The seventh annual Drug Summit was held at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville on Friday, June 5, 2009.

Over 160 educators, members of the law enforcement, municipal officials, school administrators, members of municipal alliances, prevention specialists and SACs attended the event. They were treated to interesting and relevant workshops including: “Uppers, Downers, All-Arounders” presented by Doug Collier, DEA Special Agent and Danielle Gilbride, DEA Field Intelligence Manager; “Internet’s Role in Drug Abuse”, presented by Tom Prevoznik, Group Supervisor, Diversion, Camden office of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and, a special Drug Court Panel, facilitated by Tammy D’Aloia, Middlesex County Drug Court Coordinator and featuring Caroline Meuly, Drug Court Prosecutor, Shawna Hooper, Probation Officer as well as Joshua K. and Lisa B., both of whom are Drug Court graduates.

Steven Liga, CEO & Executive Director at NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. served as Master of Ceremonies. Welcoming remarks were also delivered by Andrea Craparotta, Lieutenant at the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office as well as Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent in Charge at the New Jersey Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The event was sponsored by: Drug Enforcement Administration- New Jersey Division, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) of Middlesex County, Inc., Rutgers University Health, Outreach, Promotion, & Education (HOPE) and the Rutgers University Police Department.

Here are some candid images from this year’s event:

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) of Middlesex County, Inc. is offering presentations for older adults in the county on a first-come first-serve basis. All presentations are interactive and informative and last approximately an hour and can be made to a group of up to 30 individuals. Older adults are guaranteed to enjoy them! Following topics are available for presentation:

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS

Senior Jeopardy—Just like the game show! This presentation increases knowledge while having fun at the same time! Categories include questions regarding nutrition, substance abuse, healthy aging, depression, and stress management. For this presentation, audience members can form teams to increase the competition—and the excitement!

Substance Abuse among Older Adults—This presentation is designed to provide its audience with up-to-date statistics and information related to substance abuse and older adults. The presentation discusses signs and symptoms of substance abuse among older adults and features resources available to this important group.

Older Adults and Depression—Did you know that about 58% of people aged 65 and older believe that it is “normal” for people to get depressed as they grow older? Well, it is NOT normal! This presentation addresses the signs, symptoms, and myths about depression among older adults. Attendees learn how to get treatment for depression, and how to distinguish depression from grief and the occasional blues.

Conflict Resolution— This presentation is designed to teaches how conflicts can be resolved more effectively by practicing the steps of the “Win-Win” method. Attendees learn ways to alleviate defensiveness, increase understanding, and reduce tension. A sample conflict will be analyzed to demonstrate conflict resolution skills that can be applied in personal situations.

Grief and Loss—This presentation covers the many ways people may experience grief either through the loss of a loved one, loss of health status, and/or loss of independence. The difference between depression and grief will be explored. Community resources will be discussed after the presentation.

To schedule a presentation, please call Jennifer Smith at 732-254-3344 ext. 23 or email her at jennifer@ncadd-middlesex.org

18 or 21? Forum to discuss proposed reduction in the minimum drinking age is set for April 2^nd

A forum to discuss whether the minimum drinking age should be reduced from 21 to 18 years of age is scheduled for Thursday, April 2^nd, from 5 to 7:00 p.m.

Hosted by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) of Middlesex County, Inc., the event will feature a discussion on the Amethyst Initiative, a movement coordinated by a number of prominent university presidents to have the legal drinking age lowered from 21 to 18. This issue was recently covered on the television show 60 Minutes and we want to continue the conversation locally. The event will be held at the Student Activity Center located on College Avenue, Rutgers University Campus in New Brunswick and will include a light dinner.

Moderated by Walter Kane of News12 New Jersey, the event will feature a panel comprised of local legislative leaders, educators, and college students — proponents of both sides of the discussion. Expected to lead the discussion are:

• Barrett Seaman - Barrett Seaman is the author of Binge: Campus Life in an Age of Disconnection and Excess. Published in 2006 by Wiley, the book is widely considered a must-read for the parents of every college-bound student. Choosing 12 colleges, among them Harvard, Berkeley, Duke and Stanford, Seaman spent two years living at colleges and investigating campus life. Seaman is a former Time magazine correspondent and senior editor, and a graduate and trustee of Hamilton College in Upstate New York. His August 2005 piece in Time titled, “How Bingeing Became the New College Sport” served as a wakeup call to parents across the country.
• Robert Pandina, Ph.D - Robert Pandina, Ph.D., serves as director of the Health and Human Development Laboratory of the Center of Alcohol Studies, which is conducting a longitudinal study of alcohol and drug-using behavior, its etiology, and its consequences. He is also a professor in the Department of Psychology.
• Upendra J. Chivukula – Mr. Chivukula has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2002, where he represents the 17th legislative district. Assemblyman Chivukula is the first Asian Indian American elected to the New Jersey General Assembly and the fourth Indian American in the United States to be elected to state office. Mr. Chivukula has been the Assembly’s Deputy Speaker since 2007. He serves in the Assembly on the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (as Chair) and the Commerce and Economic Development Committee.

Students from the Rutgers community are also expected to join the debate as members of the panel and as members of the audience.

The event is being sponsored by:

Polinsky Law Office

Bell Pharmacy of Edison

The 2008 Young Women’s Conference featured several workshops including:

• Exploring Health, Culture, and Identity
  Presenter: Elizabeth Amaya-Fernandez, Health Education Specialist, Rutgers University.  The workshop featured a discussion on the importance of including culture and identity in health and leadership programs.    They also explored culture and identity in the students’ own lives and featured activities that illustrated similarities and differences among other women in their age groups.

Presenter Bio
Workshop Details
Worksheet

• Keeping it Real
  Presenter: Mara Carlin, Prevention Educator, NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc.
  The focus of the workshop was to outline why people use drugs; which drugs are being abused and the consequences of prescription and other drugs.

Presenter Bio
Workshop Details
Worksheet

• Liking the Body in the Mirror
  Presenter: Dara Jarosz, Youth Development Specialist, PATHWAYS, School-Based Youth Services program at Carteret High School. 
  Mrs. Jarosz spoke on the concept of positive body image as a means to feeling pleased, comfortable, confident and proud of one self. The group further discussed how to improve one’s body image by working to increase awareness of environmental influences and how to respond to them; how to surround one’s self with positive people who have good body image and focus more on health than appearance.

Presenter Bio
Workshop Presentation
Worksheet

• Love Shouldn’t Hurt
  Presenter: Carrie Speiser, President, TEAR- Teens Experiencing Abusive Relationships.
  The program focused on the definition and relevance of dating abuse for teens. Attendees discussed the dynamics and difficulties of an abusive relationship including the common patterns and the different types of abuse and featured a “How to” presentation that attendees can use to help themselves and others in an abusive relationship.

Presenter Bio
Worksheet
Cycle Image
Power Wheel Image

• Think Again
  Presenter: Dana Brown, Perinatal Risk Reduction Specialist, Central NJ Maternal & Child Health Consortium.
  Mrs. Brown spoke to what makes girls different than boys and discussed alternate ways of coping with relationship issues and life’s stresses.

Presenter Bio
Workshop Details
Worksheet
Workshop Presentation

• Who Am I?
  Presenter: Judyth Brown, Educator, Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey.
  This workshop focused on exploring decisions in self determination, and what are elements of identity, sexual orientation, etc. The workshop explained that people don’t choose who they are, but they can choose how they should be treated.

Presenter Bio
Workshop Details
Worksheet
Resources

Improving relationships between parents and youth

Parents are challenged every day to keep their children’s small setbacks, like skipping household chores or not doing homework, from leading to serious behavior problems like drug and alcohol abuse, and kids need skills to help them resist the peer pressure that leads to dangerous behaviors. The Strengthening Families program can help. It is designed for parents or caregivers and their children ages 10 to 14. The goal of the program is to prevent substance abuse in youth by helping them to build skills and giving parents more tools to help their children become responsible young adults. The program also helps families improve the relationship between parents and youth and decreases the level of family conflict.

This program gets results

The Strengthening Families program has been evaluated with hundreds of families by research institutes at Iowa State University. Analysis of data has shown positive results for both parents and their children.

• Youth had significantly lower rates of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use compared to youth who were not in the program.
• Youth had significantly fewer conduct problems in school.
• Parents improved skills such as building a positive relationship with their youth, setting appropriate limits, and following through on consequences.

The Strengthening Families program is delivered in seven weekly group sessions that feature parent, youth, and family sessions. Parents and youth meet in separate groups for the first hour and together as families during the second hour to practice skills, play games, and do family projects. Sessions are highly interactive and include role-playing, discussions, learning games, and family projects.

Parent Sessions
The seven parent sessions consist of presentations, role-plays, group discussions, and other skill-building activities.

Parent Topics

• Using Love and Limits
• Making House Rules
• Encouraging Good Behavior
• Using Consequences
• Building Bridges
• Protecting Against Substance Abuse
• Using Community Resources

Youth Sessions
Youth sessions engage each youth in small and large group discussions, group skill practice, and social bonding activities.

Youth Topics

• Having Goals and Dreams
• Appreciating Parents
• Dealing with Stress
• Following Rules
• Handling Peer Pressure I
• Handling Peer Pressure II
• Reaching Out To Others

Family Sessions
Family sessions use specially-designed games and projects to increase family bonding, build positive communication skills, and facilitate learning to solve problems together.

Family Topics

• Supporting Goals and Dreams
• Appreciating Family Members
• Using Family Members
• Understanding Family Values
• Building Family Communication
• Reaching Our Goals
• Putting It All Together & Graduation

For more information about this FREE program contact Christina Rak-Samson at 732-254-3344 or email her at Christina@ncadd-middlesex.org

To download the Strengthening Families program brochure, please click here.

Steve Liga’s columns appear monthly in the New Brunswick Home News and Tribune. Click on the link below to read Steve’s comments on matters relating to Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug prevention.

• November 2008 - Family Dinner Time
• October 2008 - Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
• September 2008 - September is National Addiction Recovery Month
• August 2008 - August is National Medication Abuse Awareness Month

NCADD and the Coalition for Healthy Communities is looking for your support by participating in the We Check for 21, Too campaign.

This campaign’s goal is to decrease the number of young people under 21 years of age who are using and abusing alcohol by heightening the awareness of underage drinking and effecting system change in the community. The program reaches out to youth, parents, key community and school leaders, policy makers, and local businesses.

Thousands of area parents have already signed our pledge and it is gratifying to know that there are so many responsible adults watching out for our young people. With so many challenges facing our youth, there is a delicate balance between teaching about risk and encouraging them to explore the world around them. NCADD and the Coalition for Healthy Communities are dedicated to providing resources for the community to help with those challenges.

We would like to invite all of our friends and partners to print out and distribute the pledge available here. Spanish version is also available — just click here.

Please mail completed petitions to: Linda Surks, NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc., 152 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 or fax them to 732-254-4224.

NCADD is currently delivering the Safe Dates program at PATHWAYS, Carteret’s School-based Youth Services Program. The information is taught through a nine-week curriculum delivered to all eighth and ninth grade boys and girls at Carteret Middle School and Carteret High School. The program also includes a support group, club and other education activities.

Safe Dates is an engaging interactive program developed to help teens recognize the difference between caring, supportive relationships and unhealthy, controlling abusive dating relationships.  Safe Dates is being enabled through a grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) through its New Jersey Health Initiatives Program to implement the nationally-recognized Safe Dates teen dating violence prevention curriculum in the Carteret School District.

The goals of this program are:

• To raise student awareness of what constitutes healthy and abusive dating
  relationships.
• To raise student awareness of dating abuse and its causes and consequences.
• To equip students with the skills and resources to help themselves or friends in abusive dating relationships.
• To equip students with the skills to develop healthy dating relationships, including positive communication, anger management, and conflict resolution.

To further reach out to students, NCADD will establish both a therapeutic group for students to express their feelings about the issue and an after-school club designed to spread the message at the middle and high schools. In addition, the Safe Dates program includes a play depicting abusive dating relationships and the effect on teens, a poster contest designed to educate and involve the whole school community, and informational materials for both parents and teachers.

NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. is one of eight organizations to have been chosen to implement the Safe Dates program by the RWJF’s New Jersey Health Initiatives Program, which is committed to supporting initiatives that introduce innovative health strategies into local communities. For more information about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, please go to visit www.rwjf.org.

Where to get help:

• The Safe Space, a project of Break the Cycle, is the most comprehensive resource on the web for teens and young adults to learn about domestic and dating violence as well as their legal rights and options. Click here to link directly to The Safe Space.

• If the way your boyfriend or girlfriend treats you bothers you, peer advocates at loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline can help you figure out if the things happening in your relationship are normal. For information and to talk to a live advocate via a private, confidential online chat click on the badge below. 

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 30 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. Helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need- the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awards NCADD grant for dating violence prevention program.

East Brunswick, July 10, 2008: NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. has been awarded a $324,000 grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) through its New Jersey Health Initiatives Program to implement the nationally-recognized Safe Dates teen dating violence prevention curriculum in the Carteret School District.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 61% of domestic violence offenders also have substance abuse problems. Cognizant of this fact, NCADD has established the dating violence awareness program to work hand-in-hand with its other prevention goals. Providing the proper tools to develop healthy dating relationships and to prevent dating abuse, the three-year grant will be incorporated into the fabric of PATHWAYS, an NCADD-administered youth services program for the Carteret School District.

“When students speak with one of our counselors, for whatever reason, we are no longer surprised that an underlying cause of their distress is a relationship issue,” said Lauren Balkan, Program Director for PATHWAYS. “What is more important to students in middle and high school than the relationships they have with their family, peers, and budding significant others?”

To further reach out to students, the NCADD will establish both a therapeutic group for students to express their feelings about the issue and an after-school club designed to spread the message at the middle and high schools. Students who participate in PATHWAYS’ summer camp will also have the opportunity to develop a Safe Dates performance to be presented to the school community during October’s Violence Prevention Week.

With these services in place, NCADD plans to reach more than 2,000 students in the first three years of the program alone. NCADD’s Executive Director and CEO Steven Liga also hopes the curriculum will encourage the greater community to talk about the matter. “Reaching youth as they are just beginning to develop significant relationships is critical to their ability to develop patterns that will impact their lives and future families. With the proper tools in place from the start, we can remove one of the leading causes of future substance abuse – an inability to form healthy intimate relationships.”

NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. is one of eight organizations to have been chosen to implement the Safe Dates program by the RWJF’s New Jersey Health Initiatives Program, which is committed to supporting initiatives that introduce innovative health strategies into local communities. In all, the Foundation reviewed 43 proposals from organizations throughout the state.

For more information, contact Steven Liga at 732-254-3344.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 30 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. Helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need- the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

Additional information about teen dating abuse may be found at www.loveisrespect.org.

Below are links to videos depicting appearances by NCADD staff members.

• Steve Liga on CN8’s Newsmakers - Steve did three different interviews. Topics covered include August is National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month; September is Recovery Month and the issue of binge drinking on college campuses.

Steve’s appearance on CN8 on July 30, 2008

Steve’s appearance on CN8 on August 20, 2008

• Linda Surks’ appearance on Caucus: New Jersey - This show is provided in two parts.  The first half looks at the problem, the prevalence and asks why girls turn to drugs. This second half-hour examines the impact of the media and advertising on encouraging alcohol and other drug use among teens. Then the role of the family in treatment is an essential part of recovery for every teen. The teen talk about her road to recovery, her upcoming graduation from Daytop and what lies ahead. The panel also examines the role of parents in influencing their daughter’s decisions about drug use.

Linda’s Appearance on Caucus: New Jersey  - Tape #1

Linda’s Appearance on Caucus: New Jersey  - Tape #2

Parentally Speaking is NCADD’s newsletter targeted primarily to parents and caregivers in Middlesex County. But we also hope to reach educators, government officials, service providers and anyone else who impacts the lives of our youth. If you would like to be notified when a new issue of Parentally Speaking is available, just write to us at parentallyspeaking@ncadd-middlesex.org or call us at 732-254-3344.

What’s in a logo? Ideally, it should send a clear message about the organization it represents, its values, its mission, and its style. That’s an awful lot for what is essentially a symbol, or mark, and the name of the organization. Let’s see how we did as I introduce you to our new logo.
First, in designing the new logo, we were very conscious of the history represented by our old logo. For years, with the exception of the color, it has been exactly the same as the national NCADD logo, with the addition of “of Middlesex County, Inc.” and the extended double lines. Since it had been the same for so long, it has been taken for granted, and the rich history that the mark represents has been forgotten. Most people, including most of our staff, saw a red circle with a little design next to our name. Our goal was to bring that “little design” to life.Our mark has three distinct elements, each representing a facet of our mission.

The first is the key that forms the backbone of the mark. It stands for the key of knowledge and corresponds to our mission to prevent substance abuse by educating society about the nature of addiction; arming youth with the information and skills they need to succeed drug-free; and serving as a resource for parents, communities, and the media.

The second element is the double entwined snakes taken from the medical caduceus. The snakes are entwined around the key, because one of the most central concepts that we educate the community about is the fact that addiction is a brain disease and, as such, must be viewed as a public health issue, not a criminal justice or moral issue.

Finally, the wings represent the mythical phoenix rising from the ashes of its own destruction. This symbol represents how many feel about their own recovery from addiction and the new life they now lead. We stand ready to assist those in need of treatment for their disease and to provide encouragement and support to them and their families.

Taken together, these three elements reflect the original tenants of Marty Mann, the pioneering founder of the NCADD movement. She believed that society must be educated that an alcoholic is a sick person, worthy of help, and that recovery is possible. We have further emphasized that theme by choosing a fresh blue, representing life and rebirth as our primary color.

When you look at our new logo, we hope you can see its vibrancy and life. No longer is it locked within a circle. Instead, it is three dimensional with wings unfurling for flight. In fact, the mission represented by this symbol stands above us and transcends what we do locally, providing guidance and inspiration for all of our endeavors.

Footprints: Life skills and strategies for children in grades 2-3.

Featuring “real life” situations and opportunities to practice new skills.

L=looking and listening for clues about feelings and behaviors so as to develop coping skills when needed.

I=ideas and skills building for managing anger and proven strategies for more effective conflict resolution.

F=fostering resiliency by considering consequences and recognizing peer pressure and Facts about ATOD

E=enriching relationships by developing empathy and practicing kindness and listening skills

A six week classroom program promoting social skills and problem-solving strategies through the use of role-play, behavioral strategies and “real” life situations in the world of Peter the Porcupine, Betsy the Beaver, Ricardo the Raccoon, Sarina the Fox, Amir the Armadillo, and “Coach” Katrina the Kangaroo.

A family component involves weekly assignments to be supervised by parent/guardian, which introduces effective language and techniques for communicating about feelings and problems. Parents/guardians as well as classroom teachers are strongly encouraged to promote the use of this language to reinforce the value of the program and its concepts.

Each of the six characters in the stories have unique footprints and personalities as well as family situations, but each comes to learn how to grow in self-awareness and consider the consequences of their actions. They also gain an increased appreciation and understanding of their friends and the necessity of healthy problem solving without resorting to anger, teasing, blaming and substance abuse.

Lessons teach practical skills to manage anger and the use of steps for effective conflict resolution, such as listening and exploring creative alternatives to the problem. These are strategies, which build self-confidence and more positive social emotional development. The age-appropriate information on tobacco and alcohol is woven within the broader themes of decision-making and seeking help from caring and supportive adults when confronted with situations for which the child feels inadequate or fearful.

FIRST MEETING AND INTRODUCTION:

What do you think of when I say the word Footprints?

• • • Trails
    • Step by step process
    • Following someone
    • Tracks

• Katrina Kangaroo (F) – “Coach”; Soccer coach for second and third grade team; children can go to her for guidance; attends local community college; she lost her soccer scholarship (because of ATOD) and is now attending the local community college; she is originally from Australia.

• Betsy Beaver (F) – third grade; team goalie; lives with her cousin, Ricardo and their moms; is kind and caring and is sensitive to conflicts.

• Ricardo Raccoon (M) – second grade; ever since his father died (in a car accident), he lives with his cousin Betsy and their moms; can be immature and competitive; has trouble “fitting in”.

• Pete the Porcupine (M) – second grade; Mom and dad are divorced; lives with dad and grandma; mom is alcoholic; thinks his parent’s problems are his fault. He sometimes has trouble reading.

• Sarina Fox (F) – third grade; bossy, spoiled; mom and dad (a smoker) are busy at work a lot; wants to be “cool” and popular. Sensitive to peer pressure.

• Amir the Armadillo (a surprise character introduced during lesson six) (M) – second grade; is the new member of the team and replaces Betsy in the championship game; has a lot to learn about social competencies, luckily his team and new friends teach him; he moved from Costa Rica and needs to adjust to his new school, friends, and team rules in New Jersey.

Each puppet has unique footprints and personalities. They will be learning, like you, important skills to help them grow up to be happy and healthy. They will become aware of the footprints that they are following, as well as the ones that they are making. Each week you will learn more and more about them, as they let us into their lives.

Middlesex County Substance Abuse Coalition to host its second annual Family Day for Prevention on Sunday, June 3, 2007.

Families from all over Central New Jersey will take to the road to raise money for the Coalition, a community based organization dedicated to decreasing substance abuse and improving the quality of services for individuals in need.

Hundreds of individual of all ages and abilities, along with volunteers and crew members, can participate in one of four events:

• 50 Mile Bicycle Tour
• 20 Mile Bicycle Tour
• 5K Run in the park
• 2 Mile Fun Walk in the park

Other activities of the day will include:

• All-Wheeled-Sports Rodeo
• Face Painting
• Dance Demonstrations
• Theater Workshops
• Silent Auction
• Information tables sharing materials and resources

To register for the event, click here for our registration form. Or call us at 732-254-3344.

Yes, I want to sponsor the NCADD 2009 Legislative Breakfast

Stories of Recovery

By Dennis - My Recovery So Far.

I’ve told my story maybe 5000 times so far but this was the first time I was asked to write about it. And while my story is different from every other person with the disease of alcoholism and/or addiction, it is, at the same time familiar.

Long before I drank and used drugs I had a lot of alcoholic symptoms. I was uncomfortable in my own skin and had a sense that everyone had received instructions for life that I had missed. My life was incomprehensible, senseless and without purpose. I had a vague sense of the pain I caused others, but my overwhelming priority was to flee my pain through self-medication. Alcohol and drugs fixed a lot of those issues.

Every few years I would change jobs, apartments, friends, women and start over with a new group. I would continue my behavior, spend their emotional capital and move on again. Finally, when I pleaded for one more day of forbearance I set into motion a chain of events that led me to a new way of life. My girlfriend knew that if there was any hope for me it was at a12-step meeting. So I went to my first meeting and something happened. I was twenty-four years old and the only thing I knew about myself for certain was that I was an alcoholic. Years of isolation and confusion began to drop away as I began to walk the road of recovery with my brothers.

The recovery story is again an old and familiar one to many. I think that there are still layers yet to be revealed to me, but I know now that the greatest gift is that all the senseless and horrible things that I did to those I love, can have a meaning today. I can lend them meaning by passing along the message and, in a small way, begin to repay the debt I owed to those I love, who bore so much for me.

If this story sounds familiar, if one single person relates to it and gets even the smallest inkling of hope, then the gift gets passed along again as it was so freely given to me. Instead of being alone in the dark, I am back in the sunlight of the spirit for another day. Nobody that loves me ever wished for anything else.

By Debbie

At 15, I began experimenting with alcohol and pot with the neighborhood kids. I was riveted by those altered states and sought those experiences; striving to quiet the anger and fear I felt growing up. Full-throttle my lifestyle propelled me in many directions until I began recovery in 1985.

Then, the world I thought I knew crashed around me as I realized the ways I was destroying myself through my alcohol and drug use, my actions and thinking. After years in recovery, it became clear that my drinking and drugging were never about relaxing or socializing but fueled by the part of me that wanted to die. I thank my counselors and groups, 12 Step supports and my Higher Power for teaching me to meet these fears and broken inner places, and for helping me change how I relate to them.

Today I don’t need alcohol or drugs to flee from their shadows. My recovery journey continues to deepen my experience of self and my fullness of living. I wouldn’t miss this adventure for the world! (www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/resources)

By Cindy

February 9, 2000. It was the worst of times. I walked into the hospital emergency room, filled with liquor and pills and said to the first nurse I saw “Help me, or my next stop is the bridge”. This wasn’t for dramatic affect. Where I lived is on the Ohio River and we had a bridge. I hated how I felt and had finally reached that ever-elusive bottom. I had lost everything, my home, family, friends, job, dignity and respect. I was homeless thanks to my friend, alcohol.

February 10, 2000. I didn’t know it then but it was the beginning of the best of times. I began my recovery in earnest. It was hard in the beginning, especially in times of stress. I also no longer had my youngest son living with me and his father would not allow me to see him. But somehow I realized I couldn’t get better for my kids, my family or for anyone else. I had to do it for myself, or it would never work.

So I took baby steps in the beginning. I got myself a no holds barred alcohol counselor and got to work. Don’t ever let anyone tell you it is easy, if so they are lying. It takes one day at a time, everyday. I had lost my identity along my journey, so I first had to figure out who I was and what I wanted. I also had a new circle of friends who were also in recovery. I went to seminars, support group meetings; anywhere I could gain the knowledge I needed for this to work.

Over the last 7+ years I have worked hard. But slowly over time it began to work for me. As I got through my first year, I moved to a new city. One year turned to two, then three and I started getting involved with my community. I volunteered for 5 years with one of our local outreach programs that worked with the homeless.

I was hired and worked with young adults, 18-23 who have been used and abused, then thrown away. One of my girls told me” You’re the coolest old person I know, except for this other older guy, but he is dead.” You take your compliments where you can.

I am currently working to start up an outreach for all younger adults, the throwaway kids that are alone and to show them someone does care. It is a difficult task I am undertaking, I know, but I feel I need to do it. If not me, who? If not you, who?

There are things that happened in my life. I have at times, I wished I could change, but if I could, would I be who I am today? No one special, nothing different, but someone who does care and understands the stigma, isolation, embarrassment, degradation and discrimination one feels going through our journeys. There will always be those who see us the way they need to see us. Who cares? As long as we know for ourselves. We need to become activists for ourselves, advocate for our cause. Be proud. Don’t hide. Stand up and be counted. That is what we are all here for each other. And we should always strive to be the coolest old person someone knows. (www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/resources)

By Brenda

My addiction began when I was 13 after the death of my beloved mother and brother. I was lost in addiction for 21 years. The barriers to my recovery were unresolved grief, a lack of support (family/financial), and a lack of services. However, Recovery has given me the life that I deserved. Life now is richer in every way. I have healthy and rich family relationships; an interesting and gratifying career, a home, and a passion for helping others find their way out of difficulty.

I have been in recovery now for 12+ years and I am currently completing a doctorate in clinical psychology. My research interest is Stigma of Addiction. The higher I go in my education and career, I can’t help but wonder if my past history of addiction effects the way people will view me, and if the social stigma associated with addiction and the discrimination that grows from this stigma will be a barrier to my future success. It makes me wonder how anyone can find the hope to recover when they face so many obstacles, especially if they have gotten into trouble with the law as a result of their addiction. As I study stigmatizing attitudes and stereotypes that people hold about those who have struggled with addiction, I am amazed at the obstacles that people face and yet still recover! It takes a lot of courage and determination. If you are struggling, don’t give up. If you know someone who has had an addiction, please remember that this does not mean that they are bad or untrustworthy but more likely that life events, genetics, personality, the era that they grew up in, and environmental factors have all converged into this problem. It is not a life sentence. Change happens. (www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/resources)

By Hugh

In 2001 I was confronted for increasing alcoholic behavior - drinking at work (church) and a visible lack of ability to function. As a result, I went to Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT. The gifts I received there gave me the foundation of recovery that continues today. Much of my work as a priest reflects what I have learned from meetings, sponsors, reading and study. The wisdom I have discovered, as I see my Higher Power working through others, continues to be awesome.

In addition to my parish service I have begun a part time chaplaincy at my alma mater Silver Hill Hospital. As I walk the same paths on that campus today that I walked as a patient, I am daily reminded of the gifts of recovery. The acknowledgement that spirituality plays a major role in recovery by clinicians encourages my own ministry. I have discovered as chair of two diocesan committees on substance abuse education and support that education of clergy is critical to helping so many who are in harms way. I try to follow the example of William Moyers and others, in that - while the support group to which I belong and all who attend remain anonymous - I am open about my continuing recovery so I can teach, counsel and write – encouraging public awareness, clergy understanding and be an advocate for legislative support for parity in insurance coverage for addiction recovery and mental illness.

To that end my story and photo are in the 2006 National Recovery Month Materials. My name is Hugh and I am a grateful recovering alcoholic and thankful for the opportunity to share a bit of my story. (www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/resources)

The Coalition for Healthy Communities brings together professionals from multiple disciplines who have a passion for the prevention and treatment of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse problems. Their mission is to reduce substance abuse, especially among youth, by providing opportunities for increased collaboration, coordinated planning, and sharing of resources in order to maximize the quality and availability of services to the communities and residents of Middlesex County.

Monthly meetings provide an opportunity to network, plan collaborative events, share ideas and resources, and develop into a primary resource for the community. The meeting agenda is designed to provide the most time for sharing information. This has proven to be tremendously useful to the members, who have developed new partnerships and benefited from services that they did not know existed.

Every member of the Coalition can make a difference in the community. If you would like to help make Middlesex County a healthy, safe, and drug-free community, you must join the Coalition. For more information, call NCADD at 732-254-3344 or click here to email. For a copy of our brochure, please click here.

For a list of current members, click here.

December 2006

What is AD/HD or ADD?  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is a condition affecting children and adults that is characterized by problems with attention, impulsivity, and over-activity.  It affects between 3-7% of school-age children and between 2-4% of adults.

This condition has been known for more than a hundred years, but it hasn’t always been called the same thing. In the past, different labels have been used for what we now call AD/HD.  Research in the 1970’s and 1980’s began to show there are different types of attention deficit. Although they have major differences, the types are more alike than different. Doctors began to see that the different types are all part of the same major condition. In 1994, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders changed the name from ADD (attention deficit disorder) to AD/HD because of the advances in research. There are three types of this one condition called AD/HD. They are: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined.

Some doctors and mental health professionals still use the term ADD. If you know someone with this diagnosis, it most likely means that they have the inattentive type of AD/HD. This is not the child who is "bouncing off the walls" or "simply can’t sit still." Rather, it’s the individual who seems to be always daydreaming, is forgetful, is easily distracted, is disorganized, and just can’t seem to pay attention.

AD/HD is a hidden disability.  Just imagine what it must be like to have AD/HD before anyone realizes there is a problem? — "Sit still!"  "Why can’t you concentrate like everyone else?" "I have told you that a hundred times!" — These are only some things that individuals with AD/HD may hear every day.

AD/HD is hidden and often goes undiagnosed, because the symptoms are subtle.  A child with AD/HD often misunderstands questions and has trouble following multi-step instructions, because it is impossible for the child to sustain attention.  This lack of attention is not due to lack of willpower, rudeness, boredom, or willful disobedience.  Children with ADHD need to have instructions presented in an alternative way.

Public perceptions of AD/HD are full of myths, misconceptions, and misinformation about the nature, course, and treatment of the disorder.

Myth #1 – AD/HD is not a real disorder.  The psychiatric community and pharmaceutical companies created AD/HD to drum up business for private practices and to increase profits for drug companies.

The Truth – Studies over the past 100 years demonstrate that AD/HD is a chronic disorder that has negative impact on virtually every aspect of daily social, emotional, academic and work functioning.

Myth #2 – AD/HD is a disorder of childhood.  Individuals outgrow the disorder.

The Truth – 70-80% of children with AD/HD exhibit significant signs of restlessness and distractibility into adolescence and young adulthood.  A large percentage also suffer co-morbid psychiatric disorders, academic failure, and social isolation.  Children with persistent AD/HD have more severe AD/HD and adverse risk factors later in life.  Thus, AD/HD is a lifelong disorder that requires a developmental framework for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. 

Myth # 3 - AD/HD is over-diagnosed and many children with the diagnosis do not have AD/HD.

The Truth - It is difficult to find evidence that AD/HD is over-diagnosed or that stimulant medications are over-prescribed.  In fact, it has been suggested that in some cases, AD/HD may be undiagnosed and/or untreated.  Changes in special education legislation in the early 1990’s increased general awareness of AD/HD as a handicapping condition and provided the legal basis for the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD in the school setting. These legal mandates have increased the number of school-based services available to children with AD/HD and may have inadvertently led some to conclude that AD/HD is a new disorder that is over-diagnosed.

Myth # 4 - Children with AD/HD are over-medicated.

The Truth - Although there has been an increase in the rate of prescriptions for stimulants and an increase in the production of methylphenidate, little is known about why these increases are occurring.  Most researchers believe that much of the increased use of stimulants reflects better diagnosis and more effective treatment of a prevalent disorder.  The percentage of children who receive medication of any kind is small. 2.8% of elementary-aged students are reportedly on medication.  Stimulants account for 99% of the prescribed medications. So while there has been an increase in the number of prescriptions, a relatively low overall rate of stimulant use is reported in school-aged children.

Myths and inaccurate information about AD/HD should be dispelled by scientific findings. However, popularly held false beliefs, which are often perpetuated by emotional or unexamined arguments, abound. They do little to advance our knowledge and do a lot to discourage individuals from seeking help and from using effective treatments for AD/HD that have undergone rigorous scientific scrutiny.

If you would like to learn more about AD/HD, please use the attached registration form to sign up for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ~ The Hidden Disability, which will take place at NCADD on February 28, 2007.  Due to popular demand, this is the third year that NCADD has invited Irv Finkelstein of the ADHD Family Counseling Center of Central New Jersey to come and present on this topic.

For additional information on this training, please feel free to call Dena at 732-254-3344 X20.

November 2006

People who perform Acts of Kindness generally agree that doing a kind deed for someone else makes them "feel good.”  But, apart from sheer niceness, why should people be encouraged to commit Acts of Kindness? Are there any other concrete benefits that would motivate more people to become kinder?

The answer is an overwhelming "yes!" A number of scientific studies show that Acts of Kindness result in significant health benefits, both physical and mental, for those who perform them.

In recognition of World Kindness Week, please take the time to share the following key points with the teachers and other professionals in your school.  Encourage the youth in your community to become involved with committing acts of kindness.

• Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health and can diminish the effect of diseases and disorders, serious and minor, psychological and physical.

• A rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm after performing a kind act, is often referred to as a "helper’s high," involving physical sensations and the release of the body’s natural painkillers, the endorphins. This initial rush is then followed by a longer-lasting period of improved emotional well-being.

• Stress-related health problems improve after performing kind acts. Helping reverses feelings of depression, supplies social contact, and decreases feelings of hostility and isolation that can cause stress, overeating, ulcers, etc.  A drop in stress may, for some people, decrease the constriction within the lungs that leads to asthma attacks.

• Helping can enhance our feelings of joyfulness, emotional resilience, and vigor and can reduce the unhealthy sense of isolation.

• A decrease in both the intensity and the awareness of physical pain can occur.

• The incidence of attitudes, such as chronic hostility, that negatively arouse and damage the body is reduced.

• The health benefits and sense of well-being return for hours or even days whenever the helping act is remembered.

• An increased sense of self-worth, greater happiness, and optimism, as well as a decrease in feelings of helplessness and depression, is achieved.

• Once we establish an "affiliative connection" with someone - a relationship of friendship, love, or some sort of positive bonding - we feel emotions that can strengthen the immune system.

• Adopting an altruistic lifestyle is a critical component of mental health.

• The practice of caring for strangers translates to immense immune and healing benefits.

• Regular club attendance, volunteering, entertaining, or faith group attendance is the happiness equivalent of getting a college degree or more than doubling your income.

Performing Acts of Kindness doesn’t only promote physical and mental health.  The Search Institute has identified 40 Developmental Assets essential to raising successful young people. These assets have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. Some of the assets include:  

• Young people feeling valued by their community.

• Young people being given useful roles in their community.

• Young people serving for one or more hours each week in their community.

Therefore, the presence of these assets, due to performing Acts of Kindness, also decreases the likelihood of a child becoming involved with problem alcohol use, illicit drug use, violence, and sexual activity. 

World Kindness Week officially takes place on November 13-19, 2006.  However, feel free to choose dates that best meet the needs of your own community. Celebrate Acts of Kindness at any time of year — or all year long!

For more information on Acts of Kindness or for activities that your school can participate in, please visit the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation at www.actsofkindness.org.

NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. is an approved provider for the Addictions Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey (APCBNJ) and the New Jersey Department of Education/Professional Development (Provider #1417).

Below is a schedule of courses for Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

• Class are held ON WEDNESDAYS at either Catholic Charities, 319 Maple Street, Perth Amboy, NJ or at NCADD, 152 Tices Lane, East Brunswick from 9am to 4 pm.
• Check schedule below for appropriate location for each class.  Each course costs $60. For course description, please click here. If you wish to register, please click here to download a PDF application form to fax or mail to NCADD.
• For directions to Catholic Charities click here. For directions to NCADD, click here.

ATTENTION CLASS REGISTRANTS: You can charge your registration fee(s) by using NCADD’s donation page. Just go to http://ncadd-middlesex.org/donate/. Make sure you have the correct amount due for the class(or classes) you are registering for. Complete the form and press CONTINUE. You will be directed to a PayPal page where you can make payment through PayPal or by using VISA, MASTERCARD, American Express or Discover. Enter all required information and click on REVIEW ORDER AND CONTINUE. On the next page you will review your order and you will see an area for comments. Please indicate in this location that you are paying for a class (or classes) at NCADD and be sure to include the class code.

NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. is an approved provider for the Addictions Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey (APCBNJ) and the New Jersey Department of Education/Professional Development (Provider #1417).

Below is a schedule of courses for Certified Prevention Specialist and Recertification.

• All classes are held at NCADD, 152 Tices Lane, East Brunswick from 9am-4pm.
• For directions to NCADD, please click here. 
• Each course costs $60. For course description, please click here.
• If you wish to register, please click here to download a PDF application form to fax or mail to NCADD. (Adobe PDF Reader required.)
• Applying for a scholarship, then click here to download NJPN’s Tuition Support Application - Must have Adobe PDF Reader.

 ATTENTION CLASS REGISTRANTS: You can charge your registration fee(s) by using NCADD’s donation page. Just go to http://ncadd-middlesex.org/donate/. Make sure you have the correct amount due for the class(or classes) you are registering for. Complete the form and press CONTINUE. You will be directed to a PayPal page where you can make payment through PayPal or by using VISA, MASTERCARD, American Express or Discover. Enter all required information and click on REVIEW ORDER AND CONTINUE. On the next page you will review your order and you will see an area for comments. Please indicate in this location that you are paying for a class (or classes) at NCADD and be sure to include the class code.

October 2006

Earlier this month, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced in a media release about a new tool for educators to help their students “just think twice” about the dangers of drugs.  The new teacher’s guide is based on the DEA’s teen anti-drug website www.justthinktwice.com. 

The guide contains lesson plans and recommended activities for middle and high school students and covers a wide array of topics related to the consequences of drugs. The curriculum was previewed by educators who felt that it was a dynamic, hands-on approach which would help teach America’s youth about the dangers of drugs.

DEA’s award-winning “Just Think Twice” website was launched in August 2005 and has earned praise from students, parents, and educators. The teachers’ guide provides lesson plans based on the eight segments of the website. For each of the segments, the guide includes lesson plans for middle school and more advanced plans for high school. Each module is comprised of an introduction, a list of materials, teacher preparation requirements, an introductory discussion, suggested activities, concluding discussion, assessment of students’ responses to the lesson, extension activities to expand on concepts learned in the lesson, and quizzes to assess knowledge.

The eight modules in the guide are:

• Just Think Twice About Drugs:  Overview of the entire website.
• Drug Facts: Students learn the specific effects and risks of different drugs.
• Costs to Society: Students increase their awareness about the problems caused by drug use and the value of laws to protect members of society.
• Facts and Fiction: Students question the common myths about drugs by looking at the facts which contradict them.
• It Can’t Happen to Me: Using vivid examples of the negative consequences of drugs, students assess how drugs can affect their future.
• Stumble Weed: Students learn about the various ways that marijuana impacts the brain and body and challenges them to question common myths about marijuana.
• Hot Topics: Students are provided information on the latest trends and drug-related news.
• Got Meth?:  Using graphic illustrations and straightforward information, students learn about the effects of methamphetamine on the body, brain, and society.

The teachers’ guide is available to download for FREE on the DEA’s website, www.dea.gov.  Download it to use in your school.