Abusing Alcohol Parents

Abusing Alcohol Parents

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Abusing Alcohol Parents

Kids, Alcohol and Parents

Here is more information about Abusing Alcohol parents should know.

Are younger children exposed to alcohol and drugs?

The worst thing parents of pre-teen or younger children can do is assume that their child is not going to be exposed to alcohol:

At school

In the community

In your own neighborhood

Beer
and liquor are everywhere in American culture. Alcoholic beverages are
advertised on television, radio and in the print and internet. People
drink at ball games, they drink at parties and they drink at church
socials.

The idea of a young child drinking is frightening. Some
people think it’s harmless to give a little child a taste of beer or a
sip of wine, but it’s like playing Russian Roulette with your child’s
health. It isn’t funny.


Consider this: half of all children will try drugs or alcohol before they get out of high school. Half! Can you say with complete certainty that your child will be among the 50% who do not experiment at least once?

If there is even the slightest chance your child might make a bad decision in a moment of weakness, you need to know what to do.My wife grew up in a large urban area. Her family lived in the city and later moved to a suburb when their financial situation improved. She clearly recalls knowing kids in her elementary schools that took drugs, both in the city and in the suburb. We all shudder at drugs, but alcohol is so common. Do you really look at a beer as a threat? You should.

She was one of the 50% who did not use drugs, but her brother, who was seven years older, used drugs regularly when he was in the suburban high school. Beer parties are common. Some irresponsible parents even buy the quarter barrel for their under-aged child’s event.

As it relates to Abusing Alcohol parents need to recognize that each child is an individual and that life experience for one may bear no resemblance to the experience of the other. If the older one never drinks, don’t assume the younger one will not drink either.Here is some information about drug use in teens which also translates to alcohol use. Alcohol is a drug, just like marijuana. Abusing Alcohol parents who treat alcohol lightly do so at their children’s peril.

According to Dr. Allen I. Leshner, director, National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), the first thing Abusing Alcohol parents need to understand is WHY their kids would consider taking drugs. He offers that researchers have identified more than 50 factors, which are found at several different levels—individual, family, peer group and broader community.

Here are some of the factors about Abusing Alcohol that Abusing Alcohol parents should look for:

– Too much free time

– Weak family structures

– Peer pressure

– Social pressure

– Media glorification of drinking

Abusing Alcohol parents need to understand the risk factors. Keep your eyes open. There are a couple of reasons why children will drink. Let’s divide kids into two groups:

The first group is just looking for fun and excitement. They want to be a part of the crowd, so they do what their friends do, or what they THINK their friends do. They want to be cool. Even in elementary or intermediate school, kids want to be cool.

The second group is the kids who want to feel better. They might have emotional or mental issues, or they come from an abusive home, or something else is not right, regardless of how loving and supportive their parents are. They want to feel better, or just feel “normal.” They are self-medicating to feel better. Alcoholics will tell you about the “click,” that effect they receive when taking the first drink. Don’t assume that a child is exempt from using alcohol to feel better.

How do you know if your kids are using?

– Look for the signs like mood changes, or changes in energy levels.

– Do they have redness around their eyes?

– Have they stopped eating?

– Are they keeping up with their homework?

– Are they more secretive?

– Have they changes friends?

To discuss Abusing Alcohol parents need quality time with their children. Try to draw them out and see what’s going on in their lives. Get smart. Don’t assume Little Johnny or Little Jane isn’t trying something new, or won’t make a bad choice. The best drinking prevention program is your job as a parent right at home.

We encourage you to look into Abusing Alcohol parents prevention programs in your child’s school, or in the community.

If you suspect your child is self-medicating, get help from a professional!

If your child is drinking, becoming addicted, or is already addicted, you can’t handle it alone. Your child needs help and you need help!!

You should consult your family doctor, who can give you a referral to a local drug counselor, psychologist or social worker. Abusing Alcohol is a disease of the body, mind and spirit, so there are many people who are trained to help.

Avoid wrong assumptions

A dangerous assumption about Abusing Alcohol parents can make is thinking the drug use is a passing phase. Do you want to take the risk of your child falling into the clutches of addiction because you think it’s just a passing fancy?

They assume they can just handle it at home, maybe talk the kid out of using alcohol. They don’t have training in handling drug-related problems and may lose a lot of time, while their child loses control.

Parents assume they are the right kind of parents whose children do not do “these kinds of things.” They have money, they have social position, they go to church every Sunday and so these problems happen to other families.

Some parents make another dangerous assumption; they might recall their own youth and rationalize their child’s drug use by saying, “I drank when I was a kid and look at me, I didn’t become an addict.”

Know your child

Know your kid. Be open to allowing your kids to talk to you and share themselves with you, without your correcting them or minimizing their concerns. Be the parent, an understanding and protective guide.

Don’t compromise your role by being their “buddy,” because you will lose perspective. Like a general directing his troops, take a step back and look at the field from a hillside. Know that the enemy is there and wants to strike your child. That is a reality.

Be in control. Be honest. Be alert. Be proactive.

Question about abusing alcohol parents often ask:

Do parents have to go to Al-Anon meetings?

by RM

Hello ,
I have a son who is in rehab for alcohol for the third time.
He seems to be doing well this time. He is choosing to live in another
state and wants to keep in touch as little as possible.

As his
mother, this is difficult for me to accept but I want to do what is best
for him. I have attended Al-Anon and not found it helpful–only more
depressing.

I have a very strong faith and find strength through that.

My son is hurt that his dad and I aren’t attending Al-Anon. Any suggestions?

Do parents have to go to Al-anon meetings?

by: Fairfield Don

My answer is no if the alcoholic (or recovering Alcoholic) is not living in or close to the home where this activity is taking place. Al-anon
meetings are very important to families who are undeservedly involved
in this nightmare. The home where the alcoholic lives is the so called
center of influence. At this point, Al-anon is very important for the
family members to understand what the alcoholic is going through.

For
example, keep a clean house, cook good food, don’t scream and argue
with the alcoholic, and threaten him in any way. It only makes him
retaliate by drinking more, as a way to “Show You”.

But if he
does not live with you, yes you will worry about him and hope for the
best, but don’t let him bull-dog into getting you to do what he wants.
How do you know he’s not drinking now, and just getting a kick out of
pushing you around?

Trust in the Lord to help you. Sometimes
you just have to let go, and let God. Remember, you have a life to live
too. May God bless and keep you in his loving arms.

Ask if his sponsor agrees?

by: Joe Herzanek

Hi RM,

I would ask your son where he came up with the
idea that you must attend meetings? You could if you felt a need for a
therapy group but it is not written anywhere that you must.

Ask
him if his sponsor agrees with him about this. (If so, he should look
for another sponsor). I’m 31 years clean and sober and I haven’t read
anything that REQUIRES family members to attend groups.

It may be helpful but is optional.

It’s
like the patient/recovering person telling the healthy person how to
get well. If anybody needs to cut anybody some slack it should be the
other way around.

He will mature over time.

All the best, Joe

Thanks for quick response

by: RM

Dear Joe,

Thank you for responding so quickly.

I
am willing to try again and have wanted to attend an open AA meeting,
so I will look into doing that. My husband and I understand that he will
feel more supported if we go, but isn’t Al-Anon for us?

We
don’t feel responsible or blame ourselves in any way for his choices. He
is 27 and grew up in a loving supportive Christian home. His choices
have been his and he owns up to them.

His fiance lives near us
and has been close to us for 5 years. She attends our Bible study class
in our home. However, we received an email telling us she can’t be
around us unless we attend Al-Anon and work the program! We were hurt
and are confused by this and wondering if they are being guided to
separate from the family.

I love my son with all that I am and
although it is very painful to be away from him and not talk to him it
saddens me to no end. However, knowing he is working on getting healthy
and staying sober is all I can ask for right now.

I lost my
mother this past summer, my daughter married and moved away and so did
my son. I am currently looking for a counselor to help me with all of
this loss in my life and understanding my son’s addiction.

Sincerely,
RM

Good meetings sometimes hard to find

by: Joe Herzanek

Dear RM,

It can be a challenge to find a good Al-Anon group but well worth it if you do.

You might also find it helpful to attend an occasional Open AA meeting.

There
is lots to learn there. Maybe it will help your son to see you want to
be more involved with his life. Anything that will encourage him is
great.

Strong faith is a wonderful asset (-:

Blessings, Joe



and Finally Remember:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
– Matthew 7:7-8



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