Substance Abuse & Eating Disorder Resources - Fairwinds Treatment Center

Drug Addiction: Substance Use among 12th Grade Aged Youths by Dropout Status

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This article is based on research published by SAMHSA this past February in their NSDUH Report. According to the study:

• Combined 2002 to 2010 data show that nearly one in seven youths aged 16 to 18 (13.2 percent), or 12th grade aged youths, had dropped out of school
• Substance use rates among 12th grade aged youths who had dropped out of school were higher than among those who were still in school; for example, 56.8 percent of dropouts were current cigarette users compared with 22.4 percent of those still in school
• The pattern of higher use rates among dropouts than those still in school generally held for both males and females, as well as for whites and blacks; however, Hispanic 12th grade aged dropouts and those still in school had similar past month rates of alcohol and illicit drug use

Below is an exerpt from the study...

In the United States, about 75 percent of youths who enter public high school as freshmen eventually graduate from high school in 4 years (or average freshman graduation rate).1 This is an important public health issue because, in general, adults who do not graduate from high school tend to have lower paying jobs than those who do and thus are at greater risk for living in poverty, lacking health insurance, and suffering from poor health.2,3,4 Moreover, high school dropouts typically have higher rates of substance use than high school graduates.5

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks respondents about their age, current school enrollment status, last grade completed, and age when they last attended school. For this report, these respondent characteristics are used to identify 12th grade aged youths and whether they have dropped out of school. Youths aged 16 to 18 are categorized into three groups:

1. 12th grade students—youths aged 16 to 18 who were either in or entering the 12th grade;
2. 12th grade aged dropouts—youths aged 16 to 18 who had not completed high school or a Graduate Equivalent Degree (GED), were not currently attending or on vacation from school, and were considered 12th grade aged based on the last grade they had completed and their age when they stopped attending school6;
3. Other—youths aged 16 to 18 who completed high school or a GED, youths aged 16 to 18 in grade 11 or lower, and youths aged 16 who were not considered "12th grade aged" (based on criteria discussed in group 2).

This issue of The NSDUH Report focuses on the first two of these groups, which are collectively referred to as "12th grade aged youths"; comparisons of past month (current) substance use between 12th grade students and 12th grade aged dropouts are provided. All findings in this report are annual averages from the 2002 to 2010 NSDUH data.

Dropout Status
Nearly one in seven (13.2 percent) 12th grade aged youths had dropped out of school, with males having been more likely than females to have dropped out (14.7 vs. 11.6 percent).7 About one quarter of Hispanic and American Indian or Alaska Native 12th grade aged youths (23.0 and 25.5 percent, respectively) had dropped out of school compared with 12.6 percent of youths of two or more races, 12.1 percent of black or African American youths, 11.2 percent of white youths, and 1.5 percent of Asian youths.

Substance Use by Dropout Status
Twelfth grade aged youths who had dropped out of school were more likely than similarly aged youths who were still in school to engage in current cigarette use, alcohol use, binge alcohol use, marijuana use, nonmedical use of psychotherapeutic drugs, and use of any illicit drugs (Figure 1).8 For example, 56.8 percent of dropouts were current cigarette users compared with 22.4 percent of those still in school, and 27.3 percent of dropouts were current marijuana users compared with 15.3 percent of those still in school.

Substance Use by Dropout Status and Gender
Current substance use rates among 12th grade aged male dropouts were higher than the rates among similar aged males who were still in school (Figure 2). For example, 60.1 percent of male dropouts were current cigarette users compared with 23.8 percent of males who were still in school, and 32.0 percent of male dropouts were current marijuana users compared with 17.9 percent of males who were still in school.

Drug Addiction in the Family: One Man's Journey

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Here is one man's story of his family's struggle with addiction. We wanted to share his experience to make people aware that an addiction not only hurts the individual, but the entire family.

No one can ever quite remember when the unwanted guest arrived. The unexpected house guest, unannounced, no formal introduction.

After a while this unspoken guest was no longer a guest but a disguised, yet familiar face. They had arrived long before the unexpected announcement that dad had yet again lost his job. There were always a thousand and one excuses, and always someone else to blame but the real source of the problem remained, in the house, unspoken as we scrambled to keep life normal or as normal as we knew it. But normal in our house, was, as I learned years later, far from it. The verbal spars between mom and dad, escalated, the accusations for the reasons of the job loss grew but the trusty pill cabinet with the "off limits" door knob continued to dispense brief moments of relief for dad and mom.

In the 1960s pharmaceutical sales jobs offered enticing salaries to those who could "charm" the doctors and nurses of influence. The job also came with some other perks that were not quite so apparent at the beginning. The availability of the latest medication was yours for the taking, literally or exchanging for other meds with other reps. On the surface it could appear quite legit. As a sales rep you had samples to give to doctors and nurses in hopes that these would lead to their prescribing them in the future. But there was also another audience, the unintended audience: the pharmaceutical reps. By swapping samples amongst different reps experimentation was easy and very accessible. The term "controlled substance" was unheard of at that time. It was a new age of innocence. What better way of knowing how the drugs you're selling works than by trying them. Good salesmen doing their job. Addiction didn't seem to be a consideration, as that was only for the illegal stuff like pot and LSD. This was legal medication prescribed by doctors so it couldn't be harmful.

As more new drugs flooded the market the smorgasbord grew. Dad was an incredible salesman, the doctors and nurses loved him. He knew his products, and his good looks, and gracious personality made him a natural for the industry. He quickly climbed the ranks and became a top salesman for his company. His abilities were recognized and soon utilized for the major medical conventions around the country. Now in front of thousands and access to all the other manufacturers was a simple walk to the next booth. Samples flowed as easy as the cocktails. But the samples were flowing a little too freely and little by little began to consume the man who had the Midas touch for pharmaceuticals.

Getting your territory to number one required work and dad knew how to make it happen. Keeping the territory number one proved more problematic. Auto pilot only works for so long.
Then you either regain control or run out of fuel and eventually crash. What once had been simple samples of meds had now turned into daily needs. With drug enforcement agencies still an unheard of, there were ways of working around one's needs. Trading off samples with other reps still worked to a degree but controls were slowly being put in place to monitor samples. Enter the new approach: get to know pharmacists on a personal level, build up a friendship and a trust, a new means of supply.

The vials in the "off limits" cabinet were a marvel, a prized trophy chest for my dad. My brother and I knew what it was, and we knew, like the knob said it was, "off limits." Dad had a pill for everything and he was very knowledgeable. And he loved sharing his knowledge and friendly dispensing with friends. By the early seventies drug abuse had become a hot topic.
We were educated about it in school, we saw public service announcements about it on TV and it all began to click with me, with dreaded fear. I knew what my dad was doing and I lived in fear his "off limits" cabinet would have the cops knocking at our door one day. That never happened, and looking back it might have been a good thing if it had. Instead, that cabinet became the house guest that swelled with power and eventually brought a family and a house to ruin. And through it all to the very end it was never mentioned, that a problem existed in the house in the form of a cabinet that tore a family apart and would pit father against son over a simple pain pill. The ugly despicable face of addiction laughed, mocked and rejoiced in the complete consumption of what was once a thriving middle class family who on the outside looked like the perfect family. Behind closed doors and drawn shades the screaming, the crying, the longing for change never came it only got worse. The excuses grew but the culprit went unnamed.

Keeping the peace in my family would have proved a test for the United Nations. It was next to impossible. You learn to accept that living on edge is the daily norm. From as young as six there was literally not a week that didn't pass without fighting between my parents. At the time, being a kid, you fortunately or unfortunately can't see the entire picture or understand the chemistry behind the constant volatility. Instead you try to be the peacemaker, how can I keep them from fighting. You rack your brain trying to think of ways to stop the fighting.
If I could just find that one key I could turn it all around and we could have a happy family. Years go by and nothing changes, it only gets worse. You know it's not right, but you don't know what to do or who to talk to. It's the 70s who's ever heard of counseling much less intervention? Only crazy people go to treatment centers. You learn to cover up, make up, put up and just live with it. And you live in fear that the house of cards will completely give way and the world will see what a lie your family has been living. You live in fear, you live in shame. And you can't mention it to a soul.

For me, something about age six sticks in my mind as a new sense of awareness came over me. It was at that time that I knew things weren't quite right in my family but I couldn't put my finger on it. Being a pharmaceutical rep, Dad's job had him traveling throughout the Southeast. We often traveled with him during the summer months. What should have been fun family adventures became dreaded road trips. There is nothing quite like being trapped in a moving car while two adults sit in the front seat and wage a constant battle. Sitting in the backseat, I would begin to try and think of ways I could stop this chaos. Every time we'd load up the car we wouldn't be two miles down the road when the fight bell would ring and the next match was under way.

The constant fighting between my mom and dad never stopped, and somehow we grew to accept that that was just how things were going to be. As the fighting continued over the years each family member developed their own coping mechanism and escape plan. Dad's always revolved around the cabinet with the "off limits" nob on the door — the treasure trove of drugs that dad accumulated in his work as a pharmaceutical rep. The great escape was just behind the cabinet door.

As the years passed the cabinet filled with more drugs. The magic door practically fell off its hinges from use. Dad changed, his patience grew non-existent and our family was balancing on a very fragile thread. When dad was doing well, he could sell ice to the Eskimos but when the dark times came, an ever sense of panic fell over the household. And we knew dad's job performance was going to suffer and put everything at stake.

A new twist came into play that strengthened dad's prescription med consumption, an automobile accident. While working in Tampa one Friday, dad was part of a multi-car crash on the downtown interchange. He complained of back pain, found an attorney, won a lawsuit, had back surgery — that proved unsuccessful, and ultimately caused my dad's consumption of pain medicines to increase.

The ups and downs of dad's employment continued and the popping of pain pills seemed unquenchable. Dad's glory days of pharmaceutical sales were starting to fade, he'd leave for work around noon and be home by four. We knew this wasn't right and we knew his job wouldn't last. "How can you work just four hours a day and expect to keep your job," my mother would ask? And with that the screaming matches would ensue. After two years of just barely working, the charade was over and dad was out of work, for good. Dad's once dynamic pharmaceutical career was over, at age 50 he gave up. It all started to crumble and nothing seemed to shake him back to reality. Vehicles were repossessed, jewelry was hocked for quick cash, and then the house was taken away, but he always managed to find the pills. Through all of this — which was years, no one ever uttered a word about dad's problem. It remains undercover.

Now an adult and on my own, I learned of the process known as intervention. I went to counseling to find my own healing as an adult and to see if I could possibly help my family get back to some semblance of normalcy. Though it sounded good in theory it was met with shear fear by my mother and brother, they wouldn't touch it. Afraid of my father's violent response they continued to live with the problem and never said a word. After years of use, my father could tolerate incredible dosages of medication with, what seemed, little effect. Knowing enough to be dangerous not only to himself but to others, the over medicating persisted. And with it the consequences. My dad totaled three vehicles while high on medication and always managed to cover up his impaired state of mind and escape any kind of drug testing. Dad remained the consummate salesman and charmer — even with the police. Every accident was a little worse. The final one, he flipped the car twice and walked away from it. Completely strung out, he claimed the brakes failed and no more was said.

I have always marveled how through it all, the decades of abuse, loss and belittling, my mother stood up for my dad, never once admitting dad had a problem with drugs of any sort. An amazing bond and sense of protection my mother has carried for my dad — that I will never understand. He not only robbed himself of decades but my mother too. In many ways this has been the only normal she has known for 54 years of marriage.

I became the outsider once I left home for college and never returned. I would no longer play the game but challenge it. I was the bad guy. But in the end, I felt I was the only one who had had the strength to save myself from the clutches of a man's addiction that gripped everyone else in its way.

Addiction is a beast, it has no soul, it has no heart and the human destruction it leaves in its aftermath — tattered lives with little left to celebrate. If they only had a pill for that. The healing pill.

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Fairwinds Treatment Center helps individuals and their families get their lives back on track. We specialize in helping people overcome dangerous and deadly disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, alcoholism and drug addiction. Being a dually licensed psychiatric facility, Fairwinds physicians and therapists engage an integrated treatment plan, incorporating several treatment models combined with psychiatric methods to identify the root of the disorder in order for specialized treatment to begin and to ensure a lasting recovery.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction, you can get through it and we are here to help you. Contact Fairwinds Treatment Center today to discuss your situation with one of our admissions counselors. Call 727-449-0300 or via web here.  

Recognizing the Symptoms of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

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With April being Alcohol Awareness Month, we wanted to post some helpful information to those who may be struggling with an alcohol or substance abuse problem themselves or have a loved one they feel has developed an addiction to alcohol. 

Alcohol-related problems — which result from drinking too much, too fast, or too often — are among the most significant public health issues in the United States.

• An estimated 18 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder.
• One in four children grows up in a home with an adult who has a problem with alcohol, and 
• Only one in four people with alcoholism ever receives treatment, which increases the likelihood of long-term recovery.

Most people have a general sense of the negative impact of high-risk drinking, but may not realize how widespread and extensive the consequences are. Each year, nearly 80,000 people die from alcohol-related causes, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Alcohol problems cost the U.S. $225 billion each year, primarily from lost productivity, but also from health care and property damage costs. These issues affect every American, regardless of whether they drink or not.(NIAA.GOV)

Below we will cover several key identifiers to tell whether someone has a substance abuse problem. 

Alcohol and Substance abuse is something nobody likes to talk about. But with millions of Americans wrestling with some form of addiction, there is a need to understand it. After all, substance abuse affects more than just the person addicted. It affects everyone associated with them. 

Do You Have a Substance Abuse Problem?

There are ways to tell when your dependence on alcohol or another substance is out of control. If you or a loved one has any of these classic symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor or addiction counselor. 

A Sense of Dependency

Substance abusers often say they need a “pick-me-up” or something to take the edge off. This is another way of saying they’ve become
dependent.

Once you become dependent, you feel you can’t get by without a drug or alcohol. You may:

• Use it in the morning to get yourself going
• Use it at night to fall asleep
• Need it throughout the day to steady your nerves
• Rely on it to enhance your mood

Inability to Quit

You’d like to stop but just can’t seem to do it. You swear to yourself this is the last time, but then it never is. Your efforts to quit always end in failure. This is the case even when your substance abuse makes you unhappy or gets you into trouble.

More than likely, a chemical addiction is to blame. Stop beating yourself up and get some help. 

Feelings of Guilt or Shame

Substance abusers are often embarrassed by their behavior. You may feel guilty and try to conceal it. You also might:

• Lie to others about your drinking or drug use
• Become angry when someone brings it up
• Steal away to use drugs or alcohol in secret

Risky Behavior

Substance abuse is risky by itself. But it sometimes leads people to do things they otherwise wouldn’t. For instance, you may find yourself:

• Spending more than you can afford on drugs or alcohol
• Consuming them in greater amounts
• Driving while intoxicated
• Stealing to support your habit
• Committing other kinds of crime

Inablity to Function

Substance abuse hinders success in other ways, too. A person suffering from addiction often:

• Gets into trouble at work
• Falls behind in school
• Has scrapes with the law
• Has more money problems
• Alienates friends and loved ones
• Has marital or relationship problems
• Abandons other interests and activities

In short, it becomes hard to function on a daily basis. As a result, you may feel your life is spinning out of control. Asking For help It’s important to understand that addiction is a
physical illness, not a character flaw. It interferes with the brain’s chemistry, which affects your mood and behavior. Addicts who don’t seek help are not likely to get better without it.

Help is readily available, but you have to be proactive. To start, you have to let someone know you need help. Don’t be ashamed to speak up, either for yourself or a loved one. If you think a problem is developing, tell your doctor right away. It may seem like a hard step right now. But in the long run, you’ll be glad you took it.

Fairwinds Treatment Center is a dual-diagnosis facility helping families recover from addictions and move on with healthy meanningful lives. If you feel you or a loved one may have an alcohol or substance abuse problem. Contact Fairwinds to discuss your situation with one of our admissions counselors. Call 727-449-0300 or through our website here. We are here to help. 

Alcohol Rehab - National Alcohol Screening Day

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Fairwinds Treatment Center is a dual diagnosis treatment facility specializing in substance abuse, alcohol and eating disorders. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to alcohol or maybe a combination of several disorders, contact Fairwinds to discuss your situation. Our counselors will help you find the treatment to fit your needs. Call 727-449-0300 or contact through our website here.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF WHEN YOU HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS/DRUG ADDICTION

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If you’re living with a mental illness it is very important to keep yourself in good health to help yourself cope with the illness.

There are some simple things to do on a day-to-day basis to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.

Learn how to manage stress by slowing down and handling one chore at a time. You can make a list to help keep your priorities straight and not get overwhelmed by tasks. If you do get overwhelmed let your family and friends know that you can’t handle so much responsibility. You can also use stress reduction techniques to keep your stress levels low. You can try getting involved in a hobby that you enjoy, practicing yoga, meditating, reading a book, or taking a walk.

Also eating a healthy diet full of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and lean protein can help keep stress levels down by providing your body with proper nutrients. If you find yourself abusing drugs and/or alcohol to deal with the mental illness, please seek help. There are many treatment options available and there is help for an addiction.

The website mentalhealthamerica.net is full of information for people who live with a mental illness.

Fairwinds Treatment Center is a dual-diagnosis facility specializing in the treatment of drug additction and eating disorders. The treatment programs at Fairwinds are most effective due to the dual-diagnosis approach, meaning we identify and focus on the mental health issues an individual may be struggling with that attributes to their addiction or eating disorder. This approach helps to ensure a lasting recovery. 

For more information on how Fairwinds Treatment Center can help you or a loved one, please call 727-449-0300 or through our website here. 

RESOURCE:

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net

Holiday Depression Can Trigger Addiction / Eating Disorder Relapse

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It is well known the holiday season can be a double edged sword or sorts. Times that most consider happy can quickly trigger bouts of depression. This depression can cause an individual battling an eating disorder or drug addiction to turn to their illness as a comfort or escape.

Rather than allowing this to happen and dealig with the repercussions, there are steps one can take to stay positive through the holiday season, avoiding the pitfalls often seen this time of year with those family problems and money troubles. 

Health.com interviewed several professionals on the subject of depression during the holidays and cam up with a helpful list of 11 tips for avoiding depression during the holiday season, hence avoiding trouble with an addiction, eating disorder or perhaps a relapse. Below is a list of tips compiled from their discussions. 

11 Tips for Avoiding Holiday Depression Triggers

Plan ahead

If someone you know is fighting a tough battle this year with a drug or alcohol addiction, or perhaps they are battling a severe eating disorder. Call Fairwinds at 727-449-0300 to speak wirh one of our admissions counselors to see if Fairwinds Treatment Center is a good fit. 

Recovery from Addictions and Eating Disorders During the Holidays

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The Holiday's are upon us. This can be a very stressful time of year for those struggling with an eating disorder and/or a substance abuse illness. People tend to start to put things off until after the Holidays, but treatment to eliminate an eating disorder, addiction or both should not be one of them. 

In some cases it may be beneficial to be in a treatment facility during this time of year in order to bypass the family and social events that tend to produce damaging results for those with an ED or CD, while instead using this time to work towards recovery. 

Fairwinds Treatment Center treats our patients like family. We are fully aware they have made an important decision to save their own life, and we take that very seriously and make sure our patientsare as comfortable as possible 

Should you or a loved one be struggling with an eating disorder such as anorexia or blulimia, or perhaps drugs and alcohol are involved as well, please consider Fairwinds Treatment Center. 

Patients at Fairwinds Treatment Center will: 

• Meet with a psychiatrist EVERYDAY to help them address and overcome the issues at the source of their illness. 
• Receive top level care from our full-time medical staff which includes highly trained nurses and seven specialized therapists. 
• Attend and participate in a wide variety of therapeutic activities including, art therapy, family therapy, group therapy and fitness/wellness groups. 
• Complete treatment with a fresh outlook on life, ready for a lasting recovery.  

Fairwinds Treatment Center was founded in 1989 and is one of only a few dually licensed eating disorder and substance abuse treatment facility in the United States. We specialize in the treatment and recovery of both adolescent and adult eating disorders, male and female.

If you would like to discuss our treatment plan and how it works, please contact our admissions department at  727-449-0030 or email fairwinds@fairwindstreatment.com. 

Happy Holidays, 

Eating Disorders, Addictions & Mental Health Interactive Seminar

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Fairwinds Treatment Center invites you to be a part of an exciting one day event on Saturday, September 22nd.

Our focus is going to be "Helping Families Identify Difficult Situations & Move Towards Solutions." If anyone in your family, a loved one, or friend is struggling from an eating disorder, addiction, or mental health issue, this event is your chance to get support. Our speakers include the President of Family First, Mark Merrill and the Founder of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, Johanna Kandel. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from our Clinical Director, registered Dietician and a therapist. We are very excited to be offering this full day of information to families. Please follow the link below to register for the event.

Agenda Below: 

For more information or to register, click here. 

Fairwinds Treatment Center helps individuals and their families get their lives back on track. We specialize in helping people overcome dangerous and deadly disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, alcoholism and drug addiction.

Being a dually licenced psychiatric facility, Fairwinds physicians and therapists engage an integrated treatment plan, incorporating several treatment models combined with psychiatric methods to identify the root of the disorder in order for specialized treatment to begin and to ensure a lasting recovery.

If you or a loved one are batting an eating disorder or substance abuse problem, take action now. Contact Fairwinds Treatment Center here, or call 727.449.0300

Warning Signs of Teen Drug Abuse

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Why Your Teen Could be Abusing Alcohol/Drugs

This is an interesting article on teen drug abuse and some possible links to why some teens use illegal substances.  A recent study suggests that as many as 78% of teens have abuse alcohol and over 40% have used drugs. The article lists the top ten indicators and possible reasons why your teen could be choosing to use drugs and/or alcohol. The research suggests that having an impulsive personality or a mental health condition could be why some individuals struggling with substance abuse addiction. These issues are not the individual’s fault and instead of being properly prescribed medication, many teens are trying to self-medicate and abusing both alcohol and drugs to heal the pain.

Full Article

Pehaps you or an individual in your family started using drugs and alcohol during your teanage years and continue to suffer from the addiction. If so, please call us for a free and confidential assessment at 727-449-0300 or just contact Fairwinds Treatment Center here. An underlying mental health condition can be part of the reason why and individual is using. 

Fairwinds Treatment Center - Substance Abuse Message

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Fairwinds Treatment Center recently released two new public service announcements to be aired on select channels. The following is the substance abuse message aimed at creating awareness of how an addiction can affect the most innocent members of a family.

For over 20 years, families have trusted Fairwinds Treatment Center to help their loves ones through our highly effective treatment programs for eating disorders and drug/alcohol rehab. As one of only a few dually licensed psychiatric and substance abuse centers in the nation to earn accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), we are here to provide the quality care your family needs to achieve a lasting recovery.

If you have a family member or close friend who is battling an addiction, now is the time to help them take the first step towards recovery. Contact Fairwinds Treatment Center here, or call 727-449-0300.