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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I place children in the US foster care system with adoptive
families and work with a lot of substance and mental health issues.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I'd add to that list the following:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>1] advise parents to look closely at their own
behaviors and what they might be modeling - particularly around substance
use/abuse</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>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 <EM>could be
</EM>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 </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>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].</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=236245613-13082009><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Sorry for the downer ! </FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B>
hchylist-bounces@lists.search-institute.org
[mailto:hchylist-bounces@lists.search-institute.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>ROSYPAT@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 12, 2009 9:00
AM<BR><B>To:</B> Amy Mckinley -X (amckinle - Husted Communications at
Cisco)<BR><B>Cc:</B> hchylist@lists.search-institute.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
HCHY List: Search Institute Press is looking for youropinion--abook on Substance
Abuse<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">List Serve Friends, <BR>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.<BR><BR>Here it is. <BR><BR>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:</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR> <BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">1. set boundaries - COMMUNICATE with your kids what
your values are about their using drugs</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000
size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">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</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">3. limit access to misused substances (prescription drugs,
alcohol, cigarettes, aerosol sprays, etc.)</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000
size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">4. build a positive relationship with your children - EAT
DINNER TOGETHER!!!</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">5. get your kids involved in community activities - the less
unstructured, unsupervised time your kids have, the better</FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR> <BR></FONT><FONT
face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">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.</FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR> <BR></FONT><FONT
face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Does that help?</FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR> <BR></FONT><FONT
face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">:-) Karen</FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR> <BR><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><I>Karen P. McWhorter, LMSW, CPS</I></FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Director, Prevention Resources and
Services</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston</FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">303 Jackson Hill St.</FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Houston, Tx 77007</FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">(office) 281-200-9321 ~ (fax)
713-838-9351</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">www.council-houston.org</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000
size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"></FONT> </FONT></BODY></HTML>