ASAM Adopts Public Policy Statement on Ethical Promotion and Patient Recruitment by Addiction Treatment Programs. Read: https://www.asam.org/advocacy/find-a-policy-statement/view-policy-statement/public-policy-statements/2018/05/30/public-policy-statement-on-ethical-promotion-and-patient-recruitment-by-addiction-treatment-programs … https://twitter.com/HouseCommerce/status/1001815007636664320 …
ASAM Adopts Public Policy Statement on Ethical Promotion and Patient Recruitment by Addiction Treatment Programs
I’ve lived for years in the land of tears—and there’s no escape from the sadness.
By day, I retreat, pushing other people away, and I roam the dark house every night. I cry, I pull myself together, and I crawl back into bed. I get up, I fall down, and I try not to drown. I can’t eat. I eat too much. I eat away at the fears and worries that are eating away at me. I slap on a smile, I force out a laugh, even on days when I don’t make my bed and don’t take a bath. I build up a wall, I knock it back down. My love and loyalty get kicked all around. I pretend to be strong. I pretend not to hurt. I try to believe things are going to get better, but too often I don’t believe they will. I suffer in silence; I feel so alone.
I’ve lived for years in the land of tears—and there’s no escape from the sadness.
“It is such a secret place, the land of tears.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Today’s thought from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is from the book:
Tending Dandelions
by Sandra Swenson
The post Mom to Mom: The Land of Tears appeared first on Sandy Swenson.
Please watch this moving story of the impact of Alcohol and Other Drugs on our community, and help us establish a Multicultural AOD Support Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irieI__RIg4&t=1s … @VAADAENEWS @AlcoholDrugFdn
NACCHO Aboriginal Health #AFL 
@AlcoholDrugFdn #NRW2018 #WorldNoTobaccoDay launch @senbmckenzie Minister for Sport & Rural Health supports Redtails Pinktails #SayNoMore # Drugs, #Smoking and #FamilyViolence #SayYesTo #Education #employment #family https://nacchocommunique.com/2018/05/28/naccho-aboriginal-health-afl-alcoholdrugfdn-nrw2018-worldnotobaccoday-senator-bridget-mckenzie-minister-for-sport-and-rural-health-supports-redtails-pinktails-saynomore-drugs-smoking-and-fam/ … pic.twitter.com/C5pLOeb3E1
Our CEO Dr Erin Lalor at Palmerston Recreation Centre this morning announcing 92 new Local Drug Action Teams (LDATs) with @senbmckenzie Great to hear about the work the new Northern Territory LDATs are set to focus on @PalmerstonNT pic.twitter.com/D6OwSaq1N4
The Australian Government and the ADF are excited to welcome an additional 92 Local Drug Action Teams, in to the LDAT program! Find out more about the program and where teams are located below. https://community.adf.org.au/join-program/local-drug-action-team-program-overview/ …
In Palmerston w @CountryLibs Kathy Ganley to announce 92 Local Drug Action Teams across Aus 
building partnerships to prevent and minimise harm of ice alcohol & illicit drugs use by our youth w local action plans #ruralhealth #makeadifference pic.twitter.com/TxeHdXsCXn
Report published in @JAM_ASAM and co-authored by @BUSPH researcher finds eligibility, #communication issues are barriers to substance use disorder treatment https://bit.ly/2LGShnE
Thank you, Cathy. I am in recovery myself. I ended up getting sober pretty young, 54 days before my 21st birthday ironically. That took me on a path of my awakening, my journey toward reconnecting with myself.
I’ve been working in the addiction treatment field for a decade, offering spiritual care. For me, it is a perfect blending of the spiritual path that I’ve experienced. I also use those principles and methods to help people break their addictive cycle. The answer is at some point I knew it was my calling to help other people because of my transformation.
You’re touching on the fundamental part of conscious recovery. That is I look at drug or alcohol use not as a problem, but as a solution or a strategy to something that feels broken within. In my own life that was what I was experiencing so much disconnection.
I remember when I was a young child and being so open-hearted, so in awe of the world, so connected with myself and others. Then around the age of seven, I remember a sense of closing off, shutting down, like I was building a wall around my heart.
I walked around that way from seven until 13 or 14 when I discovered drugs and alcohol. It helped me at the time. It helped bring some relief that helped allow me to feel kind of comfortable in my own skin.
The issue, of course, is that it’s not a long-term solution. It was a very short-term solution. Then it started causing problems in my life. So that’s the reason that I view addiction through the lens of a solution.
For one thing, it’s much more empowering if someone can get to the place where they recognize, wow, alcohol or drugs is something that did work for a period of time, but now it isn’t serving me so well. That is more empowering. We can start to ask the question if it’s not working so well, what are some of our other options?
There’s a lot of focus in the addiction treatment and recovery world on looking for what’s broken. I come in with a slightly different approach. That is the spiritual approach. Rather than looking at what’s broken, can we find that spiritual wholeness that’s underneath?
A lot of times what’s driving addictive behavior is unresolved trauma. There is a sense of spiritual disconnection, and shame. Some of the modalities of treatment end up adding more shame because we’re looking at the person as broken in some way.
I don’t intend conscious recovery to be a stand on its own method. It is something that can help people add to whatever they’re already doing. I recognize there is a physical aspect of addiction and recovery, as well as a mental and emotional.
I’m offering this other possibility here. The reason that I wrote that in the book is because I have worked with so many people, especially younger people that don’t want to identify. They don’t want to label themselves as an addict and alcoholic. They feel labeling themselves brings more shame. We can look at it more through the lens of, it was a strategy that’s no longer working.
This allows the person to have more power. It’s a different approach of not viewing ourselves as powerless. What happens when we start to embrace our power? What happens when we look at the addiction as kind of a low-level search for connection or love?
We can recognize that alcohol and drugs are not serving the person. If they can get to that for themselves, then we can start to look at what it would take to break free from looking outside of ourselves for a solution.
Absolutely. It helps to look at a broader definition of trauma. We tend to think of it as something like the loss of a parent or being in a car accident or physical or sexual abuse. And that, of course, that is trauma.
There’s also a broader definition. Do we come into this world as what I call a spiritual being? Young, young children are still very in touch with their emotions. They’re very present. They still can feel very deeply and allow that to pass through them.
We get taught things that are counter to our spiritual wholeness. This could include competition, scarcity, or not feeling good enough. Don Miguel Ruiz, in his book, The Four Agreements called those events the domestication of the human. I love that because when we domesticate a horse, we call it breaking them or breaking their spirit.
What we know about trauma is that it gets locked in the body. For young people especially, they don’t always have the tools or the support to be able to have an authentic place to share how their experience impacted them. What ends up happening, is there’s a fight or flight response. There’s also a freeze response.
I find that one actually to be so common, especially in younger people, not knowing what to do with the trauma. It ends up getting buried and internalized. As a young person, they end up taking on an identity that there must be something wrong with them.
Often a young person will blame themselves for the trauma. We hear over and over again that there are children and young people who believe it’s their fault their parents got divorced. They might then bring about a sense of brokenness or shame.
Those who are walking around with that kind of shame, that kind of disconnection, ultimately are going to try to find something to bring relief. As we work through the trauma, we create a safe space for authentic sharing. We can begin to dislodge that and then not need some external experience to bring relief.
What happens so often is what’s driving the addictive behavior is the disconnection, the trauma, and the shame. What we know about shame is that it thrives in silence and secrecy. A lot of times parents may not want to re-experience those feelings themselves. There’s an idea, well, you know, she seems better.
He seems like he’s worked through it. Why would I bring it up? Why would I re-traumatize? The number one thing is a safe container, a place for your child to be able to be authentic. If it’s a counselor, if it’s a support group, ultimately the way we work with shame is we create a safe space to begin to talk about what the person who has an addiction is experiencing.
That may or may not be the parent. Sometimes it’s about recognizing that as a parent. Maybe you’re not the person that’s going to be able to reach your young person at this point.
Bring in support. Bring in a counselor that the young person can trust. I remember in my own life; when I was in my addiction from age 13 to 20, I wasn’t very open to talking with my parents.
I did have some people in my life that I trusted. I was able to open up to them. One helpful tip would be to bring in some support for the young person. Bring in someone they can relate to. The key here is for them to have a safe place to open up and be able to process what’s happened.
TJ Woodward is a revolutionary recovery specialist, bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and awakening coach who has helped countless people through his simple, yet powerful teachings. He has offered spiritual care at top-tier, high-end treatment programs for over a decade and has created full-scale spiritual care programs at several treatment facilities.
TJ is the creator of The Conscious Recovery MethodTM, which is a groundbreaking and effective approach to viewing and treating addiction. He also serves as the senior minister and spiritual director of Agape Bay Area in Oakland, which is the first satellite community of The Agape International Spiritual Center in LA.
TJ published his first book, Conscious BEING: Awakening to Your True Nature in 2015, and his second book, Conscious Recovery: A Fresh Perspective on Addiction was released in December of 2017. Additionally, he is the creator and host of the Awakened Living TV and Awakened Living Radio shows. Learn more about TJ at www.tjwoodward.com.
Image by John Westrock
Remember, start with your feelings, show understanding and love, and be clear about the circumstances under which you would be open to being together or discussing the problem. ~ Robert J. Meyers, Ph.D.
Robert Meyers, Ph.D. is the author of Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening.
He developed the Community Reinforcement and Family Training or CRAFT approach. He continues to do workshops sharing his evidence-based approach that helps families get their loved one into treatment.
I had the honor of attending one of his trainings in Boise a few years back.
It is clear there are powerful reasons for families to get help for themselves.
Often substance users report that the family influenced their decision to enter treatment. You can, as a parent, influence your child to live a healthier lifestyle. You can motivate your child to let go of or lessen their use of drugs or alcohol.
CRAFT views families as a crucial piece of the puzzle when it comes to treatment and recovery.
Those of us who have experienced substance use with our kids know that families need help.
Parents are stressed, anxious, and filled with fear.
CRAFT can help families communicate better, learn new ways to behave and solve problems. One of the key factors is that timing is crucial when approaching your child to discuss their substance use issues.
According to Bob Meyers, every person has a choice. It starts with The Three Thing Rule:
Parents so often want to know those words or actions that they can do that will fix the problem. It is important to remember that getting help for your child is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Every small step in a positive direction makes a difference.
When our kids act out because of their use we often respond with hurt, anger, and frustration. It can be exhausting as time goes on.
When you communicate in a more positive way, the conversations can change. They become less exhausting and more fruitful.
It is so important to ask for help when you are struggling with your child’s substance use. When you work together, you feel less alone and you have more options for solutions.
Have patience. Every small step makes a difference. Your child will not change overnight. Remind yourself that change takes time. Keep trying and you will begin to see changes in a positive direction.
There are a number of studies that demonstrated the value of CRAFT. One example is the CRAFT Randomize Drug Study, Meyers, Miller, Smith & Tonigan (2002). This study showed that after only six sessions, the treatment engagement was 59% for those in a CRAFT approach, 77% for those with a CRAFT approach + aftercare [combined 67%] and Al-Nar/FT was a 29%.
53% of the concerned significant others were parents. CRAFT by far was the leader in getting a person into treatment.
On a side note, Al-Anon’s goal is not to get a loved one into treatment. It can be a helpful program for family members who want support.
An unmotivated, resistant problem drinker or drug user can become engaged in treatment with the help of a CRAFT trained parent.
One example is a mom, Debbie, who was very concerned about her child’s marijuana use. Her feelings were very negative to the point of her wanting to kick her son out of the house. After learning more about CRAFT, Debbie remembered some of her son’s positive qualities. He was willing to do chores, help around the house and was kind to his little brother or sister.
Debbie built on her son’s positive qualities using reinforcement. She also used some of the other CRAFT communication skills. She became much more supportive in her approach to her son. Debbie started to see encouraging changes. She had better conversations with her son, spending time listening, as well as giving information.
There is no quick fix when it comes to substance use. You do need to be willing to work with the CRAFT techniques. You may not get it right the first time. Yet, it is worth it to keep trying.
Look for those windows of opportunity. You will feel better and see a positive difference in your loved one.
CRAFT gives parents and families tools that they can use themselves. It helps communication within the family and makes for a better future for all involved.
It will help you as a parent feel more calm and happier because now you have tools that you can use.
If you are interested in learning more about CRAFT check out:
Over to you. Do you think CRAFT would be an approach that would help your family? What support do you need as a parent? Let us know in comments.
If Addiction Is a Disease, Why Is Relapsing a Crime? (via @nytimes) https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/opinion/addiction-relapse-prosecutions.html?rref=collection/sectioncollection/opinion&action=click&contentCollection=opinion®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront …
The ASAM Review Course in Addiction Medicine is widely recognized as the essential primer for physicians taking the board certification exam and clinicians preparing for a career in addiction medicine. Register before June 11 to save up to $200!
"ASAM’s strategic collaboration with @Cigna does an invaluable service to addiction practices by demonstrating the real-world application of performance measures, which aim to improve an addiction patient’s health..." - Margaret Jarvis, MD, DFASAM Read: https://medicalresearch.com/pain-research/cigna-creates-online-initiative-to-drive-patient-provider-conversations-regarding-pain-and-opioid-prescriptions/41976/ … pic.twitter.com/XeiynFvSji
ASAM is a proud partner organization of @PCSSProjects! You can be part of a national effort to address the #opioid healthcare crisis by getting the training you need to treat your OUD patients. #PCSS #10ReasonsWhy http://www.pcssnow.org pic.twitter.com/JTfrOgrwpl
Find out if you are eligible to sit for the upcoming ABPM Addiction Medicine exam through ABPM's "Am I Eligible?" online tool: https://www.theabpm.org/am-i-eligible/ pic.twitter.com/84X7WsjBZT
The US Supreme Court recently struck down a federal law that banned sports betting and advocates are concerned this will lead to an increase in gambling #addiction. It is likely several states will begin regulating sports #betting by the end of the year. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2018/05/14/sports-betting-rise-gambling-addiction/608989002/ …
As nearly 1 in 5 of Americans suffering from a diagnosable mental illness in any given year, no one is untouched. On the other hand, mental illness is spoken in whispers, even within families, masking the impact & facilitating stigma and discrimination https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/messages/2018/how-aware-are-we-really-about-mental-illness.shtml …
Please watch this moving story of the impact of Alcohol and Other Drugs on our community, and help us establish a Multicultural AOD Support Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irieI__RIg4&t=1s … @VAADAENEWS @AlcoholDrugFdn
Most Popular: Pharmacotherapy of Binge-Eating Disorder: A Review http://dlvr.it/QVLqq2
NACCHO Aboriginal Health #AFL @AlcoholDrugFdn #NRW2018 #WorldNoTobaccoDay launch @senbmckenzie Minister for Sport & Rural Health supports Redtails Pinktails #SayNoMore # Drugs, #Smoking and #FamilyViolence #SayYesTo #Education #employment #family https://nacchocommunique.com/2018/05/28/naccho-aboriginal-health-afl-alcoholdrugfdn-nrw2018-worldnotobaccoday-senator-bridget-mckenzie-minister-for-sport-and-rural-health-supports-redtails-pinktails-saynomore-drugs-smoking-and-fam/ … pic.twitter.com/C5pLOeb3E1
Prescription Medication Obtainment Methods and Misuse. Read: https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/Abstract/2015/07000/Prescription_Medication_Obtainment_Methods_and.5.aspx … pic.twitter.com/TBzcKiVZOt
Thank you, Cathy. I am in recovery myself. I ended up getting sober pretty young, 54 days before my 21st birthday ironically. That took me on a path of my awakening, my journey toward reconnecting with myself.
I’ve been working in the addiction treatment field for a decade, offering spiritual care. For me, it is a perfect blending of the spiritual path that I’ve experienced. I also use those principles and methods to help people break their addictive cycle. The answer is at some point I knew it was my calling to help other people because of my transformation.
You’re touching on the fundamental part of conscious recovery. That is I look at drug or alcohol use not as a problem, but as a solution or a strategy to something that feels broken within. In my own life that was what I was experiencing so much disconnection.
I remember when I was a young child and being so open-hearted, so in awe of the world, so connected with myself and others. Then around the age of seven, I remember a sense of closing off, shutting down, like I was building a wall around my heart.
I walked around that way from seven until 13 or 14 when I discovered drugs and alcohol. It helped me at the time. It helped bring some relief that helped allow me to feel kind of comfortable in my own skin.
The issue, of course, is that it’s not a long-term solution. It was a very short-term solution. Then it started causing problems in my life. So that’s the reason that I view addiction through the lens of a solution.
For one thing, it’s much more empowering if someone can get to the place where they recognize, wow, alcohol or drugs is something that did work for a period of time, but now it isn’t serving me so well. That is more empowering. We can start to ask the question if it’s not working so well, what are some of our other options?
There’s a lot of focus in the addiction treatment and recovery world on looking for what’s broken. I come in with a slightly different approach. That is the spiritual approach. Rather than looking at what’s broken, can we find that spiritual wholeness that’s underneath?
A lot of times what’s driving addictive behavior is unresolved trauma. There is a sense of spiritual disconnection, and shame. Some of the modalities of treatment end up adding more shame because we’re looking at the person as broken in some way.
I don’t intend conscious recovery to be a stand on its own method. It is something that can help people add to whatever they’re already doing. I recognize there is a physical aspect of addiction and recovery, as well as a mental and emotional.
I’m offering this other possibility here. The reason that I wrote that in the book is because I have worked with so many people, especially younger people that don’t want to identify. They don’t want to label themselves as an addict and alcoholic. They feel labeling themselves brings more shame. We can look at it more through the lens of, it was a strategy that’s no longer working.
This allows the person to have more power. It’s a different approach of not viewing ourselves as powerless. What happens when we start to embrace our power? What happens when we look at the addiction as kind of a low-level search for connection or love?
We can recognize that alcohol and drugs are not serving the person. If they can get to that for themselves, then we can start to look at what it would take to break free from looking outside of ourselves for a solution.
Absolutely. It helps to look at a broader definition of trauma. We tend to think of it as something like the loss of a parent or being in a car accident or physical or sexual abuse. And that, of course, that is trauma.
There’s also a broader definition. Do we come into this world as what I call a spiritual being? Young, young children are still very in touch with their emotions. They’re very present. They still can feel very deeply and allow that to pass through them.
We get taught things that are counter to our spiritual wholeness. This could include competition, scarcity, or not feeling good enough. Don Miguel Ruiz, in his book, The Four Agreements called those events the domestication of the human. I love that because when we domesticate a horse, we call it breaking them or breaking their spirit.
What we know about trauma is that it gets locked in the body. For young people especially, they don’t always have the tools or the support to be able to have an authentic place to share how their experience impacted them. What ends up happening, is there’s a fight or flight response. There’s also a freeze response.
I find that one actually to be so common, especially in younger people, not knowing what to do with the trauma. It ends up getting buried and internalized. As a young person, they end up taking on an identity that there must be something wrong with them.
Often a young person will blame themselves for the trauma. We hear over and over again that there are children and young people who believe it’s their fault their parents got divorced. They might then bring about a sense of brokenness or shame.
Those who are walking around with that kind of shame, that kind of disconnection, ultimately are going to try to find something to bring relief. As we work through the trauma, we create a safe space for authentic sharing. We can begin to dislodge that and then not need some external experience to bring relief.
What happens so often is what’s driving the addictive behavior is the disconnection, the trauma, and the shame. What we know about shame is that it thrives in silence and secrecy. A lot of times parents may not want to re-experience those feelings themselves. There’s an idea, well, you know, she seems better.
He seems like he’s worked through it. Why would I bring it up? Why would I re-traumatize? The number one thing is a safe container, a place for your child to be able to be authentic. If it’s a counselor, if it’s a support group, ultimately the way we work with shame is we create a safe space to begin to talk about what the person who has an addiction is experiencing.
That may or may not be the parent. Sometimes it’s about recognizing that as a parent. Maybe you’re not the person that’s going to be able to reach your young person at this point.
Bring in support. Bring in a counselor that the young person can trust. I remember in my own life; when I was in my addiction from age 13 to 20, I wasn’t very open to talking with my parents.
I did have some people in my life that I trusted. I was able to open up to them. One helpful tip would be to bring in some support for the young person. Bring in someone they can relate to. The key here is for them to have a safe place to open up and be able to process what’s happened.
TJ Woodward is a revolutionary recovery specialist, bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and awakening coach who has helped countless people through his simple, yet powerful teachings. He has offered spiritual care at top-tier, high-end treatment programs for over a decade and has created full-scale spiritual care programs at several treatment facilities.
TJ is the creator of The Conscious Recovery MethodTM, which is a groundbreaking and effective approach to viewing and treating addiction. He also serves as the senior minister and spiritual director of Agape Bay Area in Oakland, which is the first satellite community of The Agape International Spiritual Center in LA.
TJ published his first book, Conscious BEING: Awakening to Your True Nature in 2015, and his second book, Conscious Recovery: A Fresh Perspective on Addiction was released in December of 2017. Additionally, he is the creator and host of the Awakened Living TV and Awakened Living Radio shows. Learn more about TJ at www.tjwoodward.com.
Image by John Westrock
Remember, start with your feelings, show understanding and love, and be clear about the circumstances under which you would be open to being together or discussing the problem. ~ Robert J. Meyers, Ph.D.
Robert Meyers, Ph.D. is the author of Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening.
He developed the Community Reinforcement and Family Training or CRAFT approach. He continues to do workshops sharing his evidence-based approach that helps families get their loved one into treatment.
I had the honor of attending one of his trainings in Boise a few years back.
It is clear there are powerful reasons for families to get help for themselves.
Often substance users report that the family influenced their decision to enter treatment. You can, as a parent, influence your child to live a healthier lifestyle. You can motivate your child to let go of or lessen their use of drugs or alcohol.
CRAFT views families as a crucial piece of the puzzle when it comes to treatment and recovery.
Those of us who have experienced substance use with our kids know that families need help.
Parents are stressed, anxious, and filled with fear.
CRAFT can help families communicate better, learn new ways to behave and solve problems. One of the key factors is that timing is crucial when approaching your child to discuss their substance use issues.
According to Bob Meyers, every person has a choice. It starts with The Three Thing Rule:
Parents so often want to know those words or actions that they can do that will fix the problem. It is important to remember that getting help for your child is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Every small step in a positive direction makes a difference.
When our kids act out because of their use we often respond with hurt, anger, and frustration. It can be exhausting as time goes on.
When you communicate in a more positive way, the conversations can change. They become less exhausting and more fruitful.
It is so important to ask for help when you are struggling with your child’s substance use. When you work together, you feel less alone and you have more options for solutions.
Have patience. Every small step makes a difference. Your child will not change overnight. Remind yourself that change takes time. Keep trying and you will begin to see changes in a positive direction.
There are a number of studies that demonstrated the value of CRAFT. One example is the CRAFT Randomize Drug Study, Meyers, Miller, Smith & Tonigan (2002). This study showed that after only six sessions, the treatment engagement was 59% for those in a CRAFT approach, 77% for those with a CRAFT approach + aftercare [combined 67%] and Al-Nar/FT was a 29%.
53% of the concerned significant others were parents. CRAFT by far was the leader in getting a person into treatment.
On a side note, Al-Anon’s goal is not to get a loved one into treatment. It can be a helpful program for family members who want support.
An unmotivated, resistant problem drinker or drug user can become engaged in treatment with the help of a CRAFT trained parent.
One example is a mom, Debbie, who was very concerned about her child’s marijuana use. Her feelings were very negative to the point of her wanting to kick her son out of the house. After learning more about CRAFT, Debbie remembered some of her son’s positive qualities. He was willing to do chores, help around the house and was kind to his little brother or sister.
Debbie built on her son’s positive qualities using reinforcement. She also used some of the other CRAFT communication skills. She became much more supportive in her approach to her son. Debbie started to see encouraging changes. She had better conversations with her son, spending time listening, as well as giving information.
There is no quick fix when it comes to substance use. You do need to be willing to work with the CRAFT techniques. You may not get it right the first time. Yet, it is worth it to keep trying.
Look for those windows of opportunity. You will feel better and see a positive difference in your loved one.
CRAFT gives parents and families tools that they can use themselves. It helps communication within the family and makes for a better future for all involved.
It will help you as a parent feel more calm and happier because now you have tools that you can use.
If you are interested in learning more about CRAFT check out:
Over to you. Do you think CRAFT would be an approach that would help your family? What support do you need as a parent? Let us know in comments.
A Review of Alprazolam Use, Misuse, and Withdrawal. Read: https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/Abstract/2018/02000/A_Review_of_Alprazolam_Use,_Misuse,_and_Withdrawal.2.aspx … pic.twitter.com/JtbFplN69E
Our CEO Dr Erin Lalor at Palmerston Recreation Centre this morning announcing 92 new Local Drug Action Teams (LDATs) with @senbmckenzie Great to hear about the work the new Northern Territory LDATs are set to focus on @PalmerstonNT pic.twitter.com/D6OwSaq1N4
The Australian Government and the ADF are excited to welcome an additional 92 Local Drug Action Teams, in to the LDAT program! Find out more about the program and where teams are located below. https://community.adf.org.au/join-program/local-drug-action-team-program-overview/ …
In Palmerston w @CountryLibs Kathy Ganley to announce 92 Local Drug Action Teams across Aus building partnerships to prevent and minimise harm of ice alcohol & illicit drugs use by our youth w local action plans #ruralhealth #makeadifference pic.twitter.com/TxeHdXsCXn
Learn how to address alcohol use disorder, the forgotten epidemic, and earn 1.5 CME in the process. Improve your clinical care and scientific understanding. https://elearning.asam.org/products/unhealthy-alcohol-use-update-on-the-forgotten-epidemic-15-cme … pic.twitter.com/i72l7kzloV
Thank you, Cathy. I am in recovery myself. I ended up getting sober pretty young, 54 days before my 21st birthday ironically. That took me on a path of my awakening, my journey toward reconnecting with myself.
I’ve been working in the addiction treatment field for a decade, offering spiritual care. For me, it is a perfect blending of the spiritual path that I’ve experienced. I also use those principles and methods to help people break their addictive cycle. The answer is at some point I knew it was my calling to help other people because of my transformation.
You’re touching on the fundamental part of conscious recovery. That is I look at drug or alcohol use not as a problem, but as a solution or a strategy to something that feels broken within. In my own life that was what I was experiencing so much disconnection.
I remember when I was a young child and being so open-hearted, so in awe of the world, so connected with myself and others. Then around the age of seven, I remember a sense of closing off, shutting down, like I was building a wall around my heart.
I walked around that way from seven until 13 or 14 when I discovered drugs and alcohol. It helped me at the time. It helped bring some relief that helped allow me to feel kind of comfortable in my own skin.
The issue, of course, is that it’s not a long-term solution. It was a very short-term solution. Then it started causing problems in my life. So that’s the reason that I view addiction through the lens of a solution.
For one thing, it’s much more empowering if someone can get to the place where they recognize, wow, alcohol or drugs is something that did work for a period of time, but now it isn’t serving me so well. That is more empowering. We can start to ask the question if it’s not working so well, what are some of our other options?
There’s a lot of focus in the addiction treatment and recovery world on looking for what’s broken. I come in with a slightly different approach. That is the spiritual approach. Rather than looking at what’s broken, can we find that spiritual wholeness that’s underneath?
A lot of times what’s driving addictive behavior is unresolved trauma. There is a sense of spiritual disconnection, and shame. Some of the modalities of treatment end up adding more shame because we’re looking at the person as broken in some way.
I don’t intend conscious recovery to be a stand on its own method. It is something that can help people add to whatever they’re already doing. I recognize there is a physical aspect of addiction and recovery, as well as a mental and emotional.
I’m offering this other possibility here. The reason that I wrote that in the book is because I have worked with so many people, especially younger people that don’t want to identify. They don’t want to label themselves as an addict and alcoholic. They feel labeling themselves brings more shame. We can look at it more through the lens of, it was a strategy that’s no longer working.
This allows the person to have more power. It’s a different approach of not viewing ourselves as powerless. What happens when we start to embrace our power? What happens when we look at the addiction as kind of a low-level search for connection or love?
We can recognize that alcohol and drugs are not serving the person. If they can get to that for themselves, then we can start to look at what it would take to break free from looking outside of ourselves for a solution.
Absolutely. It helps to look at a broader definition of trauma. We tend to think of it as something like the loss of a parent or being in a car accident or physical or sexual abuse. And that, of course, that is trauma.
There’s also a broader definition. Do we come into this world as what I call a spiritual being? Young, young children are still very in touch with their emotions. They’re very present. They still can feel very deeply and allow that to pass through them.
We get taught things that are counter to our spiritual wholeness. This could include competition, scarcity, or not feeling good enough. Don Miguel Ruiz, in his book, The Four Agreements called those events the domestication of the human. I love that because when we domesticate a horse, we call it breaking them or breaking their spirit.
What we know about trauma is that it gets locked in the body. For young people especially, they don’t always have the tools or the support to be able to have an authentic place to share how their experience impacted them. What ends up happening, is there’s a fight or flight response. There’s also a freeze response.
I find that one actually to be so common, especially in younger people, not knowing what to do with the trauma. It ends up getting buried and internalized. As a young person, they end up taking on an identity that there must be something wrong with them.
Often a young person will blame themselves for the trauma. We hear over and over again that there are children and young people who believe it’s their fault their parents got divorced. They might then bring about a sense of brokenness or shame.
Those who are walking around with that kind of shame, that kind of disconnection, ultimately are going to try to find something to bring relief. As we work through the trauma, we create a safe space for authentic sharing. We can begin to dislodge that and then not need some external experience to bring relief.
What happens so often is what’s driving the addictive behavior is the disconnection, the trauma, and the shame. What we know about shame is that it thrives in silence and secrecy. A lot of times parents may not want to re-experience those feelings themselves. There’s an idea, well, you know, she seems better.
He seems like he’s worked through it. Why would I bring it up? Why would I re-traumatize? The number one thing is a safe container, a place for your child to be able to be authentic. If it’s a counselor, if it’s a support group, ultimately the way we work with shame is we create a safe space to begin to talk about what the person who has an addiction is experiencing.
That may or may not be the parent. Sometimes it’s about recognizing that as a parent. Maybe you’re not the person that’s going to be able to reach your young person at this point.
Bring in support. Bring in a counselor that the young person can trust. I remember in my own life; when I was in my addiction from age 13 to 20, I wasn’t very open to talking with my parents.
I did have some people in my life that I trusted. I was able to open up to them. One helpful tip would be to bring in some support for the young person. Bring in someone they can relate to. The key here is for them to have a safe place to open up and be able to process what’s happened.
TJ Woodward is a revolutionary recovery specialist, bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and awakening coach who has helped countless people through his simple, yet powerful teachings. He has offered spiritual care at top-tier, high-end treatment programs for over a decade and has created full-scale spiritual care programs at several treatment facilities.
TJ is the creator of The Conscious Recovery MethodTM, which is a groundbreaking and effective approach to viewing and treating addiction. He also serves as the senior minister and spiritual director of Agape Bay Area in Oakland, which is the first satellite community of The Agape International Spiritual Center in LA.
TJ published his first book, Conscious BEING: Awakening to Your True Nature in 2015, and his second book, Conscious Recovery: A Fresh Perspective on Addiction was released in December of 2017. Additionally, he is the creator and host of the Awakened Living TV and Awakened Living Radio shows. Learn more about TJ at www.tjwoodward.com.
Image by John Westrock
