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Substance Abuse

If you are suffering from substance abuse or addiction I have the knowledge to make appropriate referrals to outpatient and inpatient facilities as needed. I will assist you in finding the appropriate placement for rehabilitation and when you have completed your treatment I can help you maintain your recovery to start. Once sober you will have emotons that are uncomfortable and scarey. Individual and family therapy are two of the tools that can teach you how to work through these emotions and get some resolution so you can move on in your life. No one starts out thinking they will be an addict. I believe if people knew that their addiction would become the most powerful force in their lives they would have never started. You can get better and your life can be different. Give yourself a chance.

Treatment

Substance abuse can be a life threatening diagnosis depending on the degree of severity and may warrant the immediate recommendation of inpatient rehabilitation or intensive outpatient treatment.

Very often the roots of a substance abuse problem will be depression, anxiety or adjustment issues. Cognitive therapy, psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy can be administered and will focus on changing beliefs, thoughts and expectations and will impact any of the mental health diagnosis listed above. The success of this therapeutic choice will decrease the depression, anxiety or adjustment and alleviate the need to use substances as a coping mechanism.

Key Facts

  • In 2006, the National Survey on Drug Abuse estimated that 24 million Americans aged 12 and older or 8.3% of the population were current (past month) illegal drug users. Illegal drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription type psychotherapeutics used non-medically.

  • Slightly more than half of Americans aged 12 or older reported being current drinkers (at least one drink in last 30 days) of alcohol in the 2006 survey (50.9 percent). This translates to an estimated 125 million people, which similar to the 2005 estimate of 126 million (51.8 percent)

  • More than one fifth (23 percent) of persons aged 12 or older participated in binge drinking (five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least one day in the past 30 days) prior to survey in 2006, this translates to about 57 million people. This rate is similar to the 2005 number of 22.7 percent.

  • One-third of teens and nearly half of 17-year olds attend house parties where parents are present and teens are drinking, smoking marijuana or using cocaine, Ecstasy or prescription drugs, according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XI: Teens and Parents (2006) an annual, back-to-school survey conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

  • Eleven million high school students (80 percent) and five million middle school students (44 percent) attend drug-infested schools, meaning they have personally witnessed illegal drug use, illegal drug dealing, illegal drug possession, students drunk and/or students high on the grounds of their schools according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII: Teens and Parents (2007), the twelfth annual back-to-school survey conducted by CASA.

Parents & Prevention

Teens who have infrequent FAMILY DINNERS (two or fewer a week):

  • are THREE and HALF times likelier to have abused prescription drugs

  • are THREE and HALF times likelier to have used an illegal drug other than marijuana or prescription drugs

  • are THREE times likelier to have used marijuana

  • are More than TWO and HALF times likelier to have used tobacco

  • are ONE and HALF times likelier to have drunk alcohol

 

FAMILY DINNERS PROVIDE:

  • teens the opportunity to discuss what they think about substance use

  • parents can teach teens the dangers of underage drinking and substance use

  • parents can teach teens how to resist alcohol and drugs

  • parents can make clear your expectations that your teens will not drink or use substances

  • parents and teens the chance to get to know each other

  • parents the opportunity to notice any changes in your teen

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Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol, Tobacco or other Drug use:

  • Academic or Occupational performance

  • Behavior changes

  • Physical changes

  • Physical evidence of use

  • Getting high on drugs or drunk on a regular basis

  • Lying about things, or amount of drugs or alcohol they are using

  • No longer showing an interest in activities they used to do such as sports or hanging out with friends who don’t use drugs or alcohol

  • Constantly talking about drugs or alcohol

  • Believing that in order to have fun they need drugs or alcohol

  • Getting in trouble with the law

  • Taking risks, including sexual risks and driving while intoxicated

  • Feeling run down, hopeless or suicidal

  • Missing work or class for a drug or alcohol related incident

  • Being intoxicated at work or school

  • Poor work performance as a result of drinking or using drugs