include science, math, social studies and English. Besides regular classes, their day typically consists of group therapy, recreation time, breakfast, lunch and dinner, various education groups, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings and mandatory study time. "Bedtime is around 10 p.m., depending on the weekends," he said. Many of the teenagers said they enjoy the center and understand its mission.

"I like it here," said Jeremy Collette, 17, who has been at the center for the last five months. "It is very structured and Mitra (Ramlogian) is just awesome. It has really helped me get back on track."