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Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

Hospitals across the country have reported a 65% increase in admissions for prescription drug overdoses in the last decade. It is now the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Teens are not left out of this unfortunate rise in numbers. Teen prescription drug abuse is surpassing marijuana abuse and the highly addictive, easily abused types of opiates and sedatives are exceedingly dangerous to teens.
This abuse may not be as easily detected by parents, as the telltale signs of marijuana abuse (red eyes, recognizable smell), cocaine (sniffling, racing speech, dilated pupils, straws, rolled up dollars) or heroin (track marks, foil, straws, burnt spoons or soda cans). Prescription drug abuse may be spotted through behavior, such as irritability, sleepiness, lack of appetite, or an increased demand for spending money. Tiny pupils often indicate opiate abuse, as does frequent nausea and other stomach problems.
Teen drug and alcohol treatment centers take prescription drug abuse very seriously. It is the largest growing threat to teens today, but fortunately, a solution is available. By addressing a teen’s whole self, the recovery process can begin. Through group and individual counseling, an isolated setting away from toxic environments and peer groups, and the love and support of clinicians and recovering peers, teens begin the process of changing. Recovery is possible, and it begins with asking for help. No family has to face teen drug and alcohol addiction alone.

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How To Identify a Good Adolescent Drug Treatment Program?

How to identify a good adolescent treatment program In California? These are a few key components to look for:

There should be a focus on the family treatment portion of the program. Research has shown that the most successful adolescent drug treatment programs involve the family in the therapy process by providing individual and group family programming on an ongoing basis. Residential treatment centers should allow for daily family updates and regular communication opportunities as well. Look for weekly like family therapy groups and parent education, which will keep the lines of communication open between you and the facility – and more importantly, you and your child.

Licensed medical professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists. If you believe your child has a co-occuring mental health disorder or has already been dually diagnosed, look for a program that provides these employees on a full time basis to address mental health diagnosis. Many programs use consultants who come in on a part time basis and do not get to know your child as they would if they were there full time. If an underlying condition does exist, it’s important that your child receives treatment for it.

12 step programing: The clients should be attending young people’s AA or NA meetings on a regular basis. The 12 steps are time-tested. In addition, the 12 step principles should be complemented by individual and group therapy and counseling.

The Program should have a continuum of care. Multiple program levels, the potential choose between short or long-term treatment, outpatient and residential. It should also be addressing each resident’s specific needs. Not only is this a good idea for practical reasons, it’s also a way to ensure that your teen will be treated as an individual – which is what every person in adolescent drug treatment deserves.

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Healing Children of Addicted Parents


Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Pam Newton and Elizabeth Devine from the Betty Ford 5 Star Kids Program Present:
Breaking the Silence: Breaking the Cycle
Hope and Healing for Children of Addicted Parents
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Business Auditorium
Pueblo at Bath Street
Santa Barbara, California 93105

Click Here to Register Now

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AA Meetings In Isreal

Hello Visions,

It’s been about two and a half weeks in Isreal and I have been thinking about you and wondering when I will find the time to write… today is Israel Independence Day and we have a day of rest…
So far things are going well for our daughter’s adolescent recovery and our family; we are still settling down, it will take some time to get organized and to feel at home.
Sarah is amazing, yesterday was her 60 days of sobriety, she is going to AA meeting everyday and this gives her a lot of support she also met a lovely young woman, her name is Hindi and she’s 30 Years Old. Hindi is in recovery and Sarah calls her everyday and together they are checking the possibility that she will be her sponsor.
We also saw the therapist you recommended once and Sarah liked her a lot, so we will continue seeing her.
Other than that, I hope that all is well with you, we really appreciate all the work that you have done with Sarah, and she often speaks about Visions and misses everyone there.
This is just a beginning of a journey for us, we have the usual ups and downs but in general we feel good that we are not in Ojai right now…
Please send our warm regards to the stuff and the residents of Visions Teen Treatment Center.

Wishing you all the best and a big hug,

Mom

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Integrating Modern Psychotherapy and 12 Step Recovery Programs

Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, Betty Ford, Safe Harbor and Jaywalker Lodge Present:

Friday, May 14th, 2010
Dr. Allen Berger Presenting:
How to Successfully Utilize Individual, Group and Family Treatment
Mile High Church just outside of Denver
Community Center
9079 W. Alameda Avenue
Lakewood, Colorado 80226

Click Here to Register Now

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Drinking at Prom


New York high school principal’s controversial prom decision.

Students at a New York high school celebrated their junior prom But instead of having an after party, they had to go home and straight to bed. This year’s Pearl River High School junior prom was on a school night. And students were expected in class the next morning.

The controversial prom was Principal Bill Furdon’s response to last year’s prom , where students students got drunk and high on posted pictures online—oops!

“We had one bus come back with a girl that was non-responsive,” Furdon said of an event where 50 teens were cited for underage drinking. “Paramedics were called here to the school.”

Students who didn’t show up at school the next day faced serious consequences. Seniors wouldn’t be able to walk during graduation, and others could lose academic and after-school privileges.

There is a similar plan for the senior prom.

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Searching My Kids Room

A violation of privacy? Constitutionally unsound? As a parent, is it alright to go through your kid’s property? Can you breech trust and check text messages? That’s a tricky question that only a parent can answer for themselves. However, if you suspect that your adolescent is using drugs, or using their cell phone for any illegal behavior, you have the right and the duty to investigate.

Asking your child outright may not produce the truth. If they are engaged in secretive behavior, lies are bound to follow. You might be surprised what you find if you take a closer look.

Above is an illustration kids often draw, pointing to a less than subtle clue that something was wrong. “420” refers to the time of day that pot smokers light up. April 20th (or 4/20) is also considered a pot smoker’s holiday. Kids also commonly draw magic mushrooms, bongs, or other images glorifying their drug of choice. Other things you may look for, besides drawings such as these, are empty baggies (possibly with residue or crumbs from drugs), pipes, paper, and other paraphernalia, straws for snorting, razor blades, thermoses (smelling of booze), and weapons.

Check the hidden pockets and pouches. And then there is the cell phone…Look for text messages that sound like drug deals and “sexting” is a popular pastime (sending nude pictures via text message). As a parent, know the names of your kid’s friends and know that it is your right and your duty to keep you teen safe.

Contact us For More information on how to keep your kid safe at Adolescent Treatment Services.

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Adolescent Treatment Center Recommendation


Good Morning Visions:

It has been a little over a week since Kiefer left Adolescent Treatment Center with me, therefore, I thought it time for an update.

Kiefer was a little skittish the first few days outside of Visions secure bubble. He was easily anxious in certain situations and noticeably cautious. Several days removed from Visions finds Kiefer, relaxed, easily regrouping emotions when needed, clear eyed, largely tranquil, appropriately verbal and self expressive. We have had no meltdowns to date, however, the first AA meeting was located across the street from a local drug dealer/friend therefore we will more than likely not return to that meeting for awhile, Kiefer prior to that meeting yelled at some teenager and immediately recognized it as an emotional relapse moment – he self corrected and that is the only inappropriate event to date.

I have found Kiefer to be helpful, he organized dishwashing after Thanksgiving dinner, and has been steadily working to get his room orderly, including washing his own clothes, he is no longer “needy.” Kiefer is not asking for privileges that he knows must be earned, such as driving. I am easily able to approach Kiefer with simple requests and his is pleasant in return, yet able to let me know what his needs are.

One week out of Visions, I find possible miracles have taken place within my child/teenager.

We are having a lot of fun going to meetings, we have gone all over Omaha and tried a variety of meetings, We have received tips for good Young Peoples meetings and so we are adjusting the schedule to take in those meetings too. Kiefer has already been embraced by several young sober men. Kiefer is approaching men he has met in previous meetings and has already established a good call list. I am finding that he is pulling away from Visions and realigning himself with local AA members. It is hard to know who is “safe” at this time, I guess more will be revealed.

Kiefer appears to truly embrace his sobriety; he certainly is appropriately protective of the safe places and people concept. Kiefer today exceeds my highest expectations post rehab. I would not have asked for/or hoped for/ this miraculous outcome with Kiefer, prior to sending him to Visions, I continue to be completely convinced that miracles happen at “Camp Visions.” The test of time will certainly reveal more, however, right now, today, life is completely changed, renewed, revitalized and appreciated by not only Kiefer, but our entire family as well.

Kiefer begins his new school tomorrow, Monday, November 30th, 2009. We met with administrators Wednesday and they will be contacting the teacher at Visions for ideas. We have enrolled Kiefer in the new district and it appears they may be able to give him credit for his efforts at Visions. Kiefer is looking forward to beginning the new high school program taught at the local university, there are approximately 25 intellectually gifted students in the program and it is highly individualized. By “changing everything” I see a new light in Kiefer, I will continue to try to change things for him so that he can prosper. Since Kiefer is a Junior I see this small, personal, educational setting as a true opportunity where he can flourish and grow intellectually without the stress of a traditional high school, Kiefer is looking forward to the change and relief of “school stress.”

We also met with the family and adolescent counselors last week and begin both groups this next week in addition to individual counseling for Kiefer and myself. The family of teenagers group meets Monday and the Adolescent group meets Thursday, we may not attend the Tuesday group session as it overlaps Monday’s group. His new counselor seems to have made good initial contact with Kiefer – time will tell. We know that we will not have the same level of counseling that was available at Visions; however, we have made good contact here and are beginning to develop a local support network for counseling. I will be inquiring about the Alegent Adolescent psychiatrist on Monday, so that we can have Kiefer’s medication supported by Alegent staff, keeping everything within the same medical team. Kiefer has also decided to retain his newer physician who has knowledge of his addiction issues. I believe this to be a very good decision as it is very important for everyone on the medical team to be involved with Kiefer’s recovery program.

The only issue that I am concerned about today is the smoking issue. Kiefer continues to really want to smoke. Somewhat like the medication (which he is continuing to take without incidence) I have decided to reconsider the topic at the end of 30 days or sooner if needed and discuss it with the counselors as I have told Kiefer that the contract cannot be changed without team approval, he is okay with this and is not pressing me on the topic.

Kiefer does miss the Visions staff enormously and his friends and sponsor in California. I have told him we will plan to return to California for a long weekend during school break around the Christmas holidays. I sense a natural transition is occurring in this regard and Kiefer is beginning to build a new network of sober friends around him. He has not asked to go out however I did allow him to go to dinner with a couple of sober friends to celebrate a 3 year sobriety b-day. Kiefer returned looking happy and relaxed. We have found a few young people meetings where the demographic really is teenagers; Kiefer likes the AA houses (clubs) and has genuinely enjoyed all the meetings we have gone to. I gave him his 90 day chip on Monday; it was the same chip I got 19 years ago. We were able to find a meeting on Thanksgiving that Kiefer thoroughly enjoyed, it was a bit irreverent, and so his 90 days began on Monday, November 23rd, 2009. Sunday night we did not get in until midnight, so we did not attend a meeting, the only night since Kiefer left Visions.

The only thing that we have had difficulty getting put in order is the Southworth Monitoring program for drug testing, We are playing phone tag with the counselor, but have received the packets. Monday we shall try to make contact with her and get the program started. Kiefer needs to be the responsible party for checking in – as it is his recovery program – I will assist if necessary as I consider this to be one if the most important components for living at home. I agree with Visions wisdom that returning home on holidays is not ideal and should be avoided whenever possible. We have had a little difficulty reaching people; however, I am happy to report that having the additional family around has actually helped the week progress. Grandma is sleeping at our house since Wednesday, Kiefer’s only grandparent and the cousins have been fun – lots of wicked card playing. You will be happy to know that Susie has attended several AA meetings with us and has been a very positive support for both Kiefer and myself, she is watching for dangers and reporting to me if she sees a problem – so far only the smoking issue has come up. Susie has exceeded my expectations in this regard, her time at Visions and counseling with you made the difference, I believe her outlook is also brighter today and she sees herself as a support not only to Kiefer but the entire family as well. A side benefit is that I believe she is curbing her own drinking which is prevalent for most college students.

So far – excellent! I am trying not to get my hopes up, however, today everything is very, very, good, there is a bright future, and there is hope.

Thank you and Kind regards from Omaha,

A Hopeful Mom

Please contact us to find out about HELP FOR MY TEEN.

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Respect Is What We Want From Others (part 4)

Respect is what we want from others, we want them to respect our ideas, lifestyles, beliefs and ultimately every piece of our puzzle. The major disconnect seems to be in our eager willingness to except it and our reluctance to give it. We find ourselves shocked at the fact everyone is unenthusiastic in their use of respect towards us, when we ourselves neglect to give the example of how we expect to be treated. It all boils down to respect for ourselves and others. Without it, confidence can drop, morals and values take a back seat and suddenly we are stuck in the age old dilemma where we won’t be courteous unless treated with such. A word to the wise: treat others the way you except to be treated and life will be much more fulfilling.

Adolescent Rehab

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Self Respect Is An Imperative Quality (part 3)

Self respect is an imperative quality; especially in these teenage years where self discoveries becomes the main focus of our lives. It has everything to do with self confidence and nothing to do with being arrogant. There may be a thin line between the two, but being confident ultimately leads to self respect. It is important to be proud of yourself. To know your boundaries because you can respect there are some adventures you would rather not embark on is a feature most people admire. Now I won’t claim that self respect is being true to your boundaries and your opinions even when they are to an extreme. Most of the time, I look at people who claim they are perfectly fine with their promiscuous sexuality or risky behaviors and assume they are trying to conceal the fact that somewhere deep down, they are not quite sure what they are doing. There are exceptions, but they are hard to find. The truth is it is very easy for outside viewers to see through false self respect, so it is much better to make sure the picture you portray is realistic. Self respect is not a misdeed; it does not make you less likable, it actually has quite the opposite effect.

Teen Drug Treatment

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