You pick up your child and a friend from a party and notice something is off.   Not with your child but with the friend who is sleeping over.  What do you do?   Shrug it off to teenage behavior?   Let them sleep it off and pray your son/daughter finds new friends?   You may think … “it’s not my child, who am I to say anything?”    Well, one thing is certain:  not being their parent may mean you have a bigger impact on this child than you estimated.   You have the power to be a positive influence in this child’s life, as well as the obligation as a parent to protect your own child.

Research shows that kids start using drugs because they think it will help them feel better – especially from stress or depression, fit in, or they just want to take risks.  Spending time with a friend who is using will increase the likelihood that your child will use too.  Statistics show that every day approximately 4,500 Americans under 18 try marijuana for the first time.   Treatment for marijuana is the primary reason children are admitted into treatment programs – more than for all other illicit drugs combined.

Scientific research tells us that addiction is not a matter of will and is actually a disease of the brain.  While not all teenage drug or alcohol use will lead to addiction, there is no certainty over when use may turn to abuse or dependence.   Regardless of full-blown addiction, many negative consequences may develop such as poor grades, loss of interest in athletics or extra-curriculars, problems at home or in relationships, even trouble with the law.

You can make a difference in the life of a child who is using.  Sometimes kids aren’t aware of the harmful and lasting effects that can occur with drug use and need an understanding person to talk to.   Many kids have parents with alcohol or drug problems of their own and alerting the parent isn’t going to help the matter.   As an adult and parent there are resources available to you that will help you learn more about how to help children of substance abusers.  The National Clearinghouse  for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) can help – call 1-800-788-2800 or visit www.health.org.

If you have an open ear with the understanding parent of the child in question, talk with them.   Explain everything you have used to educate yourself on the topic and explain what you know about the harms and consequences of even “recreational” use.   Stay involved and it could be a matter of changing the course of both that child’s life and your own.

Read the entire article here at Hitched.

Michael Plahn, Founder and Program Director of LifeSkills Authorities recently sat down with Jason Seiden, author of Fail Spectacularly! Both Michael and Jason work with others to show how people can truly thrive after experiencing failure.  However, when alcoholism or addiction is holding people back from their true potential it often requires intensive treatment for the addict or alcoholic to thrive from the lows to which their disease brought them.   Sometimes even when that help is available and accessible, objections or obstacles may still exist which prevent the person in need from grabbing that life line and pulling oneself to safety.  LifeSkills Authorities works every day to change the dire realities we’ve come to accept for addiction sufferers.  From intervention to proper placement for care to long-term recovery coaching, Michael talks with Jason about how the LifeSkills Authorities program works to save lives.

Read the entire post here at JasonSeiden.com.

The findings could lead to new methods of early detection and treatment to intervene on at-risk children, according to study leader Ned. H. Kalin, chair of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

“Children with anxious temperaments suffer from extreme shyness, persistent worry and increased bodily responses to stress. It has long been known that these children are at increased risk of developing anxiety, depression and associated substance abuse disorders,” Kalin said in a university news release.

“We believe that young children who have higher activity in these brain regions are more likely to develop anxiety and depression as adolescents and adults, and are also more likely to develop drug and alcohol problems in an attempt to treat their distress,” he said.

The findings, published in the Aug. 12 issue of Nature, suggest it may be possible to prevent children from developing full-blown anxiety.

“My feeling is that the earlier we intervene with children, the more likely they will be able to lead a happy life in which they aren’t as controlled by anxiety and depression. We think we can train vulnerable kids to settle their brains down,” Kalin said.

Excerpts:

“There are more financial stressors today,” said Dr. Barbara Krantz, CEO and medical director of research at Hanley Center, an addiction recovery center in West Palm Beach, Fla., adding that such stress can contribute to alcohol and drug use, both illegal and prescription. From 2007 through 2009, Hanley Center has seen more than a 60 percent increase in the number of patients citing work-related problems as one of the top reasons they are seeking substance addiction help.

In many cases, she added, workers lose their jobs because of substance abuse, but most employers don’t fire them outright over an addiction. “People tell us they lost their jobs because of absenteeism or poor job performance,” she said.

About the alcohol / drug distinction:

Protections for a worker with a substance abuse problem under the nation’s labor laws are not as clear as those for people with disabilities such as blindness or paraplegia.

“The ADA actually treats drug and alcohol abuse somewhat differently,” Chris Kuczynski, an attorney with the EEOC said. “An alcoholic who is currently drinking can be covered, although he or she can be held to the same standards as other workers concerning use of alcohol at the worksite, can be disciplined for violating rules that say employees cannot be working under the influence of alcohol, etc.

“The distinction between drug and alcohol use can be important in some situations, particularly where treatment is concerned. Because persons engaging in the illegal use of drugs aren’t covered and aren’t therefore entitled to reasonable accommodation, an employer doesn’t have to offer them the opportunity to take leave for treatment. On the other hand, because alcoholics who are currently drinking can be individuals with disabilities, reasonable accommodation in the form of time off for treatment may be required.”

If you were a former abuser, an employer can’t hold that against you in most cases.

About getting treatment:

In cases where the employer suspects a worker is high while on the job or that the employee has an abuse problem — and the employee has not owned up to it or asked for help — and the abuse is negatively impacting his or her work duties, the employer can terminate the employee, added Anthony Oncidi, partner and head of the Los Angeles labor and employment law group for Proskauer Rose.

Oncidi’s firm had a financial services client last year with a high-level employee who was repeatedly coming to work under the influence and even going to client meetings drunk. The female employee had been with the firm for five years, but the alcohol problem had surfaced only recently.

“She even went to a conference where she clearly had too much alcohol and embarrassed herself and the company,” he said. “They talked to her about it, but she denied she had a problem. She was fired.”

On the flip side, if an employee needs to take time off to go into a treatment program, the employer typically has to reasonably accommodate the worker, Oncidi said.

Read the entire article here on MSNBC.com.

Read more via Chemical System In Brain Behaves Differently In Cocaine Addicts.

Treatment for substance abuse does not necessarily come cheap.   However, there is no question that the enormous physical and psychological effects of effective treatment can be priceless.  From a monetary standpoint, several studies¹ also indicate the benefits of substance abuse treatment create a far greater benefit to society, including taxpayers and employers, than the associated cost.  A California study found the monetary benefits to society of the direct cost of substance abuse treatment to be a 7:1 benefit to cost ratio (figure 1).   When adding benefits as related to health care costs, the figures jump to a 12:1 benefit-cost ratio.

From a taxpayer standpoint, the study shows ER visits and hospital stays are reduced by more than 35%.   Medical costs overall are reduced by 26%.  In the workplace, employers benefit by reduced absenteeism, reduced tardiness, fewer mistakes, lower on the job injuries, and fewer disagreements with supervisors, by a whopping 75%.   All in all, the cost of substance abuse treatment is far outweighed by the benefits it provides.

Protect Your Investment

When assessing what you are willing to pay for treatment, it is critical you look at both the tangible and intangible costs you are likely to recoup over time.  LifeSkills Authorities wants you to recognize and protect the investment you are making in yourself.  Sure you will likely reduce healthcare and legal costs, reduce the spending on alcohol, maybe even vehicle collisions and insurance.  Think bigger!   With a holistic recovery program the benefits are endless.   Your income is likely to increase due to increased productivity and reduced mistakes, tardiness and disagreements.   Your focus should improve, your clarity, your drive, and your mental acuity should sharpen in recovery.   Remember also your friends, your family, your follow-through and your ability to “show up” for people should grow with a life of recovery.   You will regain credibility, you may even regain your waist line.  These cost benefits are incalculable yet critical when looking at your investment into treatment.   Sure, it may seem like a large “cost” at the outset, but when you look at all you are getting for that expense, it truly is an “investment” in your future, and one that is sure to return significant dividends when the commitment is made to nurture the investment.  The best part is that you are not the only one who benefits from the investment, as recovery has a ripple effect that will positively impact several layers beyond even your smallest circle of family or friends.

If you are holding back because you are not quite sure if the decision to seek treatment is “cost-effective” then the wait should be over before your life is — invest in your future now, while you have one.

¹Source:  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The feeling of sincere gratitude is believed by many in the recovery community to be a strong defense against relapse into alcohol or drug abuse.  An “attitude of gratitude” is coined for someone who has a good sense of what is important in life and the ability to remain grateful for the fundamentals, sometimes as basic as just another day sober.  Being grateful for many little meaningful things over time can be like insurance to overpower the negative impact that could result when life throws a challenging curve ball your way.

Thanks to technology and the iPhone, being grateful just became even easier to prioritize.   With Gratitude! Journal Positive Thoughts, available in the Apple App Store, you can track the five things you’re grateful for daily.   For 99 cents you can keep a running tab on how much you have to be grateful for and boost your mood in the meantime.  This might come in particularly handy on those days when life seems a little tougher.  Oprah Winfrey said it herself, “the gratitude journal truly changed my life.”

Now the next time someone holds the elevator for you, lets you in front of them in traffic, or the coffee you spill misses your lap, fire up that iPhone.  When you wake up with a clear head, take a walk and breathe in fresh air, the sun shines on your day off, or you get to see the smile of someone special, go ahead and make a note of it the instant it happens.  You might be surprised how many little areas of gratitude can add up by the end of the day if you’re tracking them.   Keep adding to the list and make being grateful a priority, because as another saying goes, “a grateful alcoholic doesn’t drink.”

Note:  LifeSkills Authorities is not affiliated in any way with the Gratitude! App or its developers.  We just think it is really cool.

 Exercise may be an effective and nonpharmacologic treatment option for alcohol dependence.

Likewise, according to ScienceDaily, circadian disruptions can also lead to alcohol abuse as well as relapse in abstinent alcoholics.   Circadian rhythms, which refers to the timing of daily rhythms, can be - no surprise - highly disrupted by alcohol abuse.   A new animal study has used hamsters to test for the influence of wheel-running on alcohol intake.  Results indicate that exercise, perhaps through stimulation of brain reward pathways, may be able to reduce alcohol intake in humans. 

“Alcohol abuse, characterized by routine craving for and consumption of alcohol as well as an inability to function normally without it, disrupts both the timing and consolidation of daily circadian rhythms — when to sleep, eat, and mate — driven by the brain circadian clock,” explained J. David Glass, professor of biological sciences at Kent State University and corresponding author for the study. “With continual alcohol use, one may go to bed too early or late, not sleep across the night, and have an unusual eating regime, eating little throughout the day and/or overeating at night. This can lead to a vicious cycle of drinking because these individuals, in response, will consume more alcohol to fall asleep easier only to complain of more disrupted sleep across the night and additionally have a greater craving for alcohol.”

In other words, said Alan M. Rosenwasser, professor of psychology at the University of Maine, chronic alcohol abuse and circadian disruption become reciprocally destructive and result in negative effects on physical and emotional health.  By getting  proper exercise at key points in the day, alcoholics and others alike can improve their circadian regulation to improve their sleep habits and reduce their need for alcohol.  While this does not mean that exercise is the cure for alcoholism, it is further evidence that exercise is important to the regulation of Circadian rhythm, which is why both areas are key components in the LifeSkills Authorities Recovery Coaching programs.   

Results will be published in the September 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.  Read the full article at Science Daily.

Have you used exercise as part of your recovery plan?    Tell us more.

Hospital emergency department visits involving underage drinking nearly double during the Fourth of July Holiday weekend according to a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The study reveals that daily underage drinking-related visits to hospital emergency departments are 87 percent higher during the Fourth of July weekend than they are on an average day in July. The report estimates that on an average day in July, there are 502 hospital emergency department visits involving underage alcohol use. For the three day Fourth of July weekend however, the number of daily hospital emergency department visits jumps to 938.

“Underage drinking is not a harmless right of passage. It has far-reaching consequences. In addition to emergency department visits, injuries, arrests and embarrassment, 5,000 deaths in people under age 21 are linked to alcohol each year,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “Parents are a leading influence in their children’s decision to avoid alcohol.”

That means the tough job of parenting does not end when a child becomes a teenager, or wants to exert his or her own will on their weekend via alcohol consumption.   This study needs to be taken seriously, as it is more than only those who are drinking who become affected by their behavior … particularly when the teenagers get behind the wheel or are around other families.  Furthermore, mixing fireworks and alcohol is a dangerous combination that of course spikes in injuries and sometimes death.   Parents, talk with your children about the dangers of underage drinking and be a trusted resource for them when they want to talk with you about alcohol or drugs.   

If you need help, LifeSkills Authorities consults with parents on how to have the difficult conversations with their children about healthy viewpoints around alcohol.   Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

“The proportion of substance abuse treatment admissions involving older Americans (aged 50 and older) has nearly doubled — from 6.6 percent of all admissions in 1992 to 12.2 percent in 2008. The study, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows a sharp rise during this period in the proportion of older Americans admissions related to illicit drug abuse — even though alcohol abuse is still the leading cause for admissions involving this age group.

Among its more notable findings the SAMHSA study reveals that from 1992 to 2008 the proportion of admissions among this age group due primarily to:

• Heroin abuse more than doubled — from 7.2 percent to 16.0 percent.
• Cocaine abuse quadrupled — from 2.9 percent to 11.4 percent.
• Prescription drug abuse rose from 0.7 percent to 3.5 percent.
• Marijuana abuse increased from 0.6 percent to 2.9 percent.

At the same time admissions primarily related to alcohol abuse decreased from 84.6 percent in 1992 to 59.9 percent in 2008.”

Getting help for parents and grandparents that need it may be as simple as asking them to take part in an assessment about their drinking and drug use.   LifeSkills Authorities can help not only the addicted individual but the entire family.   By providing addiction consulting and qualified addiction intervention services, LifeSkills Authorities will help to create a loving atmosphere in a time of great need and support.   Contact us now to learn more.

Adolescent binge drinking is increasing and causes long-term effects on the brain.  While often considered a problem, it creates more damaging effects than just poor decisions, illegal behavior and regretful exchanges.    According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences, yet another study shows that binge drinking interferes with normal brain activity, in a manner which has lasting effects.   Heavy alcohol consumption over 11 months “dramatically and persistently decreased” cell activity, including the division of a certain type of cells, and significantly altered certain cells, creating a lasting alcohol-induced reduction affecting development.  

The study concludes that the period of adolescence is highly vulnerable to alcohol and that alcohol decreases neural turnover by altering the ongoing process of neuronal development.  The lasting effect was still seen 2 months after discontinuation of alcohol.  This lasting effect, the study says, may underlie the deficits in cognitive tasks that are observed in alcoholics.

The next time your teenager tells you that their drinking is “no big deal,” remind them that it actually is.   Binge alcohol consumption in teenagers means that they are not only getting drunk in the moment but negatively impacting their ability to function in the future.   These kids are in fact reducing hippcampal neurogenesis, which is the process of creating new neurons, and is essential to the growing brain and activities such as learning and memory.    Drinking excessively after this weekend’s football game or for next weekend’s parties and events is setting up impaired memory and reasoning ability for years to come.   Parents do not always seem to understand the long-term ramifications of teenage drinking.   Some parents think it is the easier thing to cave into their teens desire to drink, and others choose not to know or ask too many questions.  

As a parent it is our job to keep our kids healthy and set them up for a successful future.   Just like sunblock is needed today to prevent cancer tomorrow, intervention on our teenagers drinking is necessary today to prevent dramatic effects to their growing brains tomorrow.   If you need help, LifeSkills Authorities provides consultation to families and schools on how to speak with your kids about alcohol and its consequences.  Contact us now so that we can help you educate your family and children before they’ve set unhealthy patterns that are more difficult to break.

Full study available here.    Have you discovered a helpful way to teach your children about the harmful effects of alcohol?   Share with our community – post your comments here.

This is the second installment of a six-part series to describe what I believe is the key to health and happiness as I have learned and personally experienced.  It is doubtful that each of these areas will be controversial, and when followed, the changes that I will suggest have proven without fail to help every one of my clients, when they take the suggested actions.  In just six installments, you may have the answer to achieve optimal health just by reading the LifeSkills Authorities Blog. With the goal to help identify the keys to optimal health for my own life and clients, I have read books, attended classes, acquired certifications, and listened to lectures by amazing individuals.  What I have learned through countless hours of studying, learning, and experimenting, can be summarized in a simple acronym: “To Be Healthy Never Eat Carrots.”  That’s it you ask?   Here’s what the acronym TBHNEC actually stands for:

• Thoughts
• Breathing
• Hydration
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Circadian Rhythm

Today the topic is exercise.  This is a monster topic and I am asked about this area by virtually everyone who hears that I have worked in and have extensive training in the fitness profession.  The typical question that I am asked is, “what should I do for a workout or exercise routine?”  For any of you who are trained in personal training, kinesiology, physical therapy, corrective exercise, or holistic lifestyle coaching, you know that this is a very complex question.  The answer requires complex and comprehensive assessments with the programs being different for most people.

First, in my opinion, based on my experience, exercise is not necessarily about lifting the most, working the hardest, perspiring the most, and feeling as though you have “really worked hard.”  Those who are properly trained or educated know that exercise is a stress to the body.  Some may view it as a “good stress” as I have heard it called, but is this really true?  Well, it could be from one perspective.  However, it is essential to realize that exercise is a stressor to the body.

Big deal, what does that mean?  It means that you need proper rest, nutrients, hydration, as well as proper healing time to compensate for the stress you put on your body as a result of exercise.  Thus, if you are not eating properly, sleep poorly, have relationship and career problems, and your posture is putting a constant strain on your system, and you ask me “what type of workouts should I do,” then after a series of assessments, the type of exercise I would likely recommend for you would be vastly different than if you have proper hydration, nutrition, sleep, relaxation, and your musculoskeletal system was in balance.  It just makes sense when you look at it at this basic level, doesn’t it?

Just walking for 20-30 minutes outside at a leisurely pace may be plenty or even too much exercise for many people.  It depends on a variety of factors, some of which I just mentioned.  As you can likely guess, to properly answer the common question of “what should I do for my workouts” depends not just on the individual’s goals, but also on the numerous factors that must be assessed to recommend the proper exercise routine.  I have found tremendous success personally and with my willing clientele if there is a willingness to look at the entire lifestyle and be open to making minor tweaks or maybe major changes in different areas.  This holistic view of health is where I have seen true lasting positive changes not just in fitness levels, fat and weight loss, but also in health, the way the body looks, and how we feel physically and emotionally.

One of the worst things a so-called “fitness professional” can do is prescribe or write a fitness program for someone without knowing salient details about the person’s life.  We are a culture of impatient, out-of-shape people who want dramatic change…and we want it now!  We are also a people who believe in excess.  Put all this together and you have millions of Americans with the good intentions of getting “healthy or in-shape,” who are struggling.  They are failing to meet their goals, frustrated, starting to believe they cannot change, maybe even getting depressed as a result, and then finding dysfunctional ways to deal with all these negative results.

People join gyms, buy quick fix products off of late-night television or at the local sporting goods store, and buy one of the hundreds of fitness magazines sold, to find the newest “sure-to-work” or  “customized” exercise routine.  You know what I have seen as a result of this?  People who join those gyms may stop going after a month or two.  Many who do exercise and use the plans they cut out of fitness magazines or implement tips they see on television, get poor results or short-lasting gains.  Some individuals make short-term progress, but cannot seem to stay on course to attain their goals for the long-term.  Many people hire well-meaning personal trainers.  Unfortunately, many of these trainers do not have the proper level of experience to understand how to look at the entire person and their lifestyle.  Subsequently, instead of partnering up with someone with the proper education and clinical experience, they write improper fitness routines for their excited new clients.  This leads to injury, incomplete results, decreased self-esteem, and potentially life-threatening recommendations.   Why are these the common patterns?

People spend billions of dollars on poorly designed, but brilliantly marketed, fitness equipment with claims that it will change your body (and seem to imply your life) in six weeks.  In no time, that equipment packs second hand stores and garage sales if it is not at the local dump.  But, you know what?  The fitness industry is getting bigger and more profitable by the day while our country is getting fatter, more discouraged, and more sedentary at the same time.

This does NOT have to happen to you.  If you believe that you are financially unable to engage with a competent qualified professional, but have the sincere, desire to change, then ask them for help.  You may be surprised to find that those who are the best at what they do in the fitness business, have a sincere desire to help others and will likely find a way to help you improve your life in some way.

To summarize, here is my suggestion to you.  Hire a qualified competent professional who understands how to look at your entire lifestyle to help you take the actions that will produce lasting change.  Interview them before you hire them.  If they don’t ask about your entire life and lifestyle thoroughly, and take detailed assessments, or partner with individuals who can do the proper assessments, then do not hire them.  If you do not have the money, ask yourself the hard question, “How much is your life really worth to you?”  Then see if you have the money to invest in yourself.  You may suddenly find that it’s pouring outside and its time to use that “rainy day fund.”

This is the first installment of a six-part series to describe what I believe is the key to health and happiness as I have learned and personally experienced.  It is doubtful that each of these areas will be controversial, and when followed, the changes that I will suggest have proven without fail to help every one of my clients, when they take the suggested actions.  In just six installments, you may have the answer to achieve optimal health just by reading the LifeSkills Authorities Blog. With the goal to help identify the keys to optimal health for my own life and clients, I have read books, attended classes, acquired certifications, and listened to lectures by amazing individuals.  What I have learned through countless hours of studying, learning, and experimenting, can be summarized in a simple acronym: “To Be Healthy Never Eat Carrots.”  That’s it you ask?   Here’s what the acronym TBHNEC actually stands for:

• Thoughts
• Breathing
• Hydration
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Circadian Rhythms

It is not about having a rigid stance of boycotting that beautiful orange produce…far from it.  I’ll start explaining The Big Six, as I call them, with the last one first, Circadian Rhythms.  Since this one can be extremely complicated, I will focus on one system of the body under this topic.  Basically, it means sleep patterns.  I promise you, it is important not just how much total sleep you get each night.  There are other areas that are crucial to achieve success in this area.  Ask yourself, not just how much sleep you get regularly (by the way I have heard experts say that their studies show that we need between 8.5-10.5 hours every night!), but all of the following questions:

• Is your sleep continuous or do you wake up throughout the night?
• What time did you go to sleep? (studies suggest optimum is near sundown)
• What time did you wake up? (studies suggest optimum is near sunrise)

I work with two groups of people on these questions:  1) Busy executives who are highly stressed and have poor stress management strategies, or who travel extensively. 2) People not feeling well or whose health has begun to suffer and their physician has told them they need to get more sleep and take better care of themselves.  The reason it is only these two groups is because this is a very difficult area to effectuate change in people.  I have much more success with nutrition, exercise and the other areas in the Big 6, but nobody wants to go to bed early it seems.  I am not entirely certain why this is, but my suspicion is that people are so over-stimulated and attempt to pack so much into their lives, personally and professionally, that they simply cannot afford to “waste” valuable hours sleeping. There are some  techniques that fall into what is called “sleep hygiene” that can make a tremendous difference to help some people fall asleep and stay asleep.  Sleep hygeine can be described as the actions, habits, or predictable things people do to tell their bodies that it is time to prepare to sleep.  Experts suggest to turn off lights, the computer, and the television an hour before it is time to sleep, otherwise the body will release stress hormones that actually trigger you to stay awake. As someone who spent most of his life using the television to put me to sleep, I chuckled at how impractical this idea from the supposed experts was because I did not want to live my life like this.  I didn’t want to waste my life going to bed at 8PM!  The suggestion of having a predictable routine was fine, but doing this right about sundown (or as soon after as possible) again sounded nice, but maybe in my elder years.  I mean this is absurd, right?  Who is going to do this?  You know who will be compliant to suggestions like these?  People who are completely unable to sleep without strong sleeping medication (which still doesn’t completely do the trick), those who are sick, and those who are just miserable and atribute part of it to poor sleep.  Those are the people who are willing to take such suggestions. My suggestion to you is the same I would give any of my clients, use balance to guide you.  It is unrealistic to go from a bedtime of 1AM to sometime near sundown in a week or two.  And, this may not be necessary at all.  A good suggestion is to try 15 minutes earlier every week, keep the TV off in the bedroom (use your BR for two things, sleeping and the other “s” word), and try to develop some predictable patterns like brushing your teeth and then washing your face thirty minutes prior to climbing into bed.  The key is to make sure that the changes you implement are realistic and they work for your life.  Just because a supposed expert recommends something doesn’t necessarily mean that I would recommend it for you.  If you are happy, healthy, and your lack of sleep is not a big deal to you, then keep doing what you are doing.  It is none of mine or anyone else’s business to tell you to change just because the experts have spoken.  It is simple: if it is not broken, no need to fix it.   Yet, if you think your approach to sleep may need some work then maybe try some of the strategies I suggested. Have you tried sleep hygeine or can you provide personal experience on this topic?   Give my recommendations a shot and let us know how they worked for you.   As always, we love to hear from you so please comment. Next, I will tackle the topic of exercise, so make sure you are properly rested.

Post by Michael Plahn

The idea of just saying “NO” to drugs or alcohol when I was going to school became a popular slogan.  The idea Nancy Reagan got behind was, in theory, a noble attempt at dealing with the alarming addiction rate and cocaine epidemic of the early 1980′s.  However, after much more study has taken place, it is a more complicated issue than just saying no to drugs and alcohol, or having strong willpower.  Especially if the addicted person is an adolescent or young adult.

reason is that an area of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex, which regulates judgement, impulse control, and self-monitoring, does not fully develop until the individual is approximately twenty-five years old.  Therefore,it is much different than just a willpower issue or solved by hanging out with a new crowd.  Your teenager or young adult may be virtually handcuffed by their addiction and lack the ability to “just say NO” because the part of their brain that could help them in that cpacity has not been fully developed, or even worse, likely damaged by the alcohol and drug use.

What can be done?  In my opinion, this is definitely a situation that requires professional help.  The addicted young person has likely shown signs of psychiatric issues and may be acting out in a manner that has the family feeling as though “this is not our son/daughter/sibling” … “they have changed.”  Well, they very well may have changed.  As the founder of  LifeSkills Authorities, and someone in recovery myself, I strongly encourage you to seek professional help immediately.  This is not an issue that is likely going to get better by getting them into college and living on their own.  That false hope often leads to more problems and tragedies during the first years of college.  I urge you to get a professional opinion and go into it with an open mind.  Successful treatment is likely going to be a long-term solution, goes beyond a simple intervention or 30-day treatment program, and can be costly.

I have personally sat with countless families who think things will get better and their child will somehow just change.  Don’t be the parents that take that chance with your child’s life.  Addiction is a progressive and terminal disease that requires professional help to treat, particularly when the addict in question is a young adult.  After a tragedy, hindsight may make it painfully obvious to see where the path was leading.    Perhaps it would have been the answer to use the college money you saved for education, and instead pay for the proper long-term professional addiction treatment for your son/daughter.

If you are reading this and can relate to this topic matter or have a personal story to share, please comment and let us hear from you.

Michael Douglas was on the Today show this morning speaking with Matt Lauer about the sentencing of his son, Cameron, for drug charges.    Cameron has spent years suffering the effects of untreated addiction despite numerous attempts at sobriety.    The story is certainly heartbreaking and one that surely hit too close to home for many parents in the same position of having children fall victim to drug abuse.

Matt Lauer asked Michael Douglas what the lesson is that he could offer other parents with a child abusing drugs or alcohol.   Douglas’ response was, “You have to catch it early.  Your options once your children turn eighteen are limited.  Most of the time 30 days ain’t gonna do it.   But see what you can do when they’re under eighteen because after that it has to be all with their permission.”

We couldn’t agree more.   Help is available and we at LifeSkills Authorities encourage parents to help “raise the bottom” for their children by intervening early.   We work with parents to approach their children in a loving way, through an invitational intervention - never with surprises or coercion.   If your child is abusing drugs or alcohol take action now.    A qualified invitational interventionist can help you sort through next steps.

Teenage girls and young adult women are particularly at risk when they abuse drugs and alcohol.   Bad habits stemming from an early age lead to decisions that may impact them for the rest of their lives.  Female drug abuse is a problem in this country that often extends beyond the female user.   Moms abusing drugs affect their children and pregnant women affect the developing fetus.  

Nora D. Volkow, M.D., the Director of National Institute on Drug Abuse says that “research increasingly suggests that women may be more vulnerable than men to particular consequences of drug abuse, including addiction. This greater vulnerability may stem from gender-specific differences in motivations for drug use, differing sensitivities to drug effects, and a host of other biological and environmental factors. And while more research is needed, animal models and clinical studies alike suggest that females may be more vulnerable than males to the rewarding effects of drugs, which could increase their risk for dependence.”

The NIDA also tells us “among the youngest age group (12- to 17-year-olds), males and females had similar rates of current drug use for cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and the nonmedical use of prescription psychotherapeutic drugs in 2007. Moreover, young females surpassed males in current cigarette use in 2006 and in dependence on or abuse of alcohol in 2006 and 2007. This is particularly troubling given that the adolescent brain is still developing, and we are just beginning to understand how drug exposure could affect brain structure, connectivity, and function during this vulnerable time.”

Drug use during pregnancy (including the use of tobacco and alcohol) presents injurious effects on both the mother and fetus.  Females using during pregnancy set up a heightened drug abuse risk for the offspring in adolescence and young adulthood, according to Volkow.  It is scary and sad to learn that in 2006-2007, 5.2 percent of pregnant women aged 15-44 had used an illicit drug in the past month and 16.6 percent were current users of tobacco products.

If you or someone you know is abusing drugs or alcohol it is never too early or late to get someone help.  Both Mother’s Day and Women’s Health Week are approaching in May.   To honor this, tell the women in your life how important their good health is to you, and if they need help do your part to intervene.   If you feel you may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, take the first step toward recovery and ask for help.

Why are we so afraid to fail?  Isn’t it true that the some of the most valuable lessons that we have learned in our lifetimes are gained from the honest feedback and lessons that life give us when we try yet do not get what we want?  A good friend of mine taught me a phrase that I have remembered for years and have passed on to friends and clients alike.  That simple phrase is “maybe God is doing something FOR you and not TO you.”  The difference should be obvious in that the answer lies in our perspectives.  Are we grateful or are we consumed with self-pity?  The unfortunate attitude that I run across as an Addictions Specialist, Life Coach, Executive Coach, Interventionist, Recovery Coach, son, significant other, father, and friend is not one that embraces or even accepts failure well.  In my experience, most people tend to gravitate toward an attitude that life is somehow unfair.

I guess it all depends on your perspective, right? I prefer to look at life and situations that do not go the way I initially would like, as opportunities for something greater.  Maybe something better later?  Maybe this is the way things are really supposed to be?  Don’t get me wrong, I am human and I get discouraged and have all the emotions that any human has from time to time. However, life is always much sweeter when I remember that I don’t know everything, and I certainly do not know how the future is supposed to unfold.  When “she” didn’t want me back, when my father didn’t recover from lung cancer, when my real estate investments didn’t turn into the successes that I had hoped for, and when my personal decisions nearly cost me my life, was I a failure?  In many ways, absolutely.  But I have learned to embrace this so-called failure because I have changed for the better as a result of this “failure.”

I embrace failure because it teaches me valuable lessons that I would not learn if I succeeded with my plan.  It is in the trying and failing that I have grown from a self-centered thirty-something boy into a man who thinks of others (hopefully more and more each day) and can be of service to them.

The real failures and tragedies occur when people succumb to their fears and do nothing.  They take no action. Whether they are of the known or unknown variety is immaterial, fear does and will continue to exist in your life and mine.  The question is, do we have enough faith and courage to walk through the fear and learn from the results (whether they are what we would like or not)?

My hope for you is that you can find the courage to fail today because I want you to continue to grow as a person. It is simple, we are either growing or we are dying.  Its time to get growing!

There is no doubt that along with a job also comes stress.   Yet many people think if they only get to the next level in their career or advance in their current position then life just may become easier.  What people often forget to take into account is the impact their job has on their health.    We are quick to assume that “moving up” will make everything better … more money, less stress at home, better relationships, greater access to rewarding activities and fun.

What often is the case in career advancement though is added pressure and greater demands which lead to less time at home with the family, as well as a negative impact on healthy choices such as nutrition, exercise and hobbies.  In fact, research on job promotions shows that after advancing at work, employees are 20% less likely to visit their doctors for routine physicals or specific health complaints. Furthermore, promoted workers have more time constraints that, coupled with increased mental strain and stress, leads to fewer doctors’ visits and poorer health.   The stress of the new job can impact the entire family.  Now surely there are many positives in career advancement but this is pointing out that making healthy choices often means taking a holistic account of what each choice will impact.  

It is important to keep in front of any potential stress triggers and maintain harmony in life while advancing along the career path.   This is as important for executives as it is for those just entering the work force, or re-entering due to a layoff, birth of a child, or furthering one’s studies.   At LifeSkills Authorities we have coaching modules specifically centered on stress management and attaining – and maintaining – work-life balance.   When advancing in a career, health is often overlooked.  Unless there is some sort of major situation that develops such as depression, substance abuse, heart issues or any host of stress provoked conditions, one may not intervene on their own loss of balance.   Keep in mind though that even if it takes a doctor appointment here and there, or an honest look at time allocation and priorities, it is easier to stay healthy than it is to work back to healthy.

Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal were honored for their work in Crazy Heart, amongst several others at the 14th Annual PRISM Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel Thursday, April 22, 2010. The PRISM Awards, produced by the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and FX, honor actors, movies, music, media and television’s top shows that accurately depict and bring attention to substance abuse and mental health issues.

Crazy Heart received an award for Feature Film Substance Use.  How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy, Breaking Bad, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the film The Soloist are among the other productions that were recognized.

“The PRISM Awards recognizes and applauds the remarkable efforts that have been contributed by our creative community. We salute those in the entertainment industry that promote informational truths in their work to improve the lives of the audiences they entertain,” EIC’s President and CEO, Brian Dyak said. “Through accurate character portrayals and inspired storytelling, our industry reinforces the importance of those individuals within the care giving and health fields.”

Honorees for the PRISM Awards are selected by an 80-person committee of entertainment industry professionals and technical experts from the fields of medicine, mental health, and addiction. 

Did you see the movie Crazy Heart?   Tell us what you thought of it.

Teenage use of illegal drugs is indeed an issue, as more and more teenagers are becoming addicted across the country.   The below map shows the prevalence of illicit drug use in the past month among persons aged 12 to 17, in the U.S. by State.   Percentages and annual averages are based on the 2006 and 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (SAMHSA).   The majority of states show more than 1 in 10 teens using illicit drugs in the past month.  Do you know how your state is affected by teenage drug use?

 States listed here in alphabetical order within each group were divided into five groups based on the magnitude of their percentages. States in the highest group (10.76 to 12.92 percent) were Colorado, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. States in the next highest group (10.10 to 10.75 percent) were Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. States in the mid group (9.59 to 10.09 percent) were California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. States in the next lowest group (8.79 to 9.58 percent) were Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. States in the lowest group (7.15 to 8.78 percent) were Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah.

In this economy, every cent counts.   Have you stopped to think about what your alcohol, smoking or drug habit cost you in terms of money going out the door?   Forget about the time spent seeking a buzz or recovering from a hangover, let’s talk cash.

Take a look at what you’re spending on alcohol each month.   Use this nifty Alcohol-Spending Calculator to find out.

What did you discover about your spending habits?   Is there anything else you’d rather be doing with that money each month?   Let us know, post your comments here.

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to hangovers, health problems, including alcohol poisoning, and an increased risk of heart disease. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, LifeSkills Authorities encourages you to take this time to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of alcohol abuse and dependence. To spread the word, help educate about alcohol abuse and addiction, LifeSkills Authorities is joining other organizations across the country to honor Alcohol Awareness Month to prevent alcohol abuse in our community.

If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting. Keep track of how much you drink, avoid places where overdrinking occurs, and find new ways to deal with stress.  Set a drinking limit and if you keep alcohol in your home, keep only a limited supply.  If these strategies do not prove successful then you should ask for help from a doctor, family, or a qualified and trained addiction professional.  If you are concerned about someone else’s drinking, offer to help.

According to Michael Plahn, Founder and Program Director at LifeSkills Authorities, “make no mistake, addiction is a terminal disease with some disastrous consequences if left untreated. The earlier addiction is confronted, the better the chances of preventing tragic situations and improving the quality of the life of the addicted individual and those of their loved ones.”

It is never too early or late to get someone help.

We often receive inquiries and questions from concerned family members that want to know how they can help a loved one suffering from addiction.   We recently received the following:

We often receive inquiries and questions from concerned family members that want to know how they can help a loved one suffering from addiction.   We recently received the following:

“My sister is 24 and was laid off last year from her first professional job out of college.  She has always been a drinker (our entire family likes to have our share at times), but since her unemployment, I think she may be using hard drugs now as well.   She has become very distant with me, our brother, and our parents.  This is not like her as we have always been a close family.  She lives on the west coast and when I have visited, I heard her friends talk freely about their drug use, but my little sister insisted she wasn’t into drugs (she tried them, but didn’t like them).  She has not worked in almost a year, but is out 4-5 nights every week at clubs in L.A.  What should I do, I feel like I am losing my sister?”

Unemployment is a difficult situation at any age.  Coupled with unhealthy behavior, the situation can quickly go from bad to worse.  I cannot tell you with certainty whether your sister has a problem now, but based on the information you wrote, she is certainly heading down a concerning path.  It can be difficult to discern whether certain behavior is problematic.  However, the fact that her loving big sister took the time to research, and question, her lifestyle is a “red flag” for me. 

Dealing with addiction is not easy.  Most family members or concerned individuals who approach an addicted person without a plan and a trained advocate to help them, realize tremendous frustration and many times accomplish little.  Therefore, I would suggest you do a bit more discovery around the situation and then mobilize with the proper support.   It sounds like her behavior has changed, given that she is no longer as close with her family and remains unemployed.  Are you still in a relationship where you can have a simple talk with your sister and ask her some strategic open-ended questions – and really listen to her answers?  Expressing your concern in a loving and non-confrontational way may be your first step in learning more about your sister’s current lifestyle choices.  

If you feel that has already happened and you are not getting anywhere, and increasingly concerned, then it may be time to contact an experienced interventionist for more information about how best to approach your sister.   At LifeSkills Authorities we often consult with family members like yourself, that simply need help sorting through the questions, and a roadmap for next steps.   We specialize in an invitational intervention model which brings the family together to address the situation in a healthy environment.  An invitational intervention provides an inclusive and loving process that helps the family express concern in a healthy format.  In my experience, this is the most efficacious and healing form of intervention for the addicted individual and all concerned parties.

If you have a question for LifeSkills Authorities, please email us.