There is a big national focus currently on the opioid crisis facing our nation. Drug addiction of all kinds is a progressive problem and the longer one goes without help, the stronger the addiction becomes. Families are seeking answers and need help to navigate the pathway to healing.
For the past 25 years, I have worked as a Certified Emergency Nurse at a large Level I Trauma Center. I see the problem up close and it’s not pretty. This is a fight we must be acutely aware of as it affects us all in ways you may not think of at first. When an addiction is very strong, people will do anything to feed the need. Many will say it’s a weakness and it just takes better will power. As research on the problem of drug and alcohol abuse is now showing, this is a becoming more and more recognized as a brain disease. Once the problem goes on and on, the desire for the alcohol or drug increases.
The difficult part for families and those who love the addict/alcoholic is that no matter how much they want the person to change, nothing will change until the person decides that he/she WANTS to quit. It must come from the individual suffering from the problem. Once they want help, they need the right support and help immediately or they will change their mind once the cravings return and increase. It is a vicious and sneaky disease. You need to arm yourself with information, attend parent groups and learn from others experiencing the same problem and know that you are not alone.
It is my experience that many kids get in trouble due to peer pressure as their peers mean more to them than any adults. Also, after working with thousands of kids over the years, many kids have commented on lack of family support,not feeling loved or wanted, too much violence, drugs and gangs as being factors in their bad choices.
Never give up on your children. They want to know you care and they want to have the structure so needed in their lives. Many agencies we have worked with through the years provide this to kids who come to them. Covenant House has helped homeless youth get off the streets and change their lives in many areas across the country. WestCare Nevada in Las Vegas has great programs for addicted Moms and after they go through detox, these Moms stay at the program and bring their kids who are cared for during the day and this helps unify the family and give them a positive direction in life. Children of the Night in Van Nuys, CA helps young people get their GED and so much more. Education is the key. So many agencies are helping kids in need and we will continue to shine a light on them as we grow.
We reach the kids we work with through talking about songs and what they are talking about. Song lyrics can mean different things to different people. When you hear a song on the radio and you feel the singer is singing to you, when you feel the songwriter knows what you are going through, that really hits home. When the kids start talking about the lyrics of a song and how they relate to them, this is the start of learning to talk about feelings. Music is the key that opens the door to understanding.
Let us know how you are doing and if any comments.
Lots of love from all of us to you!
Suzanne