There is a new boot camp in South Korea for internet addiction. This is a new kind of rehab that resembles drug treatment for teens in the United States. But these kids are not struggling with addictions to cocaine, oxycontin or marijuanna. They are dealing with a very real addiction to the internet. Addiction to the internet is recognized as a mental health issue in the United states a “Pathological Computer Use”. Millions of Americans are at risk for this disorder.
The holidays are a difficult time for many individuals. Adolescents who have recently graduated form treatment for drug and alcohol abuse and addiction are at high risk for relapse. Individuals who have had a history of suicide attempts and or feelings and those dealing with feelings of self harm, anxiety or deal with distorted eating are also at high risk for relapse. The holidays may seem like lights, presents and family to most. Unfortunately for many, family celebrations create stress, fear and resentment.
It is important to make a concerted effort to take care of yourself during this time.
www.safeusa.org/blues.htm
There is a new wave of designer drugs available to teens today and Guess what? They are completely legal and only a click away. Powerful synthetic psychedelics derived from the same drug families as LSD,Mushrooms and Mescaline. These new drugs do not have common street names. They have Laboratory names like 2C-1, 5-Meo-DMT, etc. Unlike illicit street drugs like Ecstasy, Speed, LSD, GHB thee drugs are not made in bath tubs or street labs. These “research Chemicals” are made in legal labs right here in the United States and are legally available to Teenagers on the Internet, they are easily ordered with a credit card and usually delivered by Fed Ex. These drugs typically appear in a white powder form and can be ingested by eating, smoking, snorting and injecting. While the purity of these drugs is probably hire then their illicit counterparts the same potential for abuse will remain.
In the Classroom of a Drug Treatment Center
How do you motivate an adolescent in a teen drug treatment center who has been removed from their familiar environment, and now faces 45-90 days in an unfamiliar in the treatment setting?
The answer isn’t simple, as every adolescent struggling with substance abuse issues comes in with a different personality, needs, and academic strengths/weaknesses. There is one common denominator, however, which is: Once they see the purpose of school in the treatment setting and experience success, it all seems to make sense. Getting to this point takes hard work on the student’s part. They have to make a conscious decision to change their self-defeating habits. In order to make this transformation, they work with their therapist and counselor on their substance abuse, family and personal issues. Their teacher observes their behavior in the classroom, communicating any concerns with the clinical treatment team. Students are encouraged to make the most of their time in school and are rewarded with privileges and intrinsic rewards. Teens in residential treatment have responsibilities, goals are set, and they learn how to get organized. Layers of self-doubt begin to peel away. The cloudy haze of drug use dissolves into clarity. They realize that they can do things that they never thought possible. Where there was once only hopelessness despair and addiction, there is a future, with a high school diploma, college, a job, and finally, a career of their choice.
Did anybody Notice that yesterday’s Los Angeles Times Sports section had two out five articles on it’s front page with substance abuse and addiction as their subjects.
Andy Ried coach of the Philadelphia Eagles is struggling with two drug addicted sons. Famed tennis player Martina Hingis winner of five Grand Slam singles titles tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon and is retiring as a result.
Ried’s sons have been arrested for possession of Oxycontin, Heroin, Cocaine and weapons charges. There is an extensive history of addiction for these two young men one of whom has been to drug treatment. Leaving the Eagles would probably do his sons no good as they are now adults, the best thing he could do is take a tough approach and cut his sons off financially and let them experience their own consequences.
Hingis has retired from Tennis in protest and claims to be “100% innocent” and plans to fight the allegations. She is a very accompished player and it is sad that she is retiring under such a dark cloud.
One size will not fit all. Starting November 1st, 2007 there is a women’s symposium in Rancho Mirage California. The symposium is directed by the Betty Ford Center and Caron Treatment Centers. Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers are sponsoring this exceptional event as well.
Adolescent drug treatment differs from adult alcohol and drug treatment. Women’s alcohol and drug treatment differs from male addiction treatment. Leading treatment centers such as The Betty Ford Center and Caron Treatment Centers have taken the lead in addressing need specific addiction treatment.
Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers provides counseling, groups, and activities addressing gender specific issues, body image, eating disorders, relapse prevention, family issues, art therapy, equine therapy and will provide individualized services when clinically directed.
If you are interested in this symposium please follow the link at the bottom.
https://www.womenssymposium.org/
Drug and alcohol use is like driving down a road at 100 miles an hour. Somehow we as a society have related using the following drugs: methamphetamine, cocaine, pot / marijuana, aderol, Oxycontin, xanax, vicoden, Ecstasy, acid, as recreational experimentation. However, no parent would say that driving 100 miles an hour is experimental driving. Parents call speeding dangerous, risky, stupid and not to mention expensive – potential costs involved if the minor is ticketed, for example. Using alcohol and drugs is always dangerous and is unfortunately many times combined with reckless driving.
Parents should take action in protecting adolescents form the dangerous decisions they make. Intervention, counseling, assessment, treatment, and drug testing are actions.
Confusion surrounds a new drug called Khat. It is a dried leaf that many East Africans use as a Stimulant. The confusion stems (no pun intended) from differing state and Federal statutes, the fact that it is hard to identify and it’s chemical properties change with time. Within the first 48 hours of harvest the plant contains an illegal drug called Catholine that causes a Strong euphoric high when chewed. After those first 48 hours the psychoactive chemical becomes Cathine, a much milder form of the drug that is often steeped in hot water to make a tea. It is unclear Whether this drug has left it’s cultural circles and the teenage culture.
We live a world full of instant fixes and immediate responses. The idea that drug and alcohol abuse may be a life long battle to over come does not sit well. Substance abuse treatment is about connection, family and self discovery. Adolescents who use, cocaine, meth amphetamine, pot / marijuana, alcohol, zannix, adoral and a myriad of mind and mood altering chemicals are at high risk for: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, cutting / self harm, anger, violence, sexual abuse, disease, and destroyed education. If the focus for adolescent treatment is only symptoms continued abstinence is rare.
Adolescent chemical dependency treatment is a complex and challenging undertaking. Aggressive evidenced based therapies combined with a comprehensive multi modal 12 Step based approach, including intensive family work is key to success.
Crystal Meth is an Amphetamine that is classefied as a stimulant. Meth is known to create a sense of well being, increase energy, alertness, etc. It is also known to depress the appetite which is very attractive to teenage girls with body image issues or eating disorder as a form of weight control. Meth is extremely addictive for adolescents and adults alike. It is very damaging to an adolescents mind and body development. It’s use among the teen culture has grown at an alarming rate over the last five years. Crystal Meth is often referred to as Speed, Meth, Crank, Ice, Chalk, Tweek, etc. Other Stimulants are cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Adderall, Ritalin and Amphetamine.
