Alarming Trend in Teen Drug Use

    If you guessed that marijuana was the Number One drug most often abused by American teens, you’re right.  But, what about the Number Two drug? You may be shocked to discover that it’s not cocaine, or heroin, or methamphetamines—instead, it’s the drugs found in the family medicine cabinet.           

            “Prescription drug abuse is a serious addiction issue for teens and adults,” said Alan Flory, ReDiscover President and CEO.  “Parents need to be aware that some teens experiment with drugs by raiding the medicine cabinet at home, trying prescriptions that belong to other family members.  And, people with addictions may also steal prescription medications—especially pain killers—from medicine cabinets outside their own homes, including from grandparents or neighbors or friends.”

            According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, more teens abuse prescription drugs than any other illicit drug, except marijuana; more than cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine combined. Every day, 2,500 kids age 12 to17 abuse a prescription painkiller for the first time and more people are getting addicted to prescription drugs. Drug treatment admissions for prescription painkillers increased more than 300 percent from 1995 to 2005. 

            Some teens mistakenly believe that abusing prescription drugs is safer and less addictive than abusing street drugs.

            “Teens need to know that prescription drug abuse is every bit as serious as street drug abuse,” said ReDiscover Counselor Angie Lewis. “Medications may be accessible in their own home, but prescription drugs are dangerous and can be lethal when taken by people who were not prescribed to take them.”

            What are some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs?

            Although many prescription drugs can be abused, The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that the three classes of prescription drugs that are most commonly abused are:

• Opioids, which are most often prescribed to treat pain;
  
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders; and
  
• Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  
  “Drug abuse is still drug abuse whether people are using illegal street drugs or abusing prescription medications.“ Lewis said.  “Never use someone else’s prescription or allow a friend to use your medications.  It’s a serious health risk and it is also breaking the law.”
  

            Flory added, “Parents can help protect kids from prescription drug abuse by making some changes at home.  Think about what prescription and over-the-counter drugs you have.  Where are medicines kept? Would you know if some medications were missing?  It’s important to monitor and secure medications in any home. It’s also important to realize that not just teens are at risk—adults and older adults can develop prescription drug addictions.”

            Help is available.  If you suspect that someone you care about is experimenting with drugs or has a drug addiction, call ReDiscover’s Crisis & Access Line at 816-966-0900.  ReDiscover is a local leader in drug prevention and drug recovery.  ReDiscover is helping the community fight its drug problems by expanding its services to provide a new local program to help people in Lee’s Summit who have substance abuse issues.   For more information, visit www.rediscovermh.org.

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Special Needs of Caregiving Parents

Raising a child with special needs is a fulltime job packed with intensity. As weeks morph into months and months turn into years, the pressures of round-the-clock caregiving for children with special needs can be overwhelming to parents.

“Managing family life is stressful especially when you are first dealing with identifying the child’s health issue and planning how to manage an obstacle or crisis that is unfolding,” said Alan Flory, President and CEO of ReDiscover.

“Unfortunately, stress doesn’t immediately evaporate when a crisis is over.  Stress can continue to grow with the daily pressures of living ‘normal’ life.  Parents, who are caregivers of children with special needs like Asperger’s syndrome, bipolar disorder, or other mental or physical issues,face stressful situations so often that they may feel compelled to put their own needs on the ‘back burner’ forever. They need to be reminded to take care of themselves, not just their child.”

The daily demands of caregiving for children with special needs can become so challenging that parents forget the basics of taking care of themselves. Yet, how parents deal with the daily pressures of life can positively or negatively impact their own mental health and their overall health and well-being.

Flory said, “There will be times when you can’t do everything that needs to be done. It helps if you can call on a friend, family member, support group or counselor for hands-on help or even over-the-phone advice.  Just talking to someone can help you cope and can make you feel better.”

But, don’t forget to connect with others when you aren’t in crisis. 

Mental Health America, the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping ALL people live mentally healthier lives, suggests these four tips to help caregivers:

Get connected with family and friends. Having fun, laughing and focusing on things other than your responsibilities helps you keep your emotional balance and makes you a much better caregiver.

Use community resources, such as adult day services, meal or shopping services, and caregiver support groups to help lighten your workload.

Talk to your supervisor at work about your caregiving responsibilities, so he or she knows what difficulties you may experience. Ask your human resources department for information on the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows up to 12 weeks a year unpaid leave for family caregivers who meet certain requirements. Get involved in spiritual activities. Studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, such as greater coping skills, less anxiety and a lower risk of depression. Spirituality may provide a sense of hope, meaning and purpose in life, a way to understand suffering and illness, and a connection with others. Religious and spiritual practices, such as prayer and meditation, can evoke positive emotions that can lead to better health.

 

Flory said, “Finding healthy ways to manage daily stress can lower the risk of mental health and other health problems for caregiving parents. It’s important to the whole family that caregiving parents take care of themselves and learn how to take time to relax frequently.”

What should caregiving parents do?

Rest your brain. Too busy?  Stop and take a deep breath. Some caregivers relax by listening to music, reading a book, or watching a funny movie. Deep breathing, yoga, or meditation can be relaxing ways to re-energize.

Exercise your body and your mind. Exercising improves a caregiver’s mood and helps improve the quality of sleep at bedtime. Exercise can help ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Say ‘yes’ to yourself. Make time for yourself by saying ‘yes’ to your own needs. If you’re overwhelmed at home or work, learn how to set your limits so that you get the care you need, too.  

Try encouraging yourself.  Positive self-talk matters. Try not to put yourself down when you make a mistake or fall short of a goal.  Train yourself to acknowledge and cheer yourself on for every step you make.

 

But, what if things aren’t going well?  How do you know if too much is officially becoming ‘too much’ to handle?

Warning signs for caregivers:

- Feeling angry, irritable or easily frustrated by your normal daily activities
- Feeling overwhelmed by your caregiving role
- Changing in your own eating habits to skip meals or too over indulge
- Experiencing problems concentrating or problems with memory
- Feeling nervous or anxious about your ability to continue to cope
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Feeling burned out physically or emotionally
- Feeling that you can’t overcome difficulties in your life
- Having trouble functioning in your job or personal life

Help is available.  ReDiscover and other community mental health agencies offer care that includes teaching families how to manage daily life caring for children with special needs. ReDiscover provides at-home support at the level it is needed, and works with individuals and their families to address problems that include finding ways to meet life’s challenges.

Tips for Parents of Newly Diagnosed Child

Life suddenly changes when your child is officially diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.  As a parent, there is a certain kind of relief in knowing that the disorder has a name, that your family is not alone, and that special help is available, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. 

“Understanding that the neurological disorder exists is one thing, but trying to translate a long list of symptoms into a working strategy may feel overwhelming,” said Alan Flory, President and CEO of ReDiscover, “The day-to-day issues of living with a child with special needs are challenging for parents and can be stressful to the entire family.  It’s important to know that it really is possible to get the kind of help you need to lean about the disorder and to handle the unique challenges that you face when you are living with Asperger’s Syndrome.”

What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

Young children with Asperger’s Syndrome typically have normal to advanced language and intellectual development; yet they experience distinct impairment in two-way social interaction.  Some symptoms include severe difficulties with transitions, struggles with change, obsessive concerns about following set routines, and difficulty comprehending the facial expressions of others.

How does that impact your daily life, if you’re the parent?

It may take more time than you expect for your child to respond to a question that you ask. Children with Asperger’s Syndrome sometimes need extra time to process questions. 

“Patience and compassion is the key.”  Flory said, “To the parent, it may seem as if the child must physically stop what he or she is thinking, put that information away, consider what your question means, compose an answer, and then respond. If you interrupt the child’s thinking process, the child will have to restart the process to come up with the answer. It can be frustrating, but it really helps if you can wait patiently for the child’s answer and help others learn to wait.”

Another issue involves communication.  

According to ReDiscover Psychiatrist Dr. John Wubbenhorst, “Children with Asperger’s Syndrome can have a great deal of difficulty interpreting the semantics of speech or the nonverbal cues in conversations. So, they may not know when you are serious or if you are just kidding.  Sarcasm and some humor are often not understood, and explanations of what is meant may be difficult to translate.  Social cues have to be specifically taught to these children and parents need help learning ways to help kids understand.”

Angry outbursts, yelling, or shrieking can be daily issues for parents of children with Asperger’s syndrome. An unexpected change in routine may cause an emotional ‘meltdown.‘

Learning how to recognize and manage symptoms is the key to living with Asperger’s Syndrome or any mental illness. 

What do you need to know?

When your child has an angry outburst, it helps to realize that the child is not deliberately trying to be difficult, although it may feel that way if you’re overwhelmed when it happens. An angry outburst is actually a common way for the child to express that he or she is feeling overwhelmed and needs your help to get things back into control.

Wubbenhorst said, “Sometimes your child will feel compelled to repeat the same thing over and over again.  If you tune into that, it may serve as a warning sign for you to recognize when your child is becoming increasingly stressed or over stimulated, Then, you can help him or her find a way to take a break to relax or regroup.

Children with Asperger’s Syndrome can have difficulty with unstructured play times and may not respond well to unexpected changes in their schedule or in their environment.

What do you need to watch out for?

Sometimes loud noises, bright lights, strong tastes or textures are triggers that over-stimulate your child’s heightened sensitivity.   

Children with Asperger’s Syndrome may need extra help shifting gears between activities. Learning to give one or two warnings before a change of activity can help.

Daily and weekly routines are especially important to children with Asperger’s Syndrome.  It helps to give as much advance notice as possible if there is going to be a change or disruption in the schedule. A picture or word schedule may be help a child deal with difficult transitions.”

Sitting still for long periods of time may be stressful.  Parents can help by planning short breaks of walking around or talking one-to-one with the child.

Just because your child learns something in one situation, it doesn’t automatically mean that he or she will be able to apply the concept to new situations.

“When your situation reaches a point that things are going well, it doesn’t mean that your child is ‘cured’ or that ‘it’s time to take away support’.” Wubbenhorst said.  “Asperger’s syndrome is a lifelong condition.  With treatment, the disorder can stabilize. People with Asperger’s Syndrome can lead successful lives and enjoy meaningful relationships with friends and family.” 

ReDiscover and other community mental health agencies offer care that includes teaching families how to manage daily life with Asperger’s Syndrome, providing at-home support at the level it is needed, and working with individuals and their families to address problems that include finding ways to meet life’s challenges.

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When a child you care about has Asperger’s Syndrome

Parents are right when they say it’s normal for young children to need a little time to adapt to a new situation.   It’s also true that making friends can be harder for some kids than for others.  But what should you do when you realize that something is severely wrong? 

What if the child you love has nowhere near the same range of social skills as other children at his or her age level?

“Parents may first recognize the distinct symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome when their child begins to interact in group settings with other children,” said Alan Flory, President and CEO of ReDiscover. 

Family members are often the first to suspect that something is essentially wrong, yet they may be uncertain what to do. Getting help early-on can positively impact the child and the entire family.”

What are the symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome?

The main symptom of Asperger’s Syndrome is having severe difficulty with social situations. “Asperger’s Syndrome is similar in some ways to Autism, but it is also quite different,” said ReDiscover Psychiatrist Dr. John Wubbenhorst. “Asperger’s Syndrome is differentiated from autism by its lack of early language delay. 

“That is, the child with Asperger’s Syndrome may have some speech peculiarities, but he or she will usually begin talking at about the same age as most children,” he said.

“In fact, the onset of the disorder’s symptoms is preceded by apparently normal development for the first two years of life.”

Perhaps the normal early development is what makes Asperger’s Syndrome the most confusing for parents. Young children with Asperger’s Syndrome typically have normal to advanced language and intellectual development. Yet, the child’s ability to interact in social settings is not in line with the social ability of other kids the same age. What’s so different?  Children with Asperger’s Syndrome can have a great deal of difficulty interpreting nonverbal cues in conversations.

For example, they typically don’t understand the significance of a frown or a smile. They can have difficulty determining proper body space when interacting with others; and, if they stand uncomfortably close, they probably can not recognize the other person’s discomfort. They may be preoccupied with one or two interests to the exclusion of all other topics. They may misunderstand the semantics of speech, missing what a particular tone of voice might mean or interpreting metaphors or sarcasm very literally.  They can be vulnerable targets for teasing and bullying by other children. “It’s important to remember that a child with Asperger’s Syndrome experiences the world very differently,” Wubbenhorst said. “Many of the behavioral traits that seem unusual are due to neurological differences.  Diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome rests largely on the presence of social skills deficits and odd/repetitive behaviors and/or restricted interests. There may also be symptoms of anxiety, inattention and anger outbursts in these children.”  While symptoms may range from mild to severe, some signs of the disorder may include: – Distinct impairment in two-way social interaction – Severe difficulties with transitions – Struggles with change – Preference for sameness – Obsessive concerns about following set routines – Difficulty comprehending the facial expressions of others Help is available.

“Some schools offer social skills groups to help children learn adaptive social interactions,” Wubbenhorst said. ”Asperger’s Syndrome is often a modifiable disorder, meaning that with appropriate interventions gains can be realized in the functionally disabling symptoms of the disorder.”

Asperger’s syndrome is a lifelong condition.  With treatment, the disorder can stabilize. People with Asperger’s Syndrome can be taught ways to learn how to read others’ social cues.  

ReDiscover and other community mental health agencies offer care that includes teaching families how to manage daily life with Asperger’s Syndrome, providing at-home support at the level it is needed, and working with individuals and their families to address problems that include finding ways to meet life’s challenges. People with Asperger’s Syndrome can lead successful lives and enjoy meaningful relationships with friends and family.  Learning how to recognize and manage symptoms is the key to living with Asperger’s Syndrome or any mental illness.

Robin Blakely, a regular columnist for the Journal and Lee’s Summit resident, manages the speakers bureau for ReDiscover, a community mental health agency serving Lee’s Summit and all of Eastern Jackson County.

Know the warning signs to watch for of teens at-risk of suicide

by Robin Blakely
Special to the Journal

People sometimes don’t believe that teens and young adults can experience the kind of pain that leads to thoughts of suicide. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is actually the third leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds, exceeded only by accidents and homicide.

“Adults sometimes disregard the level of emotional pain felt by teens,” said Dr. Nancy Osborn, a psychologist who specializes in working with youth and families in ReDiscover’s Adult and Family Services program. “Many teens experience a lot of pressure from many different sources, including from themselves. Sometimes they do not feel they measure up to others’ expectations or even to their own expectations. Their feelings can become very intense and sometimes they feel like they have very little support.”

Osborn has worked with youth for more than 20 years and has developed a particular expertise helping kids and families who range from moderately to extremely challenged.

“Teens who are at risk for suicide often suffer from depression,” Osborn said. “A teen with depression may not know how to escape from his or her emotional pain. Suicide may seem like an opportunity to escape whatever is going on. At a particular moment, to some distressed teens, dying may seem like the only way out.”

Most of the time there are warning signs, such as obvious depression or increased isolation. Sometimes teens talk about not wanting to be around or that they express that they are feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes there are no apparent warning signs that a teen is on the brink of suicide.

“An ordinary situation like a fight with a friend or a bad grade on a test or the combination of several disappointments may not seem like alarming events to the average adult because ordinarily they are not alarming,” said Alan Flory, CEO and president of ReDiscover. “But, at a vulnerable point in time, ordinary situations may be more than a teen can manage. So, even though a single event may seem trivial or unimportant to a parent or friend, what the teen is going through may feel severe to the teen. The real issue is not about the event that happened, it’s about the feelings invoked by the event – and those feelings are never trivial – they are monumentally important.”

Osborn agreed.

“It is important for friends and family to be aware if the teen is experiencing pressure or seems to be overwhelmed,” Osborn said. “It is very important to keep the lines of communication open.”

Communication is particularly helpful when the teen experiences one or more major losses or is facing stressful life events like a school problem, a breakup with a girlfriend or boyfriend, the death of a relative, or the divorce of his or her parents. At times like these, early warning signs can be when a teen exhibits one or more of the following:

• Lack of interest in favorite activities
• Trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
• Talk about feeling hopeless
•  Remarks about feeling guilty
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Talk about death in general
• Talk about “going away”

“Adults should be alarmed and intervene whenever a teen is exhibiting self-destructive behavior like drinking alcohol, taking drugs or even driving recklessly,” Flory said.

Other warning signs that a teen or young adult is at-risk may include participating in one or more of the following activities:

• Begins collecting weapons
• Researches ways to die
• Gives away meaningful personal items
• Threatens suicide verbally
• Shows increased irritability
• Becomes happy for no reason after long depression
• Directly attempts suicide

 How can you help someone who is suicidal?

“Many times teens think they can help their close friends through issues – like experiencing suicidal thoughts – alone,” Osborn said. “It is obviously important to remain supportive, but if any individual is thinking about suicide, it is imperative to get professional help quickly. Go to an adult. If the first adult you approach does not understand or seems like they don’t want to listen, keep asking for help until your requests are genuinely heard. There is hope – teens can make their way out of their depression/suicidal ideation. Treatment really does help.”

Help is available. There are many resources for teens in need. If you or someone you know is considering suicide or is suffering from stress, depression or anxiety, ReDiscover or other community mental health agencies can help.

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PARENTING TIPS FOR NURTURING KIDS’ MENTAL WELLNESS

By Robin Blakely

If you’ve got children, you want to do all that you can as a parent to keep your kids healthy and to instill lifelong habits that will help them stay that way. Paying attention to the physical health of a child’s growing needs is only part of the wellness picture.  Parents can do six simple things now to help build and grow strong mental health habits that benefit kids. 

Laugh with your children
“It’s important for parents to show their children that adults can “play” and laugh and have fun,” said  ReDiscover Psychiatric  Rehab Program Manager Jean Schweer. “Parents may model a good work ethic, but they may also teach their children about healthy ways to use their time outside of work.  If children see parents who enjoy their time through any type of recreation or leisure pursuit, they are more likely to value and create time for happiness in their youth as well as on into their own adulthood.” 

Offer Praise and Support
ReDiscover CEO and President Alan Flory said, “Feeling good about what you do is crucial for good self-esteem. Adult mentors —parents, teachers, coaches, and church or club leaders—can provide a huge influence on a child’s feelings of self worth. Their praise can  positively impact a child’s confidence and wiliness to try something new.”

Expand Your Child’s Interests
Kerri Gray, a licensed marriage and family therapist at ReDiscover, teaches Love and Logic parenting classes in coordination with Lee’s Summit Cares.  Gray said, “When children are young, expose them to a variety of activities and interests.  This may include physical activities like soccer, swimming, t’ball as well as music or art classes. The City’s Parks and Recreation department is one place where kids can try out different things to see what interests them at affordable prices. As they participate in things they will express what interests them most.”

Help Your Child Learn How to Try Something New
Learning how to try something new is a process that includes getting past initial fears and making a commitment to give an activity a fair chance  According to Gray, “if you sign up for a series of classes, help the child complete the entire program. It may take awhile for your child to get comfortable in the class. Many kids like to participate in the games, recitals, and key events of an activity but not the needed practice. Let’s face it, practice is hard work. Part of teaching a child how to try something new is helping them through the process with lots of empathy and positive encouragement so they learn to work through frustration and understand what it takes to stick with things. If the kid then decides ‘this isn’t for me’ let them try something else. Allow the child to continue to try out different things instead of getting locked into one at a young age. As they get gain experience in trying out new things, they will acquire a good sense of what they are good at and how they want to commit their time.”

Explain and share your world with your kids
Let children listen in and hear about how you choose to handle a variety of situations. Talking out loud as you go through your day can help children gain understanding and insight through your experiences.  When you talk out loud, you can demonstrate how you are working though a problem to a solution. 

Remember to Relax
Kids these days are more scheduled then ever. Many have commitments to activities every day of the week. Activities are a good way to develop one’s strengths and interests and to learn vital life skills like team work and perseverance. Gray said, “Parents need to teach methods of finding balance.   Plan enough downtime to safeguard against burn-out from being over-scheduled.”

Know help is available.  ReDiscover, and other community mental health agencies, provide services to help parents.   You can learn ways to develop skills, sort out your feelings, set goals, and work toward making improvements that can impact your entire family.