HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for
youropinion--abook on Substance Abuse
Deborah Fisher
deborah1701 at fishernyberg.com
Thu Aug 13 12:07:13 CDT 2009
I have read parenting materials for years that talk about modeling
what you want your kid to learn and while I still believe in it as an
overall concept, I've learned first hand that modeling is not a 100%
guarantee of anything. I can agree that sober and/or responsible use
in parents is the best starting point, but I don't believe modeling
alone solves the problems we're discussing. My two big issues with my
son have been about reading and sobriety, both of which is all he's
ever seen in his 20 years on this planet with me. I've only seen him
pick up a book for to read for pleasure maybe 2 or 3 times and my 28
years of sobriety (and attempts to teach him the perils of my
family's legacy) did not stop him from using, although I do think
it's helped him with his recovery. I would not like to read another
book aimed at parents that makes "modeling" sound like a panacea.
I do agree that substance use can be a form of self-medication for
various issues. To add to the list, especially with regard to ADD/
ADHD, is a recent study that shows that nicotine actually has the
same impact on the brain as Ritalin. So if a book is going to deal
with self-medication issues, I think tobacco should be included.
Amy I think you're right on about the difficulties parents sometimes
have facing the possibility of a diagnosis of some kind with their
kids that may mean medications. There are some very meaningful issues
there that could be touched upon in this whole discussion within the
context of the proposed book.
Regards,
Deborah
Deborah Fisher
Search Institute author
National Trainer, Vision Training Associates
(425) 641-4785 (PST)
deborah1701 at fishernyberg.com
To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair
convincing.
Raymond Williams
On Aug 13, 2009, at 7:03 AM, Amy Mckinley -X (amckinle - Husted
Communications at Cisco) wrote:
> I place children in the US foster care system with adoptive
> families and work with a lot of substance and mental health issues.
>
> I'd add to that list the following:
>
> 1] advise parents to look closely at their own behaviors and what
> they might be modeling - particularly around substance use/abuse
>
> 2] be aware that some mental health diagnoses [like ADD, bipolar]
> are self-medicated by substance use. Cocaine or excessive alcohol
> use can be a way to achieve balance if a child has severe ADD, for
> example. So be open to the fact that a child could be self-
> medicating something that could be better addressed in postive ways
> by diagnosing the issue, getting the child in support groups so
> they can better understand how their brain works and the positive
> ways they can modify their behaviors
>
> I'm not advocating for diagnosing kids with things they don't have
> but if you have a kid heavily self-medicating, there could be
> something going on biologically. I see parents who are afraid of
> what it all means and don't get kids the help they need. It's hard
> to be the parent of a child with mental illness but I think it's
> harder to look back 20 years later and realize help could have been
> accessed but wasn't - particularly if a child commits suicide or
> does something else drastic [which does happen].
>
> Sorry for the downer !
>
> From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org [mailto:hchylist-
> bounces at lists.search-institute.org] On Behalf Of ROSYPAT at aol.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 9:00 AM
> To: Amy Mckinley -X (amckinle - Husted Communications at Cisco)
> Cc: hchylist at lists.search-institute.org
> Subject: Re: HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for
> youropinion--abook on Substance Abuse
>
> List Serve Friends,
> I recently had about the same conversation with my friend at the
> Council for Alcohol and Drugs here in Houston. When the question
> came out, I was interested in the responses but didn't feel as
> qualified as my friend Karen McWhorter to respond. So I asked her
> what she thought. I would like to share her response.
>
> Here it is.
>
> I agree with the most recent response - I think parents need to be
> aware of ALL of the types of drugs kids are using....and WHY they
> are using them. To numb pain, to fit in, stress, etc. While parents
> need to be informed of what types of drugs there are out there that
> kids are using (especially prescription drugs) the way I see the
> assets leading prevention efforts is to link the assets to the
> information that is out there and show how - when we build specific
> ones - they act as protective factors. It's very clear that the
> most effective ways to reduce your teens drug use are to do the
> following things:
>
> 1. set boundaries - COMMUNICATE with your kids what your values
> are about their using drugs
> 2. know where your kids ARE and WHAT they are doing - knowing who
> their friends are is HUGE - birds of a feather really do flock
> together
> 3. limit access to misused substances (prescription drugs, alcohol,
> cigarettes, aerosol sprays, etc.)
> 4. build a positive relationship with your children - EAT DINNER
> TOGETHER!!!
> 5. get your kids involved in community activities - the less
> unstructured, unsupervised time your kids have, the better
>
> Those are the top 5. If you do these things, it covers all the
> substances. But to be an informed parent of ALL the things that are
> out there is extremely important.
>
> Does that help?
>
> :-) Karen
>
>
> Karen P. McWhorter, LMSW, CPS
> Director, Prevention Resources and Services
> The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston
> 303 Jackson Hill St.
> Houston, Tx 77007
> (office) 281-200-9321 ~ (fax) 713-838-9351
> www.council-houston.org
> _______________________________________________
>
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> deborah1701%40fishernyberg.com
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