Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance abuse is a disease that can devastate the lives of all of the people involved. An addiction not only affects the person that is taking part in the use of the substance, but it affects the families. They are the ones that are usually emotionally, verbally, or physically abused when a person that they love choose to lead a life with drugs. When a person becomes addicted to a substance such as drugs or alcohol, they often do not believe that they need help, or they believe that they can change on their own. It is common for users to refuse help, and become unsuccessful when trying to get off the substance on their own.

The professionals at www.emedicinehealth.com believe that even when substance abuse stops, the long-term use may modify the brain’s ability to function. Brain function alterations makes it more likely for someone to be exposed to drug cravings. The control of drug cravings is the most important aspect of maintaining sobriety and avoiding relapse.

Treating substance abuse is dependant on the substance abuser and the substance in which they are addicted to. Each person will have unique needs when battling their addiction, therefore they will need specific treatment.

Professionals believe that behavioral treatment is one of the most significant features in the treatment process. Counseling is often used when the behavior of an addict is questioned. Addiction counseling is a way for the addict and the counselors to find the reason behind the addiction, and why it usually used as a coping method. Counseling will allow addicts to express themselves and what they think about their lives as addicts. The goal is to work through all of the feelings that have been pushed away throughout the time that the individuals were using and the feelings that they generated while engrossed by their chosen substances.

In certain instances, a person may have been using drugs or alcohol for so long, that they literally cannot physically function without the substance. It is in these situations that closely monitored medications may be used during the recovery process. These medications are often used to avoid any medical illness or emergency that can occur when the addictive behavior has been stopped.

It is also common for drug and alcohol abusers to have a variety of mental disorders such has depression or anxiety. Often, it is because of mental illness that drug and alcohol abuse begins. It is vital for addicts that have a mental illness to receive treatment for their condition along with their condition or the addiction will have a higher chance of recurring.

Treatment is not always a voluntary. Addicts often need to be pushed or motivated to receive help when fighting their disease. Motivation is often helpful when an addict is either debating on entering or continuing treatment. Interventions are common when dealing with people that are substance abusers. They often need outside sources to open their eyes to what the addiction is doing to them, and the people that care about them.
The A&E television channel began production of a show called Intervention. This show allows everyone around the country to watch people confront their addictions with the help of their loved ones. The show varies when it comes to the substances and disorder that are illustrated on screen.




Questions
Do you find one treatment method more effective than the others? Or do you think a combination of all of the methods is best?


Are there any treatments that were not mentioned that you feel would be useful?


What are your feelings about Interventions? They are not always successful, are they worth trying?



The first link is part one to an episode of Intervention about leslie, a mother of three who is also an alcoholic.





The second and third links are parts 2 and 3 of Leslie's episode where her drinking has gotten to the worst point, and the family is getting ready for the intervention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weZgOewO5QY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB1wSatqs8&feature=related

The fourth and fifth links deal with Leslie's intervention and her decision regarding treatment.


Sources: youtube.com,emedicine.com

Posted by: Shannon

Substance Abuse and the Family Environment

Substance abuse not only substantially affects the person who has the addiction, but also the environment his/her family grows up in. Families that grow up in a substance abuse household are more likely to have financial problems, behavioral problems, and incidences of domestic violence.

According to research, most of the children involved in the welfare system have parents that are substance abusers. Many factors play into this research. Money that would be used for food, clothing, and education for the children would be put towards the addiction. Money that would be put towards rent or mortgages on the home would also be used for buying the substance of choice. This obviously would have a huge affect on how the family lives and the environment the family is surrounded by.

The relationship between other family members, like the children, and the substance abuser, as we see in studies, is poor. There is a strong sense of neglect and disconnect between them. Children with drug addicted parents often have a higher level of aggression, delinquency, hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiety, less differentiation of self. These affects on the child psyche affects not only how they are in school, but how they develop into an adolescent and then an adult.

Lastly, violence within the family is highly linked with substance abuse. Alcohol abuse is the most apparent in domestic violence. Studies in the United States show that 30 to 40 percent of men and 27 to 34 percent of women who are responsible for the violence were drinking around the same time it started. The addition of violence in the home with the substance abuse lead to a negative environment that have long lasting effects on the family and its structure.

Posted by Heather Saide

Introduction on substance abuse and it's affect on families.

As many of us discovered in class today through our genealogy projects, substance abuse is not uncommon to have in your family. It used to be a very taboo subject, but now, with the growing popularity of rehabilitation programs and the subject of alcohol and drug abuse all over the media, it has become a more common thing to talk about. TV shows such as Sober House with Dr. Drew and Intervention are showing the world that substance dependence can be dangerous to your own personal health and wellbeing as well as damaging to your whole family system.

If you think back to the 1920’s when alcohol was illegal, and if you wanted to drink at all you had to hide it, have it smuggled into the country, or make it yourself, you can see how much our culture has changed. Now it is the cool thing to do and a normal part of American culture. Being drunk in public is no longer something that is out of the ordinary. Our whole culture tells us through media and cultural norms that it is normal to want to drink and if you don’t drink you are missing out.

But the issue is that people rely on the fun and good feeling that alcohol, and also drugs, give you. And they self medicate with these lethal substances to get through the problems that life throws at them. Good fun turns into a habit and that turns into a serious substance abuse problem. This problem is affecting not only Americans but the whole world. Popular culture such as advertising, rock bands, and many TV shows, for example, are not doing anything to change that.

Even though addicts and alcoholics are hurting themselves and their lives greatly, they are also affecting their family’s lives. When someone with a substance abuse problem is in a family system, this can change everything

Some questions to think about when thinking about substance abuse and the affect it has on families:

• Does the abuser know that her/she is affecting everyone?

• How does substance abuse affect everyone else around the abuser?

• What are some family systems that could be affected by substance abuse?

• What kind of affect do you think the media has on this issue?

Posted by Casandra Colby

Closing on Gay Issues

Recently America has started to become much more supportive of civil rights for the gay and lesbian community then they have been in the past. Despite this recent change attitudes of homophobia are still very prevalent among individuals in the United States. Homophobia is not only prevalent on the individual micro basis but as well on the macro basis. On the federal level homosexuals are still not protected from hate crime legislation and work place discrimination. Under federal law they are also prohibited from marrying and openly serving in the military. Although gays are usually better protected at the state the level that in not always the case. 30 states still have nondiscrimination laws that do not include sexual orientation. As well statesstill prohibit gay couples from adopting, as well as some states have state or constitutional amendments that prohibit same sex marriage.

Homophobia on a Regional Basis

Cities such as Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco are known to have the highest amount of partnered gay populations as of the year 2000. There are many myths that homosexuals are gravitated to big cities because they are known to be more tolerant than small towns or rural areas. Although it is true that there is a higher concentration of gays living in large cities, as well as it is true that areas such as the Northeast and the west coast are known to more accepting then that South or Midwest it is still true that homophobia is everywhere. Even though people from areas such as the west coast describe that by living in such an accepting area with many gay rights movements has made them more accepting to gays people in these liberal areas still do report seeing homosexuality as well as hearing school yard terms such as “gay” or “faggot”.
What homophobia means for families

Homophobia still being prevalent in many different areas even more liberal ones can be a devastating thing for families. One example of how it can affect families is if a child who is gay has homophobic parents. The parent’s homophobia could cause a rift between the child and their parents if the parents are never able to accept their child. Homophobia can also have a negative affect on a child who has two same sex parents. With several states having laws against gay couples adopting it can be difficult for each of the same sex partner to have equal parental rights over the child. That can become very difficult in the event of a parents hospitalization or death.

The following YouTube clip shows an example on how homophobia can negatively affect a family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuyIMWUTp88

The next YouTube clip explores how parents who are uncomfortable with their child’s sexuality can deal with meeting their child’s same sex partner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7_UQL5OktA&feature=related


Closing Thoughts

1. What do you believe are some ways to end homophobia on a micro level?

2. Can you think of any examples you know of a family being personally affected negatively by homophobia.

Homosexuality in the Media

     Society as a whole relies heavy on the media to teach them about groups of people with whom they have little contact. Stereotypes portrayed cement prejudices that people already have. The British Journal of Guidance and Counseling published an article by Lindsay Cooper that raises some great points about the portrayal of homosexuality in the media and its effects on sexual minorities. According to Cooper, “a significant majority (83%) of people believe that the media relies heavily on clichéd stereotypes of gay people.” She states, “Hollywood is the principle manufacturer of Anglo-American cultural norms that has provided us with these images…Popular images of gay men that are available, largely on film, are very negative: ‘the child molester, the self-hating, effeminate hairdresser, or the friendless, isolated, older gay man whom everyone pitied or tolerated until he ended it all.’” Those are not the only stereotypes that homosexuals have to deal with. The dominant discourse about homosexuals is that they are promiscuous, disease-ridden, over-the-top and super “fabulous”. With images like that running rampant through the media that we are constantly bombarded with, it is no wonder why some parents react so horribly to finding out their son or daughter is gay.


     Negative stereotypes in the media have a huge impact on the lives of homosexuals in a family environment. Some parents are accepting and understanding. Others however, react with anger or even violence. This can cause people to “stay in the closet” and deny their sexuality. Cooper wrote, “Factors that keep people in the closet include verbal intimidation and fear. All interviewees experienced some homophobia and were subjected to negative images and stereotypes of gay people.” One of the interviewees said, “…there was a time when I was 13/14 when people realized and I started being called gay. I realized I probably was. Of course, I denied it. That was quite a hard time.” (Cooper 425-440) Staying in the closet can push people into feelings extreme loneliness and states of depression.


     Stereotypes that aren’t necessarily negative also have a huge impact on family communication and the lives of homosexuals. Trevor Nutley once wrote, “There was a time when I could not speak to a family member without someone telling me. ‘Oh, Jack reminds me of you so much’ or ‘You and Jack are the same person.’” (Nutley 22) He was speaking of the flamboyant, outlandish, hilarious character from the TV show “Will and Grace”. Because of portrayals of homosexuals in the media, it is almost as if all gay men have to be performing all of the time and all lesbians have to be drama sponges. Sitcoms are meant to be for entertainment, but shows like “Will and Grace” and “The L Word” are being treated like educational television to get insight on what the lives of “real homosexuals” are like and it is simply a fallacy.

Citations

Cooper, Lindsay. "On the other side: supporting sexual minority students." British Journal of Guidance & Counseling. 36.4 (2008): 425-440. Print.


Nutley, Trevor. "Gay and cliche." Xtra! West 24 APR 2006: 22. Print.


Written by: Mollie Foley

Politics of Same-Sex Marriage

In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage. For years before, and still today, same-sex marriage has been one of the most controversial topics in American politics. The federal government has yet to legalize gay marriage nationwide. The burden is on the state governments. The legislation surrounding this issue has a huge impact on American families. Currently, there approximately 1.2 million people in gay or lesbian couples in the U.S. This number does not include gays and lesbians not involved in a relationship. These couples are a new type of family in America, and the decisions made about their right to marry greatly affects their legitimacy and rights.

Gay Marriage Facts and Statistics

-41% of Americans support same-sex marriage. 49% oppose it. 10% are unsure.

-Total gay and lesbian couples in the U.S.: 594,391

-Number of people in a gay or lesbian couple: 1.2 million

-State with the most gay/lesbian couples: California

-State with the least gay/lesbian couples: North Dakota

State Laws about Gay Marriage

Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts (2004), Connecticut (2008), Iowa (2009), Vermont (2009), New Hampshire (2010). Washington D.C. will have legalized gay marriage in March of 2010. Maine, New York, Alaska, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Maryland allow some rights to gay and lesbian couples, and recognize out of state same-sex marriages, but their constitution bans same-sex marriage. New Mexico, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C. currently provide certain rights for same-sex couples and recognize out of state marriages. Gay marriage is banned in these states but it isn't written into their constitution. All other states ban gay marriage and refuse to recognize out of state marriages or give rights to same-sex couples.

Oklahoma's state constitution states “Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman... A marriage between persons of the same gender performed in another state shall not be recognized as valid and binding in this state... Any person knowingly issuing a marriage license in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”

Alabama's state constitution says that “Marriage is...a unique relationship between a man and a woman.” It explains that it defines marriage as such in order to “promote...the stability and welfare of society and its children.”

Arguments For

Arguments in favor of legalizing gay marriage are usually centered around the notion of equality for all citizens. By denying gays and lesbians the right to marry, the state is making them second class citizens. Rights in America can not be denied based on sexual orientation, just as they can't be denied based on gender or race. Civil unions fall under the category “Separate but not Equal”.

Another argument is that the U.S. was founded on the idea of separation of church and state, which supporters feel dispels any arguments citing the bible as a basis for law. Marriage is no longer solely a religious institution since people who aren't associated with religion can get married. Marriage has become a social and political structure, and religion is supposed to stay out of lawmaking.

Supporters also argue that same-sex marriage is good for society. Economically, a lot of money goes into weddings and divorces that could be made if same-sex marriage was allowed. By allowing gays and lesbians to marry, they are being integrated into the mainstream culture and become more active members of society. By banning same-sex marriage, states are alienating whole sections of their populations and denying them legal and social rights.

Arguments Against

“Marriage is between a man and a woman” has been the motto of the opposition to gay marriage. Opposers believe that marriage is a religious sacrament, and therefore shouldn't be extended to those who don't live by the dictates of the bible or other religious texts and preaching. The Family Research Council claims, “Homosexual marriage is an empty pretense that...cheapens and degrades the real thing....no society has ceased to regulate sexuality within marriage as traditionally defined, and survived.” Opposers are concerned that if gays are allowed to marry, it will open a floodgate of “sexual combinations” who will all demand equal marriage rights as well.

A common argument in opposition to same-sex marriage is the defense of children. They think that it is dangerous to teach children to accept gay couples as normal, and that this kind of acceptance will destroy family values and poison children's minds. The FRC claims that “homosexual couples have an average of eight sexual partners (outside of the relationship) per year. Children should not be placed in unstable households with revolving bedroom doors.” Something to note about opposers is that many believe that homosexuality is a choice, having no biological roots, and therefore is reversible. This belief can greatly affect people's attitudes toward same-sex marriage.

Repealing Gay Marriage Legislation

Maine repealed gay marriage in November 2009, six months after it was passed. In New Hampshire, opposers work to repeal the newly achieved legalization of gay marriage. Probably the most famous repeal was Proposition 8, which repealed California's gay marriage of November 5, 2008. The votes for prop.8 were 52.5% yes (repeal) and 47.5% no. This repeal was especially significant because of California's notably high gay/lesbian population.

YouTube video supporting Prop.8

YouTube video against Prop. 8

Rights Denied

One proposed solution to the same-sex marriage issue is allowing same-sex civil unions. However, there are currently 1,138 federal rights given to marriages that are denied in civil unions. These include: the right to make decisions for a partner in a medical emergency, the right to petition for a partner to immigrate, family related social security benefits, the right to inherit property from a partner, and many more. Separate but equal is not equal.

 In states where homosexuals can't marry or get civil unions they are denied ALL marriage rights and benefits.

Census 2010

The 2010 census is the first that will count the number of same-sex marriages. Demographers expect many unmarried couples to report marriages since they would get one if it was legal.

What implications does repealing gay marriage have for the American Family?

Do you think that people's religious opinions should be respected in lawmaking?

Do you think it is dangerous to make laws about family structure? or is it necessary for culture?

www.gaycoupleslawblog.com

online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-SAME_SEX_MAP_0905.html

www.frc.org

www.unionleader.com

abcnews.go.com/Politics

www.hrc.org/issues/marriage/civil_unions/386.htm

www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/article-30190.html

Gay/Straight Alliances in schools

Being a teenager is hard, but being a GLBTQ teenager can be even harder. Feelings of being an outcast, confusion about not understanding why you feel the way you do, fear of being judged, misunderstood, or even hurt, and even concern about how your loved ones will react. Some GLBTQ youth face the threat of being thrown out of their homes or worse. One way that some schools and organizations have tried to make this easier is with the creation of gay/straight alliances (GSA). These may have different names, different meeting times and places, and different goals, but they are united under one cause; to create a safe (or safer) and welcoming environment for GLBTQ young people as well as their Allies.

There are organizations, such as GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) and GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), and even the HRC (Human Rights Campaign), which have tools, workshops, and information which can help start a GSA or work with existing ones.

GLSEN is an especially good resource. Over the years they have worked to create and modify "kits" which can be used to help students and faculty create an effective GSA. They have tools such as "The GLSEN Jump-Start Guide for Gay-Straight Alliances" which includes information and instructions "designed to help you jump-start - or bring fresh and creative energy to - your student club." This can be found by going to GLSEN “Jump-Start” Kit . Have you ever heard or seen information about the National Day of Silence? What about the Days of Action of the No Name Calling Week? All of these are projects that GLSEN sponsor and organize.

GLAAD is also a great resource for kits and information. They have a list of these here: GLAAD Resource Kits .

The HRC has a Youth & Campus Outreach Program which offers students the ability to connect with each other, see if there are organizations that are near them, and even attend conferences and events. The main page for this program can be found here, HRC program

Some of you may be familiar with “The Laramie Project” or remember when the story of the death of Matthew Shepard in 1998. This horrific story and the national media attention that resulted from it is one of the reasons that GSA’s have been created or continued over the last 12 years. For more information, please follow the links under the questions at the bottom.

Questions:

Have you ever heard of Gay/Straight Alliances and did your school have one?
What do you think about the idea of GSA’s, are they still needed in schools today?
Have you ever been involved in an organization which brought groups together with the goals of education, understanding, and safety?
Did you know any GLBTQ people in high school? If so, were they involved in a GSA?
Have you ever been involved in an even sponsored by GLSEN or GLAAD like the Day of Silence?
Have you ever heard of The Laramie Project or other information on the story of Matthew Shepard?
Links:

GLSEN
GLAAD
HRC
The Laramie Project
The Matthew Shepard Foundation
The Day of Silence
 
by Laramie Ruggiero of Team 4: Rachel Cina, Molley Foley, Laura Koehler, Laramie Ruggiero, Laura Hickey