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The Partnership for a Drug-Free America reports that 1 in 5 high school students will abuse prescription drugs before they graduate.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America also reports that, "Every day, 2,500 teens use a prescription drug to get high for the first time. 12 to 17 year olds abuse prescription drugs more than they abuse ecstasy, crack/cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined! Only 1 in 3 report learning about the risks of prescription drugs from their parents."
Are those reports discouraging? They should be. The deadliest form of substance absue is occurring in the very homes of teenagers.
However, there is HOPE. Over and over again, studies are showing that the most influential person in a teenager's life is the parent. Yet, the person who hesitates the most to talk to their teenagers is the parent.
Check out this link for how YOU, the parent, can begin to influence your teenager's life. You may save your child's life.
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Importance of the Active Father
This upcoming weekend, 3 Dimensional Life will host its FIRST ever Father/Son Retreat, entitled "Well Done".
Consider the following quotes from this article:
Dr Herbert Gayle, an anthropologist of social violence, took a similar view.
"A father has four roles -- provider, protector, role model and emotional supplement to the family. Think about a father who has infant children and the state forcefully removes this parent, you understand the tremendous impact of him not performing his roles," he said. "When you remove a father who is the minister of security for his family, you create physical insecurity in his child and one of the results of that is violence."
Added Gayle: "The father is crucial. When you pull a man from a family, if the mother has a headache she doesn't have anyone to lean on. When the father is absent and abused and treated as though he is marginal, then the boy begins to see himself as marginal. Girls need to see their fathers act as a caring and loving person in order to trust the opposite sex."
When Dr. Gayle began to discuss the importance of a father, he highlighted four different roles: provider, protector, role model and emotional supplement to the family. That is a mighty tall order and really pushes how vital a father is to the family.
Let's connect those roles to examples:
Provider - "He makes the case that one aspect of a father providing for his sons involves training them to provide for their own family some day. In this day and age, the role of career training has shifted from fathers to schools (trade schools, colleges, etc.). He suggests that fathers begin taking the responsibility for instilling these skills in their sons." source.
Protector - Dr. Gayle notes, "When you remove a father who is the minister of security for his family, you create physical insecurity in his child and one of the results of that is violence."
Role Model - Dr. Gayle says, "When the father [sees himself' as] marginal, then the boy begins to see himself as marginal. Girls need to see their fathers act as a caring and loving person in order to trust the opposite sex."
Emotional Supplement for the Family: Dr. Gayle makes this comment: " [When a father is gone, the mother] doesn't have anyone to lean on....boy begins to see himself as marginal....girls need to see their fathers act as a caring and loving person in order to trust."
For someone to say that a father is not a vital aspect to the family, that is a sadly mistaken assumption. That is why this weekend is so important for our students and their fathers. While our students move toward adopting a lifestyle that is destructive-behavior-free, the fathers have the opportunity to reconnect and build on the relationships with their sons.
Consider the following quotes from this article:
Dr Herbert Gayle, an anthropologist of social violence, took a similar view.
"A father has four roles -- provider, protector, role model and emotional supplement to the family. Think about a father who has infant children and the state forcefully removes this parent, you understand the tremendous impact of him not performing his roles," he said. "When you remove a father who is the minister of security for his family, you create physical insecurity in his child and one of the results of that is violence."
Added Gayle: "The father is crucial. When you pull a man from a family, if the mother has a headache she doesn't have anyone to lean on. When the father is absent and abused and treated as though he is marginal, then the boy begins to see himself as marginal. Girls need to see their fathers act as a caring and loving person in order to trust the opposite sex."
When Dr. Gayle began to discuss the importance of a father, he highlighted four different roles: provider, protector, role model and emotional supplement to the family. That is a mighty tall order and really pushes how vital a father is to the family.
Let's connect those roles to examples:
Provider - "He makes the case that one aspect of a father providing for his sons involves training them to provide for their own family some day. In this day and age, the role of career training has shifted from fathers to schools (trade schools, colleges, etc.). He suggests that fathers begin taking the responsibility for instilling these skills in their sons." source.
Protector - Dr. Gayle notes, "When you remove a father who is the minister of security for his family, you create physical insecurity in his child and one of the results of that is violence."
Role Model - Dr. Gayle says, "When the father [sees himself' as] marginal, then the boy begins to see himself as marginal. Girls need to see their fathers act as a caring and loving person in order to trust the opposite sex."
Emotional Supplement for the Family: Dr. Gayle makes this comment: " [When a father is gone, the mother] doesn't have anyone to lean on....boy begins to see himself as marginal....girls need to see their fathers act as a caring and loving person in order to trust."
For someone to say that a father is not a vital aspect to the family, that is a sadly mistaken assumption. That is why this weekend is so important for our students and their fathers. While our students move toward adopting a lifestyle that is destructive-behavior-free, the fathers have the opportunity to reconnect and build on the relationships with their sons.
Monday, March 1, 2010
An Update
Good Afternoon! It is such a welcomed relief to see the sun out and actually feel the warm rays. Over the last couple of days, I have been uploading videos to our facebook page. Be sure to check them out! (For some reason I am having difficulty uploading them to the blog!)
It has been really encouraging to see the involvement of parents. It is easy to take a backseat stance while the student is in the program. But, lately, we are seeing parents pursue harder after their own Family Recovery. We are also seeing families of graduates contact us. I think this is another great aspect, because it shows that parents know they have a trusted source in our staff.
Yesterday, one out-of-state Mom got to stay longer to visit with her son. She made dinner for entire house. It was incredible to watch the boys thoroughly enjoy the meal she cooked. As I stood watching the students get their plates, I noticed one student who tapped the Mom on the shoulder. Before he would take his plate, he said "thanks" and gave her a big hug. I love those moments.
Cherish those 'little' moments. And, enjoy the videos!
It has been really encouraging to see the involvement of parents. It is easy to take a backseat stance while the student is in the program. But, lately, we are seeing parents pursue harder after their own Family Recovery. We are also seeing families of graduates contact us. I think this is another great aspect, because it shows that parents know they have a trusted source in our staff.
Yesterday, one out-of-state Mom got to stay longer to visit with her son. She made dinner for entire house. It was incredible to watch the boys thoroughly enjoy the meal she cooked. As I stood watching the students get their plates, I noticed one student who tapped the Mom on the shoulder. Before he would take his plate, he said "thanks" and gave her a big hug. I love those moments.
Cherish those 'little' moments. And, enjoy the videos!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Family Recovery
"This is the way God meant my son to be."
Yesterday, in Family Recovery, the above comment was made by a mother who still attends Family Recovery and whose son is a 3D intern.
For so many reasons, I loved the truth behind that statement. It spoke of health and continued healing. It spoke of a family who had been restored. It spoke of peace in the home. It spoke of love that dissolved and replaced hate. It spoke of Family Recovery.
Later, I heard this comment:
"We are coming to Family Recovery because we need the healing."
3 Dimensional Life isn't just about a student acknowledging their pain that drove them to drugs, alcohol, or whatever it may be. It is about the entire family healing together. Because if there isn't a healthy home to return to, how much harder is it for a student to carry out long-term sobriety?
I'm praying that the day comes when all the present and future families of 3D students can look at their son and say, "This is the son God meant for me to have. This is the healing we received as a family."
Yesterday, in Family Recovery, the above comment was made by a mother who still attends Family Recovery and whose son is a 3D intern.
For so many reasons, I loved the truth behind that statement. It spoke of health and continued healing. It spoke of a family who had been restored. It spoke of peace in the home. It spoke of love that dissolved and replaced hate. It spoke of Family Recovery.
Later, I heard this comment:
"We are coming to Family Recovery because we need the healing."
3 Dimensional Life isn't just about a student acknowledging their pain that drove them to drugs, alcohol, or whatever it may be. It is about the entire family healing together. Because if there isn't a healthy home to return to, how much harder is it for a student to carry out long-term sobriety?
I'm praying that the day comes when all the present and future families of 3D students can look at their son and say, "This is the son God meant for me to have. This is the healing we received as a family."
Friday, February 5, 2010
A Drug Overdose Funeral
It is with great sensitivity that I write this.
In September 2009, the USA Today reported that an estimated 26,000 deaths occur each year to drug overdoses.
That is a lot of parents, children, grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends and so many others that will grieve the loss of a loved one.
Today, 3 Dimensional Life staff and students will be attending a funeral of a young man who overdosed just last weekend.. Life is so valuable, but to the drug addict, you feel invincible. Death seems fleeting and untouchable.
However, today, we will join a family as they grieve their son's death. Today, the USA Today statistic comes to life in the form of death. Today, we are hoping for less drug overdose funerals to attend and more great success stories like Anthony Hargrove.
Be praying for this young man's family today, and also be praying that today's funeral is startling wake-up for the 3D students.
In September 2009, the USA Today reported that an estimated 26,000 deaths occur each year to drug overdoses.
That is a lot of parents, children, grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends and so many others that will grieve the loss of a loved one.
Today, 3 Dimensional Life staff and students will be attending a funeral of a young man who overdosed just last weekend.. Life is so valuable, but to the drug addict, you feel invincible. Death seems fleeting and untouchable.
However, today, we will join a family as they grieve their son's death. Today, the USA Today statistic comes to life in the form of death. Today, we are hoping for less drug overdose funerals to attend and more great success stories like Anthony Hargrove.
Be praying for this young man's family today, and also be praying that today's funeral is startling wake-up for the 3D students.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Impact of Family Dinners
Family Dinners. They were a staple when I was growing up. You did not NOT participate. For literally hours, we would sit around the table and talk, laugh and catch up. Sometimes, the conversation would grow intense as my brothers, sisters and parents loudly proclaimed their opinions on world news, local news, sports, music, movies, theology, jokes, etc. It was all in good fun, but what developed was strong good memories of time spent around the dinner table together as a family.
This isn't an old idea, but apparently it is becoming a good reminder: family dinners prevent substance abuse.
Ponder this quote for a minute:
"More than a decade of research by the Natioanl Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has consistently found that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs." (emphasis is mine)
Of course, there are those exceptions, but still, the message that CASA is presenting is powerful. As parents invest in their child(ren)'s life, spend time with them, having meaningful conversations, the impact is HUGE. Yes, peer pressure is huge; but how much more influential is a parent's involvement?
Do you have a favorite family dinner memory? I do - it's laughing until my sides hurt and remembering that my parents and siblings were laughing just as hard with me.
This isn't an old idea, but apparently it is becoming a good reminder: family dinners prevent substance abuse.
Ponder this quote for a minute:
"More than a decade of research by the Natioanl Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has consistently found that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs." (emphasis is mine)
Of course, there are those exceptions, but still, the message that CASA is presenting is powerful. As parents invest in their child(ren)'s life, spend time with them, having meaningful conversations, the impact is HUGE. Yes, peer pressure is huge; but how much more influential is a parent's involvement?
Do you have a favorite family dinner memory? I do - it's laughing until my sides hurt and remembering that my parents and siblings were laughing just as hard with me.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Life Change
Transformed lives. New life change. Renewed family relationships. Small sentences, yes, but powerful implications.
Yesterday, several staff members met with a new student's family. The mom's eye glistened with tears and hope. Hope for restoration of her son. Hope for peace for her family. Hope for life change.
It is sometimes difficult to put into words how powerful a life change can be for the student who wants it.
I stumbled upon this blog recently; its written by a mom of one of our recent graduates. As I read this Mom's blog, my own eyes swelled up with tears. It provides insight to life 9 months later. 9 months after hope has been restored, peace has found its home, and life change has occurred. Life change when a student wants it; when the entire family steps forward and works together.
Here is a picture of two of our recent graduates, pray they stand strong and work their new life style. Pray they are a beacon in world that needs hope.
Monday, January 11, 2010
3D Family
The 3D family isn't just made up of staff members and students. It extends far beyond that to the students' families.
Each Sunday, we have Family Recovery class. This is a vital opportunity for the students and families to gather together and learn how to heal the wounds in their individual family and walk through recovery together.
Yesterday, I was struck at the uniqueness of 3D Sundays. Families come to see their students, but also, it is a time to get to know other families. Parents who are going through the exact same thing: having a son (soon, daughter!) in a drug and alcohol recovery program. I can only imagine that it must be nice to look across the living room and realize, We aren't alone. That is needed - to know there are others who have walked or are walking through the same or similar situation...
Beyond having that support network with other families, its really neat how students and parents can walk through recovery together. How awesome! What it does is identify that this isn't JUST a student issue, but the addictive behavior has poisoned every aspect of life, but in particular the family.
Next Sunday, be thinking of not only our 3D students, but also their families as they journey to healing together.
Each Sunday, we have Family Recovery class. This is a vital opportunity for the students and families to gather together and learn how to heal the wounds in their individual family and walk through recovery together.
Yesterday, I was struck at the uniqueness of 3D Sundays. Families come to see their students, but also, it is a time to get to know other families. Parents who are going through the exact same thing: having a son (soon, daughter!) in a drug and alcohol recovery program. I can only imagine that it must be nice to look across the living room and realize, We aren't alone. That is needed - to know there are others who have walked or are walking through the same or similar situation...
Beyond having that support network with other families, its really neat how students and parents can walk through recovery together. How awesome! What it does is identify that this isn't JUST a student issue, but the addictive behavior has poisoned every aspect of life, but in particular the family.
Next Sunday, be thinking of not only our 3D students, but also their families as they journey to healing together.
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