 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Community groups that serve families, particularly those that are interested in fostering the health and well-being of children and young adults, can play a vital role in the lives of those who are living with substance-abusing parents. It is critical that these groups not underestimate the tremendous positive influence they can exert on a young person who is trying to cope with substance abuse-related dysfunction at home. Join the chat to discuss with an expert the most promising practices for community-based organizations for addressing addiction.
The Reverend Dr. Alpha Estes Brown is senior minister of Community United Methodist Church and founder of the Cause Children Count Coalition, Inc., in Washington, D.C. He has served in various adjunct and clinical faculty positions related to alcohol and other drug issues and currently is adjunct assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health. He is also one of four new members appointed to the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Dr. Brown has led many community-based efforts to address the causes and impact of addiction in Washington, DC. His concerns with tobacco and alcohol include decreasing accessibility, affordability and availability, and raising the level of responsibility on the part of merchants. Dr. Brown was also an on-camera participant in the award-winning Bill Moyers special "Moyers on Addiction: Close to Home," a five-part series on the science, treatment, prevention and politics of addiction.
Click here to learn more about Recovey Month
Views and opinions expressed by non-CSAT staff members in the Web chats and Web casts should not be interpreted as official CSAT policy, but as the views and opinions of the individuals participating in these events.
Live Chat With Dr. Alpha Estes Brown, senior minister of Community United Methodist Church and founder of the Cause Children Count Coalition, Inc.
MODERATOR: Welcome to the Recovery Month Live Chat.
MODERATOR: Today we have Dr. Alpha Estes Brown, Senior Minister of Community United Methodist Church and founder of the Cause Children Count Coalition, Inc., in Washington, D.C. joining us.
MODERATOR: Welcome Dr. Brown.
MODERATOR: We'll begin now.
Dr. Brown: Thanks I'm glad to be here and hello to everyone.
MODERATOR: We've had some questions submitted in advance. Here's our first.
MODERATOR: Shouldn't we get rid of theory and get people better trained in cultural competence?
Dr. Brown: I am not convinced that it's either or. I can appreciate that many practitioners that are tired of new theories each month or year about substance abuse. But I believe that we need theories to provide a framework for developing solutions. At the same time, I whole heartedly agree that there is a need for more cultural competency along many lines. Culture competency does not soley relate to ethnicity or race. There are cultural variables among the offender population. There are cultural variables that are pertinent to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) populations. There are work cultures and there are cultures among our youth. We need more practitioners who understand these populations and who share with others, the insights, intricacies, and sensitivities of working with people who differ from others in certain ways.
MODERATOR: That's an important question and a great answer. Here is our second question:
MODERATOR: I am preparing to do a master's thesis on the subject of alcoholism and drug abuse as it relates to families. What would be a worthy research question.
Dr. Brown: There are many worthy research questions. One that comes to my mind is examining or determining whether familial or family role modeling of drug use is more powerful than advertising or peer pressure as it relates to youth initiating drug use or other family members recovering.
MODERATOR: That's interesting. Thanks for that. Here is our third question:
MODERATOR: My boyfriend is addicted to marijuana, and I dont know anything about it, but I want to try to help him.
Dr. Brown: There are several things that you may consider doing, first you can learn about marijuana and how it affects people by getting more information by PREVLINE (http://ncadi.samhsa.gov). Another thing that you can do is try to find a treatment program for him or some place like the Johnson Institute which specializes in intervention. Seek professional help with this matter. If your boyfriend is employed, you might try to find out if he has an employee assistance program, and determine whether or not it is appropriate to seek help from the EAP there.The bottom line is to learn as much about marijuana and it's impact. Document how his use of marijuana affects his life and the quality of your relationship, and his responsibility. Evaluate all the resources you have found including intervention and working with the EAP and use the one that is best for you. Then utilize them. Don't try to do this on your own.
MODERATOR: It's so important for people to seek professional help in this sort of thing. What good advice, Dr. Brown. Next question:
Pam: Our community is working towards a FAS Diagnostic Team - I am helping with the awareness/prevention committee. I hoping to start with mothers (to be). Any ideas on reaching this population?
Dr. Brown: Yes. There are a number of things that can be done for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). There are a number of things that can be done to reach your desired population. I'm not sure if you have already contacted the hospitals, prenatal wards, clinics, churches, religious organizations, welfare agencies, and other departments in your area that deal with FAS, but contacting these outlets is imperative and a great place to start. Now, if you've contacted these organizations, how you maintain this contact is critical. You can create a newsletter or a web site that provides information and access to services would be a good way to maintain ongoing contact in building a network of interested people, and friends that will not only help you today, but also down the road.
MODERATOR: That's an important population to reach. Our next question:
MODERATOR: What can I do as one individual to help combat these issues of drug and alcohol abuse in the home?
Dr. Brown: There are many of us who believe that one person can do a lot to make changes. I applaud your courage to work to find ways to make a difference in your own home. Since it's not clearly stated where the problem lies in the family and since I don't know if you are a sibling, parent or child wanting to make a difference, let me make some general comments. One thing to try to combat drug use in the home is that it's important that you have a general understanding of both illegal and legal drugs. Often times legal drugs are overlooked in the family setting becuase they are just that - perfectly legal for adults. But the first line of defense or prevention will be getting an understanding of what the drugs do and how they affect people. A second line of defense is to document the behavior of family members who use the drugs: how it affects their life, their interaction and their responsibilities. Once you have a suspicion that someone is abusing a substance or is addicted to a substance, you may want to recruit additional soldiers to your army - outside professionals who can help you develop strategies to intervene wherever it is necessary. An intervention is a professional approach to getting people/family members help who don't think they need or want it. And as I mentioned earlier, you can get some treatment programs to provide intervention and training services as a free resource to you. They can help you organize a strategy and a tactical plan. There is the premier organization which is the Johnson Institute out of Minnesota. They have a pamphlet and video and can give you some great insight. You can also go to PREVLINE and request the pamphlet - If someone close... has a problem with alcohol or other drugs. This can be found at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/ph317/.
MODERATOR: Good luck to you in your desire to make a difference. You aren't alone in your quest.
MODERATOR: Our next question:
MODERATOR: I grew up with issues of alcohol abuse in my home, how can I make this less painful for another child growing up in the same situation?
Dr. Brown: We have to go beyond just your home, but also into your community. In terms of your home - I recommend getting in touch with ALATEEN and ALANON. Both are support groups for teenagers and adults who live with or are close to someone with alcohol problems. These groups help the non drinker cope with a bad situation. Too often, people who are trapped in homes with an abuser or alcoholic find themselves making excuses and maladapting to abusive situations. ALANON and ALATEEN offer hope and tactics that can be used for the innocent party(s) to begin their own recovery even if their loved one doesn't. But I would hope that you would also think about changing the norms in your community and the world around you. It's going to be very important that we not only focus on our homes, but that we also focus on making change in the community. People like yourself would do wonders if they got together and examined how alcohol is sold and marketed in your community so that you can form a community coalition. Community coalitions have made considerable impact in changing norms in this society. Mothers Against Drunk Driving get a lot of credit but there are other organizations who have made positive impacts in the alcohol issue. They were formed with caring people like you. Groups have gotten together and organized to stop beer crawls or keg parties or drunk driving or office parties. They change the way we think of drinking and they change how we think about it's affects upon our lives.
MODERATOR: Thanks for your insight in this matter. Another great place to go is the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) Web site http://www.nacoa.org. It's a great resource.
MODERATOR: Our next question is from a college campus. Here it is:
MODERATOR: I am a Campus Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coordinator for a small liberal arts college situated in a recognized drug traffic corridor for blacktar heroin and other drugs. If there is one question that is paramount it is, how do you get started in forming a coalition and who do you include? I would appreciate your reply. Thanks.
Dr. Brown: Many successful coalitions began with the passions of one or two people who collected data and brought together key stake holders who know about the same issues. Sometimes they had to be convinced or educated that they had a role in the issue or that the issue affected them. But once the education process commences many people join in. If you have a goal to make change in your college community, make sure you know what the facts are, make sure you identify the stake holders, make sure you have a clear understanding of what the issues are or what the problem is. Never be ashamed of your passion. Passion can be contagious. Make sure to recruit many others to assist you.
MODERATOR: That's very inspirational. Another place to turn for information is the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Web site http://cadca.org/.
Dr. Brown: Please also check the PREVLINE resource at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov
BC: Greetings Dr. Brown and other chat members. I wanted to know about the issue of children with parents who are suffering from the disease and how you introduce the issue of parental abuse in a mixed crowd of teens. Is it more important for the child of an addict to be in a group with only other children of parents who use or are in recovery?
Dr. Brown:I would prefer to refer you to someone in your community who can understand your particular circumstances, because there are too many variables for me to give you a specific answer. Your question seems to imply that your needs are for something more than a recommendation to ALATEEN. And I want you to understand I'm not trying to avoid your issue but want you to get the safest and most appropriate type of help available for your situation.
MODERATOR:Thank you for that thoughtful answer. I'm afraid that last question will have to be our last. We have run out of time. Dr. Brown, do you have any closing remarks for us today?
Dr. Brown:I want to thank everyone who participated in this chat and who made the chat possible. My eyes were opened and I have gotten some new insight into what we still face around the county. I also want to thank everyone for supporting Recovery Month and trust that each of you will let others in your community know that recovery works and that recovery is possible. It may not be as spontaneous as television suggests, but it is possible if we all work together to make a difference.
MODERATOR:Thank you very much for chatting with us today. Special thanks goes to Dr. Brown for taking the time to talk with us.
MODERATOR:Please check out our other multimedia events for Recovery Month at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/2001/multimedia/index.htm