Nearly half of American young adults experience addiction, substance abuse or mental health issues, but few seek treatment, according to a recent report published in the December 2008 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

U.S. researchers recently analyzed data from more than 5,000 young adults aged 19 to 25, who took part in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

Researchers found that nearly 48 percent of the study participants met the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder, but only 25 percent of those identified with disorders sought treatment.

Among those in college, alcohol abuse (20.4 percent) and personality disorders (17.7 percent) were the most common disorders. Young adults not in college were most frequently diagnosed with personality disorders (21.6 percent) and nicotine dependence (20.7 percent).

College students were less likely to use drugs, tobacco, or have bipolar disorder than the non-students; but college students’ potential for alcohol abuse was much greater. Additionally, students were significantly less likely to receive treatment for drug or alcohol abuse or addiction.

“In view of the high prevalence and low rate of treatment of alcohol-use disorders in college students, greater efforts to implement screening and intervention programs on college and university campuses are warranted,” wrote Dr. Carlos Blanco, of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York. “The centralized delivery of campus student health services might offer an advantageous structure for carrying out such screening and interventions.”

The researchers also noted that a high overall rate of psychiatric disorders exists among young adults, who are at a vulnerable stage of development. This is not surprising since the average age of onset for many mental illnesses is seventeen.

“The vast majority of disorders in this population can be effectively treated with evidence-based psychosocial and pharmacological approaches,” Blanco wrote. “Early treatment could reduce the persistence of these disorders and their associated functional impairment, loss of productivity and increased health-care costs. As these young people represent our nation’s future, urgent action is needed to increase detection and treatment of psychiatric disorders among college students and their non-college-attending peers.”

Something must change. Facts and information need to find their way to young people, especially those in college. They must learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and understand their seriousness. Young people must be encouraged to seek treatment, and must have access to cost-effective treatment options.

Consider the numbers—nearly 50% of a generation of Americans is affected. Only a small fraction receives treatment. Their future, our future, is at risk.

As many of you know, two of my three children have bipolar disorder; and in our extended family a dozen family members have this or a related diagnosis. And we are far from alone.

The fact is, over 100 million people have friends or family members diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Tom and Fran Smith were a part of that group until their daughter Karla ended her own life at age 26, after a seven-year struggle with this serious mental illness.

During those seven years, Tom Smith says “…we received very little guidance…no one attempted to understand or clarify our frustration, concern and fear; we had no manual that suggested ways to cope…”

After grieving the loss of their vibrant young daughter, the Smith’s were compelled to ease the way for other families in similar circumstances. To that end, they founded The Karla Smith Foundation for  parents and loved ones of people with mental illness. Through support groups, peer-to-peer coaching, and educational programs and events, the KSF helps bring balance into lives that are affected by  mental illness or the suicide of a loved one. In addition to that ambitious endeavor, Tom Smith wrote A BALANCED LIFE: 9 Stategies for Coping with the Mental Health Problems of a Loved One (Hazelden, Sept 2008).

Here, in brief, are those strategies Smith believes will make a difference in the lives of others living with a serious mental illness:

1.–Help our loved one find and continue to take the medication needed for a balanced life.

2.–Urge our loved one to maintain a supportive relationship with a therapist, counselor or sponsor.

3.–Learn as much as we can about the mental disorder of our loved one.

4.–Assist our loved one in developing a healthy self-esteem, since it is critical for a balanced emotional live.

5.–Accept mental illness as a fact of life for our loved one, even though mental illness does not encompass all of life.

6.–Take care of ourselves by proper exercise, sleep, diet, relationships, and by monitoring our feelings.

7.–Become a supportive network of family and/or friends who know about the mental illness and who commit to acting in the best interest of our loved one as far as we are able.

8.–Identify the early warning signs that precede a more difficult phase of the mental illness, and help our loved one when these signs emerge.

9.–Acknowledge our dependence on a Higher Power and seek guidance from that Higher Power in whatever way that is comfortable to us.

In A BALANCED LIFE, Smith commits a chapter to each strategy, illuminating his points with real life stories and experiences. In addition, he includes a series of questions that help families or support groups clarify their feelings and understanding of the facts; as well as easy to understand definitions and explanations of  various mental health issues.

If you know or love someone diagnosed with a serious mental illness, or if you belong to a support group related to this topic, this book is a necessity. An excellent resource on so many levels, A BALANCED LIFE helps families achieve just that.

I’ve been quite frank about my family’s experiences as my son struggles with addiction and sobriety. (Of course, this is easier for me than for many because I’m a writer who works under a nom de plume. Many people know my personal identity, but the world at large does not connect all of my family members to our story.)

Because of my openness, I get a lot of phone calls, emails and messages that contain the personal stories of other families with similar challenges. This networking makes all of us feel better — less alone, less guilty, less sad.

By sharing information with one another we are empowered. We learn to take control of our own actions and onuses, and to release our hold on issues and behaviors that are not ours. We disable the enablers within, a key component to personal recovery and maintenance of relationships. We become well.

By talking about mental illness and addiction and the resulting family dynamics, we shed light on these previously shunned and hidden illnesses. We remove the stigma and disseminate facts and solutions. In the long run, the people we love, and society as a whole, will benefit from these sometimes pioneering actions.

If you are silently, secretly struggling with addiction or someone whose behaviors seem addict-like, know that you are not alone. There is help and support. There is not shame. Walk tall. Take advantage.

One good place to start is DRUGFREE.ORG

This online resource sponsored by The Partnership For A Drug Free America provides information, support and resources for teens, parents, users and abusers, teachers and concerned community leaders.

Check it out!

And contact me.

I am here.

How much is too much?

How much is enough?

When  does support become crippling or enabling?

Does unconditional love mean giving without end?

Too much help…

Can it keep one from self-sufficiency, self reliance?

What if the giver feels used, the gift taken for granted?

Please share your thoughts and experiences.

Preventing Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Responding If It Happens

Yesterday’s post shared some enlightening facts about the dire consequences of early drug and alcohol experimentation.

Proven through long term study, scientists and researchers now tell us that the longer an individual postpones the onset of alcohol, tobacco or other drug use, the less likely that individual is to develop an addiction or other lifelong problems, including depression.

Another astonishing fact: 40% of kids who begin to drink alcohol at 15 years of age will develop alcoholism at some point in their lives.

As parents we’re responsible for raising happy, healthy kids into productive, contributing, and contented adults. Helping them to stay drug free is key to achieving these goals. Today I’ll share some guidelines gleaned from my personal experience as well as  Parents:The Anti-Drug, The Community of Concern and Freevibe.

I also want to remind you that these guidelines are no guarantee. I raised three kids in the same way, with the same rules and the same open communication. Two abstained from drugs and alcohol. One became an addict. But we never gave up and we never gave in. We never destroyed the lines of communication and we never demolished relationships. We continue to have hope and continue to love.  That is, perhaps, the most important bit of advice that I can share.

Prevention

Set rules. Let your teen know that drug and alcohol use is unacceptable and that these rules are set to keep him or her safe. Set limits with clear consequences for breaking them.
Praise and reward good behavior for compliance and enforce consequences for non-compliance.

Know where your teen is and what he or she will be doing during unsupervised time. Research shows that teens with unsupervised time are three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs. Unsupervised teens are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as underage drinking, sexual activity, and cigarette smoking than other teens. This is particularly important after school, in the evening hours, and also when school is out during the summer or holidays.

Talk to your teen. While shopping or riding in the car, casually ask him how things are going at school, about his friends, what his plans are for the weekend, etc..

Keep them busy - especially between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and into the evening hours. Engage your teen in after-school activities. Enroll your child in a supervised educational program or a sports league. Research shows that teens who are involved in constructive, adult-supervised activities are less likely to use drugs than other teens.

Check on your teenager. Occasionally check in to see that your kids are where they say they’re going to be and that they are spending time with whom they say they are with.

Establish a “core values statement” for your family. Consider developing a family mission statement that reflects your family’s core values. This might be discussed and created during a family meeting or over a weekend meal together. Talking about what they stand for is particularly important at a time when teens are pressured daily by external influencers on issues like drugs, sex, violence, or vandalism. If there is no compass to guide your kids, the void will be filled by the strongest force.

Spend time together as a family regularly and be involved in your kid’s lives. Create a bond with your child. This builds up credit with your child so that when you have to set limits or enforce consequences, it’s less stressful.

Take time to learn the facts about marijuana and underage drinking and talk to your teen about its harmful health, social, learning, and mental effects on young users. Visit the drug information area of TheAntiDrug.com

Get to know your teen’s friends (and their parents) by inviting them over for dinner or talking with them at your teen’s soccer practice, dance rehearsal, or other activities.

Stay in touch with the adult supervisors of your child (camp counselors, coaches, employers, teachers) and have them inform you of any changes in your teen. Warning signs of drug use include distance from family and existing friends, hanging out with a new circle of friends, lack of interest in personal appearance, or changes in eating or sleeping habits.

If you suspect your child is using or abusing…

Get Educated. Learn as much as you can. Sign up for The Anti-Drug Parenting Tips Newsletter or go www.Freevibe.com for information and scientific evidence on drug and alcohol use by teens. Call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) for free pamphlets and fact sheets. They can be reached at 1-800-788-2800; Spanish: 1-877-746-3764. Or visit their website.

Don’t Make Excuses. Although it’s natural for parents to make excuses for their child, you’re not helping him/her if you make excuses when he/she misses school or family functions when you suspect something else is at play. Take the next step: Talk to your child and get more information.

Have The Talk - Let Them Know You Know. Sit down and talk with your child. Be sure to have the conversation when you are all calm and have plenty of time. This isn’t easy-your feelings may range from anger to guilt that you have “failed” because your kid is using drugs. This isn’t true-by staying involved you can help his/her stop using and make choices that will make a positive difference in his/her life.

Know that you will have this discussion many, many times. Talking to your kid about drugs and alcohol is not a one-time event.

Be Specific About Your Concerns. Tell your child what you see and how you feel about it. Be specific about the things you have observed that cause concern. Make it known if you found drug paraphernalia (or empty bottles or cans). Explain exactly how his/her behavior or appearance (bloodshot eyes, different clothing) has changed and why that worries you. Tell his/her that drug and alcohol use is dangerous and it’s your job to keep his/her away from things that put his/her in danger.

Try to Remain Calm and Connect With Him/Her. Have this discussion without getting mad or accusing your child of being stupid or bad or an embarrassment to the family. Be firm but loving with your tone and try not to get hooked into an argument. Knowing that kids are naturally private about their lives, try to find out what’s going on in your child’s life. Try not to make the discussion an inquisition; simply try to connect with your teen and find out why he/she may be making bad choices. Find out if friends or others offered your child drugs at a party or school. Did he/she try it just out of curiosity, or did he/she use marijuana or alcohol for some other reason? That alone will be a signal to your child that you care and that you are going to be the parent exercising your rights.

Here are some suggested things to tell your son or daughter:

• You LOVE him/her, and you are worried that he/she might be using drugs or alcohol
• You KNOW that drugs may seem like the thing to do, but doing drugs can have serious consequences
• It makes you FEEL worried and concerned about him/her when he/she does drugs
• You are there to LISTEN to him/her
• We are here to make it clear that we will not tolerate any drug or alcohol use by you.
• We have rules in the family. The rules do not permit teen drug and alcohol use.
• Even though you think everyone is using drugs or alcohol, it is illegal and not allowable.
• You can endanger your life and the lives of others.
• We count on you as a family member. Your brothers and sisters look up to you and care about you. What would they do if you were gone?
• Drug and alcohol use can ruin your future and chances to…graduate, go to college, get a job, and keep your driver’s license.
• We are here to support you. What can I do to help you not use?
• Sometimes kids use drugs and alcohol because there are other issues going on like stress, unhappiness and social issues. Have you thought about this? Are there other problems you want to talk about?
• Are your friends using? How are you handling that? Is it hard to not use in that environment?
• We won’t give up on you because we love you. We’re going to be on your case until you stop completely. If you need professional help, we will be there to support you and help make it happen.

Be Prepared. Practice What You’ll Say. Be prepared for your teen to deny using drugs. Don’t expect him/her to admit he/she has a problem. Your child will probably get angry and might try to change the subject. Maybe you’ll be confronted with questions about what you did as a kid. If you are asked, it is best to be honest, and if you can, connect your use to negative consequences. Answering deceptively can cause you to lose credibility with your kids if they ever find out that you’ve lied to them. On the other hand, if you don’t feel comfortable answering the question, you can talk about some specific people you know that have had negative things happen to them as a result of drug and alcohol use. However, if the time comes to talk about it, you can give short, honest answers.

Most importantly, do all that you can to preserve relationships. When you get through this difficult time, you’ll be glad you did not destroy your family in the process.

Drugs, Alcohol and Young Teens

Early drinking and drug use can put kids on a path toward long-term problems. A 30-year study of more that 1,000 New Zealanders showed that kids who consume alcohol or abuse drugs before age 15 are more likely than their peers to become adult alcoholics or addicts, have unwanted pregnancies, contract sexually transmitted diseases and commit felonies. These outcomes are consistent whether or not the teens had a history of unacceptable behavior or came from families with substance abuse or mental health problems.

The participants were monitored for 30 years, starting at age 3. At the ages of 13 and 15, they were asked whether they had ever tried alcohol or illegal drugs. Overall, 11 percent of 13-year-olds said they had used alcohol or drugs multiple times. Half of these early starters had no history of serious behavioral problems or family factors likely to put them at higher risk of substance abuse.

Ultimately, the early starters were two to three times more likely than their peers to become drug- or alcohol-dependent, contract a sexually transmitted disease or have an early pregnancy. They were also  four times as likely to have had a criminal conviction.

This information should give parents a major heads-up.

Most parents don’t think their young teens use drugs or alcohol, but national surveys indicate that almost half of U.S. teens younger than 15 have done so. This study verifies that teens who use substances multiple times before their 15th birthday are at risk for a wide range of poor health outcomes, and that parents must assume the possibility exists.

Open communication, rules and guidelines, and intervention when necessary could prevent early experimentation from determining a lifetime of challenge. If you suspect your child or a young teen you know is experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Act now. You could change the course of his life.

Visit these websites to learn more:

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America

Phoenix House’s Facts on Tap

Leadership to Keep Kids Alcohol Free

Parents: The Anti-Drug

YOU OUGHT TO KNOW…

One in four adults–-nearly 60 million Americans–-experiences a mental health or brain disorder in any given year.

Over 30 million American teens and children suffer from a mental health disorder.

One in sixteen lives with  a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, clinical depression or bipolar disorder.

Nearly 10% of all American children have a serious mental illness.

Most American high school classrooms include 2 or 3 students with a serious mental illness.

Anxiety disorders affect 18% of American adults, an estimated 40 million individuals. They often co-occur with depression or addiction.

Depression is the leading cause of medical lost-work time.

Over 5 million Americans have a dual diagnosis–mental illness AND addiction issues.

Over one-third of America’s homeless population falls into this category.

The facts can be staggering.

The illnesses can be treated.

Learn the symptoms. Understand the illness. Seek treatment.

Be well.

Kat, from Blissfully Domestic, read my most recent book Mommy I’m Still in Here, interviewed me, attended a virtual book club meeting where I joined the discussion and answered questions, and then wrote the following review:

Kate McLaughlin, provides an open and honest insight into the challenges of raising children with Bipolar Disorder in her amazing book, “MOMMY I’M STILL IN HERE”.

McLaughlin began to use writing as a form of emotional release and healing, but eventually her writing turned into a motivating resource for parents trying to cope with their child’s disorder and its effects on their family.

I had the pleasure of talking and discussing the book with Kate. She is currently a mental health advocate, a member of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation. She also participates in NAMI’s Family-to-Family program.

What was it like for you, personally, to write this book?

Writing is cathartic for me.

It helped me process and purge a lot of self recrimination.

What was the biggest motivator to you to ‘keep it together’?

My biggest motivator to ‘keep it together’ was reflection on the times when I did not! I wanted to learn from my mistakes and avoid repeating them. As most mothers will vouch, my attitude often dictates the attitudes of those around me. My family needed to be uplifted and I was in the best position to do this, but don’t get me wrong, this experience has been a process of personal development. I got better at a lot of things…gentle assertiveness, patience, a calm demeanor, hopefulness, and a positive outlook…as time went on.

What has been you biggest “high point” in being a Mother?

My children’s abilities to live happily independent is the acme of my mothering experience. They developed the skills, confidence and levels of wellness to be who they are, doing what they choose. That’s successful parenting.

What was the hardest thing you had to come to grips with?

Within the perspective of MOMMY I’M STILL IN HERE and the time frame it covers, knowing that my kids’ illnesses were chronic, would never go away, was the hardest pill to swallow. I had to release lots of the unfulfilled expectations I’d created over my lifetime in order to accept the current, true, reality. But once that was done… happiness, hope and optimism returned.

More recently, I’ve worked hard to accept a truth that plagues a majority of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My son Michael is an addict. He cannot stay clean and sober despite numerous rehab, counseling, and detox programs. And the hard truth is, I cannot do this for him. He is solely in charge of this facet of his life. I‘m on a path to love him without condition, but sometimes I stray off that path and have to renegotiate the rough terrain.

What do you look forward to in the future?

I’m excited about advances in research and medical treatments that will provide the mentally ill with greater normalcy. I’m thrilled that the stigma surrounding serious mental illnesses is abating. People are finally learning that these illnesses are biologically driven, just like diabetes or cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy. And I look forward to the decades of experiences I will share with my husband and children and the people they love. We have a lot to look forward to and are greatly blessed.

This book covers the gauntlet of emotions. It has been a long time since I was so moved and touched by an author. It is definitely a book worth reading!!

Thank you Kat, for everything!

ESPECIALLY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

You should know that, as a college student, it’s easier to get professional help now than it may be after you leave school. This doesn’t mean you won’t run into any problems, but now is the time to get help. You’ll find confidential on-campus resources at your school’s counseling center, health center and places like a Women’s Center on your campus.

Students sometimes feel embarrassed or scared to seek help. Talking about your problems actually takes an immense amount of strength, and it’s important to move past the stigma surrounding mental health issues and get the help you need.

Often, the best place to start is your school’s counseling center. Visit its website or call its main number to find out what they can offer you.

Most on-campus centers provide two to eight free visits, so you can use their confidential services free of charge.

Counseling centers can offer a range of services, from individual sessions with psychologists or social workers, to group sessions for people who share a common issue (such as body-image issues, grief and loss, or academic anxiety), to sessions with psychiatrists. Since services vary campus to campus, your best bet is to find out exactly what your school offers.

If your school doesn’t have a counseling center, check with the school’s health center; mental health professionals may be able to see you there.

Some counseling centers may disclose information to the school administration if a student is suicidal or has thoughts of hurting him- or herself. You have a right to know if your school’s counseling center has such a policy and if the center plans to do this in regard to your situation.

Some schools have policies that require students who disclose self-injurious thoughts or acts to take an involuntary leave of absence; they may require students who have been hospitalized to be cleared by the counseling center before they can return to classes or live on campus. Check your school’s leave policies, code of conduct and residence hall contracts, or ask the counseling center or dean of students about the school’s policies and practices

You also want to look into what health insurance you have (if you have it) and what it covers. Some plans don’t cover mental health care at all while others have limits on the number of visits. If you don’t want to see a clinician on campus, or if the number of visits your counseling center will allow you isn’t enough, your insurance policy may dictate what outside options are available for you. Be aware that if you are on your parents’ health insurance, they may learn that you are receiving treatment from the insurer. Ask your insurance company about its billing practices.

Even if you have no insurance, there are agencies in most communities that offer services on a sliding scale. You can find them listed under “counseling,” “social service agencies” and similar categories. Many religious groups operate family service agencies that provide a range of counseling services.

If you choose not to seek services on campus, your school’s counseling center can be a resource for referral to practitioners and programs off-campus. You may end up seeing a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker in a private practice near your campus or in your hometown. You can also go to a family doctor to discuss your symptoms, though it is a good idea that you follow up with a mental health professional since a general practitioner is not the most knowledgeable about mental health issues.

Check out ULifeline, an online resource that provides information about mental health issues and professional resources on and around many campuses, you can get additional information at your school’s counseling and psychological services center.

°Thank you, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

I spent two days on college campuses this week, talking to parents and students about mental health and mental illness. So many questions arose, so many kids suffer unnecessarily.

Here are some of the facts, as published by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law:

• Many college students suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns.
• Anxiety is the issue most often mentioned by college students who visited campus mental health services.
• Students also named depression as one of the top ten impediments to academic performance as well as stress, sleep difficulties, relationship and family difficulties
• In the 2006 National College Health Assessment, 43.8% of the 94,806 students surveyed reported they “felt so depressed it was difficult to function” during the past year, and 9.3% said that they had “seriously considered suicide” during the year.
• More than 30% of all college freshmen report feeling overwhelmed a great deal of the time-college women, even more (about 38%).
• In 2006, more than 13% of college students reported experiencing an anxiety disorder within the previous year.
• While anxiety disorders are common for both genders, women are five times as likely to have them.
• Eating disorders affect 5-10 million women and one million men, with the highest rates occurring in college-age women.
• Thirteen percent of students reported experiencing an emotionally abusive relationship in the last school year.

If you are experiencing depression, anxiety, mood swings, sleep disturbances, delusions or hallucinations, or if you feel overwhelmed, immobilized, hopeless or irritable, there is treatment that can help.

You may also benefit from therapy to address common issues such as body image or low self-esteem, to help with a crisis involving your relationship or family, or if you are in the middle of a transition, such as beginning a new school.

Students who seek treatment are not “weak” or “crazy.”

Therapy is a hopeful and affirming act of caring for yourself.

If you are affected by any of these mental health issues, contact your primary care physician or your campus’ college and psychological services.

You can feel better.

Treatment works.