Parents aren't talking to their children about substance abuse | KSBY.com | San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles

Although I believe that it is vitally important to talk to our children about the inherent dangers of alcohol and drug abuse--and stupid choices that kids make when they are in the "bullet proof" phase of their teen years...I never want to give the impression that parents can prevent addiction--certainly they can help prevent theem making the stupid choices, and maybe they can help prevent impaired driving by staying alert and on top of things. but do not forget that addiction (including alcoholism) is a disease--a real disease.

I would love to say that having meals 4 times a week with your kids would prevent addiction, but it won't. So do what you can to help your kids grow up but never forget that with addiction, you can cure it and you can't control it...Here the article that spurred this blog:

Parents aren't talking to their children about substance abuse | KSBY.com | San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles: "Many parents aren't talking to their kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
A new report from the government's substance abuse and mental health services administration finds nearly one in 10 parents didn't discuss smoking, drinking, or drug abuse with their teenagers during the past year."

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Not My Kid: Most Parents Unaware Teen Is Using Study Drugs - Yahoo! News

It is so true that many parents do not know their kids are doing drugs...I wrote a book years ago for the parent to help stop drug use--but by the time parents knew they needed to read the book, it was too late! It is very rough to get a parent to recognize they are head for drug hell with their kid--but the first and BEST way to see a problem coming your way, is when a parent of another kid tells you--yes, most parents are warned first.  By other parents that they put down in conversations with their spouses..because they can't/won't hear it. So they ridicule tha parent who tells them their child is using. I've seen it so many times. My advice, if a parent of your friends tells you your child is using...even if that person is a crumb bum...stupid, raising their kids wrong..listen. with both ears. In the meantime, read this:

Not My Kid: Most Parents Unaware Teen Is Using Study Drugs - Yahoo! News: "In the poll, just 1 percent of parents said their teenage children had taken drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin without a prescription.

That is much lower than the percentage of teens that surveys suggest are using the drugs. For example, a 2012 study of high schoolers found that about 10 percent of sophomores and 12 percent of seniors said they had used the drugs without a prescription."

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Comic books and staying off Drugs

I am not a big proponent about giving teenagers comic books to help them "understand" different topics. When AA came out with a comic book for the young people getting sober, we used to laugh and say the pages were good to roll a joint in! Typically, teens will laugh out loud when you try to give them a comic book regarding lessons they need to learn. No, the do not take it seriously. You reach teens in other ways.

That being said, comic books do work great for others, namely Preteens! Yes, the material you wanted to reach the teen with  probably won't work for them but it will work for their younger brother or sister. Kids respond and emulate kids just a bit older than them. So if you want to help your adolescent with a comic book. DON'T. But use that to help the younger sibling. Here's a good place to start:

comic-choosing-rolemodels | Drug Facts 4 Young People:

here's teh app for this: https://itunes.apple.com/app/drug-facts-for-young-people/id381333205?mt=8

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Recovery Radio Show: What is rational Recovery?

I am a firm supporter of the recovery radio stations and I encourage any new members or treatment centers to make Saturday nite an infotainment night by popping the corn and listening to :Been there Done Tat" Radio Show. This weeks show is about rational Recovery--a hot topic among 12 steppers...take a peek:

Been There Done That Talk Recovery Radio Show: "Exploring the Diversity of 12 step programs and Rational Recovery you do not want to miss this enlightening show that will explore two very different paths to recovery this topic is one to clearly stir the pot on tonight’s show. People are very territorial when it comes to how they got sober, or what kind of support they received and from where they got that support. This territorialism goes right down to the treatment center they attended or therapist that worked with them or we become best of friends with those we have recovered with. A very strong sense of community develops. This is a controversial topic. The 12 step program believes that addiction/alcoholism is a disease and Rational Recovery believes that it is not."

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Teen Prescription Drug Abuse Jumps 33%

Parents--watch your medicine cabinet. You know, when I was a kid--I was a straight A student--was
seldom in trouble -worked--and stole meds form my friends parents medicine cabinets...keep your eyes open--it is such an easy target.

Prescription Drug Abuse Jumps 33%: "The prescription drug abuse epidemic in the United States has begun to affect our children as a new national survey shows a 33% increase in prescription drug use by teens since 2008. Unfortunately, the experts say, parents may be playing a role in their teens' attitude about the non-medical use of prescription medication.

Parents can take a more proactive role in preventing teen drug abuse, health officials said.
The latest The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) released by The Partnership at Drugfree.org shows that one in four teens admit to misusing or abusing a prescription drug at least once in their lifetimes. That is an increase of 33% over the past five years."

Shelly is a guest tonight on "Been there done that" Radio Show

www.beentheredonethatshow.com

Published Author and speaker, Shelly Marshall will be our guest on Saturday night, May 4th to discuss her topic of K.I.S.S. (Keeping It Simple Sober)

Shelly Marshall has dedicated her life to working with young addicts and their families in recovery. As a Hazelden author, her books Day by Day, and Young, Sober, & Free are recovery classics. Her subsequent works like the Pocket Sponsor (the only 24/7 recovery support book) and Sitting in Pictures, (vision meditations for recovery) are classic recovery at its best. Sober Coaching your Toxic Teen, is a workbook teaching parents how to stop enabling and give real support to their teen in recovery. Marshall’s research has been published in five peer-reviewed, refereed professional/scholarly journals, making her world-recognized as an advocate and activist for clean and sober young people. Her contributions have been, and continue to be, significant as a Hazelden author, as an international trainer and keynote speaker, a published researcher, and even as a small successful publisher.

Join us on at the Been There Done That Show on Saturday 5-4-13 at our website www.beentheredonethatshow.com below click on the listen now button and join our show online Our Guest host is Shelly Marshall publish author of the Day by Day meditation book, and the Pocket Sponsor. Our Show topic KISS Keeping it Simple in the first 30 days a very important show talking to the issues of sponsorship and the newcomer you do not want to miss this show call in at (646) 200-0112 or 435-673-5890 with questions or comments for our host.

Marketing drinking flasks in pill bottles--same on Urban outfitters

Apparently Urban Outfitters thinks it is OK to try to market flasks to people in the great outdoors by using pill bottles--Say what? It reminds me of my childhood when candy makers had candy cigarettes to encourage children to smoke! Come on Urban Outfitters--what are you thinking?

Read about it here:

Urban Outfitters, popular with teens, is currently selling pint glasses, flasks and shot glasses made to look like prescription pill bottles. These products make light of prescription drug misuse and abuse, a dangerous behavior that is responsible for more deaths in the United States each year than heroin and cocaine combined. Medicine abuse has increased 33 percent over the past five years with one in four teens having misused or abused a prescription drug in their lifetime. Combined with alcohol, the misuse and abuse of prescription medications can be especially dangerous, making the Urban Outfitter Rx pint and shot glasses and flasks even more disturbing.

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