12 Step Family

If you thought that prescription drug abuse would just go away quietly, think again.  This time, prescription drug abuse is making its rounds by targeting students too.  According to a recent article published in the Miami Herald, four middle school students are recovering after suspected prescription drug abuse put them in the hospital.  The article goes on to state:

A Volusia County schools spokeswoman says a New Smyrna Beach Middle School teacher sent the four eighth-grade students to a clinic Monday morning. The teacher thought the students were behaving oddly.

According to the local police department, deputies discovered that one of the students was sharing prescription drug medications with a friend at school.  The friend then turned around and gave some of the drugs to two other students.  It just goes to show you how incredibly dangerous prescription medications can be.  While certain medications are intended to help people recover from various ailments and illnesses, they are not intended to be shared with other people who may have adverse reactions.

The hard lessons that these students have had to learn is a difficult one, indeed.  There are too many people who are prescribed medication and abuse it in ways that only have adverse effects on their lives as well as the lives of those around them who love and care for them.  People need to realize (parents especially), that they need to be role models to children.  Keep medications out of reach, and talk to children about the dangers of drug abuse.  Encourage them in positive ways to feel comfortable discussing any difficult issues that they may have with you so that this type of abuse may be prevented in the future.

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According to a recent news article posted on the Wiltonvillager.com, Harvard Medical School Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Edward Khantzian and Cambridge Health Alliance Director of Addictions Treatment Dr. Mark Albanese will be discussing treatment strategies for drug abuse among youth as part of a day-long conference at Western Connecticut State University on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009.  The topic of discussion will focus on substance abuse and drug and alcohol addiction among adolescents and young adults.

Often, when people think of drug and alcohol abuse, they think of adult males over the age of 18.  However, disturbing numbers of adolescents and other members of the youth are just beginning to or have already previously dabbled in drug and alcohol use/abuse or experimentation.  For some of these adolescents, they have had a high price to pay with drug overdoses or DWIs that resulted in their death or the death and injury of other people around them.

If we are ever to really put a stop to drug and alcohol abuse by minors, something needs to be done now.  Many critics are quick to blame parents for not stepping it up and speaking to their kids about the inherent dangers that drug and alcohol use involve.  However, this is not always the case.  It is the hope of those putting together the aforementioned lecture that the lecutre will provide more successful approaches as well as ideas on how to curb drug and alcohol use by minors.

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The following are a brief list of the 12 Spiritual Laws of Consent.

1. Law of Consent- Giving others permission to help you eliminate self-delusion
2. Law of Caring- If you don’t care about yourself through your actions, then the world cannot and will not care about you
3. Law of Cause & Effect- Having the mindset that what you put out will return to you, ALWAYS
4. Law of Use- If you don’t use it, you lose it
5. Law of Responsibility- Your Higher Power will not do for you what you are supposed to do for yourself
6. Law of Substitution- Turning away from negative self-talk
7. Law of Relaxation-In all mental work, be relaxed, gentle and unhurried
8. Law of Subconscious Activity- As soon as our subconscious mind accepts an idea, it will begin immediately to put it into effect, both good ideas and bad
9. Law of Practice- Practice is the price of proficiency
10. Law of Forgiveness- In your heart, and to all
11. Law of Growth- What you think upon grows
12. Law of Intent- Set your intent and watch it manifest in your life through action

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery, or to learn more about our 30 day drug and alcohol rehab program, contact Mark Houston Recovery today!

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In a recent article published by the Washington Business Journal, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has received $10 million in federal stimulus funding to start running its first late-stage human clinical trials on a smoking cessation vaccine.  The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awareded its largest grant ever to the Rockville bioteck for the clinical testing of NicVax, a vaccine that prevents nicotine from reaching a patient’s brain, thereby feeding the addiction.

So, could there be hope for those addicted to nicotine?

For so many people who smoke and have had trouble in the past with quitting, this new drug may provide them with some hope.  However, there is no guarantee that it will work.  Even if the drug ends up turning into something that is mainstreamed, it’s still another drug solving the problem of another drug.  Is there too much drug use already?  Will those who are addicted to nicotine suddenly find themselves addicted to NicVax or some other form of smoking cessation vaccine?

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When I was growing up (which wasn’t that long ago at all), and I told my parents that I was invited to a party, they weren’t worried.  They knew that all of my friends were good kids who came from “good, wholesome homes”.  Failing that, they also knew that I wasn’t the type of person who would ever dabble in drugs or alcohol.  Nowadays, however, when a child tells their parent that he or she is going to a party, what does the word “party” mean?  Certainly the meaning of this word has changed from going to someone’s house where there is harmless music, television, food and occasional dancing to a place where someone’s parents aren’t home and you can wreak havoc for a while without getting in trouble for it.

At one of these so-called “parties” that I went to in high school, I remember my shock when someone (who was barely invited) showed up with liquor and cigarettes.  Suddenly, everyone around me was drinking and smoking.

I didn’t participate.

But this isn’t a story about how I was a “goody-two-shoes” for sticking to the straight and narrow.  Rather, this is an example of how easy it is for children to become involved in drugs and alcohol from a young age.  One of my best friends was at that party and smoked her first cigarette there.  Only a few months later, after cigarette smoke was boring, she turned to other things such as marijuana use, LSD and ‘E’.

Not all cases end up like the situation that my friend found herself in; but they all have the potential to.  Kids need to be more well informed, not just about the inherent dangers that drug and alcohol abuse possess; they also need to know that there are other, healthier alternatives for dealing with stress, emotional issues and the overall awkwardness that comes with being a teenager.

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According to emerging studies, there seems to be a correlation between spirituality and drug addiction.  For instance, it has been stated that teens who have an active spiritual life are less likely to become alcoholics or drug addicts, let alon even try illegal drugs [source].

So, what is the reason behind drug or alcohol addiction?  Why do so many men turn towards a bottle or to some sort of other illicit drug?

Filling the Void

Spirituality plays a significant role when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction.  In fact, one could say that a huge part of the reason why so many men abuse drugs and alcohol has to do with the fact that they are trying to fill some sort of a void in their lives.

Contrary to popular belief, the term spirituality doesn’t necessarily refer to going to church every Sunday or memorizing scripture passages.  Rather, when spirituality is mentioned in the company of the word recovery, it is referring to the connection that you have with your innermost self.  Once you are able to find that connection inside of you, then you will be able to approach your drug or alcohol recovery with a clearer, more focused mind.

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery, or to learn more about our 30 day drug and alcohol rehab program, contact Mark Houston Recovery today!

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According to a recent article published in The Saratogian, New York State has obtained $500,000 in federal stimulus dollars to train people in the ever-rapidly-growing field of substance abuse and behavioral counseling.  While this is a good thing, it also points out the fact that the reason for this demand is not necessarily a good one.

On the up and up, more people are being referred to institutional as well as community-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers versus being imprisoned because advocates believe that more good will come out of rehabilitating someone who was a former drug or alcohol addict where they can hopefully turn their life around and learn from their past mistakes with drug and alcohol use versus just sitting in prison.  There is more motivation to do better for oneself outside of the prison walls.

The article goes on to state:

The state projects a 22 percent increase in counseling positions for the period from 2006 to 2016. At present, the average age of counselors is 53, meaning a large number of openings will be created through retirement….

There are an estimated 2.5 million people in New York state who need addiction services. It’s believed that veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan will need addiction services at a much higher rate than the general population, also creating demand for new counselors. The state is currently preparing 100 inpatient beds to serve returning veterans, all of which need staffing.

This means that there will definitely continue to be a high demand for substance abuse counselors.

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If a child becomes addicted to drugs at 13 years old, who or what do you blame?  Do you blame the television and media for displaying too many harsh graphics or commercials?  Do you blame the teachers at school for not living up to their job description of being “parents to children in the absence of the parents”? Or do you blame the parents for not being more proactive?

There are many reasons for why people become entrenched in drug and alcohol abuse, and for many this abuse is learned and practiced from a young age.  The child who sees his father come home from work and pick up the bottle of liquor may think that the stress his father feels is somehow linked to him.  For others who view this situation, they may feel that since their father is drinking, it makes it that much more ‘ok’ if they follow suit.

The bottom line is that children need stability and guidance if they are ever to grow into stable, responsible adults.  In a broken home where there is drug and alcohol abuse or some other sort of physical or emotional abuse, it can really delay or deter a child from making future mistakes with his or her own life regarding drug and alcohol abuse.  Parents need to accept responsbility for their actions and seek help for their drug or alcohol problem.  In doing so, it shows their children that while it is human to err, you don’t have to live in the shadow of that mistake forever.

Be proactive.  The choice is yours.  Sobriety is possible, and your children are watching you.

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According to a recent article published by the LA Times, heroin abuse is spreading like wildfire throughout Russia.  One possible cause for the influence of Heroin in Russia is the fact that over the years, there has been a sharp increase in poppy cultivation due to the U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan.  This increase in poppy cultivation has apparently led Russia to become flooded with heroin use and abuse.

The article goes on to state:

The drug has spread like fire through a country uniquely unqualified to cope with its dangers: Narcotics were largely absent during Soviet times, and most people are still unaware of the risk of heroin addiction, even as an estimated 83 Russians a day die by overdosing on the drug, government figures show…The transition from a Soviet state largely free from heroin to a booming nation awash in the drug has been painful and dark, marked by widespread public ignorance of the risks and symptoms of addiction, lingering shame and stigma, and muddled government efforts at treatment.

83 Russians die per day from overdosing on heroin. If that doesn’t spell out the fact that something is grossly wrong with this situation, then I’m not sure what will.  And what’s more is the fact that many fear that if the situation with Afghanistan is not reversed that there will be an even larger number of people addicted to heroin.

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery, or to learn more about our 30 day drug and alcohol rehab program, contact Mark Houston Recovery today!

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Saturday 12, 2009 marked the first time a Miami Rally for Recovery event had taken place in the major metropolitan area as part of National Recovery Month. The event was hosted by the Internet social-networking recovery site intherooms.com at Bayfront Park.

In order to raise money for recovery scholarships, thousands of people showed their support for the Miami Rally for Recovery and donated money via a charitable walk. The walk comprised of a scenic 5-mile path along the Mac Arthur Causeway bay area.

Additionally, the 2009 Miami Rally for Recovery had guest speakers that delivered specific messages to every age demographic and gender in the family. There were also family oriented activities, great food booths, and incredible music performances which included Richie Supa and Eric Burdon and the Animals.

Overall, the 2009 Miami Rally for Recovery was a great success for the recovery community, both locally and nationally. The event had more than 2,000 walkers and 3,000 in attendance for the music and festivities.

We really hope that the first Miami Rally for Recovery is just the first of many more to come…

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