May 14 Families in Recovery NewsletterFamilies in Recovery, Family Alcoholism Newsletter 14 May, 2007 1. Family Alcoholism Blog === The OneStory Project I am reminded daily. I see an ad for Smirnoff. Or I come across a story in the paper about a drunk driving arrest. The list of celebrities owning up to their alcoholism grows every day. My past, my story, is very much a part of my life. And even if there were not triggers blanketed across society, I'd still have moments of reflection, where my history feels awake and present. My story, the story of my life so far, is important. It is important to me and it is important to my family. I would also argue that it is also important for other children of alcoholics. By sharing my story, I offer COAs insights into my life's journey. This is not valuable because I got everything right (laughable), or because my experiences are so singular and informative (describes everyone). My story is valuable because all stories matter. The simple act of sharing my experiences feels right, feels important. And for many children of alcoholics, reading the stories told by other COAs is helpful. We need to read about our collective experiences. We need to hear these stories so we can understand our own history. The OneStory Project is an opportunity to read, to learn, and hopefully for many of you, to share. Share as much or as little of your story as you like. You can share your first name only, your full name, or we will publish anonymously if you want. We have many children who visit the site, so please keep that in mind. We will edit for clarity and have the right to not publish anything we deem inappropriate for the site. Please email your story or questions. === Help for children of alcoholics in the UK There is a new web site out of the UK for younger children coping with parents who drink too much. Children of Addicted Parents and People (COAP) is a new organization started by Emma Spiegler, whose also written a book of poetry about her experiences with her mother's drinking. http://www.familiesinrecovery.org/home/help-children-alcoholics-uk --- First Drink A recent study shows that most children get their first full drink of alcohol from their parents. And children are getting their first drink at increasingly younger ages. What does this mean: - Younger = Riskier: The younger a child at first drink, the greater the likelihood of alcohol abuse problems later in life. From the article: "Also, When kids drink at the age of 12 or 14 they are at increased risk for many problems - car crashes, risky sexual behavior, academic failure, illicit drug or tobacco use, among others." - Parents are the First Teachers: According to a 2005 Roper Youth Report, 74 percent of children ages 13 to 18 cite their parents - not advertising or any other outside influence - as the No. 1 reason why they choose to drink alcohol or not. - Kids Can't Understand The Risks: Kids 12 and up are incapable of understanding the risks involved. They are concrete thinkers, which means they see right and wrong in nearly absolute terms. If their parents give them alcohol, they are more likely to see alcohol as allowed, safe and even potentially harmless. They learn through their environment. - For Children of Alcoholics, The Problems are Greatest: For a child growing up in an alcoholic home, there are few risks greater than alcohol. Understanding and perceptions around alcohol are already distorted; drinking at home only makes a bad situation much worse. http://www.familiesinrecovery.org/home/first-drink === Youth Depression Leads to Earlier First Drink Youths who faced depression in the past year were twice as likely as those who did not have depression to take their first drink or use drugs for the first time, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). http://www.familiesinrecovery.org/home/youth-depression-leads-earlier-fi... --- In the “we are all in this together” department… A recent study shows that 1 in 4 adults admitted to community hospitals (7.6 million of nearly 32 million stays) have a mental-health or addiction diagnosis. http://www.familiesinrecovery.org/home/we-are-all-together-department --- Women's early drinking disorders less likely to be diagnosed Men are more likely than women to experience many of the problems commonly associated with nondependent drinking, according to a new study. But the authors suggest women are prone to different alcohol-related problems that are less likely to be diagnosed. http://www.familiesinrecovery.org/home/womens-early-drinking-disorders-l... --- Brain damage faster in women Women who are dependent on alcohol suffer brain damage faster than men do, according to a new study. Alcohol may begin to take a mental toll on women first. http://www.familiesinrecovery.org/home/brain-damage-faster-women --- Teen Targeted Drink Fails to Correctly Label Product Spykes, the teen-targeted alcoholic drink we reported on previously for failing to correctly label their product. === The Survey Is Still Open Please keep the referrals coming. The numbers are increasing everyday, and we are getting great information to use as we start to craft our curriculum. http://www.familiesinrecovery.org/survey P.S. Did a friend send you this newsletter? Sign up to get your P.P.S. Questions? Comments? 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OneStory ProjectWe are capturing the stories of children and others impacted by someone's alcoholism or alcohol addiction. First, check out current entries in the OneStory Project. Then get in touch and learn how to share your story (anonymous is fine). Support us!Please consider making a donation to Families in Recovery. We are a federally recognized 501c3 charitable organization. Donations are tax deductible and will allow us to do our important work. Please note, you do not need to have a Paypal account to make a donation.
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