07/24/10
ADDICTION: ALCOHOL AT SOCIAL GATHERINGS
MAx Fabry is a regular contributor to a weekly column "ASK MAx" published in the SPRINGFIELD TIMES, Springfield, Oregon. The SPRINGFIELD TIMES is published weekly on Friday by S.J. Olson Publishing, Inc. This column is published on this blog by permission of the SPRINGFIELD TIMES. Visit their website at http://www.springfieldtimes.net.
_____________________________________________
Dear MAx,
I am planning to serve alcohol at a social gathering I will be hosting. I have friends that are in recovery, some just since the New Year, and I am wondering how they will do attending this gathering. I don’t want to be the one that makes them fall off the wagon. How do I handle this?
Shena
Dear Shena,
I will speculate that many people have asked themselves this question at one time if they know a recovering person. Do I serve wine with dinner?
The reality is that you are not responsible if someone decides to drink or not. One of the behaviors recovering people work on is assuming the responsibility of their behaviors—including whether or not they choose to drink.
In the Big Book of “Alcoholics Anonymous”, Fourth Edition, page 101, it is explained that if you are helping someone with their recovery that AA has a belief that “any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure”.
The explanation goes on in the next paragraph to say “So our rule is not to avoid a place where there is drinking, if we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes bars, nightclubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain ordinary whoopee parties.”
The responsibility for your friends making a decision to both attend your “whoopee” party or not, and to decide whether they are going to use or not while they are there, is strictly their business.
Here are just five strategies alcoholics can use if they choose to go to places that serve alcohol:
1.Be sure you are physically and mentally prepared to attend an alcohol function: check your HALT: are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired? If you are nervous in any way about going, you probably want to find something else to do.
2.If you decide to attend be sure to have an exit plan in case you get uncomfortable. If you go with someone, have a phone number of someone you can trust, and, who understands your situation, to come and pick you up.
3.When you arrive, it really isn’t necessary to announce “I’m an alcoholic and I am in recovery.” It you need to say anything about not drinking alcohol, volunteer to be a designated driver for the evening.
4.Always know what is in your glass. Be safe, never accept a drink from someone, pour your own beverages. If you set your glass down and walk away, get a new drink.
5.Never be afraid to leave the party early. Probably if most people are getting a bit too high spirited, leave. Measure your comfort level throughout the evening.
You, of course, need to own your behaviors to be a responsible part host. Here are a few tips to accomplish that:
1.In your planning, be sure to include a nice variety of non-alcoholic drinks. Orange juice, tea, carbonated beverages, coffee, are some drinks you might consider. You can consider hiring a professional server who is experienced at monitoring intake of alcohol. This also relieves you from keeping an eye on the alcohol all night.
2.For those folks that you know don’t drink, reassure them that they can still have fun. Never force someone to “have a drink” if they don’t want one; they may be one of your friends that you didn’t know quit drinking.
3.Serve high-protein foods that stay in the stomach for a longtime. While this does not effect the pace the alcohol leaves the system, these types of foods will slow down the digestive process of the alcohol.
4.In the planning process include entertainment that includes participation which will slow down the consumption of alcohol. Even if people just choose to watch and not participate, drinking is usually slowed down.
5.Don’t let people drink and drive. Make sure that your guests know how you feel about drinking and driving. Identify designated drivers (DDs) as your guests arrive; don’t be afraid to ask for volunteers to be DDs as guests arrive.. Stop serving alcohol two hours before the party is over, but continue serving food and non-alcoholic beverages. Have the phone numbers ready for local cab companies.
So you see, Shena, having a successful party that involves alcohol is really a matter of everyone accepting their responsibility and being accountable for their own behavior.
Be well on your journey, and have a swell time at your party.
Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.
MAx Fabry is a regular contributor to a weekly column "ASK MAx" published in the SPRINGFIELD TIMES, Springfield, Oregon. The SPRINGFIELD TIMES is published weekly on Friday by S.J. Olson Publishing, Inc. This column is published on this blog by permission of the SPRINGFIELD TIMES. Visit their website at http://www.springfieldtimes.net.
_____________________________________________
Dear MAx,
I am planning to serve alcohol at a social gathering I will be hosting. I have friends that are in recovery, some just since the New Year, and I am wondering how they will do attending this gathering. I don’t want to be the one that makes them fall off the wagon. How do I handle this?
Shena
Dear Shena,
I will speculate that many people have asked themselves this question at one time if they know a recovering person. Do I serve wine with dinner?
The reality is that you are not responsible if someone decides to drink or not. One of the behaviors recovering people work on is assuming the responsibility of their behaviors—including whether or not they choose to drink.
In the Big Book of “Alcoholics Anonymous”, Fourth Edition, page 101, it is explained that if you are helping someone with their recovery that AA has a belief that “any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure”.
The explanation goes on in the next paragraph to say “So our rule is not to avoid a place where there is drinking, if we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes bars, nightclubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain ordinary whoopee parties.”
The responsibility for your friends making a decision to both attend your “whoopee” party or not, and to decide whether they are going to use or not while they are there, is strictly their business.
Here are just five strategies alcoholics can use if they choose to go to places that serve alcohol:
1.Be sure you are physically and mentally prepared to attend an alcohol function: check your HALT: are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired? If you are nervous in any way about going, you probably want to find something else to do.
2.If you decide to attend be sure to have an exit plan in case you get uncomfortable. If you go with someone, have a phone number of someone you can trust, and, who understands your situation, to come and pick you up.
3.When you arrive, it really isn’t necessary to announce “I’m an alcoholic and I am in recovery.” It you need to say anything about not drinking alcohol, volunteer to be a designated driver for the evening.
4.Always know what is in your glass. Be safe, never accept a drink from someone, pour your own beverages. If you set your glass down and walk away, get a new drink.
5.Never be afraid to leave the party early. Probably if most people are getting a bit too high spirited, leave. Measure your comfort level throughout the evening.
You, of course, need to own your behaviors to be a responsible part host. Here are a few tips to accomplish that:
1.In your planning, be sure to include a nice variety of non-alcoholic drinks. Orange juice, tea, carbonated beverages, coffee, are some drinks you might consider. You can consider hiring a professional server who is experienced at monitoring intake of alcohol. This also relieves you from keeping an eye on the alcohol all night.
2.For those folks that you know don’t drink, reassure them that they can still have fun. Never force someone to “have a drink” if they don’t want one; they may be one of your friends that you didn’t know quit drinking.
3.Serve high-protein foods that stay in the stomach for a longtime. While this does not effect the pace the alcohol leaves the system, these types of foods will slow down the digestive process of the alcohol.
4.In the planning process include entertainment that includes participation which will slow down the consumption of alcohol. Even if people just choose to watch and not participate, drinking is usually slowed down.
5.Don’t let people drink and drive. Make sure that your guests know how you feel about drinking and driving. Identify designated drivers (DDs) as your guests arrive; don’t be afraid to ask for volunteers to be DDs as guests arrive.. Stop serving alcohol two hours before the party is over, but continue serving food and non-alcoholic beverages. Have the phone numbers ready for local cab companies.
So you see, Shena, having a successful party that involves alcohol is really a matter of everyone accepting their responsibility and being accountable for their own behavior.
Be well on your journey, and have a swell time at your party.
Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.
07/14/10
BIPOLAR
MAx Fabry is a regular contributor to a weekly column "ASK MAx" published in the SPRINGFIELD TIMES, Springfield, Oregon. The SPRINGFIELD TIMES is published weekly on Friday by S.J. Olson Publishing, Inc. This column is published on this blog by permission of the SPRINGFIELD TIMES. Visit their website at http://www.springfieldtimes.net.
_____________________________________________
Dear MAx,
Finally my daughter has made it into treatment for her alcohol and drug addiction! During a family session at the treatment center she is in we learned that she may be bi-polar. Would bi-polar explain my daughter’s addiction? I am not sure I totally understand what bi-polar is? If she is bi-polar, how do I help her?
Leslie
Dear Leslie,
Great questions for a common occurrence that happens during very early recovery: deflecting the problem by creating another problem. Some might say this is “hope”; others, like myself, may say “Let’s get through detox first.”
The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”, the DSM, is published by the American Psychiatric Association. The DSM sets the standard and criteria to classify mental disorders. This Manual is used by clinicians to develop a plan of action with the client to move toward a healthier lifestyle. As new information is gathered through research, the Manual is periodically updated.
Bi-polar and substance disorders are classified in the same DSM IV category under “Psychiatric Disorders”. The primary symptom in this category includes “a disturbance in mood”. These “disturbances” would include “inappropriate, exaggerated, or limited range of feelings…..feeling depressed, suicidal….or having excessive energy where sleep is not needed for days.”
As you can see by the symptoms listed, both bi-polar and substance addiction can look the same. The biggest difference is that one is “organic” and one is “self-induced.”
Researchers are still not sure what specifically causes bi-polar, but, most evidence points to genetics as the primary cause. There are varying degrees of bi-polar so the possibility of childhood abuse or trauma has not been ruled out as a cause factor. A third possible cause is fluctuations in body chemicals such as calcium, dopamine, and other neurochemical transmitters.
The same principles are applied with trying to understand the cause of substance addiction. Genetic? Environmental? Physiological?
Symptoms of bi-polar vary depending on the individual. However, the symptoms are identified in “manic” behavior and “depressant” behavior. Bi-polar people will often vacillate between manic and depressant.
“Manic” episodes might find the person with elevated self-esteem, a sense of self-centeredness, extremely talkative, spending too much money, making rash life decisions, promiscuous sex, use of drugs and/or alcohol, and a euphoric high. Hallucinations and delusions are often experienced.
“Depressant” behavior usually follows the manic highs as the person is faced with the consequences of their manic behaviors. Symptoms of this behavior include slowed mental and physical capabilities, extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, low energy levels, and feelings of despair. Suicidal ideations are common.
Again, the same behaviors are characteristic of addiction: self-centeredness, grandiose thinking, experiencing highs and lows depending on the substance used. Examples, alcohol is a depressant; drink enough alcohol, you will be depressed—don’t tell your doctor how much you are using, you will end up on anti-depressants. Cocaine use will cause the same emotional and physical highs and lows that correspond with bi-polar.
True bi-polar disorder, or any other psychiatric mood disorder, is difficult to diagnose while someone continues using, or while they are in, at least, the first year of recovery. Detox from alcohol and all other substances vary on the quantity used, length of use, method of use, and peak age of use. It can take the body a good 24 months to detox totally from alcohol dependence.
Leslie, the best approach for dealing with the information you have been given about your daughter is to educate yourself, ask questions, and seek a second opinion. Remember, knowledge is power; the more you know, the more you can help, and the easier it will be to support your daughter no matter what the diagnosis.
An excellent resource to learn more about bi-polar is the international Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, DBSA. This group is dedicated to helping people with mood disorders. In addition to local off shoots, they provide online support groups, discussion forums, and other information resources.
Worldwide millions of people are diagnosed with bi-polar. Many famous people have exemplified that this label can be overcome: Robin Williams, Ludwig Von Beethoven, Vincent Van Gogh, Buzz Aldrin, Peter Gabriel, Winston Chruchill, and Theodore Roosevelt are just some of the notables. If your daughter is, in fact, bi-polar, she will be in good company.
To learn everything you need to know about the latest information on substance abuse, visit the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, at www.samhsa.gov.
No matter what label you are given, always be well and in awareness on your journey.
Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.
MAx Fabry is a regular contributor to a weekly column "ASK MAx" published in the SPRINGFIELD TIMES, Springfield, Oregon. The SPRINGFIELD TIMES is published weekly on Friday by S.J. Olson Publishing, Inc. This column is published on this blog by permission of the SPRINGFIELD TIMES. Visit their website at http://www.springfieldtimes.net.
_____________________________________________
Dear MAx,
Finally my daughter has made it into treatment for her alcohol and drug addiction! During a family session at the treatment center she is in we learned that she may be bi-polar. Would bi-polar explain my daughter’s addiction? I am not sure I totally understand what bi-polar is? If she is bi-polar, how do I help her?
Leslie
Dear Leslie,
Great questions for a common occurrence that happens during very early recovery: deflecting the problem by creating another problem. Some might say this is “hope”; others, like myself, may say “Let’s get through detox first.”
The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”, the DSM, is published by the American Psychiatric Association. The DSM sets the standard and criteria to classify mental disorders. This Manual is used by clinicians to develop a plan of action with the client to move toward a healthier lifestyle. As new information is gathered through research, the Manual is periodically updated.
Bi-polar and substance disorders are classified in the same DSM IV category under “Psychiatric Disorders”. The primary symptom in this category includes “a disturbance in mood”. These “disturbances” would include “inappropriate, exaggerated, or limited range of feelings…..feeling depressed, suicidal….or having excessive energy where sleep is not needed for days.”
As you can see by the symptoms listed, both bi-polar and substance addiction can look the same. The biggest difference is that one is “organic” and one is “self-induced.”
Researchers are still not sure what specifically causes bi-polar, but, most evidence points to genetics as the primary cause. There are varying degrees of bi-polar so the possibility of childhood abuse or trauma has not been ruled out as a cause factor. A third possible cause is fluctuations in body chemicals such as calcium, dopamine, and other neurochemical transmitters.
The same principles are applied with trying to understand the cause of substance addiction. Genetic? Environmental? Physiological?
Symptoms of bi-polar vary depending on the individual. However, the symptoms are identified in “manic” behavior and “depressant” behavior. Bi-polar people will often vacillate between manic and depressant.
“Manic” episodes might find the person with elevated self-esteem, a sense of self-centeredness, extremely talkative, spending too much money, making rash life decisions, promiscuous sex, use of drugs and/or alcohol, and a euphoric high. Hallucinations and delusions are often experienced.
“Depressant” behavior usually follows the manic highs as the person is faced with the consequences of their manic behaviors. Symptoms of this behavior include slowed mental and physical capabilities, extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, low energy levels, and feelings of despair. Suicidal ideations are common.
Again, the same behaviors are characteristic of addiction: self-centeredness, grandiose thinking, experiencing highs and lows depending on the substance used. Examples, alcohol is a depressant; drink enough alcohol, you will be depressed—don’t tell your doctor how much you are using, you will end up on anti-depressants. Cocaine use will cause the same emotional and physical highs and lows that correspond with bi-polar.
True bi-polar disorder, or any other psychiatric mood disorder, is difficult to diagnose while someone continues using, or while they are in, at least, the first year of recovery. Detox from alcohol and all other substances vary on the quantity used, length of use, method of use, and peak age of use. It can take the body a good 24 months to detox totally from alcohol dependence.
Leslie, the best approach for dealing with the information you have been given about your daughter is to educate yourself, ask questions, and seek a second opinion. Remember, knowledge is power; the more you know, the more you can help, and the easier it will be to support your daughter no matter what the diagnosis.
An excellent resource to learn more about bi-polar is the international Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, DBSA. This group is dedicated to helping people with mood disorders. In addition to local off shoots, they provide online support groups, discussion forums, and other information resources.
Worldwide millions of people are diagnosed with bi-polar. Many famous people have exemplified that this label can be overcome: Robin Williams, Ludwig Von Beethoven, Vincent Van Gogh, Buzz Aldrin, Peter Gabriel, Winston Chruchill, and Theodore Roosevelt are just some of the notables. If your daughter is, in fact, bi-polar, she will be in good company.
To learn everything you need to know about the latest information on substance abuse, visit the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, at www.samhsa.gov.
No matter what label you are given, always be well and in awareness on your journey.
Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.
06/27/10
MARIJUANA: ADOLESCENT BRAIN FUNCTION
Dear MAx,
I just can’t believe this! My eighth grade daughter told me that one of her teachers told the class that marijuana does NOT cause brain damage! Is this correct information? Is it ok for teachers to be telling their students this?
Marty
Dear Marty,
The good news is that the effects of using marijuana is being taught in schools! The bad news is that the information may not be exactly accurate.
Remember, too, Marty, adolescence sometimes have selective hearing, please be sure to check with the teacher to learn what exactly was said.
Your concern is a good opportunity to put the facts of using marijuana on the table in hopes of eliminating some of the myths of using and giving some facts about using.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, is the main psychoactive substance found in the cannabis plant which produces the “bud” people know as “marijuana”, “pot”, or “weed.” THC causes adverse effects to the mind and body by acting as a receptors in several parts of the brain, which then interferes with the neurotransmitter process of activating thoughts and actions.
THC typically reaches the brain within seconds after it is inhaled and begins to go to work on interfering with brain chemistry. Three specific parts of the brain that is effected is the hippocampus, the cerebellum, and the basal ganglia. These three parts of the brain control:
-short-term memory
-coordination
-learning
-problem solving
-distorted perceptions
The “relaxing and mellow” effects of using marijuana is very fleeting; feelings of paranoia and panic often follow. Initial effects will wear off within a couple hours, but the chemicals stay in the body for much longer, often resulting in a cumulative effect.
Resulting psychological symptoms from ongoing use most commonly show up as irritability, nervousness, depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, and changes in appetite.
Physical effects of long-term use include: bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, dry mouth, red eyes, heart disease.
Social effects of long-term use of marijuana include poor academic performance, poor job performance with increased absences from work, and isolation.
Of course, there are those people reading this right now that believe that marijuana needs to be legalized. And, there are those people reading this that have legal marijuana medical cards. Both of these topics are two more future columns.
It is important to note that researching the effects of marijuana has been a daunting task for legitimate research organizations such as National Institute of Health, Center for Disease Control, and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Drugs. Controls by the US government relating to clinical trials often hinder extensive research to determine the physical and psychological effects of long-term use. Many of the research “quotes” that support the myths and long-term effects of marijuana were published prior to 2005; many of these quoted studies may not have been conducted scientifically based on best practices research.
What we know, using data developed from treatment centers and outpatient programs, is that more teens with the primary diagnosis of “marijuana dependence” are entering treatment. It has been estimated that up to 62% of teens currently in drug treatment are there because of a dependence on marijuana.
Marty, your daughter and her generation will probably be the generation that will change the perception and use of marijuana. I think it is important that the adults guiding her have to correct information.
Whenever I write, or discuss this topic, I think of think of Aldous Huxley’s 1931 book “Brave New World” which describes an entire society that is hooked on “soma”. I wonder if marijuana is “soma”, and if we are becoming the society he described?
What I wanted to accomplish in this column is to give you just the basic facts that I hope is being taught in schools. And, I also want to stimulate thought and conversations about the use of marijuana among educators, parents, and the community in general. If we understand, we can help the “kids” understand. My e-mail is listed below; I am open to hearing your views about the use of marijuana.
I would also like to recommend a website that I think would be appropriate for your adolescents: NIDA FOR TEENS at
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_mj1.php
I recognize from my clients that it is difficult being a parent these days; but I also recognize from the teens that come through my office that it isn’t easy being a kid these days. All we can do is reach out for support and keep the lines of communication open.
Be well, and alert, on your journey.
__________________________________
Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.
Dear MAx,
I just can’t believe this! My eighth grade daughter told me that one of her teachers told the class that marijuana does NOT cause brain damage! Is this correct information? Is it ok for teachers to be telling their students this?
Marty
Dear Marty,
The good news is that the effects of using marijuana is being taught in schools! The bad news is that the information may not be exactly accurate.
Remember, too, Marty, adolescence sometimes have selective hearing, please be sure to check with the teacher to learn what exactly was said.
Your concern is a good opportunity to put the facts of using marijuana on the table in hopes of eliminating some of the myths of using and giving some facts about using.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, is the main psychoactive substance found in the cannabis plant which produces the “bud” people know as “marijuana”, “pot”, or “weed.” THC causes adverse effects to the mind and body by acting as a receptors in several parts of the brain, which then interferes with the neurotransmitter process of activating thoughts and actions.
THC typically reaches the brain within seconds after it is inhaled and begins to go to work on interfering with brain chemistry. Three specific parts of the brain that is effected is the hippocampus, the cerebellum, and the basal ganglia. These three parts of the brain control:
-short-term memory
-coordination
-learning
-problem solving
-distorted perceptions
The “relaxing and mellow” effects of using marijuana is very fleeting; feelings of paranoia and panic often follow. Initial effects will wear off within a couple hours, but the chemicals stay in the body for much longer, often resulting in a cumulative effect.
Resulting psychological symptoms from ongoing use most commonly show up as irritability, nervousness, depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, and changes in appetite.
Physical effects of long-term use include: bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, dry mouth, red eyes, heart disease.
Social effects of long-term use of marijuana include poor academic performance, poor job performance with increased absences from work, and isolation.
Of course, there are those people reading this right now that believe that marijuana needs to be legalized. And, there are those people reading this that have legal marijuana medical cards. Both of these topics are two more future columns.
It is important to note that researching the effects of marijuana has been a daunting task for legitimate research organizations such as National Institute of Health, Center for Disease Control, and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Drugs. Controls by the US government relating to clinical trials often hinder extensive research to determine the physical and psychological effects of long-term use. Many of the research “quotes” that support the myths and long-term effects of marijuana were published prior to 2005; many of these quoted studies may not have been conducted scientifically based on best practices research.
What we know, using data developed from treatment centers and outpatient programs, is that more teens with the primary diagnosis of “marijuana dependence” are entering treatment. It has been estimated that up to 62% of teens currently in drug treatment are there because of a dependence on marijuana.
Marty, your daughter and her generation will probably be the generation that will change the perception and use of marijuana. I think it is important that the adults guiding her have to correct information.
Whenever I write, or discuss this topic, I think of think of Aldous Huxley’s 1931 book “Brave New World” which describes an entire society that is hooked on “soma”. I wonder if marijuana is “soma”, and if we are becoming the society he described?
What I wanted to accomplish in this column is to give you just the basic facts that I hope is being taught in schools. And, I also want to stimulate thought and conversations about the use of marijuana among educators, parents, and the community in general. If we understand, we can help the “kids” understand. My e-mail is listed below; I am open to hearing your views about the use of marijuana.
I would also like to recommend a website that I think would be appropriate for your adolescents: NIDA FOR TEENS at
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_mj1.php
I recognize from my clients that it is difficult being a parent these days; but I also recognize from the teens that come through my office that it isn’t easy being a kid these days. All we can do is reach out for support and keep the lines of communication open.
Be well, and alert, on your journey.
__________________________________
Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.
05/23/10
LEGAL DRINKING AGE
MAx Fabry is a regular contributor to a weekly column "ASK MAx" published in the SPRINGFIELD TIMES, Springfield, Oregon. The SPRINGFIELD TIMES is published weekly on Friday by S.J. Olson Publishing, Inc. This column is published on this blog by permission of the SPRINGFIELD TIMES. Visit their website at http://www.springfieldtimes.net.
_____________________________________________
Dear MAx,
I recently took my little brother out to celebrate him joining the military. He is 19 and I am so proud that he made this choice. That said, I am confused that by the end of that evening he ended up with a ticket for minor in possession of alcohol, and I ended up with a charge of providing alcohol to a minor! How can this be that my brother can risk his life for our country and defending our rights, but he can’t drink?
Brad
Dear Brad,
Thanks for asking the drinking age question for your brother’s generation. I think every generation since the 1930s has been asking the same question: “why can someone die for their country, but can’t have a beer?”
As I reviewed historical documents for legal drinking age prior to the 1960’s, information seemed to be a little fuzzy. A quick summary of the information I reviewed seemed to seriously address the legal age of drinking during prohibition, the eighteenth and twenty-first amendments, and traffic data related to alcohol related accidents. In 1984 President Reagan signed a bill establishing 21 years old as a nationwide legal drinking age.
It was the documentation leading up to the 60’s that the answer to the question only got louder and more complicated. Of course, we need to remember that the 1960’s started an era of people speaking out, not going along with the “norm”, and not only asking “why”, but “why not”, way more then previous generations. Back then your question came up in regards to the Viet Nam Conflict: If a man (or woman) can die for his country at 18, why can’t he have an alcoholic drink?
This question, in fact, comes up whenever there is a war or conflict going on in the world. And, there is always something going on somewhere in the world where Americans are called upon to risk their lives.
The reality is that American adulthood starts at the age of 18 because: (1) everyone gets the right to vote; (2) everyone is eligible for jury duty; and, (3) young men need to register for the Selective Service. So, people, at 18 years of age are trusted to participate in the electorial process, judge due process, and go to war.
Here is your question, again, Brad: Why can’t my 19 year old brother who is volunteering to serve his country have alcohol?
Let’s address the other reason sited in my research for keeping 21 as the legal drinking age: traffic data related to alcohol related accidents:
The most recent US data confirms that 12/8% of fatal traffic accidents were alcohol-related. And, 40% of those fatal accidents involved teens driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Statistics also show that one out of ten teens between the ages of 12 and 13 drink alcohol at least once per month. They are still drinking (probably more) when they get their drivers license at 16.
In Europe, where the drinking age is lower, and the age to get a license is higher, the incident rate of alcohol-related fatal accidents are not as great a problem.
Recent brain research has provided better understanding of an adolescence brain functioning. This research supports the idea that a 16 year old’s cognitive abilities might not support the functions needed to safely operate a motor vehicle. Add alcohol, a fast car, and a loud radio, and you have a recipe for disaster.
This may lead you to contemplate what the problem really is: drinking at an early age, or driving at an early age? Maybe we need to consider having better information about the use of alcohol available earlier, and raise the age and requirements for having a drivers license?
There is good news, and, a possible solution: as a US citizen everyone 18 years and older is empowered to change things with the right to vote. Perhaps, instead of asking “why” the age is 18, ask “why not” change the age to 21? Use YOUR right to vote.
Finally, Brad, I want to thank you for supporting your brother’s decision to volunteer to be in the military. Because of men and women like him, we are empowered to vote, and, I get to exercise my right to express myself through a free press.
Both you and your brother be well on your journey.
Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.
MAx Fabry is a regular contributor to a weekly column "ASK MAx" published in the SPRINGFIELD TIMES, Springfield, Oregon. The SPRINGFIELD TIMES is published weekly on Friday by S.J. Olson Publishing, Inc. This column is published on this blog by permission of the SPRINGFIELD TIMES. Visit their website at http://www.springfieldtimes.net.
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Dear MAx,
I recently took my little brother out to celebrate him joining the military. He is 19 and I am so proud that he made this choice. That said, I am confused that by the end of that evening he ended up with a ticket for minor in possession of alcohol, and I ended up with a charge of providing alcohol to a minor! How can this be that my brother can risk his life for our country and defending our rights, but he can’t drink?
Brad
Dear Brad,
Thanks for asking the drinking age question for your brother’s generation. I think every generation since the 1930s has been asking the same question: “why can someone die for their country, but can’t have a beer?”
As I reviewed historical documents for legal drinking age prior to the 1960’s, information seemed to be a little fuzzy. A quick summary of the information I reviewed seemed to seriously address the legal age of drinking during prohibition, the eighteenth and twenty-first amendments, and traffic data related to alcohol related accidents. In 1984 President Reagan signed a bill establishing 21 years old as a nationwide legal drinking age.
It was the documentation leading up to the 60’s that the answer to the question only got louder and more complicated. Of course, we need to remember that the 1960’s started an era of people speaking out, not going along with the “norm”, and not only asking “why”, but “why not”, way more then previous generations. Back then your question came up in regards to the Viet Nam Conflict: If a man (or woman) can die for his country at 18, why can’t he have an alcoholic drink?
This question, in fact, comes up whenever there is a war or conflict going on in the world. And, there is always something going on somewhere in the world where Americans are called upon to risk their lives.
The reality is that American adulthood starts at the age of 18 because: (1) everyone gets the right to vote; (2) everyone is eligible for jury duty; and, (3) young men need to register for the Selective Service. So, people, at 18 years of age are trusted to participate in the electorial process, judge due process, and go to war.
Here is your question, again, Brad: Why can’t my 19 year old brother who is volunteering to serve his country have alcohol?
Let’s address the other reason sited in my research for keeping 21 as the legal drinking age: traffic data related to alcohol related accidents:
The most recent US data confirms that 12/8% of fatal traffic accidents were alcohol-related. And, 40% of those fatal accidents involved teens driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Statistics also show that one out of ten teens between the ages of 12 and 13 drink alcohol at least once per month. They are still drinking (probably more) when they get their drivers license at 16.
In Europe, where the drinking age is lower, and the age to get a license is higher, the incident rate of alcohol-related fatal accidents are not as great a problem.
Recent brain research has provided better understanding of an adolescence brain functioning. This research supports the idea that a 16 year old’s cognitive abilities might not support the functions needed to safely operate a motor vehicle. Add alcohol, a fast car, and a loud radio, and you have a recipe for disaster.
This may lead you to contemplate what the problem really is: drinking at an early age, or driving at an early age? Maybe we need to consider having better information about the use of alcohol available earlier, and raise the age and requirements for having a drivers license?
There is good news, and, a possible solution: as a US citizen everyone 18 years and older is empowered to change things with the right to vote. Perhaps, instead of asking “why” the age is 18, ask “why not” change the age to 21? Use YOUR right to vote.
Finally, Brad, I want to thank you for supporting your brother’s decision to volunteer to be in the military. Because of men and women like him, we are empowered to vote, and, I get to exercise my right to express myself through a free press.
Both you and your brother be well on your journey.
Have a question about addiction, recovery, or life transitions such as retirement, career change, grief and loss issues, empty nesting, etc, ‘Ask MAx’. Send your questions to Lifestyle Changes, PO Box 1962, Eugene, OR 97440; or, e-mail your questions to: askmaxcolumn@yahoo.com. Learn more about MAx Fabry and read her blog at www.lifestylechangescounseling.com.
05/12/10
TWO BEERS: FINALLY GOT IT!
One of my clients that struggles with giving up alcohol shared with me an interesting experiment she did. She gave me permission to share it as a blog:
She loves playing her Wi games. “And I’m very good at it.” She said one evening she drank two beers then played one of the games that she could always beat everyone on. She said she was blown away with how badly she had sucked at it. It finally hit her how “just two beers” throws her reflexes totally off.
Interesting experiment. How does two beers effect your reflexes?
Learn more about me, MAx Fabry, and my private practice at:
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
I am the founder and proud member of ONLINE WELLNESS ASSOCIATION:
One of my clients that struggles with giving up alcohol shared with me an interesting experiment she did. She gave me permission to share it as a blog:
She loves playing her Wi games. “And I’m very good at it.” She said one evening she drank two beers then played one of the games that she could always beat everyone on. She said she was blown away with how badly she had sucked at it. It finally hit her how “just two beers” throws her reflexes totally off.
Interesting experiment. How does two beers effect your reflexes?
Learn more about me, MAx Fabry, and my private practice at:
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
I am the founder and proud member of ONLINE WELLNESS ASSOCIATION:
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