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With the horrible news about Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s Death, here are some statistics and ideas to help viewers that may have loved one suffering from an addiction:

 25-30 million suffering in USA alone

 Of those, only about 3 million received help last year

 This tells us the addicts are not the first to notice how “BAD” things are.

 The reason is denial is number 1 symptom to this disease, addicts say, “I am not that bad”, “I’m going to stop tomorrow”, “I know how much I can do”, “That person is worse than me”, Addicts have thousand of excuses. Have you ever tried negotiating this point with an addict? It is exhausting.

 Healthy family members see SIGNS FIRST

 Signs to look for:

Acronym Like dropping grades:

AAAAB

Attitude

Achievements

Appearance

Attendance

Behaviors

Families can notice when one or more declining.

 These are Warning signs to get an assessment with a professional, the person may not need in-patient treatment just some support and help, do not turn blind eye.

 There are reports that every 15-19 minutes someone in this country is overdosing and dying. Around 75 – 100 people a day. Mr. Hoffman is one of those statistics don’t let him die in vain do something if your loved one is using drugs.

 If the addict is not willing, it is normal, again the number one symptom is DENIAL.

 HEALTHY PEOPLE: family, friends, employers and co-workers who are around the addict need to take first step. The addict is numb to reality induced by drugs and alcohol, they cannot see the destruction their disease is causing.

 If you feel an intervention is too aggressive, then call a professional for a family workshop to put a plan together, do something.

 Discomfort and consequences are the only way anyone changes (no one wakes up with a perfect life and says today is the day I want to get help!)

 if your loved one is diagnosed with addiction, they can’t use any drugs, alcohol or mood altering substances. It is okay to have a zero tolerance like some employers do for using drugs.

 If your loved ones does not stop using, keep trying while they are still breathing. 99% of the time you can find a motivator, a reason for them to stop.

 learn how to implement bottom lines and consequences in loving way.

 It is a process just like recovery for all diseases is a process:

Cancer

Diabetes

Heart Disease

All chronic diseases utilize long term monitoring.

 There is no quick fix. successful recovery has track records for years with paper trails of negative RANDOM drug testing. We see the success in program that are 1.5 – 10 years in length.

Drug courts About 65% Success

1 1/2-2 years

High licensed professionals, lawyers, doctors, nurses, pharmacist, judges. About 79% Success

3-5 years

Pilots About 92% Success

10 years

 ALL have long term monitoring and case management.

 All are a process. Recovery is a slow process not 30-90 day quick fix at treatment center that is only beginning.

 Look for a Family workshop on identifying motivators to change behaviors.

Making sure the workshop will help identifying motivators and help develop a family contract. Not just the education piece on addiction but the steps to take to break though denial for person just not ready to stop or be engaged in recovery process.

 This is available for your loved ones, your viewers.

 Reach out for help we have answers but it takes the HEALTHY person to take the first step in most cases. Again 25 t0 30 million needing help, 3 million received it, not hard to see who sees the warning signs first.

 Reach out you have the power to initiate change

Collaborating with Native Americans and Alaskan Natives
Drug abuse exacts a heavy toll among Native Americans and Alaskan Natives in the United States. In response, ONDCP is developing programs and policies tailored to Indian Country and designed to assist Tribal authorities using a balanced strategy of prevention, treatment, recovery support, and law enforcement.

Research and Statistics
Recent data report high usage of illicit drugs by Native Americans and outline the need for targeted resources and outreach:

•According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 18.3 percent of American Indians/Alaskan Natives age 12 or older are current users of illicit drugs, meaning they used illicit drugs within 30 days prior to responding to the survey (see figure 1).
•Native American and Alaskan Native populations also show high percentages of lifetime (64.8 percent), past year (27.1 percent) illicit drug use, and current non-medical use of prescription drugs (6.2 percent), as shown in figure 2.

Click to enlarge.

Prevention Programs
ONDCP has a number of ongoing programs and initiatives that provide support and resources to encourage healthy and safe Native American communities:

•The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign researches, develops, and delivers relevant and appropriate anti-drug messages. Launched in early 2008 and continuing today, the Anti-Meth Campaign emphasizes Native American culture and pride through print, radio, and television ads. It is the only national anti-meth ad campaign concentrating on Indian Country and Native Alaskan lands.

Here are several of the Campaign’s print ads that celebrate Native pride over meth use among Native American populations:

The Campaign has partnered with the National Congress of American Indians, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the the Partnership at DrugFree.org to develop a public awareness advertising campaign focusing on preventing methamphetamine use among Native American populations.

•The Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program engages Native Americans and Alaskan Natives in community efforts to reduce youth drug and alcohol use. Eighty-five DFC-funded coalitions have served American Indian/Alaskan Native communities since 2006. Currently, Native populations are being served by 66 DFC-funded coalitions, a total of $6.1 million goes to fund these coalitions. Tribal representation in the DFC program has grown from 1.9 percent in 2006 to 9.1 percent in 2009 – a five-fold increase. ONDCP continues to partner with Indian Country to increase capacity and participation through numerous workshops, training sessions, and coalition-building conferences. To learn more about the DFCs in your area, view the list of grantees.
Treatment, Early Intervention and Recovery
•The President’s Access to Recovery (ATR) grant program individualizes substance use treatment, recovery, and support services, and addresses the cultural and geographic unique needs of American Indian/Alaskan Native communities. In 2010, ATR grants totaling $15.2 million (over five years) were awarded to five Tribal organizations covering Indian Country populations, including the: California Rural Indian Health Board; Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council; Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan; Oglala Sioux Tribal Council in South Dakota; and Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board in South Dakota.
•Tribal Drug Courts, which refer substance users in the criminal justice system to treatment and recovery services in lieu of jail, play an important role in breaking the cycle of drug use and crime. As of December 31, 2009, there were 89 Tribal Drug Courts, nearly twice the number (45) in 2001. Currently, Indian tribal governments may apply for drug court funding through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program.