October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month
Alcohol, prescription drugs and illegal drugs can impact lives in serious and tragic ways. These substances are powerful chemicals that modify the brain and its vital functions which then affects important choices and actions. Addictions and misuse are associated with depression, rape, theft, assaults and manslaughter, domestic violence, infidelity and divorce, job loss, financial loss, and child neglect and abuse.
Sadly, I have seen that broken dreams and despair are the result for the individual caught under the influence, rather than the fun and escape that the substance initially seemed to promise. As well, the devastation emotionally and financially to spouses, partners, parents, friends, and children, of those have been derailed by addictions and drug misuse, is heart-breaking. Even strangers can be impacted by direct or ripple effects of harmful choices or actions of someone whose brain is hijacked by substances. Thankfully, people can find recovery and rebuild their lives. However, the harm doesn't have to happen.
Prevention is a critical key to change this destruction. Education about the nature of addiction, effects and consequences on the brain, body, and relationships from both dependency and binge use, development of strong supportive relationships, strengthening assertiveness skills to say no and set limits, clarifying values and goals, creating access to alternative sources of fun, and delivery of emotional education and management skills are vital components of prevention.
Resources for parents at http://www.drugfree.org/ and http://www.theantidrug.com/
Resources and inspiration for children and teens at Above the Influence.
Sadly, I have seen that broken dreams and despair are the result for the individual caught under the influence, rather than the fun and escape that the substance initially seemed to promise. As well, the devastation emotionally and financially to spouses, partners, parents, friends, and children, of those have been derailed by addictions and drug misuse, is heart-breaking. Even strangers can be impacted by direct or ripple effects of harmful choices or actions of someone whose brain is hijacked by substances. Thankfully, people can find recovery and rebuild their lives. However, the harm doesn't have to happen.
Prevention is a critical key to change this destruction. Education about the nature of addiction, effects and consequences on the brain, body, and relationships from both dependency and binge use, development of strong supportive relationships, strengthening assertiveness skills to say no and set limits, clarifying values and goals, creating access to alternative sources of fun, and delivery of emotional education and management skills are vital components of prevention.
Resources for parents at http://www.drugfree.org/ and http://www.theantidrug.com/
Resources and inspiration for children and teens at Above the Influence.