Teen Substance Abuse Resources & References

Many Paths

Each family has to decide on its approach to educating its children about drugs and their dangers. There are many different perspectives on how to best protect youth from harmful drugs, from "Just Say No," which history indicates is not very effective and in some instances is actually counterproductive, to "Safety First," which takes the position that drugs will always be a part of our society and that our only hope is to give kids as much information as possible so they can protect themselves. Safety First is much like the "designated driver" approach, which does not attempt to eliminate drinking, but encourages safety. Unfortunately, there is no one right answer, and there are imperfections to every effort to keep our kids safe. Even within a family, one child may respond to one approach, while another needs something completely different. You'll have to first think through your beliefs and personal experiences, do your homework, learn about drugs and the various approaches to protecting your children, talk to your kids and other parents, and make the most informed decision you can that fits your values and belief system. Equally as important, you'll have to honestly assess your own relationship to alcohol and drugs (legal and illegal). If your talk and behavior are inconsistent, don't expect your kids to listen.

Teen Substance Abuse Resources

Government Sponsored Websites:
Note: Teens who are using drugs generally distrust and often disregard information from government sources, usually because of the scare tactics that are often used in the dissemination of information. Nevertheless, much of the information is useful. Parents have to decide for themselves how to best use the information in the education of their children.

Please Note: For ease of re-accessing this website, you may want to bookmark this site before clicking on the websites listed below.

For information on drugs and their effects, as well as one perspective on how to talk to your teen about drugs:
http://www.theantidrug.com/

For useful tips related to you, your child and drugs, including a quiz to test your drug knowledge:
http://www.drugfree.org/

Two websites, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, emphasize the science behind drug abuse:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
http://www.nida.nih.gov/

Privately Sponsored Websites:
If your teen is using drugs, he or she is probably getting much of his or her information about drugs, their dangers, benefits, and, unfortunately, their glorification, from this website. If you want to know how your teen is being educated, check this out:
http://www.erowid.org/

This organization promotes the belief that drug information is the only real preventative, and fights to reform drug policy in the US:
http://www.drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm

This privately funded organization provides information to help fight teen drug abuse by education, prevention, and intervention. Intervention includes referral to "Christian based" boarding schools, that is, schools that base education on what they believe are Christian values, principals, and rules. http://www.teendrugabuse.us

Wilderness Treatment For Drug Abusing Teens:
If you've already tried many approaches to helping your teen, with little or no success, you may want to consider a wilderness program for your teen. It's expensive, but often saves lives and families. There are many considerations involved in making this decision. You may want to consult with a specialist, such as  Larry Stednitz, PhD: 805 772-4311. Information about Dr. Stednitz and other educational consultants can also be found at http://www.strugglingteens.com/

Problem Assessment:
For a quick reality check and assessment of your teen's behavior, as well as to help determine if a wilderness program would be helpful, fill out the brief questionnaire located at
http://wildernessquest.com/OnlineAssessment.aspx

Family Intervention Specialists:
These specialists will come into your home, help you assess your teen's drug use and how the family system is enabling use to continue, and guide you in creating a plan of treatment.

Family Intervention Institute: Jo Ann Towle:
http://www.familyinterventioninstitute.com/

Full Circle Intervention: Kristina Wandzilak:
http://www.fullcirclei.com/

For more resources, see: http://www.cirquelodge.com/Resources/WebsiteResources.php

Boarding Schools for Teens with Drug Problems:
Read about educational possibilities for teens with drug problems. Find an educational consultant for your family. Assess residential placements and avoid common mistakes of parents who go it alone.
http://www.strugglingteens.com/

Support Services:
Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-anon, Alateen, & Co-Dependents Anonymous:

www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/
How to find an AA Meeting:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_find_meeting.cfm

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/
How to find an Al-anon or Alateen Meeting:
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/meetings/meeting.html

How to find a Co-Dependents Anonymous meeting:
http://www.codependents.org/meeting-search-english.php

Books:
Buzzed, by Kuhn, Swartzwelder, Wilson, of Duke University Medical Center. Presents objective information about the most used and abused drugs.

Dangerous Drugs: An Easy-to-Use Reference for Parents and Professionals, by Carol Falkowski.

Codependent No More, by Melody Beattie.

Addictive Thinking, by Abraham Twerski.

The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids, by Madeline Levine.

There are many useful resources in addition to the ones listed above, but these should you get you started.

References
Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2003). The life span: Human development for helping professionals. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Fagan, R. (n. d.). Treating adolescents with alcohol and other substance use problems. Retrieved May 6, 2006, from http://aatbs.securegw.com (Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences).

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (2003). Science-based prevention programs and principals 2002. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, cited in Fagan, R. (n. d.). Treating adolescents with alcohol and other substance use problems. Retrieved May 6, 2006, from http://aatbs.securegw.com

Clingempeel, W. G., Henggeler, S. W. Pickrel, S. G. Brondino, M. J., & Randall, J. (2005). Age at onset of alcohol use and its association with DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence: Results from the national longitudinal alcohol epidemiologic survey. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75(4), 540-552.

Elkin, D. (1994). Ties that stress: The new family imbalance. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

The book: The parent handbook for what matters (2001). Danville, CA: CASA