FIRST RESPONDERS and ADDICTION: THROUGH the EYES of a FIRST RESPONDER by Dr
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OCTOBER 2019 | VOLUME 8 | ISSUE 10 IN MEMORY OF STEVEN FIRST RESPONDERS AND ADDICTION: THROUGH THE EYES OF A FIRST RESPONDER By Dr. Asa Don Brown, Ph.D., C.C.C., D.N.C.C.M., F.A.A.E.T.S. FEELING DEPRESSED? TEN GUIDELINES FOR STARTING DEPRESSION RECOVERY By Terence T. Gorski BULLYING IN THE 21ST CENTURY COLLEGE MENTAL HEALTH: A CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS By Ariana Lobo By Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, Ph.D. 2 www.thesoberworld.com A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Dear Readers, I welcome you to The Sober World magazine. The Sober World is an and there are Sober Living Housing where they can work, go to meetings informative award winning global magazine that’s designed to help and be accountable for staying clean. parents and families who have loved ones struggling with addiction. We Many times a Criminal Attorney will try to work out a deal with the court are a FREE online e-magazine reaching people globally in their search to allow your child or loved one to seek treatment as an alternative to for information about Drug and Alcohol Abuse. jail. I know how overwhelming this period can be for you and I urge Our monthly magazine is available for free on our website at every parent or relative of an addict to get some help for yourself. There www.thesoberworld.com or you can have it come to your inbox each are many groups that can help you. There is Al-Anon, Alateen (for month by signing up on our website. teenagers), Families Anonymous, Nar-Anon and more. This is a disease Drug addiction has reached epidemic proportions throughout the country that affects the whole family, not just the parents. and is steadily increasing. It is being described as “the biggest man- Addiction knows no race or religion; it affects the wealthy as well as the made epidemic” in the United States. More people are dying from drug poor, the highly educated, old, young-IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. overdoses than from any other cause of injury death, including traffic This magazine is dedicated to my son Steven who graduated with accidents, falls or guns. top honors from University of Central Florida. He graduated with Many Petty thefts are drug related, as the addicts need for drugs causes a degree in Psychology, and was going for his Masters in Applied them to take desperate measures in order to have the ability to buy their Behavioral Therapy. He was a highly intelligent, sensitive young man drugs. The availability of prescription narcotics is overwhelming; as who helped many people get their lives on the right course. He could parents our hands are tied. have accomplished whatever he set his mind out to do. Unfortunately, Purdue Pharma, the company that manufactures Oxycontin generated after graduating from college he tried a drug that was offered to him not $3.1 BILLION in revenue in 2010? Scary isn’t it? realizing how addictive it was and the power it would have over him. Addiction is a disease but there is a terrible stigma attached to it. As My son was 7 months clean when he relapsed and died of a drug family members affected by this disease, we are often too ashamed to overdose. I hope this magazine helps you find the right treatment for speak to anyone about our loved ones addiction, feeling that we will be your loved one. They have a disease and like all diseases, you try to find judged. We try to pass it off as a passing phase in their lives, and some the best care suited for their needs. They need help. people hide their head in the sand until it becomes very apparent such Deaths from prescription drug overdose have been called the “silent as through an arrest, getting thrown out of school or even worse an epidemic” for years. There is approximately one American dying every overdose, that we realize the true extent of their addiction. 17 minutes from an accidental prescription drug overdose. Please don’t If you are experiencing any of the above, this may be your opportunity to allow your loved one to become a statistic. I hope you have found this save your child or loved one’s life. They are more apt to listen to you now magazine helpful. than they were before, when whatever you said may have fallen on deaf We are on Face Book at www.facebook.com/TheSoberWorld/ or ears. This is the point where you know your loved one needs help, but Twitter at www.twitter.com/thesoberworld, and you don’t know where to begin. LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-rosen-95521051/ or I have compiled this informative magazine to try to take that fear and www.linkedin.com/groups/6694001/ anxiety away from you and let you know there are many options to choose from. Sincerely, There are Psychologists and Psychiatrists that specialize in treating people with addictions. There are Education Consultants that will work PublisherPatricia with you to figure out what your loved ones needs are and come up [email protected] with the best plan for them. There are Interventionists who will hold an intervention and try to convince your loved one that they need help. There are detox centers that provide medical supervision to help them through the withdrawal process, There are Transport Services that will scoop up your resistant loved For Advertising opportunities on our website one (under the age of 18 yrs. old) and bring them to the facility you have chosen. There are long term Residential Programs (sometimes a or to submit articles, year and longer) as well as short term programs (30-90 days), there are please contact Patricia Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Wilderness programs, Extended Living at 561-910-1943 or [email protected]. To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943 3 COLLEGE MENTAL HEALTH: A CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS By Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, Ph.D. Approximately four million students have enrolled in college for the first time this year. This transition to university life can be overwhelming for many young people, particularly for those with mental health issues. At our hospital alone, we provide mental health treatment for more than 600 college students each year. The late teens and early 20’s—the traditional college years—are known to be the time in life when serious mental illnesses are most likely to manifest themselves. Combine that with being away from home for the first time and adjusting to other aspects of college life. Together, it can be a recipe for psychological vulnerability for many students. The college years become a critical time for students and parents to have a mental health checklist. Be sure to learn more about what resources are available at your When students have mental health crises, parents often feel child’s college or university to help support their mental health overwhelmed and unsure about how to help. Awareness and Forget Stigma treatment are essential to preventing crises that result in failing classes, dropping out, or severe emotional issues. Among the Don’t let stigma get in the way of getting help for your child. If your most common problems seen with college students are anxiety child is experiencing mental health issues, prioritize getting help disorders, depression, alcohol and drug use, psychotic episodes, over the fear of tarnishing their transcript or reputation. and relationship difficulties. And that doesn’t include many other For some students, a leave from school is needed to recover and mental health concerns. get back on track. Each college has its own policy about granting Parents often need help addressing their adult child’s mental health medical leave. Contact the student health center or the dean of and academic needs at the same time. So, as a parent, what students’ office to find out the procedure for taking a temporary can you do? Here are some tips for supporting your child as they leave of absence. navigate the unfamiliar waters of university life. Purchasing tuition insurance is another thing to consider. It can Prepare Your Child ease financial stress in the event of a crisis and leave of absence. It is very likely that your child, or one of her roommates or friends, Encourage Healthy Habits will encounter a mental health issue while they are away at college. It’s easy to let good eating, sleep, and exercise habits fall by A 2012 National Alliance on Mental Illness survey of college the wayside while living away from home for the first time. Many students found that 27% of all respondents lived with depression, students sacrifice physical health for an extra hour of studying or 24% with bipolar disorder, 11% with anxiety, 5% with attention- staying out with friends. deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and 1% with a substance use disorder. The importance of a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and regular Talk openly with your child about mental health. Let them know that they exercise cannot be overstated, particularly as they relate to overall are not alone. Keeping lines of communication open is very important. mental health. Avoid lecturing your student about eating their This will help them to feel comfortable that they can come to you with vegetables. Instead, ask them how they feel when they eat well or any problems they may experience without fear of being judged. when they sleep poorly. This will help them to connect self-care Have a Plan with emotional stability. All students, but particularly those who have already experienced Learn About College Mental Health Services mental health issues, should have a plan in place in case things get Call the student counseling center to ask about the range of too difficult to handle.