HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking

Thu Aug 13 12:13:09 CDT 2009

I love when this list comes alive like this!!  I've forwarded Michael Clark's ideas, and now Deborah Fisher's too, to all staff at Coconino County Juvenile Court in Flagstaff, AZ.  These are the ideas the POs in particular often need when they're frustrated by choices the youth on their caseloads are making.

Thanks for so many of you chiming in!!
Diedra

From: hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org [mailto:hchylist-bounces at lists.search-institute.org] On Behalf Of Deborah Fisher
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 9:56 AM
To: Silbert, Diedra
Cc: Michael Clark; Healthy Communities Healthy Youth
Subject: Re: HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for your on Substance Abuse

Dear Mike,

You are amazing. This approach is right on. Too often we think that just telling kids to say no and that drugs are bad for you will make an impression, but you have really provided an excellent perspective.

I would add one more thing to this list that I've learned from my experience watching our son deal with his own issues and that is a quest for a spiritual experience. One wouldn't automatically make that leap but the intensity of some drugs, like oxycontin, can pull together several of the aspects you mention (discovery, emotional experience, and belonging) into something akin to a profound experience for a young person.

For my son, lots of traditional talk therapy has had limited appeal and impact. His recovery right now is totally centered on music as his voice and vehicle for expression. I think the proposed book should include the kinds of material you've described below and also include information and ideas about spiritual and creative practices as important alternatives to drugs and alcohol.

Thank you for your continued work and taking the time to send such a thoughtful and useful post!

Regards,
Deborah

Deborah Fisher
Search Institute author
National Trainer, Vision Training Associates
(425) 641-4785 (PST)
deborah1701 at fishernyberg.com<mailto:deborah1701 at fishernyberg.com>

To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing.
                                                                                Raymond Williams

On Aug 13, 2009, at 5:59 AM, MClark936 at aol.com<mailto:MClark936 at aol.com> wrote:

Hello All,

Many helpful responses to this inquiry. Linda Hardman's post leans this thread over towards the 40 assets and creates some space for a more novel way of responding to substance misuse/abuse.

The Strengths/Assets approach reminds that no goal can be the withdrawal of an unwanted behavior-it must be the beginning of something, the presence of healthy interests, desires, goals, wants.

It is a short view (yet entirely correct) that alcohol and drugs will leave anyone on the empty side. Yet, we in the helping professions engage in our own denial. We deny that drugs DO THINGS for adolescents.  To compete with illicit drugs and alcohol, we must first come to terms with what they do...and then endeavor to match these so-called perks or "benefits" with the 40 assets. Allow me to offer seven (7) functions that alcohol and drugs offer youth.  My past work (Clark, 1998) and work by Rosenthal (1999) detail these issues:

1. Action. Drug use is something to do. It fills a void for some and is a substitute for boredom. For many, it is where the action is. Drug use often is linked to considerable enabling, preparatory, and ritualistic activity.

 *   Keep youth in action-physically and/or mentally. My past posting on this listserv of "Dale's Pyramid of Experience" would be helpful here.

2. Discovery. Drug use provides learning and discovery experiences in finding out the feelings resulting from ingestion, in supposed self-discovery with use of "mind expanding" drugs, and in the social and sexual experiences of the scene.

 *   Offer opportunities for discovery and learning. (see above)

3. Emotional Experience. Drugs offer fabulous feelings. They are ingested in the quest to feel better and gain a high. Some users see drugs as "frosting on the cake" to make excitement and good times even better. For some, the risk-taking does not deter but enhances the excitement of it all.

 *   Provide genuine emotional experiences. Juvenile drug court have used "emotional theatre" to allow a free and creative expression of feelings. Kids tell me in therapy that adults are not emotionally honest with them. Tell kids what you think when they reveal something or ask for advice. Don't be afraid to respond to them with genuine emotion.

4.  Belonging.  Drugs are ingested by some because it seems "everyone is doing it," and it is a requirement of the crowd in order to belong. Drugs are used by others in somewhat different circumstances to cope with loneliness and the lack of belonging, to counter the depressions of rejection.

 *   Foster a feeling of belonging. I am reminded of a defense attorney for a juvenile drug court who found donations to take drug court teens from San Diego's inner-city to a Native-American tribal village in the Aleutian Islands off the Alaskan coast. Culture shock with no radios, no television-the "noise" and rush of inner-city life brought to an abrupt halt. In its place was recognition, being "seen" and affirmed by the adults in this small fishing village. It was transformative. The story brought tears to my eyes.

5. Voice. Young people tend to see drug use as an assertion of independence and a symbol of rebellion against authority. Some use drugs to exercise voice in their own affairs and some to defy parents, school, and the established community.

 *   Permit people to have a voice in what they do. Allow a voice, influence and ownership of programs and initiatives. I've seen programs that are designed, implemented (and assessed for effectiveness) solely by adults.

6. Being Somebody. Many see their drug experience as self-elevating. They see themselves as significant somebodies because of their association with the drug scene. Both because of the drug-induced feelings and because of the esoteric creations of the media and other profiting enterprises, many see drug use as necessary to really be somebody.

 *   Recognize people as significant somebodies;

7. The Look Ahead. Drug use offers temporary escape from the depression of a dismal, threatening, empty look ahead-a look ahead to First Period, tonight, tomorrow, or 10 years down the line. For many, alcohol and drugs provide something to look forward to, something wonderful within reach, an invitation to party and feeling better, no matter how poor the grades, how rotten things many be at home, or how dark and pointless the future.

 *   Give consideration to the look ahead, both in avoiding regrettable happenings and in leading toward happy, worthwhile things to come.

It's a complex problem, so yes, I risk oversimplification. Somehow though, the "next steps" from here is to connect the 40 assets to these seven issues. What assets respond (compete) with these so-called perks of alcohol and drugs?

Best,
Mike Clark

Michael D. Clark, MSW, LMSW
Director, Center for Strength-Based Strategies
872 Eaton Drive
Mason, Michigan USA 48854-1346
<michigan.jpg>
phone (517)-244-0654
fax (815)-371-2292
email: buildmotivation at aol.com<mailto:buildmotivation at aol.com>
website: www.buildmotivation.com<http://www.buildmotivation.com/>

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