Discover resources for helping children of parents addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Children are often the indirect victims of substance abuse. When a parent is addicted to drugs or alcohol, addiction can take precedence over parenting. This is a time of distress for kids, regardless of age. Learn how kids of addicted parents can get help.

Know the facts
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that as many as one in four children is exposed to family alcohol abuse or dependence. This is a huge number of kids. Try to be aware that issues like this could be affecting children in your life, and could be at the root of emotional or behavioral issues. With awareness of the effects of substance abuse and dependence growing, pediatricians, teachers and caregivers are becoming more aware of the signs that a child is being exposed to addiction at home.

Help kids find support
If you or a child you know is affected by substance abuse, don’t hesitate to seek help. Children must know that they don’t have to feel guilty for admitting that a parent or caregiver has a problem with addiction. Reassurance is crucial, since kids may feel like acknowledging a problem is a betrayal. Here are some resources that can help kids:

• Encourage children to talk. Give them safe spaces to vent and express fears or anger.
• Provide children with any basic needs that may be ignored while a parent struggles with addiction.
• Introduce children and teens to Alateen and Al-Anon Family Groups for support through meetings.
• Seek further resources at the National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

Lastly, remember that children of alcoholics are not always under 18. If you are an adult child of an alcoholic, don’t hesitate to seek support in any way that you’re comfortable with.

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This year, LiveFree! will be featuring High School and Middle School clubs from Bay Area schools. Today we're featuring the Largo Middle School LiveFree! Club.

Number of members: 45

Year this club began: 2012

How has the Largo Middle School LiveFree! Club been involved in the community this year?
Attended the NOPE Candlelight Vigil at Largo Central Park in October; a few students attended the Red Ribbon Family Fun Festival with their families in October; Participated in the Great American Teach-In in November, Posted signs throughout the school about being Drug-Free. Made signs for Red Ribbon Month and handed out Twizzlers with a Red Ribbon attached and a drug-free message attached to the ribbon. In December, the club joined together to promote collecting donated gifts for CASA, and collected over 70 gifts and clothing for the St. Pete CASA location.

What are your future goals as a LiveFree! Club?
Increase their knowledge and awareness and focus more on the positives, and what percentage of students are NOT doing drugs or alcohol. They will be studying up on the new fliers and handouts, and split into teams of 4 to a topic, and will present and educate the other students in the club on the topic they vow to become an “expert” about. Teams have already been formed for the presentations. New recruitment efforts will go out and membership is expected to expand and include additional students.

“We are the LiveFree! Club from Largo Middle School. We joined with CASA in helping abused kids and their mothers,(so they would have a better Christmas). Almost every member brought in a new item to donate to the shelter. We want to be hands on with different organizations, and we would like to make a difference in our community!”  -Milany S. and Jennifer C. – 8^th grade students at Largo Middle.

Learn why this important health observance week is observed.

When it comes to drugs, many teens are misinformed. Myths abound, and teens will often share false information with other kids to promote or excuse drug use. Learn how National Drug Facts Week can help.

The National Drug Facts Week mission
It can be challenging for teens to wade through information on drugs and pick out the facts. National Drug Facts Week focuses on educating teens with real, hard facts about drug use and abuse. From January 28 to February 3, National Drug Facts Week helps to share helpful, scientific facts with teens who have questions about drugs.

Connecting teens with experts
One of the cool aspects of National Drug Facts Week is that it offers teens the chance to contact medical professionals and scientists with questions. Teens may question the information given to them by parents or other mentors, but it’s hard to argue with experts. Tweet using #drugfacts during the week or register for other 2013 events.

How you can get involved
Want to get involved with National Drug Facts Week?

• Teens: Register and participate! Ask as many questions as you can think of.
• Parents: If you’re a caregiver or parent, help your teen get involved and encourage active questioning and fact-seeking.
• Other Adults: If you have a teen audience of any kind, consider hosting your own National Drug Facts Week event. Invite a local expert who can provide teens with real time answers to questions about addiction myths, drug use side effects and other common issues related to drug use and abuse. Here’s a step by step toolkit for hosting your own National Drug Facts Week event in 2013.

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Learn how binge drinking can affect your future long after you’ve sobered up.

Binge drinking is a common behavior in young people who are drinking underage or drinking in college. Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 70% of binge drinking episodes involve adults age 26 years and older, it’s a behavior that teens should be especially aware and cautious of. Binge drinking has long-term effects on the brain that can last for the rest of a teen’s life.

What is binge drinking?
The CDC classifies binge drinking as a man having five or more drinks in two hours, or a woman having four or more drinks in two hours. This kind of drinking behavior is common at parties or while going out with friends. Binge drinking is drinking to get drunk. As a result, it can lead to both physical side effects and behavioral side effects like accidental injury and death.

What are some effects of binge drinking?
Some of the potential effects of binge drinking could be car crashes, drowning, firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence, alcohol poisoning, unintended pregnancy, neurological damage and stroke. When judgment is severely impaired, risks increase across the board.

How does binge drinking affect the brain in the long term?
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, longtime binge drinkers run the risk of developing serious and persistent changes in the brain. This damage may come from direct effects of alcohol on the brain or the effects of poor health and liver disease on the brain. Keep in mind that drinking while pregnant can also cause permanent damage to the unborn child. These long term effects are still being studied, but science is showing that the changes to the brain are physical and very real. Binge drinking could affect your cognition, memory and moods.

Learn more about LiveFree! and their mission to reduce youth substance abuse.

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Learn why anyone could be at risk for developing an addiction.

Contrary to popular belief, addiction isn’t a personality flaw or a result of a certain type of attitude or upbringing. Addiction is a disease. The way it affects the brain is purely scientific. Addiction doesn’t discriminate. Being wealthy, educated or smart won’t save you from addiction if you use drugs or alcohol.

What does addiction feel like? 
Science has shown that drug users start to need the drug just to feel normal, and this is the start of addiction. Addiction isn’t a state of constantly feeling good as much as a state of constantly needing a drug just to feel remotely normal. When you're addicted to drugs, it becomes harder and harder to feel “good.”

How can drugs change your brain?
This isn’t an attitude or a behavior but an actual change to the brain’s chemistry. According to DrugAbuse.gov, these changes cause problems like mood swings, memory loss, trouble thinking and trouble making decisions. As a result, drug addicts can suffer in school, at work and with relationships. Take a look at how repeated drug exposure changes brain function so severely it can be viewed on a scan.

How can they change you?
The need to use drugs to feel regular often encourages drug users to behave in uncharacteristic ways. You may consider yourself above lying or stealing, but addiction could prompt you to do things you normally wouldn't do, just to feel like you were getting by.

When can addiction happen?
While addiction can happen at any age, you’re actually at greater risk while you’re young. These risks are very real and no amount of being aware of addiction beforehand can prevent your brain chemistry from changing as the result of drug abuse.

Learn more about LiveFree! and its mission to reduce youth substance abuse.

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This year, LiveFree! will be featuring High School and Middle School clubs from Bay Area schools. Our first club is the Northeast High School LiveFree! Club.

Number of club members:  34

Year this club began: 2009

How has the Northeast High School LiveFree! Club been involved in the community this year?
“In the LiveFree! Club we work toward making the community a better place. So far this year, we have been responsible for our own booth at Red Ribbon Week (Family Fun Festival) at Vinoy Park; taken part in the NOPE Candlelight Vigil, and collected donations for CASA and cell phone for soldiers. We joined the LiveFree! Club to make a change and encourage fellow classmates to do the same. The events are always a lot of fun and T-shirts aren’t bad either!”   – Katherine S., Destiney S., and Jenny N.

What are your future goals as a LiveFree! Club?
“I joined LiveFree! to help people become aware of drugs and their effect on the mind and body. Hoping maybe they would rethink doing them and/or stop doing them. Being in the LiveFree! club we not only help (with) drug awareness, we try to help the community as a whole.”  – Elycia R. and Breana R.

“I LOVE LiveFree! !!”  – Always, Samantha B.

Take a closer look at issues surrounding drug and alcohol use.

You've probably heard about all of the negative consequences to drug and alcohol use, but there may be a few factors that you haven't yet considered. Here are a few more outcomes to think about when it comes to substance abuse:

Losing friendships
When you use drugs and alcohol, the people around you are affected and friendships are often quick to suffer. As your behavior changes and you interact with different peers, you’ll find yourself losing friendships you may have had for a long time. It’s difficult for close friends to see you change the way you look and act as a result of drug and alcohol use. Friends who don’t use will pull away from you.

Bad grades or dropping out
Drugs and alcohol affect your brain. Between these effects and the social issues you’ll face as you spend more time drinking and doing drugs, your grades at school will suffer. Whether you’re finishing up high school or in college, your grades are very important. If you drop out, it will take a huge amount of effort to work your way back to where you were.

Losing financial aid or employment
Behavior related to drug use and alcohol use puts you at risk of losing your job or losing your scholarships and financial aid. If you face disciplinary action at school or work, chances are your situation will change drastically. Some of these marks on your record can stay with you throughout your life, especially if you face legal action.

Hurting your family
Your parents and other family members will struggle as you change from the effects of drinking and doing drugs. Whether you are directly combative towards them or you pull away more subtly, they will be the ones to suffer. Your actions have an impact on many people.

High costs                        
Drugs and alcohol aren’t free. When you use, you’re using a portion of your income or your parents’ income to have a good time. These costs add up quickly and can prevent you from saving any money or paying important bills.

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Learn how to debunk damaging myths about drug addiction.

What you think you know about addiction may be a web of inaccuracies and misinformation. Debunk common myths about drug addiction to have a better understanding of the disease and why addicts need support to recover.

Myth #1: Addiction is just a choice.
It’s common for people to blow off drug addiction as bad behavior and bad choices. While the first time or first few times trying drugs may in fact be a very bad choice, addiction is a disease. Like cancer, for example, addiction has side effects and physical symptoms. It also takes a great deal of support and treatment to overcome.

Myth #2: Drug addiction is just a type of escapism.
People try drugs for many reasons. While some may be deliberately seeking escapism, many people are just trying them recreationally. There's no one reason to use drugs and no single reason people become addicts. Addiction can affect anyone. According to DrugAbuse.gov, addiction is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain's structure and how it works.

Myth #3: If alcohol doesn’t really affect you, you won’t become an addict.
Alcohol addiction isn’t about how fast you get drunk or how drunk you feel. Some people believe that there’s only a risk of addiction in people who get drunk easily and act irresponsible when drunk. What you may not know is that strong tolerance to alcohol can actually be a symptom of alcohol addiction. Many individuals with alcoholism show no symptoms.

Myth #4: If you relapse from addiction, you’re a lost cause.
There’s no such thing as being a lost cause when it comes to substance abuse and addiction. Relapse can be very discouraging and upsetting, but the focus must remain on the fact that addiction is a disease. If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, seek help.

Myth #5: Drug treatment cures addiction.
Drug treatment puts addicts on the road to recovery, but it does not “cure” addiction. Most individuals with a drug addiction need treatment or counseling in the long term, sometimes throughout life. There’s no quick solution to drug addiction. In fact, addiction can cause permanent effects to the brain and body.

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Learn what household products you should consider as potential drugs.

When your children were little, you knew to keep lighter fluid, cleaning supplies and paint away from them. You probably locked cabinets or stored these household chemicals far out of reach.

Now that your children are older, don’t stop being vigilant. Many household products are drugs in disguise, and can be abused by children and teens seeking a cheap and quick high. One in five kids report trying inhalants by eighth grade, according to the DEA.

What are the effects of inhalants?
Unfortunately, kids may not think that inhaling chemicals is “really” doing drugs. What they may not know is how dangerous these inhalants can be. Short-term effects can include dizziness and irritability, while long-term effects can include cognitive impairment and short-term memory loss. Overdose can lead to sudden death.

What can be used as an inhalant?
Be aware of what your child could be abusing by inhaling chemical fumes. They could be items that you keep in your bathroom, kitchen or garage that you might not have otherwise thought could be harmful.

Commonly abused household products include:

• aerosol products (such as paint or hair spray)
• glue
• lighter fluid
• paint
• cleaning fluids
• fuel
• air freshener
• correction fluid
• markers
• nail polish remover
• whipped cream canisters
• vegetable cooking spray

Talk to your kids about the dangers of inhaling drugs and household products. It's important that you let them know just how damaging these household items can be when abused.

If you find a chemical you’re not familiar with or you believe your child has taken household products as drugs, contact your local poison control center immediately. If you’re concerned about your child’s behavior or believe he or she has a problem abusing inhalants, talk to your child’s doctor and visit the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition to learn more.

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If you think smoking at parties, events and with friends won’t hurt your body, think again.

To some people, social smoking is a “safe” form of smoking. While you might not expose your body to as many toxins as someone who smokes a pack a day, you’re still hurting your health if you smoke once in a while. Social smoking isn’t a healthy way to enjoy cigarettes. When it comes down to it, there’s no safe way to smoke.

Learn the dangers to your health
There are many serious side effects of social smoking: Heart disease, cancer, respiratory tract infections and slower injury recovery. Whether you’re a young student or a grandparent, these side effects could have serious repercussions in your life. Did you know that smoking also affects your brain? Even social smoking can influence your memory. Do you really want a few cigarettes at a party to have lasting effects on your ability to think?

How to quit social smoking
This is an instance where peer pressure may be a good thing. Remind smokers that they’re hurting those around them by exposing people to secondhand smoke. If you want to quit, take it seriously. It’s still habit forming, and you may need as much support as someone who smokes all the time.

The good news about social smoking
There’s nothing safe about social smoking, but the good news is as soon as you quit, your body will begin healing. Give your health a fighting chance by quitting social smoking today.

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