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The Amethyst Initiative PART 2 Combating underage drinking must come from education and community support. The beginning of alcohol and drug use is becoming more prevalent in junior high, as this is when hormone-driven risky behavior begins. Educators, counselors and administrators should be trained to see the signs of early use in teens. Counselors should be trained in intervention techniques and communication with students families. This should be true for facilities through college and trade schools. Families need to stay involved in their young ones lives. The most successful discussions with young people are non-accusatory, supportive and engaging. Discuss the facts, get all the information and help find solutions through support rather than using scare tactics. This loving support will give young people a sense of self-worth and the confidence to be drug-free (Dr. Rob, 2003). City and school law enforcement must stand firm on zero-tolerance laws regarding underage drinking. Despite many states adopting these laws, consistent enforcement wavers. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, stated in 2006 that when the first eight States to adopt zero-tolerance laws were compared with nearby States without such laws, the zero-tolerance States showed a 21-percent greater decline in the proportion of single-vehicle night-time fatal crashes involving drivers under 21, the type of crash most likely to involve alcohol. Resources must be available to see these laws into action. Alcohol is widely available and promoted to young people in America today. Though underage drinking use is regarded as a normal part of growing up by some people, it is dangerous for the drinker and the community as evident by the number of alcohol-related accidents and crimes. Adolescents are at greater risk for development of health-related issues due to alcohol abuse and adverse consequences including risky behavior and poor school performance. Lowering the legal drinking age would not help the problem of underage drinking but aggravate it. William Cope Moyers, executive director of the Hazelden Center for Public Advocacy and a recovering alcoholic said, "Twenty-one is not working according to the college presidents statement. But from my own experiences a long time ago, 18 never worked either" (Hazelden, 2008). References Alcoholics Anonymous (2007). Young people and AA. New York, NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.Discovery Health (2006). Underage drinking nets alcohol industry billions. Dr. Rob (2003). Teen center: teens and risky behavior – One nurse's plea to teens. Hazelden (2008). Debate to lower drinking age builds despite 21'a success. NIAAA (2006). Alcohol alert. Retrieved January 17, 2008, from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/ Spears & Spears (2008). In tandem: reading and writing for college students. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Your comments are appreciated. Given that most adults who suffer from alcohol problems began in their teens, keeping the age of drinking at 21 seems the most prudent decision. Tamra Anderson, Clinical Administrator Lasting Recovery
Labels: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcohol-Abuse, Alcoholism, Commentary, Underage-Drinking
The Amethyst Initiative PART 1 The Amethyst Initiative is a recent movement of over 130 college presidents requesting the nation lower the legal drinking age. This absurd suggestion not only could endanger young lives but it reveals backwards thinking by professionals who should be looking out for those they serve (Hazelden, 2008). Underage drinking is on the rise. Ten percent of Alcoholics Anonymous members are under the age of 30 (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2007). This community-based support network responded to the needs of young people when Alateen spurred off from Al-Anon – a support group for loved ones of alcoholics. Among 12-20 year olds, over 47% are current drinkers and 26% meet the criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence compared to 9.6% of those over the legal drinking age (Discovery Health, 2009). In 1988, 21 became the legal minimum drinking age in all 50 states. The U.S. Department of Transportation states that in spring of 2004, over 18,000 lives were saved through decreases in alcohol-related accidents, which are the leading cause of death of young people in our country (Hazelden, 2008). Although severe health problems associated with alcohol abuse are not as common in adolescents, studies show that young people set themselves up for these risks when they drink heavily from an early age. Brain damage can occur, as alcohol affects the maturation of young tissue. Lasting effects to long-term memory and learning skills are evident in adults who began drinking at an early age. Drinking can also elevate liver enzymes and effect growth and development. In fact, consuming alcohol during puberty adversely affects the maturation of reproductive organs and can upset the hormonal balance for normal development of organs, bones and muscles (NIAAA, 2006). Discovery Health (2006) has stated that almost all (96.8%) of the adult drinkers with alcohol abuse and dependence began drinking prior to the age of 21. A common phrase in Alcoholics Anonymous regarding young drinkers is, if you're not an alcoholic, you're studying hard to be one. This may be true for many young people. If so, why would we lower the legal drinking age and invite them to try it on for size?
Over one third of United States alcohol sales are to underage and/or abusive drinkers (Discovery Health, 2009). It seems the financial interests of the alcohol industry may be weightier than the interests of our young peoples health. Lowering the legal drinking age certainly would not solve these problems but only serve to exaggerate them. Tamra Anderson Clinical Administrator Lasting Recovery
Labels: Alcohol-Abuse, Alcoholism, Commentary, Research, Underage-Drinking
Binge drinking for men is defined as 5 or more standard drinks and for women as 4 or more standard drinks on a single occasion.
A standard drink is a 12 oz. can of beer or cooler; 8-9 oz malt liquor; 5 oz. glass of table wine; or 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof spirits.
According to a recent, large survey 14% of the U.S. population binge drink at least once a week.
In comparison with the 60% of the U.S. population who never binge drink, in the next three years the 14% of drinkers who binge at least once a week are
- 330% more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse
- 280% more likely to suffer from some form of liver disease
- 270% more likely to use tobacco
- 270% more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence
- 230% more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for drug dependence
- 180% more likely to lose their driver's license
- 180% more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for tobacco dependence
- 160% more likely to use other drugs
- 130% more likely to experience a divorce or separation
The risks are even higher for the 3% of drinkers who binge 5 or more times per week. Labels: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcohol-Abuse, Commentary, Drug-Abuse, Drug-Addiction, Smoking
One of the reasons that people abuse alcohol and other drugs is to manage their emotional distress. This is known as the self-medication hypothesis. This hypothesis has been proposed as an explanation for the frequent co-occurence of anxiety and substance use disorders.
Recently, Bolton and his colleagues used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a large (n=43,093, age 18 years and older) nationally representative survey of the U.S. population to test the self-medication hypothesis. They looked at the rates of self-medication among individuals with four types of mood disorder: dysthymia, a milder form of chronic depression; major depression; bipolar I, a mood disorder that includes bouts of mania and depression; and bipolar II, a mood disorder that includes bouts of hypomania, less severe than full-blown mania, as well as depression.
Overall, nearly one-quarter (24.1%) of individuals with any of the four mood disorders listed above used alcohol and drugs to manage their moods. Self-medication was even more prevalent among individuals with bipolar disorder. During depressive episodes, 41.0% of individuals with bipolar I disorder and 34.7% of those with bipolar II disorder engaged in self-medication with alcohol and other drugs of abuse.
Men were more than twice as likely as women and divorced and widowed individuals more likely than others to engage in self-medication. On the other hand, African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders and individuals over the age of 44 years were less likely to self-medicate. Thus, younger, divorced, white males with mood disorders are the subgroup in the population most likely to engage in self-medication.
Bolton and his colleagues also found that individuals who self-medicated for mood disorders were more likely to experience co-occuring anxiety and personality disorders than those who did not self-medicate for mood disorders. Self-medicating men were more likely to suffer from panic attacks while self-medicating women were more likely to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. Both genders of self-medicators were more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for dependent personality disorder.
Lasting Recovery as a dual diagnosis enhanced substance abuse treatment program can help individuals who suffer from mood and other mental health problems associated with their substance abuse/dependence.
Reference: Bolton JM, Robinson J, Sareen J. Self-medication of mood disorders with alcohol and drugs in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. J Affect Disord. 2008, Nov 10.
Arthur J. Farkas, Ph.D.Labels: Alcohol-Abuse, Commentary, Drug-Abuse, Treatment
Short-term detoxification coupled with individual and/or group therapy in either a residential or outpatient facility for a few weeks or months is the current treatment as usual for opioid-addicted youth. Except for treating withdrawal during detoxification the typical program does not use agonist medications like suboxone on young addicts. Relapse rates for the current treatment as usual is quite high.
In a recent study in JAMA, Woody and his colleagues reported the results of a randomized trial that compared a 14-day outpatient detoxification using suboxone (detox) vs 12 weeks of outpatient treatment with suboxone (extended treatment). The study was open to young people between the ages of 14 and 21 years but less than 18% of the participants were below the age of 18; no 14 year-old and only one 15 year-old was enrolled in the study. The typical participant was about 19 years old. In addition to receiving suboxone, participants were scheduled for one individual and one group therapy session per week for 12 weeks.
The participants in the detox group had poorer outcomes than the participants in the extended treatment group. Less than 20% of the detox participants completed the study vs 70% of the participants in the extended treatment group. The detox participant on average attended 5 counseling sessions while the extended treatment participants attended 12 counseling sessions. The detox participants also had poorer post treatment outcomes at 6, 9 and 12 month follow-up. Among the detox participants between 17 and 28% produced negative urine tests for opioids, while 29 to 52% of the extended treatment participants produced negative tests.
Woody and colleagues noted that the small study size and the short study duration made it impossible to estimate the number of participants who actually recovered, which they defined as a "voluntarily maintained lifestyle characterized by sobriety, personal health, and citizenship." Their study suggests that higher rates of true recovery may be possible with longer use of effective medications coupled with longer and more intensive psychosocial treatment.
Reference: Woody GE, Poole SA, Subramaniam G, et al. Extended vs Short-term Buprenorphine-Naloxone for Treatment of Opioid-Addicted Youth: A Randomized Trial. JAMA. 2008;300(17):2003-2011.Labels: Commentary, suboxone, young-opiate-addicts
Read this letter - It was written by an addict several years ago, and is still true today. AN OPEN LETTER TO MY FAMILY Dear Family Members: I am a Chemically Dependent Person. I need Help. Chemical dependency is a family illness and needs the total involvement of my family. Don't allow me to lie to you and accept it for the truth. In doing so, you encourage me to lie. The truth may be painful, but get at it. Don't let me outsmart you. This only teaches me to avoid responsibility and to lose respect for you at the same time. Don't let me exploit you or take advantage of you, blame or argue when I'm drunk, high or sober. And don't pour out my liquor or take away my drugs. You may feel better, but the situation will be worse. Don't accept my promises. This is just my method of postponing pain. And don't keep switching agreements. If an agreement is made, stick to it. Don't lose your temper with me. It will destroy you and any possibility of helping me. Don't allow your anxiety for us to compel you to do what I must do for myself. Don't cover p or abort the consequences of my drug use. It reduces the crisis, but perpetuates the illness. Above all, don't run away from reality as I do. Chemical dependency, my illness, gets worse as my use continues. Start now to learn, to understand and to plan for my recovery. I need help from a doctor, a counselor, a psychologist or a recovered alcoholic or addict … and from God. I cannot help myself. I hate myself, but I love you. To do nothing is the worst choice you can make for us. Please help me, Your Addicted Person If you want to learn more about how to get professional help, call us at Lasting Recovery. We can either help you with your outpatient alcohol or drug addiction recovery or refer you to an inpatient rehab. The choice is yours. Call us at 858-453-4315. Labels: Alcohol, Drug-Addiction
January is a time when New Year Resolutions are made...and...broken.
Many people in San Diego County, from El Cajon to Coronado to Carlsbad, make a commitment to start off the year sober and clean from alcohol and drugs. And by the time the Super Bowl game has ended, many will have broken their promises to themselves and their loved ones to live a clean and sober 2009.
Why can't you just STOP using alcohol and drugs, even prescription drugs when you say you are through...had enough? If you have tried to stop drinking or using drugs before now and were unable to quit, consider Detoxification.
Your body may have become addicted to the chemical substances. Remember, Addiction doesn't mean you are a bad person, it merely means your body has made a chemical change as a result of prolonged use and that it now needs this chemical to feel the altered, 'normal'. Recovery is a return to your real self!
A majority of people who have been drinking alcohol or doing drugs and decide to stop (often for health, relationship and legal related reasons) are able to do so without much trouble. Alcohol, heroin, opiate pain medication and tranquilizers medications typically become difficult only when you attempt to quit.
People who need Alcohol detoxification and detoxification from tranquilizer medications sometimes require medical intervention by a physician or a detoxification center.
What are the symptoms of alcohol and tranquillizer withdrawal? A person typically has a mild to severe hangover that lasts several days. Symptoms may include upset stomach, headache, shakes or jitters, feelings of generalized anxiety, extreme fear or panic attacks; and insomnia or difficulty sleeping that may be accompanied by bad dreams or nightmares. Withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs increases in the person's heart rate, breathing rate and body temperature. In a small proportion of people addicted to alcohol or tranquillizer medications, withdrawal may result in severe symptoms, such as hallucinations, delirium tremens (DT's), or seizures which can be deadly. To be on the safe side, it is best to contact a detoxification center and speak with the medical staff about your symptoms.
How is withdrawal treated? Treatments in detoxification centers may begin with an injection of Vitamin B-1, in cases that involve malnutrition. The conventional treatment is to ensure rest and adequate nutrition (especially fluid intake and multiple B Vitamins, including thiamine). In cases of severe withdrawal symptoms from alcohol, a nervous system depressant, such as benzodiazepine is prescribed with a dosage that is tapered down over three to five days. For those addicted to tranquillizers, tapering is a method of choice. The amount of time tapering is based on the daily dosage and length of time using the drugs.
A successful detoxification is best followed up by immediately enrolling in an Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Program, either an Intensive Outpatient Program such as Lasting Recovery in San Diego, or an Inpatient Program.
We can help you with the next step...Reach Out...you don't need to struggle with quitting by yourself any longer!
Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS Labels: Detox
PART 11
Alcohol and drug use can start off as recreational; relaxing after work, social use at parties and with friends. The problems of excessive use of alcohol and drugs can create problems in our bodies, brains, in our relationships, problems at work and with the legal system. The following statements will help you to understand the progression of alcohol and drug use from recreational to addiction. The sooner one gets help for alcohol abuse and dependence, the fewer problems the individual user and family has to resolve.
4. Often progressive and fatal means that the disease persists over time and that physical, emotional, and social changes are often cumulative and may progress as alcohol or drug use continues. Addiction to alcohol or drugs causes premature death through overdose, organic complications involving the brain, liver, heart and many other organs, and by contributing to suicide, homicide, motor vehicle crashes, and other traumatic events.
5. Impaired control means the inability to limit alcohol or drug use or to consistently limit any drinking or drugging occasion, the duration of the episode, the quantity consumed, and/or the behavioral consequences of using the substances.
6. Preoccupation in association with alcohol or drug use indicates excessive, focused attention given to the drug or alcohol, its effects, and/or its use. The relative value thus assigned to alcohol or drugs by the individual often leads to a diversion of energies away from important life concerns.
7. Adverse consequences are alcohol/drug-related problems or impairments in such areas as: physical health (e.g., alcohol withdrawal syndromes, liver disease, gastritis, anemia, neurological disorders); psychological functioning (e.g., impairments in cognition, changes in mood and behavior); interpersonal functioning (e.g., marital problems and child abuse, impaired social relationships); occupational functioning (e.g., scholastic or job problems); and legal, financial, or spiritual problems.
8. Denial is used here not only in the psychoanalytic sense of a single psychological defense mechanism disavowing the significance of events, but more broadly to include a range of psychological maneuvers designed to reduce awareness of the fact that alcohol or drug use is the cause of an individual's problems rather than a solution to those problems. Denial becomes an integral part of the disease and a major obstacle to recovery.
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This definition was prepared by the Joint Committee to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
If you would like more help for yourself or a family member, give us a call at 858-453-4315.
Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS Labels: Addiction, Alcohol-Abuse, Alcoholism, Recovery
Today I received a call from a 37 year old man who was confused about his alcohol use. He drank alcohol only on the weekends, and he gladly reported that he did not have any legal problems, did not drink in the mornings and he believed his alcohol use was not interfering with his work. Then his wife told him to pack his bags and leave, the next time he decided he was going to drink. His alcohol use, however was interfering with his family. He brought home alcohol every night, and extra for the weekend, as he usually got started drinking by noon. His evening drinking started as soon as he got home, and sometimes he started in the parking lot of the liquor store. He would think about the alcohol around noon, when he began counting the hours until he could get off work and go the liquor store. He would get so excited, as he imagined himself getting home and having a shot and some beers to relax. His wife nagged him about his routine behavior, as she saw he preferred his drinking more in the evening than spending time with her or his family. He started drinking when he was age 16, and then he only drank on the weekends. When he came in, I gave him this information: 1. Addiction is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over alcohol or drugs, preoccupation with drugs or alcohol, use of addictive substances despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. 2. Primary refers to the nature of addiction as a disease entity in addition to and separate from other pathophysiologic states which may be associated with it. Primary suggests that addiction, is not a symptom of an underlying disease state. 3. Disease means an involuntary disability. It represents the sum of the abnormal phenomena displayed by a group of individuals. These phenomena are associated with a specified common set of characteristics by which these individuals differ from the norm, and which places them at a disadvantage. Part II tomorrow. Trying to stop drinking or using drugs is difficult for those people who are more progressed in their disease. Women generally have difficulty with alcohol and drug use sooner than men due to sex differences. If you need help and want to get back on the road of living your life safe and healthy, seek help now. Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS Labels: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcohol-Abuse, Drug-Abuse, Drug-Addiction, Recovery
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