The Little Blue Book

CHOOSE WISELY We all have dark days. And, for some of us, these dark days can sit like a blanket over every waking thought. But we won’t find the solution in drugs or alcohol or anger or gambling or other destructive behaviors. If you need help, get help - it is there waiting for you. We carry our lives in our own hands. So, take care what we put into them. And take care of what – through our actions – we put into the hands of our children and loved ones. We each choose the way we live our lives. Best we choose wisely. Getting HELP If you are struggling with addiction, it is not a burden you need bear in silence until it takes control of your life and pulls everything of value out from under you. Pick up the phone and call any of the support centres and organisations listed below. And take the first steps to getting your life back. (Some considerations when parenting) • A US study of substance-use disorders and anxiety disorders in adolescents showed that “anxiety disorders commonly co- exist with substance use disorders”. • Adolescents and teens risk permanent emotional and intellectual damage from alcohol and drugs, particularly to the pre-frontal cortex of the brain affecting learning, creativity, problem solving, memory and judgment. 3 • The same study also showed that “early identification and treatment of anxiety disorders may in fact prevent substance misuse among adolescents”. 1 • Children of parents who misuse drugs and/or alcohol are more than twice as likely (as their peers) to have an alcohol and/or drug use disorder by young adulthood, as well increased incidence of emotional, social, and behavioural problems and impaired cognitive and academic functioning. 4 “I would argue that the person using [drugs] is not using them to have a problem, they’re using drugs to find a solution.” Dr V. Felitti, Director, California Institutes of Preventive Medicine, Adverse Childhood Experiences study (ACE) 2 ANXIETY DISORDER AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL DISORDERS IN YOUNG PEOPLE (1) Affective and anxiety disorders and alcohol and drug dependence: Diagnosis and treatment; Anthenelli R.M., and Schuckit M.A.; 1993 (2) www.thefix.com; Trauma and Addiction (3) U.S. National Library of Medicine; and The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress; Weinberger et al, 2005 (4) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; Understanding the Diverse Needs of Children whose Parents Abuse Substances; Solis J.M., et al (1) A Clinical Model of Genetic Influences in Alcohol Dependence - Schuckit M.; The American Journal Psychiatry 1994 “Alcoholism is a genetically-influenced disorder and the risk of severe repetitive problems (abuse or dependence) has been found to be three to four times as high in the offspring (children) of alcoholics.” 1 Family Drug Helpline 1300 660 068 sharc.org.au Alcoholics Anonymous 1300 222 222 aa.org.au ADA Australia ‘A friendly ear’ 1800 232 287 Did you know? ! 99 ADA Australia PostScript Section 2 Section 1 Section 3