Today’s front page of the Chicago Tribune features ” Mom. Business Woman. Alcoholic.” This article showcases the disease of alcoholism and how it is a destructive and potentially deadly force for those afflicted, at any age.  The article chronicled the life of a 39 year old professional mother whose substance abuse actually began when she was on maternity leave.  It gave light to the problem beginning harmlessly enough as a way to relax after a stressful day.

The piece also shows the dramatic rise in drinking among women, as the approximate percentage of those seeking help is nearing equality with that of males.  In the story, “Heather,” a 39 year old mother and alcoholic, eventually entered a treatment center through a pseudo-intervention.  The story had a happy ending, as she had just celebrated one continuous year of sobriety.  However, in reality, Heather’s story is just beginning as this is a lifetime journey of recovery.

As we believe strongly at LSA, this would still be an excellent time to form a Recovery Care Coaching relationship with a LifeSkills Authorities coach.  The issues of time management, re-acclamation to a successful working environment, work-life balance, entertaining clients, and overall stress management are issues that someone such as Heather entering her second year of recovery could likely find helpful.

Click here to read the full article.

Post by Sarah Wilde

A recent report from CNN London discusses the possibility of a cocaine vaccine tested by researchers at Yale School of Medicine.  The vaccine essentially makes people produce antibodies to cocaine, with the theory being that high levels of anti-cocaine antibodies can inactivate cocaine before it enters the brain.   This inactivation would in turn prevent the vaccinated cocaine users from getting high.

This may sound like a good idea but hardly practical.  The thought is that this cocaine vaccine takes away the high effects of the cocaine, making it less desirable for the user … so much so that they will eventually kick the habit.  A vaccine may take away the drug but unfortunately there is no such quick fix for the rest of the life of the addicted individual.

Even more disturbing part are these two comments

1) There is also a risk that some patients will increase their intake of cocaine to overcome the antibody effect, and

2) the thought that it usually takes about two years for addicts to become drug-free, and that patients would have to be vaccinated every three months for that period to maintain antibody levels.

Again, hardly a fix in our opinion and we believe that an entire lifestyle change – beyond just abstinence – is necessary for long-term sobriety and the opportunity for a drastically improved quality of life.

To read the article from CNN click here.

DJ AM, aka Adam Goldstein, struggled for over a decade with recovery from addiction.   Following 11 years of sobriety, he died in August at age 36 of an accidental drug overdose.

As a testament to the incredibly difficult road recovery can be, DJ AM worked with MTV on a series called “Gone Too Far” to help young addicts in their own quest for sobriety.    It was during his last few months of life that filming of this 8-episode documentary took place.   MTV released that they’ve obtained the consent and support of AM’s family and the show in fact must go on.   The first episode will air on Monday, October 12 at 10p ET/PT.

According to MTV.com, Goldstein’s family said in a statement. “Adam felt strongly that by doing this series, he could help other addicts who were at a crisis point to get sober. Adam was fully aware that if it were not for his own sobriety, he never would have achieved the level of success and happiness he had found. Helping people in their recovery was a huge part of Adam’s life. It is our hope through airing this show that people will get to see the side of Adam that we knew and loved, not just the celebrity DJ, but the honest and caring person who gave so much of himself to help others. The decision to air the show has been difficult, but we do this with the profound belief that it will inspire others to seek help.”

As an addict himself, AM knew firsthand about the constant attention that recovery takes, the support of others, and the struggles involved along the way.   What we find of immense value to the addicts AM was helping, despite his tragic outcome, was that he took the time and maintained communication with the addicts throughout their treatment programs.   As MTV said, this way he was able to “provide a raw and honest look at their new sobriety.”

LSA is in agreement that early sobriety is a critical time to stay close to the recovering individual.   Recovery Coaching does just that — a long-term program with a multi-faceted approach to changing the entire lifestyle of the individual that goes beyond just sobriety and to a drastically improved quality of life.

We look forward to seeing the show which we hope will honor his work with addicts.  May DJ AM rest in peace.

To read the MTV News story on this subject, click here

According to the NY Post, moviemaker Kevin Smith (of Dogma, Mallrats, Clerks, Chasing Amy fame) is quoted as telling kids “weed is good.”   Apparently his pal Seth Rogen coerced him to pick up the new pot-smoking activity last summer.  While we know he’s not the first in Hollywood to promote drug use, and certainly won’t be the last, we do want to address the idea of “Don’t do the other stuff, but weed is good.”    A common misconception is that marijuana is not as harmful as other drugs, is not addictive, is “natural” or is, as Kevin Smith alludes, useful for overcoming a creative slump.

Don’t do it, kids!   In the end, none of it is good but quite on the contrary to Smith’s statement, marijuana use is not only harmful, but can quickly deteriorate a growing brain.   Marijuana is the most common drug used by adolescents in America today.  Parents need to understand that marijuana use is not something to be taken lightly, and it can definitely create lasting negative effects on the user.   It is also hardly a motivator.  Some short-term effects of the drug include:

• Sleepiness
• Difficulty keeping track of time, impaired or reduced short-term memory
• Reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination
• Paranoia, hallucinations
• Impaired or reduced short-term memory
• Impaired or reduced comprehension
• Altered motivation and cognition, making the acquisition of new information difficult
• Psychological dependence
• Impairments in learning and memory, perception, and judgment – difficulty speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving, and forming concepts
• Intense anxiety or panic attacks

Hollywood is not going to stop promoting recreational drug use anytime soon so it becomes the responsibility of parents and other adults to offset this seemingly glamourous message with the truth about the dangers of any drug use.

More about marijuana can be found here at Linking Human Systems.

To read the Kevin Smith article on NY Post, click here.