When people don't have hope, things can take a downward spiral in a heart beat. When tragedy after tragedy hits a small town or even a small state, or a bigger one, the hurt can be overwhelming..a mix of shock, anger, despair, pain and confusion. Not an easy thing to come out of, like a life in a tailspin. But some programs are shedding light on ths bleak aspects of difficult dynamics involved in drug addiction..and alcohol is a drug yet is often given separate billing.
From a Faceook post, I learned that there are mounting concerns in our quiet rural northwest corner of Connecticut. Likely the tri-state region and pretty much every other community has 'taken a hit' of losing youth and older folks to pain medication and opioid addiction and overdoses. Alcoholism often is that gateway drug, along with marijuana I learned at some workshops offered by McCall Foundation in conjuction with grassroots groups headed by Brian Ohler. These are heart breaking, new-making matters.
But What To Do to change the tide toward sobriety and empowering youth is still baffling most who want to make a difference. Looking to community leaders seems like a good first step, but often they are strategically or otherwise 'NA--Not Available'. Usually N/A means not applicable, but every aspect of the community is impacted and could step up to being part of the solution to prevent the downward spiral of drug abuse and overdose.
Most of our nation's health problems (and likely those of the world) are linked to alcohol misuse (which some say is anything over one drink for a woman and two for a man, which will generally put someone at the legal limit. Especiallly if that is repeated weekly that's pushing the limit. Big time. Yet far too many people, especially men will put down a six pack or way too much on a nightly basis. I will explore this more but welcome insights from any who have experience or ideas on how to prevent the sad situation swamping our communities.
Now, here's the post I shared on my friend's concerning post which is garnering attention. One community publicized with care the lives taken by harsh drug use, and want to face the music of recovery and prevention together. She wanted to do the same, but maybe it could be done in a modified version...Something would be better than nothing and ideally more people can talk it up on social media.
I welcome you to share your thoughts (and the post) in a comment on www.livfully.org Daniellea Grace. While the specifics of each case can be culled to help enlighten the public to the 'trail that led to someone's demise', using personal info especially on the internet about someone may not result in the positive desired effect. Maybe a nickname can be made (a Jane Doe type of listing...including some ages, hobbies, type of family (even sibling order, etc), whether someone worked, basic grade average etc to get a better picture of 'who might be at risk' but also how widespread the problem is.
Everyone watching youth basically need a whole set of guidelines, voluntary and those that pertain to actual laws. It is no one's job to do that kind of 'bridging of critical gaps'. Then parents and adults need to actually agree (ideally in writing) to abide by the terms, whether driving or watching kids, allowing them on outings and so on.
All of That kind of Basic procedures for living and enjoying life could have prevented the loss of our teen son Kaelan, at age 16 and 5 months, in 2009 on the last day of his freshman year of school..when he was helping save friends from dangerous whitewater. The similarities of 'don't get too close to such water' and don't break basic rules of safety whether on outings or taking in substances could be explored. Sometimes kids think a few drinks over an evening are okay, yet the drinking age is 21 in CT (so even in another state ideally they'd abide by that.)
Also doing the math of weight, food intake and so on, female vs male would make sense as word problems early on in school, by about 5th grade. Kids should know the risks of using and the contingent social if not sexual coercion that can come along with being incapacitated. The whole arena of 'safe driving' should also be reviewed at the tender age of 10 on up if not before so youth have good ways and reasons to 'say 'no I don't want to go' or drink, drug or be involved with someone that is against the law (for one or more people involved.) Adults can too often be distracted or not much more mature than the youth pushing limits.
The overall message that 'the answer is no unless those in charge have actually said yes with guidance from community guidelines...etc) So thanks for getting this thread going. I'm sure it's going to make waves for the better. Schools are not the end -all be-all. We need volunteer efforts to basically educate our youth even with schooling, and fill in all the details and actually Supervise the youth on weekends and in summer and breaks...starting with when school days vary and even long after graduation. That's a lot of the Acorns to Oaks Team Outreach I've dreamed up over the decades...and would welcome more support to hash out details for states and so on to promote more responsibility early on and from many aspects of the community.
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