Teens are Undertreated For Addiction

It is estimated only 10% of  teens who are addicted to drugs/alcohol are treated for their addiction.  Less than 30% of treatment centers in our country focus on teen treatment.  Not only is there a lack of teen treatment centers , but the quality of those in existence is thought to be  in-adequately prepared to deal with  teen addiction and the related  physical and emotional problems which accompany addiction.

In a recent news release, author Hannah Knudsen. PhD, University of Kentucky, said a study shows 1.4 million of our teen population need help for substance abuse issues, but only approximately one tenth of this number is given an opportunity for the help required.   She stated the probable cause is a limited availability of adolescent-only services and programs.

Observations:                                                                                                                                                                   1)  More publicly funded adolescent treatment centers are needed to support early intervention.                                                                                                                                                                    2)   We require more teen  in-patient treatment facilities; most today are out-patient only.           3)  Today, many government  funded and hospital based programs exclude adolescents from substance abuse .  Intervention is required to change this policy.                                                          4)  More  accredited programs offered through outside organizations are providing treatment for teen addictions as compared to government and hospital based programs.  Why should this be?                                                                                                                                                                             

Credit  is given to “ SAPRP ” of  the  Robert Wood Johnson  Foundation for  portions of  the information in this article .                                                                        

  OpenEyes/grh                                                                                                                                                                             27 march 2009

Adult Alcoholism part 2

“ADULT ALCOHOLISM”

NEEDS AND RESTORATION

PART II

In part one of this series we established America is an addictive society.  Our citizens are addicted to many “things”, some not so bad and others very hazardous to the individual, the family and to the well being of everyone in our country.

There is always hope for restoration after any addiction.  Even after restoration, temptation is often present, but a wholesome recovery program of restoration can be successful.

Unfortunately many persons addicted to alcohol and other forms of addiction never achieve recovery and restoration.  They have no real desire to change their lifestyle so they often live a life of reclusiveness and loneliness, most often displaying physical and verbal disrespect for family members, eventually develop a life of illness, disease and pain, and finally become disabled or impaired.  These maladies are in addition to a time the alcoholic or other addict may choose to drive an automobile while under the influence and destroy a human life and possibly his own.  

These are harsh words, but they are from the heart of one who has observed all of these issues while a child.  That child was left without a father at age seven and both grandfathers by age twelve, all due to alcohol abuse.  These scares left fear, sadness, confusion and hardship in the hearts of a young family at the end of the great depression when most families were on the road to economic recovery.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS:  There are opportunities for restoration.  Restoration is vital as alcohol abuse creates many body nutritional deficiencies, medical conditions and body biochemical imbalances. Addictions deplete much of the body’s ability to function normally and we already know causes severe health issues.

Since vitamins, minerals and amino acids are too often depleted due to abuse of alcohol and other substances, good nutrition and nutrition awareness is critical for renewal.  A low-carb high protein diet is helpful in rebuilding the body.   A program to rebalance the body chemistry is important in restoring the abusers sense of well being and good health. Once understanding the body is being destroyed by addiction the addict must be ready to free himself from the numbing and deadly grasp of alcohol/drug addiction.  Many roads initially lead to a 12 step program, but that is neither an adequate nor a complete answer.  There simultaneously must be a complete support system, including all family and friends who understand all of the body/brain connection to addiction.

The Twelve Step Program: 

The basic features of the 12 Step Program has worked for many but has a basic flaw in that it continually reinforces negative thoughts which create ones basic feelings.  The 12 step program teaches one to repeat the following over and over again:

(1)  I am an addict.

(2)  I am powerless.

(3)  Each day I must relieve myself of humiliating things I’ve done when not sober.

The Christian Twelve Step Recovery Program:

This program emphasizes Jesus Christ as the Higher Power in the 12 step program.   This is not the case in all other 12 step programs who do a disservice by not emphasizing that it is God alone who has the power to relieve a person of addictive behavior.  A Christian program strives to help the addict regain his person through the love of God and the normal life experiences only a relationship with God can provide. A good Christian program begins with a reprogramming of one’s thinking, one’s feelings, a changing of actions and responses, all leading to a changed life style. 

Necessary changes are not quickly attained as persons with addictions are too often suffering from family troubles, legal trials, poor personal health and too often issues with their employment.  Qualified treatment centers requiring term stays are available and sometimes very necessary to help deal with the many issues surrounding addiction, but they can be expensive.

When looking at a term treatment center, most of which can be viewed on the internet, ask the following questions:

  

How qualified and experienced is the staff?

How long has the facility been in business?

Where is the treatment center located in relation to your home?

Does the center provide inpatient programs?

Is the treatment comfortable?  Clean?  What other services does it provide?

What is the cost and will it accept your insurance?

Does the center provide a complete dependency restoration program?

Is there support after rehabilitation?

Is there immediate availability for acceptance?

In Montgomery County, Kentucky there are presently two Christian based programs which meet weekly and provide friendly, healthy assistance.  The leaders in each group are all qualified and trained Christian personnel who care and whose primary concern is complete restoration through the love and care of a Christian environment.

Celebrate Recovery is a fellowship and celebration of God’s healing power through the 12 steps and 8 Recovery Principles.  The group meets each Thursday evening at 6 P.M. at Gateway Christian Church, 801 Winchester Rd., Mt. Sterling, Ky.  Telephone (859) 498-3876

Queen Street Christian Fellowship located at 10 North Queen St., Mt. Sterling, Ky., (606) 224-2393 offers a 12 step and Christian Recovery Program staffed with all qualified and caring staff who focus on healing through application of basic Bible principles.  Weekly meetings are held each Tuesday at 8 P.M. with Saturday morning meetings that are soon to be announced.

In both groups mentioned above, there is always someone available as a sponsor or counselor who will be available in times of temptation or trouble when a friend is needed.

Adult Alcoholism part 1

“ALCOHOLISM”   AN ADDICTION

ADULTS—–PART I

This will represent the first of what I hope will be many of the thoughts from other citizens in our community who understand that our country is an addicted society.

I want to, in this first article of a series, focus on one of the oldest addictions in our society, alcoholism.  Hardly any one in our community has escaped an experience where alcohol has had an influence on family or friends.   Almost in every case the experience has dealt a sad memory.

Alcoholism is identified as a preoccupation with any and all forms of alcohol and an impaired control over consumption.  An alcoholic becomes dependent on this plentifully available, non-controlled substance which is easily available to the entire adult population.   Despite knowledge of its effects, it contributes to serious health problems, family and personal circumstances, work and financial consequences.  Left unattended, it is a chronic and progressive disease which leads to an early and treacherous death.  In addition it leaves a severe scar on family felt behind.

My Uncle Tom, even though he maintained a responsible job until retirement at age sixty–two, dreamed of alcohol, took notice of the liquor ads in the newspaper before anything else, commonly spoke of his favorite liquor and drank enough to be identified as intoxicated every day.  He turned to alcohol instead of facing obstacles in his life.  Tom died at age seventy with various organ diseases after ten years of suffering.

My friend from college would not return to his home on break and holidays.  His Mother was an alcoholic and I am very sorry for the way he felt about her.  He spent those times away from school with other friends at their homes and moved in with me after college.  His Mother died alone and He lived without a Mother. 

There are many signs of alcohol abuse and the following is a list of the signals of alcohol abuse in adults.  The signs are different in youth and we will look at those in next month’s article.

 SIGNS OF ADULT ALCOHOLISM:

• A STRONG URGE OR “CRAVING” FOR ALCOHOL.
• AN INABILITY TO STOP DRINKING, ONCE STARTED.
• A PHYSICAL DEPENDENCY
• WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS OF NAUSEA, SWEATING, SHAKINESS AND ANXIETY.
• IT EVENTUALLY TAKES MORE ALCOHOL TO GET “HIGH”.    
• EVENTUALLY, IT TAKES MORE ALCOHOL TO DECREASE THE SHAKINESS, NAUSEA AND SWEATING.
• A PREOCCUPATION ABOUT DRINKING.
• AN INABILITY TO CUT BACK OR STOP.
• ALCOHOL BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.
• CURTAILMENT OF SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY IN ORDER TO DRINK.

The solution of sobriety for an alcoholic is not easily accomplished and often times is not a solution at all, but failure.  Sobriety is often permitted because of a known terminal illness and the alcohol creates a greater ill effect when taken with medications.  Then, often too late, there is a hope for a cure which not often occurs.  

SOME HEALTH EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ARE:

• SOME PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS CAN NOT IDENTIFY ALCOHOL ABUSE AS AN EARLY SYMPTOM OF A PROBLEM.
• ESPECIALLY IN OLDER ADULTS, EVEN MODERATE AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMED CAN CAUSE THE BLOOD PRESSURE TO INCREASE.  THIS IS ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY IN JAPAN.
• ALCOHOL IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE PAIN RELIEVER.
• SOME EXPERTS SAY EVEN MODERATE DRINKING DURING PREGNANCY CAN DAMAGE THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF A FETUS.
• NEW TECHNOLOGY INDICATES HOW ALCOHOL DAMAGES VARIOUS INTERNAL ORGANS, SPECIFICALLY THE BRAIN AND THE LIVER.
• CONTRARY TO PREVIOUS STUDIES, THE BRITISH HAVE CONCLUDED EVEN MODERATE DRINKING OF ALCOHOL 
• DOES AFFECT LONGEVITY OF LIFE.
• BODY DEFENSES BECOME WEAKER AFTER ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
• RESEARCH AT THE OMAHA VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER STATE HEAVY AND CONSISTENT DRINKING CAN INHIBIT NEW BONE CELL FORMATION AND LEADS TO LOW BONE MASS.
• DRINKING ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE NEGATIVE CONCERNS ON BODY BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS SUCH AS HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE, BODY TEMPERATURE, HORMONE LEVELS AND THE PAIN THRESHOLD.
• ALCOHOL CAN AFFECT BLOOD COAGULATION, AS IT MAY ACT AS A BLOOD THINNER.
• DRINKING EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL IS SAID TO CAUSE STRONGER ALLERGIC REACTIONS ACCORDING TO RESEARCH IN SPAIN.
• ALCOHOL IS ONE OF THE HARDEST SUBSTANCES FOR THE DIABETIC TO MANAGE.  ALCOHOL CAUSES THE LIVER TO STOP MAKING GLUCOSE SO THAT IT CAN INSTEAD CLEAN THE ALCOHOL FROM THE BLOOD.
• WHEN GLUCOSE IS SHUT DONE, LOW BLOOD SUGAR BECOMES A RISK OF DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS. 

There are many problems which relate to alcoholism besides the few health issues as focused above.  Part two of this series will discuss   solutions to alcohol abuse.

 If you have any comments about this essay, or would like to respond to any of the statements in the essay, please feel free to do so by clicking on the “comments and questions” section on the home page of “Open Eyes” 

Gary Hutson President/Chair  “OpenEyes” Montgomery County, Inc.

10 march 2008