Delano area calendar
Delano Farmers Market NOW TO OCT. – The Delano Farmers Market, located on the corner of Highway 12 and County Line Road in the Flippin’ Bills’ parking lot, is open from 2 to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from May through October. The Farmers’ Market is local farmers selling fresh, locally grown produce and other products, including breads, fruits, jams, honey, maple syrup, eggs, beef products, Kettle Korn …
Read more on Delano Press & News
The Complete UNEDITED True Story camouflaged by the changing of dates and names, as well… it is a story of depravity, deprivation and cruelty… a story of angels with razor wire halos. It is a story of guts, determination, learning the hard way, the law of the jungle and human kindness even in the vilest of circumstances. It is the story of a life that never stood a chance…except for the guy that lived it: and the merciful God that was watching over him. Whether you are a troubled soul
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Question by chrystallec: What will happen to a child taken from her mother due to drug abuse?
Someone I know used drugs before, during, and after her pregnancy. Her daughter was born with a drug addiction and is still in the hospital (3 weeks). If reported, I assume the child will be taken away, but will the family be able to take custody of the child legally? Or does the child HAVE to go into a foster care setting? I don’t know how this works, and would like to possibly care for this child, but if I take the legal route I don’t want the baby to go to strangers. Does anyone know how this works?
Best answer:
Answer by the eyes have it!
well, first off, the child was tested in the hospital and if so, the social workers are already involved. chances are, the mother will have to clean up her act. the child will also go to family first before entering the foster care system. a child born addicted to drugs has many things that can go wrong. especially a bit later, like during the school years.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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HEALTH CALENDAR
Alzheimer’s Association Early Stage Education and Support Classes, 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 21, Alzheimer’s Association, 1500 S. Glenstone Ave. Call 886-2199 or 800-272-3900.
Read more on The Springfield News-Leader
Searching for the cure
Friday, August 10 In the 2005 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey (which surveyed grades 8 though 12), state numbers show declining or static use. Twenty-two percent of students used marijuana, down from 32 percent in 1997. Three percent of students used heroin, the same numbers were given in 2003 and 2001.
Read more on Brattleboro Reformer
Help for Parentswith Addicted Children
Help for Parents with Addicted Children
Are you enabling your Child to continue in the Addiction Process?
Addiction to drugs and alcohol among our children covers the entire social and economic spectrum in our society. Many ascribe addiction to poor parenting, however while poor parenting can contribute to the addiction problem, good parenting does not prevent it. Some families have one addicted child while their other children, living in the same environment, do not become addicts. So whether you are certain your son or daughter is not addicted, suspect they may be addicted or know that they are addicted, you may want to read more of this article. You will find help on recognizing addiction, learning what you may be doing to enable it and what you can do to help your son or daughter and to help yourself deal with it.
Recognizing Addiction in Your Son or Daughter
Parents are often the last to recognize addiction in their children. Studies have shown that about 4% of parents of 9 to 11 year olds believe their child may have used drugs while about 25% of these children admit to doing so. There are several reasons for this. The children get very good at hiding alcohol and drug use from their parents while parents do not want to believe it to be possible. In addition, there is a judgmental attitude that drug and alcohol use is the result of poor parenting so parents deny the problem even in the face of strong evidence to the contrary. Here are some questions to help you determine if your son or daughter has the disease of addiction.
1. Do you have relatives on either or both sides of your family who are addicted? Genetics plays a large role and sometimes the disease skips a generation or two.
2. Have you found evidence of drug use in your home such as marijuana joints, empty liquor containers (either theirs or yours) or drug paraphernalia? Children will go to great lengths to hide alcohol and drug use from parents, so if they are leaving evidence this is an indication they have lost control of their use.
3. Have you seen a major change in behavior such as grooming habits, loss of interest in family activities, studying habits, withdrawing, depression, new friends, belligerence, extreme defensiveness, etc.?
4. Has your son or daughter gotten a MIP or DUI, been charged with shoplifting or theft?
5. Do they tell you that they are not affected by drinking alcohol or can drink more than their peers? This usually is perceived as good thing by an addict but actually indicates they have developed a high tolerance because of excessive use.
6. Have you seen burns on their fingers or lips, needle marks, or sores on their nose and face?
7. Has your son or daughter lost weight or developed a poor appetite?
8. Do they have money problems and refuse to explain how it is being spent?
Hopefully these questions will help you decide whether there is a problem or not. If you believe there is, you must begin by understanding what is and is not enabling behavior and how to avoid it.
Are You Enabling Your Child in the Addiction Process?
If you are like most parents, your initial response to addiction in a child is "We are going to fix this problem?" The common initial thoughts of parents faced with an addicted child will include, I'm going to punish my child, or I'll lecture him about the problems with doing drugs or alcohol, or I'll ground him until he is 30!! However, these attitudes probably will do little to alleviate the problem. Instead they probably increase the desire in your child to abuse substances. This approach, among many others that keep the addiction process going, is called "Enabling Behavior". After attending Al Anon meetings for a while, it becomes easier to make the distinction between what is enabling behavior and what is helping behavior. You will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle you. The following story illustrates the point.
As fathers, when our kids…even our adult kids, get into life threatening situations, sometimes it is just not possible to say “detach with love” and walk away…at least it wasn’t for me.
My alcoholic ex-wife actually schooled our oldest son with her addiction to wine. She created her own "drinking buddy," and, because he was 17 and in the midst of those rebellious "dad's an idiot" times, she won real favor with him by encouraging this "adult behavior."
By the time he was 18, his mother and I had separated, so, with me out of the house, this boy really "took over the house."
One night after work I received a panicky call from our youngest son. His older brother had beaten him up and threatened to kill him in a drunken rage. The boy was sobbing.
I had to do something. But before I did, I called my sponsor, who also had a son about my son’s age, and had successfully gotten him into treatment. My sponsor added a compassionate but detached good sound mind to my panic. Together we worked out a plan where I called the DA’s office first, found out that the older son could be charged with a misdemeanor and arrested. Then, when I confronted the boy I had a strong arrow in my quiver.
I used what we call in the program the “broken record” technique. I just repeated over and over the same message to him in the face of his bluster. It went something like this:
“I understand, but I want you to know that I have this option, and if there is any harm done, or even another threat of harm, I will have you arrested.”
Guess what? After I drove over and picked up his brother and got him to safety I called the older brother back. He was looking through the newspaper trying to find a job so that he could leave the house. But we never had another threat of violence against his younger brother. So how did this all end?
Well, my oldest son went through his various adventures, hit a bottom, came into AA, and started his recovery. He married a talented woman who became a nurse, went back to school, received his GED, then went on to a state-operated college and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He has made me a Grandfather twice over, and at this moment serving as a phenomenal teacher.
After my divorce from his mother, his younger brother moved in with my new Al-Anon wife and me. After a difficult period with counseling for four years, and some tragedy, he graduated from a state-operated college, and then found Al-Anon. That led to a great sponsor, professional counseling, his finding his own church and his deciding that he wanted to enter the ministry. He graduated went back to school, graduated from divinity school, and now, after a long stint as an associate pastor, has his own church.
A huge thank you to Al-Anon, Darrell my Al Anon sponsor, my new life with this incredible wife, my fantastic sons, and God.
What you can do to help yourself and to help your son or daughter
Prior to making any hasty decisions after learning your child is addicted, it would be beneficial to remember that we are ill equipped to deal with numerous issues that are involved in addiction. You need to get your child help either through a 12 step support group, professional addiction counselor or both. Along with your child's recovery, you need to seek assistance in dealing with the pain, uncertainty, fear and insanity that are normal for parents of addicted children. The first healthy thought you should engage is that you did not cause the addiction, you can't cure the addiction and you can't control the addiction.
Some specific things you can do:
1. Focus on creating a healthy emotional atmosphere in your home. Resist the urge to yell by focusing on saying what you mean, mean what you say but don't say it mean.
2. Focus on you and not your child. Your and his recovery will be better. Only seek to control yourself rather than your child.
3. It is important for both parents to work together by setting boundaries that define what will and will not be allowed in your home along with the consequences of behavior that is not allowed.
4. Be patient and don't resent the method of recovery. Recovery of the addict may or may not materialize and chances are that if recovery does occur it will not be a result of what you did rather it will be the result of another addict doing 12 step work in carrying the message of experience, strength and hope to fellow addicts.
5. Keep a sense of humor and gratitude. These help when dealing with crisis.
6. Remember that your child has a higher power. Fortunately, you are not it because you are powerless over the disease of addiction. This frees you up to focus on you and your recovery.
7. Maintain hope that things can get better. This hope will keep you sane and help you with your responsibilities.
8. Do attend a 12 step recovery program for co-dependents and do get a sponsor. You will find out that you are not alone and that there is help.
Okay, so this is not the way you thought the family history would unfold when your child was born. Resentment, shame and anger are probably consuming your thoughts when you see your child. By following the steps outlined above, however, and making a commitment to the recovery process for yourself, you will find serenity, joy and freedom whether your child's addiction continues or not. Often, the child also gets into recovery after they see the changes in your behavior. Addiction resulting in recovery may be the impetus to get your life restarted and refocused on the things that truly matter such as service to others, compassion, acceptance and honesty.
Author's Biography
Kenneth W. Powers
July, 2007
Ken Powers was raised in poverty among what would in AA terminology be referred to as low-bottom drunks. Neither of his parents drank, but both were children of alcoholic parents, and both had long histories of alcohol addiction in past generations. After watching two uncles die of acute alcoholism only a half of a block from his home "drinking on the same couch," he married and stayed married for 19 years to a woman who became a practicing alcoholic.
He is a singular man in that he has been active in the Al-Anon recovery program for 30 years, a program usually attended by women. Ken started attending meetings when men in Al-Anon were extremely rare. Men are 15% of Al-Anon today, but in 1976 he was one of only four male Al-Anons in all of Houston. During three decades he has attended two to three meetings per week, led meetings, sponsored many men, spoken at major Al-Anon and AA conferences, and served as chairman of the board of directors for the Al-Anon Intergroup office, which serves over 200 weekly meetings in the Houston area.
Ken earned a BA degree in biology during the sixties in San Francisco from what was then San Francisco State College. He performed menial labor for five years, working nights, weekends, and summers to pay his own way through college while supporting a young family.
Upon graduation, Ken entered the pharmaceutical industry as a sales representative, was moved to Texas and made responsible for sales to hospitals affiliated with medical schools, and then managed representatives responsible for sales in medical centers in Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, and Augusta. He was in the first class of hospital representatives selected for special training to set up and monitor drug studies. Prior to a change in the Code of Federal Regulations, all such professionals had to be physicians. He successfully retired at the age of 54.
More recently, Ken has dedicated himself to the program, and to tutoring students in the SAT, ACT, biology, higher math, and French. He began writing about the recovery process for men with addicted family members in June of 2006, and was soon joined by Scott Brieger, and Bob Thelen. The three men realized that, with their experiences in the corporate world, plus their exceptional levels of mutual trust developed after years of working the program together, they had a unique mix. Also, similar backgrounds with addicted family members were there, but one had survived an addicted wife, one an addicted mother, and another an addicted daughter. Each could therefore approach the subject of addiction from a totally separate viewpoint. The collaboration that began soon netted publication of the article titled "Are you Living with an Addicted Person?" in the July 1, 2007 issue of Going Bonkers Magazine. A second article has been accepted. For Ken personally, publication of the book represents the chance to help the families of addicts on an even broader scale, which he is convinced is one of his most important purposes in life.
Help for Parents With Addicted Children
Help for Parents with Addicted Children
Are you enabling your Child to continue in the Addiction Process?
Addiction to drugs and alcohol among our children covers the entire social and economic spectrum in our society. Many ascribe addiction to poor parenting, however while poor parenting can contribute to the addiction problem, good parenting does not prevent it. Some families have one addicted child while their other children, living in the same environment, do not become addicts. So whether you are certain your son or daughter is not addicted, suspect they may be addicted or know that they are addicted, you may want to read more of this article. You will find help on recognizing addiction, learning what you may be doing to enable it and what you can do to help your son or daughter and to help yourself deal with it.
Recognizing Addiction in Your Son or Daughter
Parents are often the last to recognize addiction in their children. Studies have shown that about 4% of parents of 9 to 11 year olds believe their child may have used drugs while about 25% of these children admit to doing so. There are several reasons for this. The children get very good at hiding alcohol and drug use from their parents while parents do not want to believe it to be possible. In addition, there is a judgmental attitude that drug and alcohol use is the result of poor parenting so parents deny the problem even in the face of strong evidence to the contrary. Here are some questions to help you determine if your son or daughter has the disease of addiction.
1. Do you have relatives on either or both sides of your family who are addicted? Genetics plays a large role and sometimes the disease skips a generation or two.
2. Have you found evidence of drug use in your home such as marijuana joints, empty liquor containers (either theirs or yours) or drug paraphernalia? Children will go to great lengths to hide alcohol and drug use from parents, so if they are leaving evidence this is an indication they have lost control of their use.
3. Have you seen a major change in behavior such as grooming habits, loss of interest in family activities, studying habits, withdrawing, depression, new friends, belligerence, extreme defensiveness, etc.?
4. Has your son or daughter gotten a MIP or DUI, been charged with shoplifting or theft?
5. Do they tell you that they are not affected by drinking alcohol or can drink more than their peers? This usually is perceived as good thing by an addict but actually indicates they have developed a high tolerance because of excessive use.
6. Have you seen burns on their fingers or lips, needle marks, or sores on their nose and face?
7. Has your son or daughter lost weight or developed a poor appetite?
8. Do they have money problems and refuse to explain how it is being spent?
Hopefully these questions will help you decide whether there is a problem or not. If you believe there is, you must begin by understanding what is and is not enabling behavior and how to avoid it.
Are You Enabling Your Child in the Addiction Process?
If you are like most parents, your initial response to addiction in a child is "We are going to fix this problem?" The common initial thoughts of parents faced with an addicted child will include, I'm going to punish my child, or I'll lecture him about the problems with doing drugs or alcohol, or I'll ground him until he is 30!! However, these attitudes probably will do little to alleviate the problem. Instead they probably increase the desire in your child to abuse substances. This approach, among many others that keep the addiction process going, is called "Enabling Behavior". After attending Al Anon meetings for a while, it becomes easier to make the distinction between what is enabling behavior and what is helping behavior. You will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle you. The following story illustrates the point.
As fathers, when our kids…even our adult kids, get into life threatening situations, sometimes it is just not possible to say “detach with love” and walk away…at least it wasn’t for me.
My alcoholic ex-wife actually schooled our oldest son with her addiction to wine. She created her own "drinking buddy," and, because he was 17 and in the midst of those rebellious "dad's an idiot" times, she won real favor with him by encouraging this "adult behavior."
By the time he was 18, his mother and I had separated, so, with me out of the house, this boy really "took over the house."
One night after work I received a panicky call from our youngest son. His older brother had beaten him up and threatened to kill him in a drunken rage. The boy was sobbing.
I had to do something. But before I did, I called my sponsor, who also had a son about my son’s age, and had successfully gotten him into treatment. My sponsor added a compassionate but detached good sound mind to my panic. Together we worked out a plan where I called the DA’s office first, found out that the older son could be charged with a misdemeanor and arrested. Then, when I confronted the boy I had a strong arrow in my quiver.
I used what we call in the program the “broken record” technique. I just repeated over and over the same message to him in the face of his bluster. It went something like this:
“I understand, but I want you to know that I have this option, and if there is any harm done, or even another threat of harm, I will have you arrested.”
Guess what? After I drove over and picked up his brother and got him to safety I called the older brother back. He was looking through the newspaper trying to find a job so that he could leave the house. But we never had another threat of violence against his younger brother. So how did this all end?
Well, my oldest son went through his various adventures, hit a bottom, came into AA, and started his recovery. He married a talented woman who became a nurse, went back to school, received his GED, then went on to a state-operated college and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He has made me a Grandfather twice over, and at this moment serving as a phenomenal teacher.
After my divorce from his mother, his younger brother moved in with my new Al-Anon wife and me. After a difficult period with counseling for four years, and some tragedy, he graduated from a state-operated college, and then found Al-Anon. That led to a great sponsor, professional counseling, his finding his own church and his deciding that he wanted to enter the ministry. He graduated went back to school, graduated from divinity school, and now, after a long stint as an associate pastor, has his own church.
A huge thank you to Al-Anon, Darrell my Al Anon sponsor, my new life with this incredible wife, my fantastic sons, and God.
What you can do to help yourself and to help your son or daughter
Prior to making any hasty decisions after learning your child is addicted, it would be beneficial to remember that we are ill equipped to deal with numerous issues that are involved in addiction. You need to get your child help either through a 12 step support group, professional addiction counselor or both. Along with your child's recovery, you need to seek assistance in dealing with the pain, uncertainty, fear and insanity that are normal for parents of addicted children. The first healthy thought you should engage is that you did not cause the addiction, you can't cure the addiction and you can't control the addiction.
Some specific things you can do:
1. Focus on creating a healthy emotional atmosphere in your home. Resist the urge to yell by focusing on saying what you mean, mean what you say but don't say it mean.
2. Focus on you and not your child. Your and his recovery will be better. Only seek to control yourself rather than your child.
3. It is important for both parents to work together by setting boundaries that define what will and will not be allowed in your home along with the consequences of behavior that is not allowed.
4. Be patient and don't resent the method of recovery. Recovery of the addict may or may not materialize and chances are that if recovery does occur it will not be a result of what you did rather it will be the result of another addict doing 12 step work in carrying the message of experience, strength and hope to fellow addicts.
5. Keep a sense of humor and gratitude. These help when dealing with crisis.
6. Remember that your child has a higher power. Fortunately, you are not it because you are powerless over the disease of addiction. This frees you up to focus on you and your recovery.
7. Maintain hope that things can get better. This hope will keep you sane and help you with your responsibilities.
8. Do attend a 12 step recovery program for co-dependents and do get a sponsor. You will find out that you are not alone and that there is help.
Okay, so this is not the way you thought the family history would unfold when your child was born. Resentment, shame and anger are probably consuming your thoughts when you see your child. By following the steps outlined above, however, and making a commitment to the recovery process for yourself, you will find serenity, joy and freedom whether your child's addiction continues or not. Often, the child also gets into recovery after they see the changes in your behavior. Addiction resulting in recovery may be the impetus to get your life restarted and refocused on the things that truly matter such as service to others, compassion, acceptance and honesty.
Author's Information Sheets
In keeping with one of the Al Anon tenants which states that "anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions," the three authors will not publicly disclose their names. However, they do wish to share how they have been impacted by the disease of addiction and how they have seen miracles recovery within themselves and others.
All three of the authors have lived with addicted family members including an alcoholic ex-wife, an alcoholic mother and growing up in an emotionally abusive home. There was the death of a daughter from cocaine overdose. They battled this disease through control, raging, caretaking and rescuing but the problems only became more severe. Finally they gave up and surrendered to God through the Al Anon program.
Combined, the authors have been attending Al Anon meetings two to three times a week for over 40 years. They have sponsored over 40 other Al Anon members, have read nearly all the Al Anon literature that is available, led and spoke at numerous meetings and served on committees. As a result they have seen themselves and others change from complete despair, depression, financial ruin, and unbearable grief to lives filled with serenity, joy and freedom.
Readers are encouraged to visit the web site "menlivingwithaddictedpeople.com" or "miabook.com". There you will find information on addiction and recovery and also a blog space which provides a sampling of what a typical Al Anon meeting is like.
Fix welfare rules, panel urges province
When is a loan not a loan? Answer: When you are on welfare. That's because welfare rules consider loans to be income, as Christine Watts learned this summer.
Read more on Toronto Star
Many Dallas County drivers found to get only probation in DWI manslaughter cases
In Dallas County, if you drink, drive and even kill someone, you may spend no time behind bars.
Read more on Dallas Morning News
Achieving Peace Through Non-violent Protest by Truth On EarthThis product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com’s standard return policy will apply.
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Provides Information Substance Abuse Treatment System Clients Reference
For many people, contact with the criminal justice system is their first opportunity for substance abuse treatment. It provides information on the substance abuse treatment system and its clients on the reference date. N-SSATS provides the mechanism for quantifying the dynamic character and composition of the United States substance abuse treatment delivery system. Many people in treatment for substance abuse have other complex problems, such as co-occurring mental disorders, homelessness, or involvement with the criminal justice system. Create an integrated system of referral and treatment for substance abuse that is consistent with the referral and treatment process of other chronic diseases.
Information about the costs of substance abuse, impact of substance abuse, and prevention and treatment are provided at this site. Rensselaer County has long been an advocate for substance abuse prevention and treatment. Objectives Statewide formulation and implementation of a state plan for prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery of substance abuse. Finding effective treatment for and prevention of substance abuse has been difficult. Probationers receive substance abuse treatment, life skills training, relapse prevention, and educational and vocational training in a modified therapeutic community format. Provide design and evaluation of programs related to substance abuse prevention and treatment.
Despite this increase, little research is being done on adolescent substance abuse treatment and prevention. Without additional prevention and treatment resources, the child welfare system will continue to wage a war against substance abuse that it cannot win. The statement concludes with specific recommendations for financing substance abuse prevention, assessment, and treatment for children and adolescents. The listings below show the Department’s substance abuse treatment and prevention programs by city. The Center will conduct behavioral, epidemiologic, and evaluation studies on the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
The program is intended to be provided as a component of substance abuse treatment or through family and community service agencies. Delaware’s internationally-acclaimed, 3-step substance abuse treatment program is proven to be successful in rehabilitating drug offenders. Even if a victim is able to complete a substance abuse treatment program, being revictimized is predictive of relapse. The program was modified during implementation at two women’s residential substance abuse treatment programs. The delegation explored bringing an intensive substance abuse treatment program to their region and chose Delaware’s model to study. In Pennsylvania, a child covered by the private program currently will receive no substance abuse treatment benefits.
Also troubling is that this Cdouble stigma occurs among drug users who are addressing their addiction by attending a substance abuse treatment program. Renascence Renascence is a day treatment program for HIV-positive individuals with past or present substance abuse issues. Our nomadic wilderness treatment program incorporates an innovative, holistic approach to issues such as substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and difficulties with relationships. A substance abuse evaluation must be completed before you can be admitted to any treatment program in the Lincoln area. Because he experienced a treatment program that met his needs, he has a better understanding about substance abuse and addiction. He has to pay for his own transportation – bus, train or plane to get to the substance abuse treatment program. The Crest program allows recovering substance abusers to continue their treatment as they transition to the community.
Therefore, the AAFP supports full parity for substance abuse treatment in health care plans. The MAP consists of goals, action steps, and indicators for improving access to health care including substance abuse treatment. Whether these recommended practices come from the substance abuse treatment, children’s mental health, child welfare or family support arenas, common themes emerge across disciplines. Minkoff answers questions related to best clinical practices in the treatment of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.
States are assessing how work-first policies (work requirements, definitions of work activities, and sanctions) impact treatment for substance abuse and mental health problems. Women show a greater tendency than do men to seek help for health matters, but not in specialized substance abuse treatment settings (21). Integrated mental health and substance abuse centers provide mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment simultaneously. Providers reported that approximately 80% of youth who were court-ordered to treatment in regional mental health institutes also had substance abuse problems. It reports on the current state of medical and mental health treatment and how this affects people with substance abuse disorders and HIV/AIDS.
Increase the number of admissions to substance abuse treatment for injection drug use. JCAHO is the gold standard in accreditation for drug and substance abuse treatment facilities. NCRPG developed a social indicator model of interstate substance abuse treatment needs that includes both drug and alcohol components. Learn about symptoms of alcoholism, drug addiction, substance abuse and treatment centers. Our substance abuse treatment campus extends over a 40-acre manicured estate, providing a serene and healing drug rehab environment.
Providing comprehensive substance abuse advice and education regarding options for intervention, drug treatment, and continuing care. rural residency, and marital status, substance abuse treatment providers should also integrate the following recommendations specific to the alcohol/other drug treatment system. A comprehensive guide to the best drug rehabs, residential substance abuse treatment and detox centers for adults, adolescents, and troubled teens. http://www.abuse-substance-treatment.com/
Wirat Muenpan is The Webmaster Of Provides Information Substance
Abuse Treatment System Clients Reference – Quickly and Easily! http://www.abuse-substance-treatment.com/
Alcohol Use and Abuse Addiction and Habituation
Alcohol Use and Abuse Addiction and Habituation
Problem and Solution.
Summary: Although there is no definition of “addiction” that is universally accepted, in general, addiction refers to a physiological and psychological dependency on a drug. While some drugs of abuse induce physiological addiction, others do not. Alternatively, some drugs that are physiologically addictive generally are not abused (e.g., caffeine). Tolerance to drug effects, and withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt cessation of use, which develop over time, are characteristic features of physiological addiction. “Habituation” is the term used to refer to psychological dependence on a drug. Some drugs of abuse are highly rewarding because of their influence on reinforcing neurobiological processes, but they do not necessarily result in “tissue” related withdrawal symptoms. Cessation of such drugs may lead primarily to subjective craving due to previous drug conditioning (perhaps true of some marijuana users) and craving may be more readily evoked or deeply conditioned among some persons than others (“addictive personalities”). Primary methods of assessment of addiction and habituation are completed through clinical interviews or self-report surveys (e.g., American Psychiatric Association DSM-IV, World Health Organization ICD-10). Treatment paradigms for the cessation of addiction begin with initial detoxification or withdrawal, followed by inpatient or outpatient program participation (e.g., 12-step programs, milieu, cognitive-behavioral, or behavioral). Pharmacological efforts (e.g., methadone maintenance) may be used as harm-reduction strategies among those who seem unable to quit drug use.
It is estimated that approximately 15 percent of the world’s adults have serious substance abuse problems (not including nicotine addiction), and that this percentage has remained fairly constant over the past twenty-five years. Of these substance abusers, about two-thirds abuse alcohol and one-third abuse other substances, mainly marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. Approximately2.5 percent of the population abuse marijuana, 0.5 percent abuse stimulants, 0.3 percent abuse cocaine or opioids (such as heroin), and up to 0.8 percent abuse other substances (e.g., inhalants, depressants, hallucinogens). Sites of drug production and manufacturing, and distribution routes, tend to identify regions at high risk for abuse.
Drug abuse causes significant health-related consequences and financial losses to legitimate economies. The financial cost to society is estimated to be approximately 0 billion per year worldwide. This does not include the cost of nicotine abuse, which, through its influence on heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease, and numerous other consequences, is the number one behavioral killer of people worldwide. Drugs of abuse are also associated with the production of psychotic symptoms (e.g., paranoid ideation) and with injuries due to accidents and violence. Approximately 50 percent of automobile fatalities involve alcohol-impaired drivers, and many auto crashes also involve chronic marijuana or amphetamine users.
In addition, each drug class is associated with a unique set of potential consequences. Some drugs of abuse are likely to have lethal consequences (e.g., opiates and depressants), and some have a high potential for addiction. Health consequences can also vary by drug. For example, depressants, PCP, stimulants, steroids, and cannabis are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Stimulant use is linked to seizure, digestion problems, and lung problems. Documented consequences of marijuana use include lung damage and short-term memory problems. Dementia, seizure, memory impairment, central and peripheral nervous systems impairment, gastrointestinal diseases, and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are all consequences of alcohol consumption. Steroid use is associated with high blood pressure, potential heart attacks, liver tumors, transient infertility, and tendon degeneration. Inhalants are well-known causes of kidney, brain, and liver damage.
The development and maintenance of the addictive process involves multiple pathways and levels of influence within biological, psychological, and sociological domains. Influences exogenous to the individual include environmental, cultural, and social factors. Cultural and social norms, variations in drug use practices, and the values and behaviors of parents, siblings, friends, and role models can all affect an individual’s drug experiences. Processes contributing to individual differences in substance use include physiological susceptibility, as measured in genetics studies; affective states; personality; and cognition—including expectancies and memory processes. Substance abuse versus substance use is more strongly related to intra-personal processes (e.g., self-medication for emotional distress) than social processes, although both are influential in the addictive process.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE
Substance use pertains simply to the use of a drug. Substance misuse means using a drug for a purpose or in a manner in which it was not intended or prescribed. Substance abuse is marked by an accumulation of negative consequences resulting from drug use. Substance use that leads to a decreased level of performance in major life roles, or to dangerous actions, legal problems, or social problems, indicates abuse. Substance dependence is a more severe form of drug abuse that also includes tolerance (the need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve the desired drug effect), withdrawal symptoms when stopping substance use, unpredictability of substance use, and an inability to control the use of a substance to the point that it consumes one’s daily life.
Withdrawal symptoms vary from drug to drug. For example, withdrawal from alcohol, sedatives, or anxiolytic agents may involve autonomic reactivity, hand tremor, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, transient illusions or hallucinations, psycho-motor agitation, anxiety, and grand mal seizures. Amphetamine or cocaine withdrawal can include fatigue, unpleasant and vivid dreams, insomnia or hypersomnia, increased appetite, and psychomotor retardation or agitation. For substance abusers, withdrawal is often a difficult process with numerous symptoms, while abstaining from drug use can lead to recovery from physical and psychological problems and an improvement in overall health.
THE DRUG ABUSE CONTINUM
Conceptually, substance abuse can be seen as a continuum, with individuals at one end being relatively “disease-free” but engaging in maladaptive behaviors over which they have some control. These individuals may repetitively use drugs, and over time they may abuse drugs. They choose to live a certain lifestyle in which their maladaptive behavior may or may not result in other disease states associated with use (e.g., cirrhosis of the liver). If these individuals stop this negative cycle they can, perhaps on their own, learn alternative coping mechanisms and self-efficacy. Individuals at the other end of the continuum, however, seemingly have no control over their use. Some individuals appear to lose control the first time they use drugs. For these individuals drug use is like a toggle switch that is either on or off. For them, total abstention is the only alternative because they have no control processes once the switch is turned on. They may use until they die unless someone else can turn their switch off and keep it off. There is no logic to this behavior, and no choice. Users of this type will often ruin their own lives and the lives of those around them in their drive to use their drugs of choice. It seems that as one moves toward a more “at-risk” end of the continuum there is less and less control over substance use.
It is unclear what causes the difference in loss of control among those at different points of the continuum. Researchers do not understand the process very well. They do know that other factors may exacerbate the process, including biologically based differences in metabolic processes, different levels of susceptibility to the reinforcing effects of drugs, personality disorders or depression, and an inability to tolerate frustration or emotional discomfort. Some processes are under individual control, but many are not, and it does appear that the less control the individual has over these types of processes, the more likely he or she is to fall into substance abuse.
STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE
During the early stages of substance abuse, the alcoholic or drug abuser experiences increasing tolerance and use. Substance use at this stage is generally for purposes of self-medication. In the later stages of abuse, life becomes centered around obtaining, using, and recovering from drug use. Loss of control, ethical deterioration, and noticeable withdrawal symptoms ensue. It is unclear, however, whether such a progression is inevitable.
In a 1991 empirical review of the study of progression in alcoholism, Jill Littrell found that approximately 60 percent of adolescent problem drinkers remit to nonproblematic levels of drinking when they reach their 20s, and that 25 percent of young adults remit to nonproblematic levels of drinking before they reach age 35. Studies examining data on adult alcoholics who have undergone a variety of treatments as inpatients and outpatients during follow-up periods of up to fifteen years provide a general profile of outcomes. Between 25 and 35 percent remain abstinent, whether or not they continue treatment. An additional 15 to 25 percent will be abstinent most of the time, with some lapse periods. Approximately 6 to 9 percent will become nonproblematic or controlled drinkers (particularly those who were lighter drinkers and suffered fewer negative consequences while drinking). Another 20 to 33 percent become stable problematic drinkers, while 15 to 25 percent will die from alcohol-related causes.
It is uncertain whether drug abusers follow a progression similar to that of alcoholics. There probably is some validity to a notion of progression for drug use in general, but more longitudinal studies are needed in this area. It is possible that such a progression might simply express the accumulation of consequences one endures each time one takes a chance by drinking or using drugs. As opposed to the stages outlined above, a substance abuser may simply incur more problems over time, along with an increased tolerance for alcohol or other drugs of abuse.
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the most commonly used drug in the world. Pharmacologically, alcohol is classified as a central nervous system depressant. Like other depressants, in small doses alcohol slows heart rate and respiration, decreases muscular coordination and energy, dulls the senses, and lowers inhibitions—resulting in feelings of relaxation and greater sociability. Large amounts of alcohol can result in depression of the various body systems, resulting in coma or death. The immediate physical effects of alcohol depend on the amount and frequency of drinking, while the mental and emotional effects are influenced by the mood of the drinker and the setting in which drinking takes place.
Two physical effects resulting from prolonged, heavy alcohol use include tolerance and withdrawal. Alcohol tolerance refers to the need for increased amounts of alcohol to achieve the same level of intoxication. For example, five or six drinks may be needed to achieve the same effects produced by one or two drinks when the individual first began drinking. Alcohol withdrawal, on the other hand, refers to a number of physical and psychological reactions an individual experiences when significantly reducing or stopping prolonged heavy drinking. Symptoms of withdrawal include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and hand tremors.
An interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors come into play in the development of drinking behaviors and problems. For example, some individuals may be genetically predisposed to alcohol problems, but whether or not they actually experience negative alcohol consequences will also depend upon their immediate social and physical surroundings, such as family drinking patterns and alcohol availability, as well as their drinking habits.
ALCOHOL USE AND MISUSE
Most people who drink alcohol do so without negative consequences. Others may actually obtain a health benefit from its use. Some, however, drink in ways that place themselves or others at risk for experiencing alcohol-related problems. While no pattern of alcohol use is without risk, certain drinking patterns may help reduce risk significantly.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, define moderate drinking as no more than two standard drinks per day for men, and no more than one per day for women and people sixty-five years of age and older. A standard drink is 0.5 ounces of alcohol, equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. These guidelines suggest that moderate or low alcohol use is linked to a reduced risk for the occurrence of negative alcohol consequences. For others, however, abstaining from all alcohol consumption is the safest thing to do. Groups who should avoid all alcohol use include pregnant women, children and adolescents, those planning to drive or participate in other activities requiring alertness, people who cannot maintain moderate alcohol use, and those who are using over-the-counter or prescription medicines that interact with alcohol.
Another way to understand drinking problems is to examine definitions of alcohol misuse. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines alcohol misuse as alcohol use that places people at risk for problems, including “at-risk use,” “clinical alcohol abuse,” and “dependence.” At-risk alcohol use is the consumption of alcohol in a way that is not consistent with legal or medical guidelines, and it is likely to present risks of acute or chronic health or social problems for the user or others. Examples include underage drinking; drinking by individuals with a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking; or drinking if one has a medical condition that could be worsened by drinking, such as a stomach ulcer or liver disease. Clinical alcohol abuse is a more serious type of misuse that results in one or more recurrent, adverse consequences, such as failure to fulfill important obligations or the repeated use of alcohol in physically dangerous situations. Alcohol dependence is the most severe type of alcohol misuse and involves a chronic disorder characterized by three or more symptoms within a twelve-month period. These symptoms include alcohol tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, and continued use despite knowledge of having a physical or psychological problem.
Negative consequences resulting from alcohol use are estimated to affect more than 10 percent of the U.S. population, with many of these individuals going undetected. A number of brief screening tools are available to help detect possible alcohol problems. One of the most widely used among these is the four-item CAGE questionnaire, which derives its name from the following four self-administrated questions:
1. Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?
Answering “yes” to as few as one or two items on the CAGE questionnaire may indicate a drinking problem.
PREVALENCE
In the United States, 44 percent of adults eighteen years of age and older are current drinkers, consuming at least twelve drinks in the last year. Meanwhile, 7.4 percent, or approximately 14 million Americans, experience alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. Heavy episodic or binge drinking has remained at the same approximate level of 16 percent for all adults since 1988, with the highest rate, 32 percent, among young adults ages eighteen to twenty-five. Over one-half of adults report having a close family member who has experienced alcoholism.
As few as 5 percent of the heaviest drinkers consume as much as 42 percent of the alcohol drunk in the United States, and 20 percent of drinkers account for nearly 90 percent of the alcohol consumed. The bulk of the alcohol drunk in the United States, therefore, is consumed by a relatively small population of very heavy drinkers.
Alcohol is also the drug most frequently used by children and adolescents. In 1999, over half (52%) of eighth graders (14-year-olds) and 80 percent of twelfth graders (18-year-olds) reported having used alcohol at least once. More problematic drinking occurs in 15 percent of eighth graders and 31 percent of twelfth graders, who reported binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks in a row) in the previous two weeks. Of American high school adolescents, over half (51%) currently drink alcohol. In 1999, one in three high school students reported heavy episodic drinking of five or more drinks on at least one occasion during the previous thirty days. The prevalence of heavy drinking commonly increases through adolescence into early adulthood.
HEALTH OUTCOMES
Alcohol use has health and social consequences for those who drink, for those around them, and for the nation as a whole. Approximately 100,000 deaths each year are attributed to alcohol use, making it the third leading cause of preventable mortality in the United States. Worldwide, 750,000 deaths are attributed to alcohol use each year. Alcohol-related deaths occur from cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, motor-vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, suicide, and homicide. Alcohol affects nearly every system in the body, and contributes to a range of medical problems, including altered immune system functioning, bone disease, hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, reduced cognitive functioning, fetal abnormalities, traumatic injury, depression, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancers of the neck, head, stomach, pancreas, colon, breast, and prostate. Alcohol also produces significant social problems, including domestic violence, child abuse, marital and family disruption, violent crime, motor-vehicle crashes, worksite productivity losses, absenteeism, and lowered school achievement. The estimated cost of alcohol misuse in the United States in 1998 was nearly 5 billion.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to acute alcohol effects due to their lower tolerance to alcohol, their lack of experience with drinking, and drinking patterns that often include heavy episodic drinking in high-risk situations, such as during driving and sexual encounters. Leading causes of mortality and morbidity among youths include alcohol-related motor-vehicle injuries, homicide, and suicide. Alcohol use among young people is associated with reduced scholastic achievement, increased delinquency, and the development of psychiatric problems later in life. Alcohol has also been found to precede other illicit drug use, thereby serving as a “gateway” to other drug consumption, including marijuana and cocaine use.
Women and the elderly are also at greater risk for experiencing alcohol harm because of their lower levels of body water, meaning that smaller amounts of alcohol result in higher levels of intoxication than in younger men. Drinking during pregnancy has been linked to higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature births, and fetal alcohol syndrome—a set of birth defects caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. For the elderly, drinking even modest amounts of alcohol may cause considerable problems due to chronic illness, interactions with medications, and grief and loneliness from the death of loved ones.
At the same time, moderate to low levels of alcohol consumption have been linked to a lower risk for heart disease and stroke. These positive effects appear to be confined primarily, however, to middle-aged and older individuals in industrialized countries with high rates of cardiovascular diseases. Individuals and populations must weigh the risks and benefits of drinking to themselves and others, including such factors as the situations under which drinking is to take place and the amount likely to be consumed, to determine the net results of drinking.
SOLUTIONS
The burden of alcohol misuse is measured in a number of ways, including the prevalence and incidence of deaths, injuries, and illnesses attributed to alcohol; hospitalization rates; potential years of life lost to alcohol misuse; and quality of life indicators. Vast resources are expended each year in the United States to address the health and social problems resulting from alcohol misuse. Because no single solution can reduce all alcohol-related harm to individuals and populations, a comprehensive approach using a range of strategies that address the multiple causes and dimensions of alcohol problems is needed. These strategies should include educational approaches—such as public health education and awareness programs, including school, family, and community-based prevention programs; environmental approaches—such as controls on the price and availability of alcohol, minimum age for purchase of alcohol, legislative measures to curb driving under the influence of alcohol, and restrictions on the promotion, marketing, and advertising of alcohol; and health care efforts—such as primary health care screening, advice by health care providers, preventive services, and effective treatment using psychological and
pharmacological approaches.
Dr.Kedar B. Karki
New Hope Rehabilitation Center Satdobato Lalitpur
drkarki_kedar@yahoo.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1999). Fact Sheet: Youth Risk Behavior Trends. Atlanta, GA: Author.
Dawson, D., and Grant, B. (1998). “Family History of Alcoholism and Gender: Their Combined Effects on DSM-IV Alcohol Dependence and Major Depression.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol 59(1):97–106.
Dawson, D.; Grant, B.; Chou, S.; and Pickering, R. (1995). “Subgroup Variation in U.S. Drinking Patterns: Results of the 1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Study.” Journal of Substance Abuse 7(3):331–344.
Ewing, J. (1984). “Detecting Alcoholism: The CAGE Questionnaire.” Journal of the American Medical Association 252:1905–1907.
Grant, B.; Harford, T.; Dawson, D.; Chou, P.; DuFour, M.; and Pickering, R. (1994). “Prevalence of DSM-IV Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: United States, 1992.” Epidemiologic Bulletin No. 35. Alcohol Health & Research World 18(3):243–248.
Greenfield, T., and Rogers, J. (1999). “Who Drinks Most of the Alcohol in the U.S.? The Policy Implications.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol January 1999:78–89.
Inaba, D., and Cohen, W. (2000). Uppers, Downers, All Arounders, 4th edition. Ashland, OR: CNS Publications.
Johnston, L. D.; O’Malley, P. M.; and Bachman, J. G. (1999). “Drug Trends in 1999 Among American Teens Are Mixed.” University of Michigan News and Information Services, national press release, December 17, 1999:1–33.
Kandel, D., and Yamaguchi, K. (1993). “From Beer to Crack: Developmental Patterns of Drug Involvement.” American Journal of Public Health 83:851–855.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2000). Summary of Findings from the 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Rockville, MD: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1995). Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 4th edition. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2000). Tenth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. NIH Publication No. 00–1583. Washington, DC: Author.
—— (2000). Healthy People 2010. Washington, DC: Author.
World Health Organization (1994). Lexicon of Alcohol and Drug Terms. Geneva:
Dr.Kedar B. Karki
New Hope Rehabilitation Center Satdobato Lalitpur
Datebook – Aug. 15, 2010
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Question by April: Im 17 and Im starting to believe that I have a slight addiction to sex…is it possible?
Is it even possible to have an addiction to sex? Sometimes i feel ike i need it, i get mean if i don’t get any. Im not sure as to why i would have this “addiction”. It could be because i was a sexually abused child, but im not sure. I find myself constantly thinking about sex. Im not a whore about it either, i have one sexual partner, my boyfriend. He doesn’t seem to mind that i love sex. But is it known for this to happen?
Best answer:
Answer by SportChic50
I would have thought so
I guess it will be possible to get over it but you will get withdrawl symptoms like if you were to give up smoking
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Some experts estimate that 30 million American children live in alcoholic families. Many of these children will be so dramatically affected by growing up in an alcoholic household that they, too, will become tomorrow?s alcoholics and their children, like themselves, will suffer the consequences of growing up in an alcoholic family, and so on and so on, from one generation to the next.
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Written and illustrated by a young girl who was sexually molested by a family member, this book reaches out to other children in a way that no adult can, Jessie’s words carry the message, “It’s o.k. to tell; help can come when you tell.” This book is an excellent tool for therapists, counselors, child protection workers, teachers, and parents dealing with children affected by sexual abuse.Jessie’s story adds a sense of hope for what should be, and the knowledge that the child protection system c
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Teenage Substance Abuse
About 6 months ago I realized my teenage son Jason had been drinking. I was shocked. I had talked with Jason about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, but came to find out he (like most teenagers) was dealing with some very adult problems. I began to take a more active interest in what was bothering him. This is something that I wish was done earlier, but it just didn't occur to me that MY son could be susceptible to this. I did a lot of research and bought a couple of really good ebooks and found out some helpful information.
Jason and other teenagers are at risk for substance abuse include those with a family history of substance abuse, who have low self-esteem, who feel hopelessly alienated, as if they don’t fit in, or who are depressed. It isn’t always easy for someone to see that a loved one is a substance abuser. So, it is always helpful to know how to recognize substance abuse. That is why it is important to due your home work so you know what to look for. I started by just typing Jason's frustrations and symptoms into google. It is sometimes difficult for mental health practitioners to arrive at a diagnosis of substance abuse alone. It is important as a parent that you have all the information that you can gather before you seek the help of medical professionals. Substance abuse, addiction treatment and drug and alcohol recovery and rehabilitation resources are available on the internet. I found my information about Jason's recovery at www.Alcoholism-DrugAddiction.blogspot.com
What are the Symptoms of Substance Abuse? First of all, if a person is a substance abuser, he is probably going to be guarding his privacy more than usual. Different substances lend themselves to different groups of symptoms. Physical signs of substance abuse are: slurred speech, memory impairment, in coordination, and impairment of attention. There are a number of practical and empirical methods to determine substance use, among them being urine or blood testing. A dual diagnosis is given to any person who has both a substance abuse problem and an emotional or psychiatric disorder. Keep in mind, however, that the above characteristics of a possible substance abuser could also be characteristics of a person with depression and substance abuse.
When dealing with my teen I found it helpful to talk about how the substance abuse is affecting everyone. That way they can see how it is not just their problem they have to deal with themselves. It is important for them to know that they have support. They may act like they don't care but deep down behind that angry teenage exterior they really just want to know that someone cares.
Stressful events can profoundly influence the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. A number of clinical and epidemiological studies show a strong association between psychosocial stressors early in life e g , parental loss, child abuse and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior, and substance abuse in adulthood. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA , almost 50% of the average teen day often includes drinking, smoking, or using illicit drugs. The overindulgence in and dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or a narcotic drug can ruin a person's life. Especially if that person is young, like a teenager. The patterns that they develop at that age carry well into adulthood.
Researchers have long recognized the strong correlation between stress and substance abuse, particularly in prompting relapse. Although exposure to stress is a common occurrence for many teenagers it is also one of the most powerful triggers for relapse to substance abuse in addicted individuals. This is why treating a substance abuse problem is not just a one time thing. If your child has unfortunately developed an addiction it must be delt with to the fullest. Just confiscating their beer and telling them not to do it again isn't going to be enough. You have to be their back-up in the war on stress and peer pressure. YOU have to make them understand what you already know. However, this must be done in a democratic and fair manner. You must make them understand that it is not their fault, but it is a reality that must be delt with and they are going to have to act like a mature adult in order to solve this problem.
We all must focus on restoring teenagers emotional well-being, develop healthy ways to manage stress, and avoid them turning to drugs or other substances to escape stressful realities of the day. If the problem is too big to deal with then t may be time to seek professional help. I do however recommend being VERY well informed before this. The more that you know and can help the professionals with the faster your teens road to recovery. Jason is doing well now, his grades are up and we have our daily “meetings,” so I know exactly what I can help him with.
In drug abuse education course, teenagers receive information about alcohol and drugs and the physical, social, and psychological impact of abusing these substances. Some teen substances abused are: alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, “club drugs” ecstasy, etc stimulants, hallucinogens, inhalants, prescription drugs, and steroids. Drug and substance abuse among teenagers, is substantial and growing! The consequences of teenage substance abuse can be catastrophic not just to their social life and emotional development, but physically as well. Heart dieses, Cancer, and Brain Damage just to name a few. In addition to its direct health effects, officials associate alcohol abuse with nearly half of all fatal motor vehicle accidents. If a teenage addiction goes on un checked they WILL end up in jail, on the streets, or even worse DEAD! I pray that all parents out there take an active roll in their children's lives and stop these atrocities from beginning before they are a problem, but if it must be taken care of you are the first one that must be informed. To get some of the most crucial information check out www.Alcoholism-DrugAddiction.blogspot.com
I want all the people out there to benefit from my experience, and not make the same mistakes I did.
