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After watching "Helping Addicted Youth Find Recovery," you will likely have many questions, such as:
You can ask these questions and more as part of a "live" online discussion with Rita Rumbaugh, Prevention Specialist, Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools Safe and Drug-Free Schools, on Wednesday, May 21, 2003, from 3 to 4 p.m. EST. Be a part of this lively exchange and mark your calendar today and post your questions in advance in the form below. Chat Transcript Moderator: The Web chat will begin in 5 minutes. Welcome to the Recovery Month 2003 Web chat. Our host today is Rita Rumbaugh, Prevention Specialist, Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools Safe and Drug-Free Schools. Our topic today is Helping Addicted Youth Find Recovery. This online discussion will explore the complexities faced by students who are experiencing problems with and addictions to alcohol and/or drugs. Please note that the views and opinions expressed by non-CSAT staff members in the Web chats and Webcasts should not be interpreted as official CSAT policy, but, as the views and opinions of the individuals participating in these events. Now we are ready for the first question. This question was previously submitted. Moderator: Besides the government's Cannabis Youth Treatment (CYT) Series, are there any other science-based adolescent treatment curriculums for use in treatment/residential centers for teens? Rita Rumbaugh: There are many curriculums available commercially. You might check out Hazelton on relapse triggers. There are other commercial products available. I don't see much from NIDA in the treatment centers besides the ones that were already cited. Moderator: This question was previously submitted. I am a mother of a 23-year-old meth/marijuana user who wants to be sober but can't do so. He has no medical insurance, no job, [and is] not in school. He will not go into rehab. I don't have the guts to toss him in the streets. Can you recommend several books that will help me make better choices? I want to create an outreach program for A-teen-dults. The Nar-anon in my neighborhood is a different element of "people" than he and his user friends. They all seem to want to change, but don't have the… Rita Rumbaugh: I, too, would be worried about a 23-year-old who is using to that extent. It sounds to me as if he is still in your home and still receiving all the benefits of a home life. I see that you also want to seek bibliotherapy-reading materials-to help you make better choices. I would suggest that you also seek an Al-anon group in your area. Their meetings are on their Web site (http://www.al-anon.alateen.org). [They] will help you to create some boundaries and consequences of living with your son, and [address] the worry of living with your son. terry: In addition to attending Al-anon and other groups, what can parents do to support their children during the recovery process? Rita Rumbaugh: Parental support is necessary no matter how old the child is. The type of parental support may be different, depending on the age of the child. The mother of 23-year-old needs distance; whereas, the mother of a 12-year-old needs to learn how to help a child grow and become independent while still maintaining sobriety. As the outstanding influence among youth is the peer group, the parents need to know the parents of the child's friend. They need to establish contact and accountability. terry: How can teachers help students get the help they need? Rita Rumbaugh: Teachers can play a very instrumental role in helping students in the classroom. Teachers hear conversations, know the students, and often are aware of problems long before parents are. Usually, teens use drugs several years before parents are aware of that, but teachers, they see the signals early. Teachers in the schools should know about their school-based student assistance program. There should be one in every secondary school. Teachers can work with a core team in their school through the student assistance process and intervene early with students. Teachers and other staff need to recognize and help their peers with any enabling behaviors in the classroom. If the teacher does not know about the student assistance program in their school, the National Association for Student Assistance Professionals can be contacted at http://nasap.org. Moderator: This question was previously submitted. How can you tell if an adolescent is abusing/addicted to drugs or alcohol or "just experimenting?" Rita Rumbaugh: You know every parent wants to believe that an involved child is "just experimenting." It is a rationalizing statement; it is an easy out. Then, parents believe they don't have to do anything. Parents really don't have to be concerned with the diagnosis of abuse or experimenting; they can seek the help of an adolescent counselor to rule out alcohol and other drug use. Experimenting implies that it just started. …It may be normal or harmless and stop by itself. That is not the case. We all need to see youth drug use as harmful, wrong, illegal. terry: What are the main sources of social stigma for youth in recovery? Do other kids create the stigma, or does it stem from adults? Rita Rumbaugh: Stigma is a difficult issue. I think if it were not for stigma, then we would have a better result with treatment early on with both youth and [the] adult population. I believe that stigma results from one's model of addiction. James Milam in Under the Influence talked a lot about models of addiction. One's model of addiction depends on how one grows up. So, if I grew up in [an] Irish-Catholic family, my model of addiction is probably a moral model. If he or she (the addict) only went to church more, or prayed harder… Currently, a mental health model of addiction is pervasive. If this child did not have poor self esteem, and if she/he were not depressed… Usually, [if] she/he were not hyperactive, ADD, or ADHD, she/he would not be using drugs and there would be no problem. Those are some examples of moral models of addiction, and James Milam speaks of this well. I am saying that stigma is based on those concepts as we grow up. That is what makes understanding addiction so difficult. The model of addiction often creates the stigma in a veil through which we can't see. PetalMel: I work with adolescent males who are court ordered to residential treatment for delinquency issues. Many also have substance abuse issues, such as using daily. What do you feel are the most successful ways for us to help these youth prepare an appropriate relapse plan, especially when they may be returning to the same environment that supported their behaviors? Rita Rumbaugh: As a treatment provider for court ordered adolescents, you have one very strong attribute going for you, and that is the power of the court. Successful treatment of adolescents depends on the support of the court and the support of the family…one or both of those. As you have your adolescent in treatment court ordered, they are likely to drive. I can appreciate your concern about return to the community. Your aftercare plan must be very comprehensive to include the school [and] names of people in the school who will take on the job of mentoring the returning student. Not everyone in the school is capable of doing this. Transferring to a new school might be appropriate for the adolescent. An aftercare plan and a contract with the family-how do we live together-should be your focus from the treatment center with the family. Many secondary schools have recovery groups in the school to support students who are returning from treatment. And some school districts have recovery schools. We are fortunate to have two here in Montgomery County, MD. And they provide the support and the academics necessary for students returning from treatment. terry: How do the experiences of addicted teens differ in public and private schools? Is there a difference in how they are treated and how they receive treatment? Rita Rumbaugh: I believe that problems of drug use, including addiction…the problems are handled differently in public and private schools. Administratively, the attitude may be [that] we can ask this child to leave. The private school, that is. Unless there is an administrative referral or consequencing, we are not permitted to do that in a public school. I believe that attitudes are enabling and are pervasive in both systems. betty: What is the difference between a recovery school and an alternative school? Rita Rumbaugh: The difference between recovery schools and alternative schools is that alternative schools may be structured to support a student faced with any problem of underachievement or [a] behavior problem. For instance, alternative schools for pregnant girls, or students with weapons violations. A recovery school, however, provides the academic support and the recovery program to help students maintain sobriety. Often, a recovery school has a urine-testing program. They also need the additional family support. Alternative schools, themselves, can be quite large. Recovery programs also can be within an alternative site. For more information about recovery schools, visit http://www.recoveryschools.org. terry: How old was the youngest child you ever saw who needed recovery from drug addiction? How soon should parents be on the lookout for abuse? Rita Rumbaugh: I think it is critical that parents are on the lookout for use at any time in a child's life. Medication use by very young people…the monitoring of that by adults creates a climate where any mood-altering substance is carefully monitored by parents. Parents also need to make sure they know the risk in their own families-that is, from their genetic predisposition. A child of an alcoholic or substance user and the modeling, particularly alcohol use, the parents show their children… Fred: Hi. We often hear about all the negative cultural influences that push teens toward addiction and abuse. What are some examples of cultural influences that push problem teens towards getting into a community's system of care, whether it be treatment or counseling? Rita Rumbaugh: Teens and all of us enjoy the focus on positive attitudes, positive responses, and programs. Interesting research out of The Search Institute in Minneapolis, MN, which describes 40 developmental assets that protect a child from the negative influences. Protect the child from the negative cultural and environmental influences. These would be, one would expect, healthy peer groups, positive parenting, community norms, which reinforce drug-free lifestyles. And, more specifically, after-school clubs, culture clubs, music, athletics, fun activities for young people. There are specific programs through NCADI that are geared toward different cultures-Soy Unica, Soy Latina, and Girl Power!, which are available from NCADI at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov, http://www.soyunica.gov, and http://www.girlpower.gov. betty: My child attends a school in the Montgomery County Public School System. What types of prevention programs are available to prevent the use of alcohol and drugs among students? Rita Rumbaugh: In the Montgomery County public schools, many prevention programs are available to the young people and their families. From pre-K through grade 12. I would urge you to call your school and ask what prevention programs are available to your child, and let the school know that you are an interested parent and that you would be available to help with the program. The curriculum pre-K through 12 includes the health curriculum, and students learn about alcohol and drug prevention through the curriculum. In addition, in all secondary schools, a student assistance program is available to provide targeted prevention-or indicated prevention and intervene with students and their families. I recommend you speak to the school's guidance counselor or nurse and the student assistance leader at any secondary school. pete: What part do school guidance counselors have in identifying or treating drug abuse disorders? Rita Rumbaugh: Very often guidance counselors feel torn. They feel a student's conversation with them is private, confidential, and should not be shared. On the other hand, a guidance counselor knows that intervening early and well can very often stop the behavior. I believe a guidance counselor should be an integral member of the core team at any school and work well to intervene with the child and his/her family. Moderator: This question was previously submitted. Are there gender considerations in helping addicted youth find recovery? If so, what specific interventions could be incorporated into a co-ed program? Rita Rumbaugh: Many adolescents who are drug involved have been sexually victimized in some way. This is especially true for girls, but also common and more hidden with boys. Girls who are involved are also victims of physical abuse from boyfriends, just as anger and violence are often issues with teenaged boys. Eating disorders are also very common in girls who are using alcohol and other drugs. In a treatment program, single-sexed groups can be used to address these issues. Most treatment programs prefer to have separate male and female groups whenever possible for these issues. betty: Do schools offer training to the classroom teachers on recognizing the signs that a student might have a substance abuse problem? Rita Rumbaugh: Yes. Schools do have the responsibility, and often have the means, to make sure every classroom teacher is alert to alcohol and drug use among the school population. In the same way that teachers are alerted by law to recognize and to intervene with abuse cases among students. The U.S. Dept. of Education Safe and Drug Free Schools appropriates funding for every school district in the Nation. These dollars are, and should be, devoted to teacher training for the recognition of behaviors that may indicate alcohol and other drug use and then how to access help for that student. Teachers should not be expected to treat the student, but [to] access appropriate help. GoFunnyCide: Where are kids getting their drugs? Rita Rumbaugh: This has been a question since I first started in the field in 1979, when we had drug dealers on the school campuses. Fortunately, and through the assistance of school security, resource officers, partnerships with police, we are doing better at keeping our campuses drug-free and safe. I still believe that most students know not only who is involved in alcohol and other drug use, but how to access the drugs themselves. Data, however, confirms that young people's first access to most drugs is with a family member and at home. This is particularly true of alcohol use. Fred: Do you find that teens are more successful when entering treatment programs with other teens or programs in which a mix of adults and teens exist? It seems to be very clear through research with adolescents that treatment needs to be targeted to their chronological and developmental age, and needs to be gender specific. At no time should adolescents and adults be treated in the same treatment program. Rita Rumbaugh: It seems to be very clear through research with adolescents that treatment needs to be targeted to their chronological and developmental age, and needs to be gender specific. Moderator: This question was previously submitted. What do I do when my father is drunk and he beats me up? I live in Belgium. Rita Rumbaugh: I am sad about your question. I would offer some support. If you are old enough for Alateen or if you have an Alateen group in your area, I would seek support from other young people who are in a similar situation. I hope you know that you did not cause it. You can't control it and you can't cure it. I hope you have friends, relations in your life, who can help you with this. I hope they are also telling you that this is illegal, and wrong, and must be stopped. Please seek someone to talk to, a trusted adult, a nurse, or a guidance counselor at your school. And there is a Web site, National Association for Children of Alcoholics (www.nacoa.org), which can be very helpful to you. Don't just take the abuse. Get help, get support, and know your own rights as an individual. GoFunnyCide: Do you have any advice for parents with two kids recovering from addiction in the same house at the same time? Rita Rumbaugh: This is every parent's worse nightmare…two kids, both addicted, both recovering, and in the same home. I have had that experience recently in this county. My advice would be to seek an Al-anon group for yourself as parents, or if your insurance and income will allow, seek family treatment while still providing individual therapy for the two children. I urge you to have a family contract for living together. Require your treatment provider to work with you. Your insurance has paid for the treatment. Work with them to make sure the aftercare plan is understood and followed through by you, by your children, and whomever is providing the aftercare. This information should also be made know to the young people's school in the spirit of sharing information about a health-related problem that is of concern to all of you. Moderator: Our hour is coming to an end and Ms. Rumbaugh has some closing remarks… Rita Rumbaugh: It is my belief from many years in the school system working with treatment providers, county agencies, and helping organizations that we are all invested in the health and wellbeing of our young people and their families. As a teacher trainer, I start every workshop with the belief that good caring families are faced with the problems of drug use among those they love. Prevention works, and treatment is available. Moderator: Our hour has concluded. For more information, visit CSAT's Recovery Month Web Site at http://www.recoverymonth.gov. Visit the multimedia area (http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2003/multimedia/) to see a list of upcoming Web chats and Webcasts on various topics. You can also watch the archived version of the Webcast that complements this Web chat at: http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2003/multimedia/w.aspx?ID=202. We would like to thank our host, Rita Rumbaugh, from Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools Safe and Drug-Free Schools, for her participation in this online event and thank our participants for their questions. This transcript will be available shortly so that others may benefit from the dialogue. The chat has now officially ended. Flier for Webcast on 5/7/03 and Web chat on 5/21/03: Helping Addicted Youth Find Recovery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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