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Quote of the Week
"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way" ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Click here for an insightful blog posting about one family’s experience with their son’s
heroin addiction, titled “7 Truths About My Addict That Took 5 Years To Learn”.
Although the family clearly went through
many years of heartbreak, the good news is that their son has been clean and
sober for the past 5 years!
Below is a synopsis of the father’s “seven truths”, but I highly recommend that you read the blog posting to get the full effect of his insights.
Parents Are Enablers
I Cannot Fix This
My Addict Is A Liar
My Addict Is A Criminal
Others Don’t Want Them Around
Life Will Not Be The Same
Homelessness May Be The Path He Chooses
A sample from the author's commentary:
I once wrote a letter to my son about using drugs. I used the analogy of him standing on the railroad tracks and a train (drugs) is blasting down the tracks and blaring its horn but he hears nothing. I told him it was my job to knock him out of the way and take the hit, that’s what fathers do. I understand now, I was wrong. All that would do would leave me dead on the tracks and he would be standing on another set of tracks the next day.
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Apartment Hunting
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, August 12, 2015
My 19-year-old son Dylan is looking for an apartment, and is
hoping to share with a friend who is 20. Both of them have juvenile
records - neither has any credit history – and both have spotty work histories
at minimum wage jobs. Neither of them has a car, so they need to be near
public transportation. Dylan plans to get a job, but does not have one
yet. His friend just got a full-time job at a fast-food restaurant.
Both of them drink & get high (marijuana), but seem to be functional – they
don’t live with me, thank goodness.
I suspect that many of you have had experience with your own
children leasing apartments, and I’d love any tips from you. I definitely
don’t want to co-sign for a 12-month lease. Do you have suggestions/warnings? (And
wouldn’t you just love to be their landlord?)
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Following are
excerpts from Lisa Frederiksen’s interview with author Barbara Cofer Stoefen about
her experiences with her daughter's drug use.
Click here for Lisa’s full interview with Barbara.
Having a child in the
throes of addiction is to experience profound grief. . . . We lose what they used to look like, smell
like, we lose their health, we lose their companionship, we lose the pride we
once had in them, we lose the very essence of them… because they truly have
become someone else. Also, parents are often the target of a great amount of
wrath coming from their addicted child, and it often feels we’ve lost their love
too. But maybe most important of all is we lose our dreams for our child… our
hope for their future. Because we doubt they have a future. And we lose all of
these things over and over and over again. It’s like a wound that never heals
and continues to split open.
So the family lives with daily grief, with daily loss. The
family also lives with constant upset because of the havoc someone in the
throes of addiction can wreak on others. There’s often middle-of-the-night
phone calls, angry rants, demands, interrupted holidays, and of course the
criminality that often goes hand and hand with addiction.
Oh, and there’s drama. Lots and lots of drama.
Barbara’s recommendations
for families of addicts:
1.
Know they didn’t cause
it, can’t control it, can’t cure it. (Al-Anon slogan)
2.
Get support. We can’t go
through this alone.
3.
Work on their own
recovery. The person with the addiction isn’t the only one with problems.
Everyone in the family needs to do their own part to heal.
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Developed by the Partnership for Drug-Free
Kids, the Marijuana Talk Kit helps parents have meaningful, productive
conversations with their teens about marijuana use. Click here to view the talk kit.
Inside the Marijuana Talk Kit, you will find:
·
Facts about marijuana
·
Why weed is still risky for teens
·
Ways to talk with your teen about marijuana
·
What you should - and shouldn't say - when talking with your teen
·
How to respond to your teen’s questions and arguments
·
Resources to help
To be added to their email list, or to make a
contribution to support similar community awareness aids, please visit the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
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If synthetic marijuana is sold in stores, it can’t be all
that dangerous, can it?
New research from Children’s National Health System Synthetic
has shown that synthetic marijuana, known as K2 or Spice, decreases the flow of
oxygen to the heart in teenagers and can cause serious heart complications.
Decreased oxygen levels to the heart can have serious consequences in youth,
from shortness of breath and chest pain to the pediatric equivalent of a heart
attack.
“Synthetic marijuana is unacceptably readily available for
purchase by children and puts them at risk of serious health issues including
cardiac damage,” says Dr. Berul, a nationally-recognized pediatric heart rhythm
expert.
Click here for the full article.
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Miracles DO Happen
Posted by:Jenn--Sunday, July 12, 2015
Click here for an uplifting story posted recently in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Mission
Mahi food truck serves up more than tacos”. An alcoholic who also also became addicted to
pain medication, his life spinning out of control, Jimmy Woods had a spiritual
experience in rehab that gave him a clear focus on his own recovery. In April, he opened a food truck business
selling his signature fish tacos in the Pittsburgh, PA area. In addition to serving tacos, Jimmy is also
happy to share his recovery story. His
main goal is “to give others hope and a safe place to talk and not be judged.”
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Thanks to Lorraine for sharing the following story. She has maintained clearly defined boundaries with her son, refusing to enable his (former) drug-related behavior, and continuing a healthy relationship by encouraging appropriate activities.
My son moved to Miami when he was first on his own. He was almost 21. Immediately before that, he was at First Step Half Way house. He was having some level of success with regard to drug use, in that he was functioning, but he was still using. He was not yet convinced to come completely clean. That sometimes takes awhile.
He was attending Allegheny Community college, transferred his credits to Miami Dade Community, and continued at Miami Dade when he arrived in Miami.
I did not give him any money for rent. I never co-signed anything. I did make the mistake of having a joint bank account with him since that saved him money in checking account charges, but after the issues with banking fees due to him using his debit card when he didn't have any money in his account, I removed my name off the account within 6 months.
When he finished Miami Dade within a year after arriving in Miami, he was accepted into University of Miami for a 4 year degree. At that point, I co-signed a school loan, because that was the only way he could continue to University of Miami. At this point, with his success at Miami Dade Community college, exercising a level of responsibility for himself in Miami, maintaining a full time job as a server in a restaurant, I felt that he deserved this chance to get a 4 year degree at University of Miami. However, even though he was functioning well, he was still using. I did co-sign that loan with some level of expectation that I would be paying off the loan myself.
He still lives in the Miami area. He just turned 29 and has been completely clean for 3 years. No drugs, alcohol or tobacco. He works as a computer programmer and earns a fair salary. And he is in the process of paying back his school loans.
And I still do not give him any money for anything. And I still would never co-sign anything. As he has his successes, I will buy him things, which is mainly related to his athletics. He participates in triathlons, which is an expensive sport. And I will indicate to him that the reason I buy him whatever it is I am buying him, is due to his success in staying clean. I make sure he understands the association between me buying him expensive things for his sport and him continuing to stay clean.
When he first went to Miami, he had his issues with his drug use and we were at the point in our relationship that we could discuss such things. He once told me, "Mom, The only thing that works is having $100 in your pocket and having to choose between a bed to sleep in and drugs." I still keep reminding myself of this statement to this very day .... years later.
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PSST on July 4th? YES, of course!
Let's celebrate our INDEPENDENCE - from enabling, from being fearful, from being manipulated! (See the helpful post below for more information on parents' rights . . .)
Come to our Saturday, July 4th PSST meeting in Wilkinsburg for the perspective, friendship, insights, and shot-in-the-arm that we all need to maintain our sanity.
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PARENT RIGHTS
1. I have the right to be safe in my own home. No matter what I say that someone might not like, I have the right to not feel physically or verbally threatened in my own home. I have the responsibility to see that others in my home feel safe.
2. I have a right to be treated with respect. I have the right not to be yelled at. If you need to tell me something, take care how you speak to me or I won't be standing around listening. I have the responsibility to treat others with respect.
3. I have the right to take care of my own needs. My needs are at least as important as my other family members. I have the responsibility within reason to help others in my family take care of their own needs.
4. I have a right to speak my mind. If some people are going to find me judgmental, intolerant, or whatever, I will remind myself that they have a right to speak their minds too.
5. I have the right to take some time to consider the question before I give an answer. I have the right to "use my lifeline" and make a phone call or consult with someone I trust (my spouse perhaps) before I decide. If my teen HAS to know right now then the answer is NO. When asking for something from family members I will remember that within reason they also have a right to take some time to consider before they answer.
6. I have the right to take a vacation from high-level drama. I recognize the highly addictive nature of drama and I realize that I don't have to "have" some everyday. Sometimes it's OK for me to just "pass" on the crisis-of-the day. I don't have to feel guilty just because I don't ALWAYS make someone else's problem my problem, even if it is my teenager. Likewise, I will remember that just because something is a 911 for me it doesn't have to have emergency significance for others in my family.
7. I have a right to change. The way I coped with stressful things yesterday does not have to be the way I choose to handle stress today. Generally, people don't like to see other people change, unless of course it's the specific change that they prescribed; but that's their problem not mine. It is my responsibility to remember that others have the right to change also.
8. I have the right to ask for help. I have a right to attend as many PSST meetings (or other self-help meetings) as I choose. I know that I am always welcome to the support and education that I find at PSST. If anyone tells me that I am wasting my time or that it's time I stood up and became a real parent who didn't need any help to make these tough decisions, then it's time that I told those people to please mind their own business.
9. I have a right to choose my own boundaries. I don't have to keep secrets about drugs, alcohol, crime, or violations of probation, for my loved ones. If I am NOT COMFORTABLE with something, I can say that. That's reason enough for me to not do it or not to permit my teenager to do it. Likewise, I will allow others within reason to also make the claim that they are NOT COMFORTABLE with something although of course in areas of me holding my teen accountable it is not necessary that my teen feels comfortable with all my actions.
10. I have the right to change my mind. It's a very basic right that is afforded to everyone. Yes, I know it can cause problems and some people will accuse me of being a liar. I know that if I "promise" something then I should try to follow through with that promise; however, sometimes I get "new information" and then I have to reconsider. Also, sometimes I make mistakes and I have to fix them. I have the responsibility to not change my mind in a sneaky, capricious or arbitrary way but to use new information to change my mind in as orderly and as informed manner as possible.
11. I have a right to establish rules in my house. Within the limits of what's effective and what's reasonable, I can take steps to enforce my rules. I've learned that if I have a rule that I'm either unwilling or unable to enforce, then it's better if I don't have that rule. I have the responsibility to be consistent when I apply rules.
12. I have a right to disagree with professionals involved with my teenager's case. Just because a professional is considered an "expert" doesn't mean he is right. I'm an expert too: expert on my own teenager. However, I have the responsibility to weigh carefully any expert opinion that I am afforded. I recognize that I need to struggle to be open minded and that I am not always in the best "seat" to see things objectively. IF i still disagree with the approach that a professional is taking with my child's case then I my understand that first responsibility is to discuss this with my trusted peer group. If I still disagree my next responsibility is to discuss with the professionals involved. If I still have a problem then I must inquire as to how a grievance or protest or if another avenue is offered to object, then I will follow various alternatives that may include supervisors, administrators, or judges until that time that I am more comfortable with the situation.
13. I have a right to not enable my teenager. No matter what my family may think, if I think helping is hurting then I don't have to do it. I'm not giving up when I stop enabling. I am attempting to address my role in the problem.
14. I have a right to be the parent and know that I don't really have the right to be my teenager's friend. Later, when I don't have to be the one in charge because my teenager has grown into a responsible adult, we can be friends. Until then, I'll just be the parent. Especially, if my teen is exhibiting out-of-control behavior I accept that I have the responsibility to not become friends because this limits my ability to parent effectively. It is my responsibility to be the parent first, and the friend second.
15. I have a right to pursue happiness, which may include having interests and hobbies that I feel passionate about, a career or job that I am proud of, and/or friends that I care about. I have a right to be more than just a parent; even if my teenager is in placement or inpatient treatment, life for me goes on. I have the responsibility to not become so obsessed by my teens problems that I forfeit my own happiness.
16. I have a right to be as healthy as I can be and to let my teenager(s) watch me do it. That's my gift to my family. It's my right to give this gift and whether or not they seem to appreciate it at the time doesn't matter. Eventually, teenagers imitate adults and therefore it is both my right and my responsibility to pursue a healthy lifestyle.
I know that some of these over-lap. Perhaps from time to time I will tweak this list. Please add the one's that I missed. Please comment on which one's you feel are most important in the comments section. These are rights that I've heard parents speak about at meetings.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO ALL PSST PARENTS EVERYWHERE both meeting goers and blog-readers! Hoping that the only fireworks you have to deal with on the 4th are the ones they shoot off in the sky!
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The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP) has scheduled a webinar for parents who
are concerned about current overdose deaths and opioid misuse. If you are interested in participating, you
must register for the webinar by June 26 (click on the link in the invitation
below). The webinar will be held on July
1, 2015 at 3pm EST.
Below is the invitation
to the webinar from Michael Botticelli, ONDCP’s director, also informally known as the drug czar.
Mr. Botticelli is the first person in substance-abuse (alcohol) recovery to
hold the position.
The ONDCP advises the President on drug-control issues,
coordinates drug-control activities and related funding across the Federal
government, and produces the annual National Drug Control Strategy, which outlines Administration efforts
to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing and trafficking, drug-related
crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences.
AN INVITATION
I
would like to cordially invite you to join me for a webinar conversation. This
event is designed to be an opportunity for ONDCP to share their recent efforts
to reduce drug overdose deaths and opioid misuse, and to learn from parents
like you how the Administration can assist with your work to keep our children
safe.
The
meeting will take place virtually on July 1, 2015 at 3:00 pm EST.
Please
register for this event here by June 26. You
will be able to share questions when you register, and I will also respond to
live questions during our webinar. Details on how to access the webinar will
only be sent to parties who register. Questions that are submitted for the
postponed webinar have been received and do not need to be posted again.
I encourage you to share this
invitation with other parents
whose lives have been impacted by a child with a substance use disorder. This
conversation is limited to the parents and family members. I hope you can join
me at this webinar to discuss how we can work together to make America
healthier and safer for all.
Thank
you,
Michael
Botticelli,
Director,
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
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My daughter Gwen is a heroin addict, who was introduced to
drugs by her father (my ex-husband) when she was only 12 years old and in his
custody. Shocking, isn’t it? I can hardly believe it myself. I have struggled mightily for years (with the
help of the court system, probation, and professional counseling services) to
get her into drug treatment programs, only to see her relapse yet again. I am amazed that she is still alive at age
21. Gwen is still active in her
addiction, with no visible signs of wanting to seek treatment. Her father continues to be her biggest
enabler. It breaks my heart.
A few months ago, with the help of professional counselors,
I realized that I needed to “divorce” my daughter. Her continued downward spiral was sapping all
of my energy, and affecting my own health.
I needed to discontinue contact with her, and stop my obsessive worrying
about her.
I wrote the following letter and delivered it to her in-person on Valentine’s Day, along with a silver locket containing two photos, one of her and one of me. The picture of Gwen was taken during one of those rare times when she was “clean”. We look so much alike in those photos! Along with the letter and locket, I gave Gwen a hug, and asked her to call me when she was ready to live a life in recovery.
Making the decision to divorce my daughter was the most painful thing I’ve ever done, but I know that it was the best thing that I could do, both for her and for me.
Gwen,
This is the hardest thing I have ever done in all my life. You see, I love you so very much, and the addicted life you are living is consuming me. All I can think about is you, and what you are doing to buy the drugs you need to feed your addiction. It torments me to realize how your addiction is destroying your chances for a healthy future. It keeps me up all night worrying about what the drugs are doing to you.
You are one of my life’s greatest joys. But until you are ready to live a life in recovery, I need to take care of myself. I can no longer watch you be destroyed by this monster of addiction, and I cannot be part of your addicted life. I have finally realized that my love for you is not enough to conquer your addiction. As an adult, you can (and should) make all of your own decisions. And I get it – you are just not ready to live a clean lifestyle. I know that anything that I say or do cannot change that.
In my dreams, I envision you as a successful, healthy, and clean young woman. I know you have the knowledge and power to overcome this addiction. When you are ready for recovery, call me. Then I will embrace you, and support you in every way that a loving mother can.
Never forget that you are part of me – my beautiful daughter, and my greatest gift from God. I hand you over to Him now, until we are together again.
Your Loving Mother
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What if your child is regularly high, stoned, or drunk - do you let him/her drive your car? What if s/he needs to drive to get to work? What if the car technically belongs to him/her?
Click here for a blog posting from a parent who believes in setting firm boundaries, and has found a solution to these problems that works for him.
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Warning: Your Child’s Addiction May Be Fatal
FATAL means he/she could die and you could live the rest of your life
dealing with that fact. This warning comes to you from a parent who knows and
simply wants you to understand how serious drug addiction is.
PAY ATTENTION. GET ALL THE FACTS and HELP YOU CAN GET.
It has been almost three
years now since we got that horrific phone call and learned that Cisco had died.
Life goes on. Our family
is doing well and even prospering. Frodo and Fiona have two beautiful daughters!
We eat, we sleep, we travel. We are both
working full-time, and I still spend my free time with knitting needles
clicking away. Some days are better than others.
Today my heart is heavy.
Just as Cisco had triggers that instigated his drug use, we have triggers that
make us grieve. It might be the photos of Cisco that I discovered recently on a
flash drive or maybe it’s because his 23rd birthday is coming up soon. Whatever
the reason, sometimes the gap that his death left on our hearts becomes
unbearably large.
Yoga helps me find peace.
My faith and prayers bring me hope. Friends and family sustain me. However, the
thing that keeps me going is the hate that I have for drug addiction.
I think of addiction as
an evil, two-headed beast with two brains that keeps outsmarting itself. I firmly stand square-shouldered facing this
monstrosity, I look into its red, piercing eyes and I say to it:
“Cisco
convinced some of his friends to stay clear of you, you vile and pestilent
creature. However, you were able to get a stronghold on Cisco, even though he
fought you off most gallantly. For Cisco’s sake I will not let you ruin me. I
will live well and survive. I will tell as many people as I can about your evil
ways. I will do my best to take you down.”
I take my eyes off this
creature now. I slowly and purposefully walk away.
This evil thing called
addiction can be defeated.
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Continuing with the theme of
not enabling . . . click here for a post written by Raychelle Lohmann, an author and certified counselor. The following quotes are from her article:
Though well-intentioned, enabling can be
one of the most destructive things someone can do when they try to help an
addict.
Here
are some common examples of how parents enable their child’s substance abuse:
· Lending money (which winds up being used to
support the drug habit)
· Paying off debts
· Providing transportation to and from places
· Making excuses for your child’s drug influenced
erratic behavior
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