REQUESTED answer for Substance Abuse Prevention

WELCOME TO PASTOR DR. CARLOTTA'S COUNSELING CENTER.

INDIVIDUAL AND ENVIROMENTAL PREVENTION STRATEGIES

We all know that the youth is our future and we must prepare them for what is lurking out there in our society!

As a faith leader or a person who just care, can play a critical role in preventing youth, and adults from using alcohol and drugs. You can help reduce risk factors, increase protective factors, and also work influence change in the community. I will discuss individual prevention strategies which are defined as trying to change behaviors, as well as approaches that look at influencing the community standards, known as environmental strategies.

THE BOOK BREAKOUT >>>>>>>>>>>

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Bio of Pastor Dr. Carlotta Boles in her addiction and how she escaped!

Individual prevention strategies are designed to change a person's attitudes or behaviors. They are program delivered in churches, schools, or community-based programs to educate youth about the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs, teach life skills, and build resilience.

Environmental prevention strategies are designed to change the social, political and economic context regarding alcohol and drug usage. These alcohol and drug prevention strategies are aimed at: reducing the availability of alcohol, adopting laws and policies, and changing community attitudes.

RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Risk and protection factors are conditions that make people more risk or less protective likely to use alcohol or other drugs. Everyone is exposed to risk factors; the more risk factors there are in someone's life the greater the likelihood he/she may use alcohol or drugs. However, the more protective factors a person has the less likely he/she is to use alcohol and drugs.

ROLE OF RELIGION IN PREVENTION

Adults and young people who attend services are less likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use illegal drugs. Some researchers are beginning to think that religion may help increase protective factors such as self-control and personal virtue, or provide role models. In addition, religion may provide opportunities to gain leadership and coping skills as well as social ties. Religion can also promote spiritual well-being.

CONSIDERATION ONE:

They say that addiction is a disease, I disagree. Take Alcoholism a serious, health, and moral problem. Statistics shows that alcohol was involved in over half of all fatal traffic accidents, drowning, fire deaths, arrest, murders, child abuse, and violence in the home. Ten million six hundred thousand (10,600,000) North American/Canadians are alcoholics. drinking varies throughout the world, with the Muslim people having a very low incidence. The medical profession and most counselor see alcoholism as a chronic, complex, progressive disease were the disease over time interferes more and more with everyday functioning in jobs, homes, marriage, and every phase of life.

However, if it is a disease, then it is the only disease whereby we buy it over the counter, tax it, and generally enjoy it at first! No, it is not a disease, it is sin. It is a drug, just as much as cocaine or marijuana. Though individuals are less likely to be looked down upon by calling it a disease, it is plain to see in the Bible that it will bring upon a man, what he would not want. Alcoholism is a progressive addiction that engulfs its victims psychologically and physically, but is also a moral condition for which the drinker is also responsible.

It's a choice and can become a serious problem in the long run. When I was drinking and doing drugs, it was my choice! It was not a disease with me. I wasn't born with an alcohol or addiction disease! I went out and bought the alcohol and drugs and indulged. I made this choice, me along! I was not born this way!! I can't express this enough!

But always remember, you are not trying to make a bad person good, a weak person, strong, or an immoral person, moral. You are trying to help a person that made the wrong choice in life. Let us deal with the issue of sin right up front. There is plenty of sin in the world and the addict and alcoholic have it in there lives just like the rest of us!

Understand that the sins of the addiction the alcoholism has a behavioral element rooted in loss of control and loss of social judgement. Understand that sin exits in the lives of all alcoholics and addicts just as it does with all of us, but sin is the cause of the choice and it is often a behavioral element of the sin process. I lived with this choice, out of control and social judgment for 16 years of my life!

The sin process also makes the addict or alcoholic hypersensitive to judgmental or moralistic attitudes and as one wise minister once told me, they are acutely adept at seeing through "BS." Know that they are already judgemental enough of themselves, so be compassionate and non-judgemental in your interactions. The 11 states of A.A. states, (we) "sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out." This is a good lesson for all of us, seeking a compassionate, non-judgemental, non-condescending attitude toward this sin and those affected by it.

CONSIDERATION TWO:

You cannot "fix it" so stop trying. A cardinal thought is that no one can control, direct or manage another person's life. If we are honest, we recognize that we can barely do this in our own lives and often do not succeed at all.

CONSIDERATION THREE:

Learn your community's resources and refer to them. Think, "refer and defer." Make a list of 5 to 10"go to" people and make those referrals. Known who is in healthy recovery in your congregation. They will be your great allies. Visit treatment centers and attend open 12 steps groups. This will be an invaluable experience and a resource for the future.

CONSIDERATION FOUR:

Learn as much as you can about your area's 12 step programs. Attend open meetings, talk with individuals and family members in recovery and read A.A. Big Book and the N.A. Basic Text.

CONSIDERATION FIVE:

Recognize that the traditional 12 Steps programs, although non-religious, have a strong spiritual element at their base. This, along with the supportive, non-judgmental community they create, is their strength. They are your ally, not your enemy.

CONSIDERATION SIX:

After referral to 12 Step program, resist the temptation to "rush the alcoholic or addict" back into church or synagogue or temple. Know what they might need as one A.A. writer suggests, the "spiritual kindergarten" that is the 12 Steps program. Most addicts and alcoholics carry around a tremendous amount of guilt and shame; often the family members do as well, especially those who also grew up with alcoholic parents. They need time to heal in a non-judgmental supportive community. Unfortunately, but more often than not, that supportive community is not their faith community; it is theire 12 Step group.

CONSIDERATION SEVEN:

In addiction as in life, there are few, as the Christian tradition describes, "Damascus Road" experiences. More often, recovery and return to the spiritual and religious life are more equated with the Christian Gospel story of the "Emmaus Road" experience describe in the Gospel of Luke, verses 24:13-32. In this story, rather than the dramatic conversation experience of Paul on the Damascus Road, the two travelers on the road to Emmaus were ministered to by risen Jesus step by step, mile by mile, day at a time kind of pace.

It was not until the end of the day that they realized that through the presence of the stranger that joined them on the road, God had been with them every step of the way.

CONSIDERATION EIGHT:

Understand the importance of educating and informing your yourself, your congregation, and family about alcoholism, addiction and recovery.

CONSIDERATION NINE:

Recognize that this is a family issue! Alcoholism and addiction take a tremendous toll on everybody involved. The spouse and all the children need attention and referrals.

CONSIDERATION TEN:

Lastly, be aware of the message of hope. Recovery is real for millions people. I talked with people in recovery every day, it's my profession. For they may be our neighbors, teachers, clergy, co-workers and even family members. Recovery has changed the lives of millions of Americans, individuals and their families, dramatically for the better. There are literally millions of American families in recovery and living a positive recovery lifestyle. They are in your community and church. Find these people and learn their stories of hope. Remember, I was one of these people who made that choice to use, and now I am clean and sober and Blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ, who transformed me from PRISON TO PASTOR.

If you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior simply say in an audible voice, in all sincerity from the depths of your heart, "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sins and accept me as Your child. I accept You as my personal Savior and I promise to follow the instructions of Your Word from this day on. If I fail because I am human, please help pick me up so I can try again! Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from all my sins. AMEN."