Alcoholism has already been part of your life for years. No, you haven’t drink a drop of alcohol - yet.  But you worry about what your future holds. Are you destined to repeat the problems of your family? Can you break away from these old patterns and stay healthy? The news is good. You certainly can live a different life than your alcoholic family members. But it won’t happen automatically. Keep reading to learn about staying on track with a healthy life.

Reality Check - Your Alcoholism Risk Factors

The fact that you’re even thinking about all this is a good sign. Being aware of the destructive pattern of your past can help you create a different future for yourself. But it’s not enough just to know that you want to make change. You have to really understand what you are up against and how to keep going. The following is a breakdown of a few risk factors you’ll have to consider.

Genetics - Alcoholism isn’t a genetically inherited condition. But sharing genetics with an alcoholic means you could have some of the same vulnerabilities.  You might inherit a high tolerance for drugs and alcohol. You may inherit personality traits that lean towards addiction, such as being thrill/risk seeker and impulsivity.  You may also inherit heart conditions, high blood pressure, and other conditions that would be exacerbated with heavy alcohol use.

Familiar With Addiction Environment - Since you grew up with addiction, you know a lot of the ins and outs.  Of course, this could give you more fuel in your fire about rejecting alcoholism. But you need to be cautious that alcohol doesn’t tempt you as a coping skill. Your father used it, or your mother used it, or your grandpa, so maybe it could work out better for you. Things turned out bad for them, but you can handle it. That kind of minimizing and excusing can get you into trouble.

Family And Friends May Not Support You - Not everyone may think sobriety is a great idea. Despite seeing all the destruction in your family, some may treat you like an outsider if you don’t drink. This kind of pressure could make you cave in and start drinking. And just because you drink doesn’t automatically mean you have a problem with it. But if you give high value to these family member’s opinions, you may have trouble ahead.

Keeping Alcoholism At Bay

Here are some quick tips for keeping your healthy lifestyle intact when your family life and genetics are working against you.

You Choice Using Alcohol- There’s no hard and fast rule that children of alcoholics shouldn’t ever drink.  Not everyone who grows up in that situation will develop a problem.  But if you feel at all unsure, staying completely sober can be a good safe choice.

Dealing With Your Family - You may need to decide how much you can and want to interact with your family.  Some may be healthier than others.  Some may care more or less about your drinking.  Just be prepared to deal with some land mines.

Live A Generally Healthy Lifestyle - Eat right, exercise, hang around good people who also make good choices.  This will keep you from getting influenced by extreme thinking or risk taking.

Drug addiction is a maze of mixed up emotions, a wild round-the-clock schedule, tension, arguments, loneliness, and confusion.  You may not even really remember how you got here.  You just know that somewhere along the way, you got lost.  How do you go on from this point?  Do you just stick with what you know, what your life has become?  Do you ride this runaway train until it runs you into the ground, or is there anyone anywhere able to help you?  After the way you’ve treated everyone around you, is anyone even willing to stick their neck out for you?

Lost In A Strange Land Of Drug Addiction

You wouldn’t blame anyone for not wanting to jump into the frey with you anymore.  You’ve burned just about every bridge you’ve crossed with most people you know.  You’ve tried a therapist or two in town, at the insistance of your family.  You didn’t want to be saved from anything back then, and you sure weren’t going to talk about it with anyone. And even if they could help, would it even be worth it?  What has anyone missed by you being zoned out with drugs for the last few years?

That’s just the problem - you’ve been in another universe for a long time now.  At first, it seemed like a whole new world of adventure.  Way better than real life with its misery and boredom.  Drugs made you feel alive and like you had something to do.  Now, after you need drugs just to function a little bit each day, you don’t know where to find any shred of usefulness in your life.  This world you created with drugs may still be familiar, but it is also hell.

The Hell You Know Versus The Hell You Don’t Know

So now what?  You’re lost in your own universe of drugs and you wonder if you’ll ever get out.  And if you did get out, what is there for you?  More family arguments, more realization of how worthless your life has become, and more emotional pain.  Your family says you have to face these facts so you can move on, but you just don’t know.

Really, somewhere inside, you do want the pain to somehow get better.  You don’t know how much longer you can stay lost in limbo like this.  You’ve seen friends die and end up like vegetables after they’ve overdosed or just been on drugs for too long. That’s not really what you want, even as strong as your desire is to get away from pain.  You don’t actually want to end your one shot at life.  But you have gotten yourself to this point, and you are lost more than ever before.

Reaching Out And Finding Hope

You decide that even if you get rejected or laughed at, maybe you should try reaching out once before it’s too late.  Before the drug addition pulls you down so far you don’t even realize what’s happening.  Before that last hit takes your last breath away.  Before you are lost for good.  Maybe this time, someone will find you and help you find hope for tomorrow.

When it comes to teen drug addiction, prevention usually comes in the form of talking to teenagers about the dangers and health issues that result when drugs are an issue. The risks of drug addiction, drug overdose, teen pregnancy and disease through unprotected sex as well as death due to accident or negligent behavior are the primary focus at high schools, teen centers and other anti-drug venues.

While this has had an effect on the perception of drug and alcohol danger, it has only marginally decreased the incidents of use and possession of drugs among teens. Perhaps another approach to disseminating information about the risks associated with drug abuse and addiction is to educate parents and caregivers.

Drug Addiction Education: Never Assume

There are a few assumptions that we, as a community, tend to work under. One is that parents are knowledgeable about the dangers facing their children. It is assumed that parents are functional themselves and that if there were any drug use in the home that it would have been figured out long before the kids reached high school.

Unfortunately, children are often more knowledgeable than their parents about drugs and alcohol, their availability, use and the risks of addiction. While arming teenagers with the information they need to protect themselves, it is helpful for those who are still straddling the fence to have parents at home that can reinforce what they’re learning at school.

Parental Drug Addiction Education Tactics

There are a number of different ways to get the information to parents that they need to protect their kid. Sending home flyers with the kids or mailing them directly to parents may be helpful. Including short informational sessions for parents at school events for families can be beneficial as well (i.e., school plays, band concerts, choral concerts, et cetera). Back to School Nights at the beginning of the year for parents can include a short segment on drug problems, drug addiction, what to look for and how to help your child.

What Parents Need to Know About Teen Drug Addiction

There is quite a bit of information that parents need to know about teen drug addiction in order to best help their children stand strong against drug abuse. These include:

• The mechanisms of peer pressure and specific things kids can say to stand up to it
• What drugs look like so that they will know it when they see it
• Slang terms for drugs and getting high so that they will know when their children are talking about it
• The signs and symptoms of specific drugs of addiction so that you know what drugs to look for
• Drugs that are prevalent in that particular region
• Locations of local drug trade (i.e., where addicts are going to buy different drugs) so that parents can make sure that their children don’t frequent these places

Increasing the communication between parents and teenagers starts with a conversation in which both sides are knowledgeable. Giving parents the same (and more) information to talk intelligently to their children can help them know the signs, know what to look and listen for and help their kids avoid dangerous places.

For parents who have children who are struggling with drug addiction, it doesn’t matter what age they are: it’s difficult. Emotionally exhausting and hard on the whole family, a child’s drug addiction can affect everything from family dinner to family finances. So what can you do to help your child when he or she is struggling with drug addiction?

Don’t Enable Their Drug Addiction

First things first: you may not have the power to “fix” your child or save them from themselves but you do have the power to make an agreement with yourself not to make it worse. Enabling behavior manifests in a number of ways. It could be as obvious as handing the drug addict in your life money or  allowing them to stay with your rent free without getting a job or having any responsibility for themselves. It could occur when you cover for them with their employers, teachers, friends or other family members by lying about their behavior. Enabling also occurs when you continually do their work for them, handle their responsibilities or in any way protect them from the consequences of their own actions. When you stop doing these things and start allowing their drug addiction to affect them, you are helping them get one step closer to dealing with the fact that they need drug rehab.

Drug Addiction Intervention

A more proactive way to handle the situation when your child refuses to acknowledge his or her drug addiction is to stage a drug addiction intervention. At an intervention, you have the opportunity to gather together the people who mean the most to your child and allow each one to tell him or her about a specific incident in which your child’s drug addiction was hurtful or dangerous. The intervention culminates in an offer: go to drug rehab and get the necessary medical help or….

The “or” is a big part of the intervention, especially when it is your child struggling with drug addiction. Depending upon your situation and the age of your child, different ultimatums will be appropriate. It may be telling them to move out or taking away financial support if he or she is an adult or, for those who are underage, it may mean moving to a different city or changing schools.

Letting Go When Drug Addiction Treatment is Refused

If your child is struggling with drug addiction, you never have to stop loving him or her. However, it helps no one, least of all your child, if you continue to enable the behavior and make it possible for them to continue using drugs and/ or alcohol without real consequences. Letting go will look different for each family according the specifics of their situation and the addiction issues of their child. Only you know what’s best for you, but it can’t be repeated enough: letting go of your child when they refuse to get help for drug addiction doesn’t mean that you don’t love them.

Drug Addiction and the Family

If you would like to learn more about drug addiction treatment for your child, Michael’s House can help. We offer drug rehab services for those 18 and older. Call today to learn more.

For parents, there are few things worse than discovering that their child is addicted to drugs and alcohol. But there’s one thing that few parents realize: there are few things worse for your child to discover about him or herself as well. As the anti-drug commercials put it, “No one ever said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a junkie,’” and for your child, finding themselves in the tortuous position of physical addiction can be terrifying. As the parent, you may be the only person who can really help him or her to get through this experience and come out on the other side a happier, more well-adjusted person. Here are some 5 tips to help you along the way.

Your Child and Drug Addiction Tip 1: Stay Calm

Fear often manifests in the form of anger, but this is a case when screaming and yelling will only serve to worsen the situation and make your child feel even worse. If you suspect that your child is using, be prepared for a volatile reaction when he or she is confronted. Their fear of getting caught and concern for their own physical safety will likely turn emotional. It is your job to take a breath, pursue the conversation and help them defuse so that you two can have a conversation that is productive and goal (not blame) oriented.

Your Child and Drug Addiction Tip 2: Ask Questions

Are you using every day? How much are you using? How do you feel when you don’t use? If you find pills, ask how they are taking them (no need to offer multiple choice answers, but crushing and shooting the drug is significantly more dangerous than swallowing the pill whole and knowing the answer to this question will help you find the right drug rehab facility for them, even if they give you a sarcastic answer).

It’s not immediately important who they are using with, where they are getting the drugs or if they were high at such-and-such event. Pointing out addictive behavior like lying and stealing won’t serve your first purpose: helping your child accept the fact that he or she is addicted to drugs and needs drug rehab.

Your Child and Drug Addiction Tip 3: Listen

It may seem intuitive, but after you ask your questions, wait and listen to the answers. Bombarding your child with questions won’t yield anything but frustration. If you don’t understand the answer or feel like he or she is being indirect, you can always ask more questions later, but give your child a chance to speak his or her mind.

Your Child and Drug Addiction Tip 4: Offer Solution Options

Berating your child or handing down punishments isn’t appropriate at this time. Certainly, you want the addictive behavior and using to stop, but the best way for this to happen is to give them solutions: consulting with a doctor and heading to drug rehab immediately. Talk to them about what is available, and let them know that you will stand by them through it all.

Your Child and Drug Addiction Tip 5: Let Them Know That You Love Them No Matter What

This is crucial. Even though you may be scared to death, angry and overwhelmingly disappointed and sad, you must communicate to your child that you will be right there as the two of you work through this together. Let your child know that you love him or her and that you will make sure to provide the necessary help to get them back on their feet so that both of you can move forward.

The image of NBA superstar LeBron James has always seemed a little “too perfect” - perhaps crafted by the handlers who have a stake in his massive marketing empire.   So it was fascinating to see him to admit to being a “pot smoking jerk” in high school in the pages of his new autobiography, Shooting Stars.

James’ admission is refreshing, and seems to confirm claims that most of the basketball players in the NBA have used marijuana sporadically (or regularly) and various points during their lives.  The concern is the potential message it sends to young athletes.   “Hey, I can smoke some weed now and STILL end up like LeBron James!”

It is important that LeBron James follow up this honest moment with some advice for his millions of young admirers about the dangers of marijuana addiction.   Sure, it is not heroin or crystal meth, but the lack of motivation that chronic THC use produces can hamper a young person’s future at a time when they are at an emotional and personal crossroads.

For now, LeBron will continue being LeBron - prepping to attempt a run at the 2010 NBA title and rolling up for another million dollar endorsement.   Let’s hope that young kids who smoke pot have every opportunity to do the same.

If you need marijuana addiction treatment help, contact a drug rehab center in your area.  The caring professionals at these facilities can help you overcome the physical and psychological addiction to drugs - and pave the way for a bright future.

It is easy to judge the parents of children who are using drugs - but the reality is that even the most attentive, well-meaning parents may be unaware of the child’s marijuana use unless they know what to look for.

The follow is a list of hallmark signs and symptoms of teen marijuana use - that taken together acts as a watch list for vigilant parents who want to address their child’s marijuana use or marijuana addiction before it opens the door to even more serious problems.

Parental Watch List for Teen Marijuana Use

• Hanging out with a new group of friends (who may unfamiliar to the family)
• Sudden drop in grades or poor attendance at school
• Use of perfume or room deodorant to hide smell of marijuana smoke in their room
• Secretive behavior
• Finding drug paraphernalia such as pipes or rolling papers
• Borrowing money
• Using eye drops to mask bloodshot eyes
• Uses mouthwash or gum more than normal to cover up breath

As a parent, the most important tool at your command is common sense.  You know your child.   As such, you know when everything is OK and when that child may need help in the form of a drug treatment center.

One of the most serious issues pertaining to medical treatment in the United States concerns doctors who have developed a drug addiction, yet continue to provide care to their patients without receiving proper treatment themselves.  For years, this problem went unchecked in the medical community, as doctors were allowed to the patients’ lives at risk - while falling deeper and deeper into the cycle of addiction.

Hope came in the form of a new treatment approach to drug addicted doctors - one that focused on long-term care and high levels of accountability should the problem persist.

As a result of this unique approach (not quite punishment, not quite drug rehab), the percentage of doctors who are addicted to drugs has begun to decrease for the first time in many years.

According to a recent survey published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, over three-quarters of all doctors who entered this long-term treatment program have remained drug-free for over five years.   That speaks volumes for a non-traditional treatment style that combines counseling with a zero-tolerance approach to drug use on the job (physicians can lose their licesnse if testing positive during the program).

One of the more positive aspects of the survey was that the numbers held true across a wide variety of addictions - including crystal meth, cocaine, prescription painkillers and alcohol.

If you, or someone you know has developed a drug addiction, it is important to contact a drug rehab program immediately.  Through detox and counseling, drug rehab helps treat drug addiction at the core - and helps individuals discover the strategies needed to live a sober life.

Parents who are seeking help determining whether or not their kids are using drugs, have a helpful but little known weapon to use in their quest for information - home drug tests.  Despite parent-child trust issues that may arise as a result of the testing, they provide a window into the habits of young people that may parents desperately need to help stem drug addiction before it destroys the lives of their loved ones.

The tests are inexpensive (most run around $5) and are easy-to-administer.  The individual simply places the test strip in the urine of the individual, and in five minutes, a positive or negative result is provided for a number of substances, including:

• Marijuana
• Heroin or other opiates
• Methamphetamines
• Ecstasy

Each test provides a result for a different drug and are all sold separately.

Currently, the home drug tests can be purchased at major drug store chains.  Individuals who are confused about which tests to buy, or need help administering the tests are urged to contact a medical professional.

But it is important to note that testing alone will not solve the entire problem.   Parents must still be well-educated in terms of how to best speak with their kids about the dangers of substance abuse.  And in cases where it is merited, they must also be prepared to contact professional help for their drug-addicted child.  Teen drug rehab programs help young people overcome their addiction to drugs, and turn their lives around before their best years are lost.

As if the rise in teenage prescription drug abuse wasn’t bad enough, now many young people are mixing a variety of different medications together in attempt to achieve a more potent euphoric effect.  Unfortunately, as the death of actor Heath Ledger should have proven, mixing prescription medications is an incredibly dangerous activity that has caused the death of hundreds of young people each year.

One such case involved Phillip Ray Cottle, a 21-year old from Baytown, Texas who suffered from cystic fibrosis.   Phillip died several weeks ago after taking a mixture of Hyrdrocodone (the generic term for Vicodin) as the powerful painkiller OxyContin.   Phillip’s death was one of nine to hit young people in the small town in recent months.

The most popular, and subsequently dangerous mixtures include Vicodin, OxyContin, Xanax and Soma (the latter two being powerful muscle relaxant).

The most frightening thing about teenagers and presciption medication is that research surverys have found that young people are more likely to try Vicodin or Xanax as they would marijuana or alcohol.  This stems from a lack of basic information about prescription drugs and emphasizes the parents role in drug awareness.

It is absolutely essential that parents educate their children about the dangers of prescription drug use.   Many teenage children (and younger) are under the mistaken impression that just because something is prescribed by a doctor that is inherently safe.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Individuals who abuse and misuse a drug such as OxyContin are exposing themselves to a substance as addictive and potentially deadly as heroin.

If you, or someone you love has been abusing prescription drugs, find a drug rehab facility in your area that can help them get treatment before it is too late.