According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens, around a quarter of all kids under the age of 18 have witnessed substance abuse by a family member. This is a very dangerous situation. Many of these youths will go on to be victims of substance abuse themselves, and the cycle of addiction continues, generationally, with no end in sight. Why do kids pick up their parent’s bad habits? There are a number of reasons, and things to do about it.

Reasons Why Children Pick up Their Parents Drug and Alcohol Problems

It is no secret that children of drug and alcohol addicts are far more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol later in life. There are a three main reasons for this, which are mimicry, genetics, and abuse.

Mimicry

Children are more likely to abuse substances when they experience emotional of physical abuse at home.

There’s an old saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Almost every child wants to be like their mother or father when they grow up. Unfortunately, this extends to bad habits, as well.

Genetics

There is some scientific evidence that a predisposition for substance abuse is genetic, and transferred from generation to generation.

Abuse

Children of substance abusers are often victims of physical, emotional, sexual, or mental abuse at the hands of their substance abusing parents. This damages their ability to cope with adversity, and their self-esteem, and increases the likelihood that they will turn to drugs or alcohol for comfort.

How to Spot a Child of an Addict

In many cases, being able to identify the child of an addict, greatly increases the chances that the child can get help to better deal with an unhealthy household. It also increases the chances of the parent getting help with their addiction. There are a number of signs that a kid is the child of an addict. These include:

Anxiety and depression Unhealthy relationships with peers and family members Problems with self-control A desire to self-medicate

These signs can indicate that the child is in a home with an addicted parent.

How to Help a Child of an Alcoholic Not Pick up Their Parent’s Addiction

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there are a number of things that can be done to help reduce the chances of a child picking up their parent’s addictive habits, including:

Education, such as substance abuse and mental health classes. Media focus, like news stories and online media campaigns that inform the public. Community resources, such as coalitions between educators, law enforcement, and healthcare professionals.

What is being Done to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse?

Education, diversion programs, and community resources all do their part, however, that is not always enough. Especially if their parent is an active alcoholic or addict. If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and you have children, the best thing you can do to help them is get the help you need, now. Their future is in your hands. Provide them with a healthy role model that practices only good habits, and end the generational cycle of substance abuse. If you need treatment or suspect that a child in your life does, call us at 1-800-895-1695. We can help.

According to the DEA 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment, “each day in the United States, over 120 people die as a result of a drug overdose.” With millions of Americans involved in the illicit, illegal, and unprecedented abuse of drugs than ever before, high availabilities, and new concoctions hitting the streets daily, overdose statistics only show part of the picture.

Increases in co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders including major depression among adolescents (2.8 million with a major depressive episode (MDE) in 2014) and suicides among substance abusers are raising the bar for substance abuse treatment needs. The most recent surveys on substance abuse treatment however, show that most people never get the help they need and the following are some of the reasons why.

Ambivalence to Seeking Substance Abuse Treatment

Many substance abusers believe they have control over how much they use and think they can stop whenever they’re ready.

Ambivalence to seek substance abuse treatment has many sources including the perceived value of the drug and the behaviors associated with it; sometimes, over and above the satisfaction of other wants and needs including holding a job, maintaining a relationship, or regard for health concerns. A person may think that they have their substance abuse, attitudes, and behaviors under control, can quit when they are ready to quit, or worse, have little hope to be able to recover.

According to the SAMHSA, “Drug treatment is not designed for the low-intensity drug user who is readily able to control his or her level of consumption and for whom functional consequences have not yet accumulated. ” This can create a lot of confusion as to when the treatment may be necessary. They may not recognize that they have a problem or the relevancy of the associated dysfunctions in their physical, psychological, or social wellbeing and sometimes, it’s their friends or families that encourage drug abuse behaviors and discourage treatment contemplations, fueling the ambivalence for change.

The Stigma of Substance Abuse Treatment

The stigma of substance abuse treatment is far more prevalent than treatments for other medical or mental health concerns although science and research support the views of addiction as chronic, but, treatable disease. According to the World Health Organization,” drug dependence has been considered, depending on the different beliefs or ideological points of view: only a social problem, only an educational or spiritual issue, only a guilty behavior to be punished, only a pharmacological problem.”

Fear of being judged, reprisals from authorities such as those involved in custody arrangements and child welfare, or from medical, legal, or employment associations, views of treatment ineffectiveness, and unwanted scrutiny into personal affairs or excessive compliance measures are some of the primary reasons a person may be wary about participating in a substance abuse treatment program.

Living with a Loved One Suffering from a Substance Abuse Disorder

Other Barriers to Substance Abuse Treatment

Other barriers may include:

Lack of information Cant’ afford treatment costs Long wait times for programs Inconvenient hours Didn’t know where to go Behavior of staff Distance and travel burdens (lack of transportation or travel resources) Physical or mental health disorders or other conditions such as age and pregnancy Cultural differences Lack of childcare

For more information about substance abuse disorders and treatment options, call us today at 800-895-1695.

These days there is a focus on preventing youth substance abuse. It is important to understand what supports are out there for students and young adults, particularly if you are in a role to help guide students to them. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prevention is a key principle in protecting today’s youth from the dangers of drug abuse.

Schools

Although schools have always been involved in prevention of substance abuse, recently there are more proactive programs available. This includes:

telling the truth about drugs, treating the causes of drug abuse such as social issues and social isolation, decreasing the gap between students in different classes, using programs to educate students and teachers on risk factors rather than on the drugs themselves, and teaching students who to go to for treatment and who can help.

This is a different approach from what schools traditionally use. The new approach uses less scare tactics and more prevention methods.

Teachers

Teachers are undergoing extensive training in order to better identify and prevent substance abuse.

Teachers are now undergoing training in recognizing the signs and risk factors rather than training to recognize the drugs themselves. Districts and states are working with teachers in an effort to head off drug addiction before it becomes a problem. By educating teachers in how to identify and reach at risk youth, they hope to prevent young adults from becoming addicted.

Community

Community outreach programs are becoming more popular especially in at risk communities. Again, the focus is on identifying youth that are at risk rather than those that have substance abuse problems already. It is meant to catch those who are headed into substance abuse before they become abusers.

Parents

There are now programs for teaching positive parenting in place. These programs teach:

communication skills between parents and their children, establishing an open door policy, encouraging positive behaviors, setting reasonable limits, and allowing teens to talk and express who they are in respectful ways.

These programs are designed for all parents not just those who consider their children at risk. There is no specific type of young person who is particularly at risk for becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. Recognizing this is becoming more important than simply focusing on those who were traditionally at risk for drug and alcohol problems.

Substance Abuse Prevention Programs

Online Communities

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is sponsoring one of the largest online prevention and awareness online programs. Their latest attempt to help ease the problem of youth drug abuse is their National Drug Awareness Chat Day. This is to unite the United Institute of Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Food and Drug Administration, along with teens, parents, and teachers. The purpose is to shatter myths and raise awareness about the growing issues with drug abuse.

Treatment Options

Although prevention is key to solving today’s drug and alcohol problems, it does not always work. It is important to know where and how to seek treatment when it is necessary. For more information on implementing a prevention program or to seek treatment options call us at 1-800-895-1695.

Teachers often act as the front line to prevent and help treat substance abuse among high school and college age students. It is important that our teachers are well educated in the treatment options and substance abuse prevention programs that the local, state, and federal government offers. The Foundation for a Drug Free World among other agencies offer a variety of programs available for teachers to learn how to prevent and recognize substance abuse as well as encourage students to seek treatment for their substance abuse problem.

Prevention

Teachers are provided with the appropriate training in order to educate students on the dangers of substance abuse.

One of the main focuses for teachers is the prevention of substance abuse among teens and college age students. This prevention comes in many forms such as:

teacher education courses, student education packages, brief intervention training, and classroom presentations.

One of the main prevention techniques is through the “Truth About Drugs: Real People Real Stories” program. This program allows students to see real presentations about drugs and alcohol from people their age. The program is free and gives students a chance to see the devastation that drugs cause.

This program has videos, activities, assignments, and other aids to help teachers send a clear message about drugs to their students. It also contains educational materials on how to talk to students about drug use in a practical nonjudgmental way. This is not the only program. Many teachers attend conferences that go over all aspects of drug abuse among their students.

Recognition

One of the hardest things for teachers to learn is how to recognize the subtle signs of drug use among their students. This includes recognizing:

unexplained changes in personality, abrupt changes in activities and hobbies, changes in motivation and grades, moodiness, irritability, and changes in attitude, changes in hygiene, depression, anxiety, and the physical signs of drug use for many of the major drugs.

EPIC and other programs show teachers how to recognize these signs by showing them videos and photos of students who have drug issues. Teacher education does not end in the classroom. There are online programs and classes they can take to find out more about how to recognize drug use and who to report it to.

How can Teachers Help Students who Abuse Substances?

Encouraging Students to Seek Treatment

Encouraging students to seek treatment is a very tricky thing for educators. If a teacher recognizes the signs of drug use, it is important that they know how to react. The worst thing that can happen is an overreaction. Since many of the signs of drug use are similar to other teenage and early adult problems, it is important for teachers to positively identify drug use before taking action.

It is also important for teachers to keep a positive open dialog about drugs with their students. This is done in hopes that the students will come to the teacher with their drug problem before action is necessary.

If you are an educator and need more information about treatment options or if you feel you need treatment yourself call us at 1-800-895-1695.

As a teacher it can be difficult to watch students fall victims to drug and alcohol abuse. Unfortunately, it happens far more frequently than most would like. There are programs for teachers such as The Foundation for a Drug Free World, but these programs are not always enough to help those most in need of guidance and education about drugs. There are ways that teachers can help students with substance abuse programs overcome their addiction.

Teaching Students about the Dangers of Drugs

Most help from teachers starts with educating students about the dangers of drugs. Although a student might already be a user, sometimes showing them the danger that they are putting themselves in is enough to cause them to seek help. Many students do not know or believe how dangerous drugs can be. By teaching them the dangers, a teacher might be able to encourage them to quit. Each drug has different dangers and if they are approached individually, a teacher might have a better chance at getting to a student who is abusing substances.

Speak to them at their Level

By keeping the lines of communication open, students will feel more comfortable discussing their problem.

Most teachers know that in order for students to learn, you have to speak to them at their level. This is the same for a student that is abusing a substance. By speaking to them on a level that they understand, it might be possible to get through to them without resorting to using authority. It is always best for the student to come to the conclusion that their addiction is harmful on their own. This is not to say that intervention is unnecessary, just that it is easier when the student recognizes the behavior has harmful.

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

By keeping the lines of communication open between teacher and student, a student is more likely to disclose substance abuse or issues with other students. This is particularly helpful with older students. If the relationship between teacher and student is not adversarial the student is more likely to open up to the teacher about their substance abuse.

Many people who abuse substances realize that there is a problem on their own. They might even want treatment but have no idea how to obtain it without reprisal. With open dialogue between student and teacher, a teacher has the chance to guide the student into treatment or frank discussions about resources.

Let them Know their Options

By showing a student that has an addiction their options, a teacher can help guide them to treatment. It is always better for the student to recognize the need for treatment. Knowing what types of treatment is out there is also extremely beneficial. By taking the mystery away from substance abuse treatment, it might make a student more likely to be confident in their choice to seek it out.

Where to Find Help for Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

Tell them Where to Find Treatment

One of the best ways that teachers can help students who abuse substances is to tell them where to find help when they need it. For more information about the agencies and treatment centers available call us at 1-800-895-1695.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are thousands of people who stop drinking because they recognize that alcohol is a problem for them. Unfortunately, in the United States, we have several holidays that are now associated with heavy drinking. One of these holidays is New Year’s Eve. If you are in recovery or are thinking about recovery, it is important to think about how to refuse a drink gracefully.

Say a Simple ‘No Thanks’

This is probably the easiest way to refuse a drink. Saying ‘no thanks’ and changing the subject is easy and can get you out of drinking. It might open questions or demands for more information, but a simple refusal is often understood.

If you are Pressured to Drink

With the right excuse, you can avoid the social pressure to drink on New Year’s Eve.

Being pressured to drink is very irritating, especially if you are in recovery. If a simple ‘no thank you’ won’t do, explain that you do not drink. You don’t have to go any further than that. Most people will leave it alone at this point but some will not. If they press further, you can either tell them the truth or make up an excuse, it is up to you. Some good excuses are:

I have work in the morning or work to do I don’t feel like drinking I am under the weather and do not feel up to drinking I don’t like the taste of alcohol That type of alcohol disagrees with me

There are many excuses you can use; if you are not around friends who know about your drinking problem it might be easier to make an excuse rather than explain the problem.

Have a Drink Already in Your Hand

If you have a drink in your hand, usually people will not offer another or be persistent about you taking another. What is in your glass is entirely up to you. You can ask a bartender to give you the same glass they are serving alcohol in, filled with grape juice or soda.

Explain that You are a Designated Driver

Many parties have a designated driver. All you have to do is say that you are driving and most people will leave you alone. It is even better to volunteer your services if you are staying sober. That way you have an excuse not to drink and you can help others to arrive home safely.

Tell them you had a Late Night Last Night or Early Morning Tomorrow

This is an age old excuse for not drinking. Just say you have a lot to do the next day or that you are still recovering from the previous evening. It is an easy thing to state and there is no need to verify it. Most people will not question it, unless they know where you were or where you are going tomorrow.

If you find yourself tempted to drink and are in recovery, it is best to stay away from places that offer alcohol. If you find yourself drinking way too much too often, it’s important to seek treatment. For more information on treatment and recovery, call us at 1-800-895-1695.

Types of Alcohol Addiction Treatment

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug addiction is a disease. If you have lived with or been around an alcoholic or addict, chances are, you have heard one of these excuses. If you are a drug addict or alcoholic, you have likely used one of these excuses before. It is important to recognize these for what they are, excuses to stop a harmful behavior.

You Don’t Know What I am Going Through

The rebuttal to this excuse is obvious. No one knows what anyone else is going through. It is a matter of understanding and sympathizing. It is true that no one knows what you are going through but there are people that have similar experiences to you.

It’s Only Once in a While

Although it might seem like you are not doing drugs or drinking alcohol often, you gradually start using more and more. With certain drugs, once in a while is enough. They can cause a large amount of damage in a very short time.

I’ll Stop Next Time (Next Week, Next Month, etc.)

Someone with a substance abuse problem will make endless excuses for their behavior.

‘One more time’ is something that many addicts say. ‘This is the last time’ is another thing that you promise yourself or others promise when they are addicted. This is just a way to use again and rarely holds meaning to anyone. Even if you plan to quit, it is difficult without treatment.

You Knew About the Problem When You Met Me

Although you might have known about the problem, you probably did not know the extent of it. With this kind of excuse, it is difficult to do anything. You can encourage a person to seek treatment, but if they are happy with the way they are then there is little you can do.

You Do It

This is normally said by kids to their parents but may be said between partners or friends. Just because one person drinks, it does not mean another can. Everyone is different in their lives, their tolerances, and their addictions.

I wouldn’t do it if it Weren’t for You

This is a classic abusive tactic. Most people who hear this phrase are in an abusive relationship. Unfortunately, this is one of the excuses that means if the person does not seek treatment, the relationship will gradually deteriorate or lead to emotional or physical abuse.

Living with a Loved One Suffering from a Substance Abuse Disorder

I Do Not Have the Money to Get Help

Many programs help people who cannot afford addiction treatment. Also, in recent years more insurance companies recognize addiction as a treatable illness so they cover addiction treatment. There are a variety of programs and options for those that cannot afford treatment. If you do not have the money to get help, assistance is still available. There are also government programs to help you if you don’t have insurance.

For more information on these or any treatment options, call us at 1-800-895-1695. It’s time to stop making excuses and get help for your drug or alcohol addiction now.

There is no question that substance abuse is a serious issue facing modern society. Every day people die from illnesses and overdoses related to substance abuse. But, is substance abuse becoming more socially acceptable? In short, yes. To understand this, however, it is necessary to understand why society is becoming more accepting of substance abuse. It is also important to know the dangers this poses, as substance abuse, accepted or not, is still dangerous.

Popular Media

Popular media outlets such as social media are used to glorify substance abuse.

One of the biggest reasons why substance abuse is becoming more accepted is its portrayal in the media. It seems that everywhere you look there is a plethora of blatant glorification of substance abuse or the substances actually being abused. In fact, the variety of outlets that participate in this glorification are astounding. They include:

Television shows and advertisements Popular music of nearly all genres Movies Internet sites Social media, which, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is drawing young audiences, and fails to express the dangers of substance abuse

All of these outlets share equal blame in creating a social message that substance abuse is not only acceptable, but admirable. This is a frightening reality, especially since, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, so much of this media is focused on teens and young adults.

Legalization

Another reason that substance abuse is becoming so acceptable is the current political climate. There has been a large push in recent years to legalize or decriminalize various substances of abuse, and it has been met with a surprisingly large amount of support from the general populace. Some of the actions being taken to make substance abuse more legally acceptable are:

Medical and recreational marijuana legalization Decriminalization of various party drugs and hallucinogens Increases in needle exchanges for intravenous drug use Reduced sentencing for drug offenses

These actions are being taken because of popular opinion, and not through any evidence that substance abuse is less harmful than previously thought. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration states, drug abuse continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing society today.

Special Populations and Substance Abuse

The Future

These factors combine to create a dangerous situation moving toward the future. As substance abuse continues to grow in acceptance, so too will it grow in practice. This means that the ravages of substance abuse will be even more detrimental to future generations than they are to those dealing with them today. So, what can be done about it? The key here is education. The more facts that the public has about the dangers and effects of substance abuse, the less likely it is to continue gaining in popularity. To learn more about the dangers of substance abuse, call us today at 800-895-1695.

Unfortunately, according to the data collected by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, stricter laws do not necessarily prevent substance abuse. There are however many ways both people and communities can prevent substance abuse. According to the research done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are principles that drug prevention programs should entail.

1. All Forms of Drug Abuse Need to be addressed in Prevention

Prevention should focus on all of the drugs rather than just a few of the most public or invasive. Each drug presents a danger to the population not just a few. Just as there are treatment facilities for each type of drug, prevention should encompass each type of drug.

2. Programs Should Address Abuse Locally

Programs serve the community they are based in. They are not a national or international directive. They need to be relatable to community members.

3. Prevention Programs should be Specific to the People

The race, socioeconomic status, and other factors need to be taken into consideration when designing prevention and treatment programs.

4. Families should be included in Prevention Programs

Families should be included in substance abuse prevention programs.

Programs should focus on bonding families and reducing risks in that way. These programs can also include information on how to seek treatment for family members who are in need.

5. Programs should start in Childhood and Continue through Pivotal Points in Development.

Programs that people develop should start in early childhood and continue through high school, focusing on risk factors rather than actual drug education. This addressed should be social skills, aggression, and other such factors.

6. Prevention Programs Should Reduce Risk

Instead of focusing on scare tactics and other previous methods, prevention should focus on reducing risk factors. In reducing risk factors, treatment centers and treatment types should be part of education.

7. Research Based Intervention Programs should be Employed

Intervention programs that are researched and proven to work should be the only ones employed. Things that are ineffective should be discontinued. This goes for treatment types as well as prevention.

8. Programs should be Long Term

Some of the current substance abuse programs are only short term or disconnected. The programs should be congruent and continuous. Treatment and other factors should be integrated with these programs.

How Treatment Centers Help the Community

9. Community Programs should cross Multiple Settings

Drug prevention is not only for schools. Schools, communities, and families should all be involved in substance abuse prevention. Treatment centers and other facilities should be included in this model.

10. Programs should Provide Active Involvement

Everyone should be actively involved in prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Community, family, treatment centers, schools, and education facilities should work together.

11. Treatment Program Availability

Treatment programs and other facilities should be readily available to help those already addicted to drugs. There are already many treatment programs that employ these principles. For more information on treatment programs or prevention programs, call us at 1-800-895-1695. We can help you find programs in your community that can help with the prevention and treatment of your addiction.

If you have an addiction, you might have heard the term co-morbidity. This term is common when it comes to talking about addiction and addictive disorders. Since addiction is defined as a medical condition by most of the scientific community, it is not surprising that there are other illnesses that coincide with it. Co-morbidity is a term for such a relationship.

What is Co-Morbidity?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is two or possibly more disorders that a single person has. These disorders are sometimes concurrent or consecutive. They can also be caused by or the cause of the drug addiction. Many of these illnesses interact and make each other both more complex and more devastating.

How does it Relate to Addiction?

Bipolar disorder can lead to drug addiction.

Addiction is one of the consequences of as well as one of the co-morbid disorders often diagnosed. You find many disorders both cause and contribute to drug addiction. Most people who suffer from co-morbid disorders are treatable once both disorders are discovered.

What Disorders are Common with Addiction?

Many disorders occur with a drug addiction. Co-morbid disorders are seen as causes, results, and results of the withdrawal from addiction. Most drugs are notorious for causing depression and anxiety as a result of taking or coming off them. The disorders that usually cause an addiction are:

Depression – an extremely common mental illness that causes sadness, hopelessness, and suicide. Anxiety – also a common illness that causes feeling of panic as well as fear and terror. Bipolar disorder – a combination of extreme highs and extreme lows where depression is the low and mania is the high. Schizophrenia – a disease commonly characterized by paranoia, extreme changes in mood, hallucinations, and delusions. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) – in this condition a traumatic event triggers a continued psychological reaction.

People turn to drugs to self medicate for these conditions when their medications quit working, if the illness is unknown, or if they do not want it treated by a doctor.

How Counseling Addresses Mental Health and Substance Abuse Together

Why is it Important to Understand this Relationship?

It is important to understand the relationship in co-morbid disorders for treatment. If one disorder is treated and the other is not it, can lead to problems and relapse later on. If you understand how the two interact, it can help to treat both discover the cause of the illness and treat it.

Treatment consists of:

detox from the drug of addiction, individual counseling, group counseling, community support, and other forms of therapy.

Most often the illnesses are either completely treatable or at least manageable to the point where you can function normally in society again. As research advances so does the treatment of co-morbid disorders.

How to Find Help

You can find help for the addiction and any underlying disorders by calling us at 1-800-895-1695. There are many well equipped treatment centers across the country, it can be hard to know which to choose. We can help you find the treatment and treatment center that is right for your addiction, disorder and lifestyle.