Drug Prevention and Treatment Resources

Article compiled by Gretchen Devine of the United Way

With the turning of the New Year, many of us choose to examine our lives to see where we can make positive changes. We all know people who make resolutions to exercise more, learn a new skill, or drop unhealthy habits. If one of your resolutions is to stop or prevent a dependence on alcohol, here are some resources that can help you! These resources have been compiled by United Way of Utah County as part of a 211 resource database. Click on the links below to find out more information. You can also find more programs that could be of interest to you by calling 211 or accessing their website -> http://www.unitedwayuc.org/find-help/united-way-2-1-1

Prevention Focused:

Parents Empowered  ->link to http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/ programs/10493090307.html

Provides information and tools for parents to help their children stay alcohol-free. Research shows parental disapproval of underage drinking is the #1 reason youth choose not to drink. (SAMSHA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2005.)

MADD Strenghtening Families Program  ->                            link to http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/ programs/10493074064.html

Mother's Against Drunk Driving has produced a Home-Use DVD version of the internationally acclaimed Strengthening Families Program (SFP). It is a 10-part entertaining series of parenting and youth skill lessons for families to watch together in their own homes.

The Strengthening Families Program skills are research proven to create happier families, healthier brains, and alcohol and drug-free kids. If you watch the DVD with your family and use the downloadable handouts and worksheets, it will help you to have better kids, develop happier family relationships, and keep your kids addiction free.

Questions? Email: maddsfp.dvd@gmail.com 

Utah County Department of Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/programs/10484381241.html

Education, information, and referral for alcohol and drug abuse treatment services.  For more information call: 801-851-7127 Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday/ 8:00am-4:30pm

Partnership for a Drug Free America – wonderful website with information on drugs commonly abused, how to identify if someone is using drugs, suggestions on how to intervene with someone using drugs, and a 1-800 number you can call to talk to a professional that can give you more intervention tips.  See: http://www.drugfree.org/   

Treatment Focused:

Aspen Counseling Services  ->http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/programs/10488416887.html

Aspen Counseling Services provides therapists who are highly trained in helping individuals struggling with addiction.

Help Nest Inc. ->http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/programs/10462442664.html

An interactive resource and information “HUB” or “one stop” community for all information, services, and products necessary for a successful recovery for people of all ages. Help Nest offers a large range of services for people dealing with substance abuse, mental health issues, domestic conflict, and all other social diseases. It’s for people from all walks of life in need of help, rehabilitation, re-training, employment, transportation, education, housing, family counseling, support groups, etc.

Mountain View Detox Center ->http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/programs/6172673.html

Mountain View Detox Center is an inpatient emergency medical/surgical stabilization service for adults with drug, alcohol and related health issues. Inpatient stay includes: crisis intervention, assessment, referral, and medical management.

Foothill Day/Night Outpatient ->http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/programs/2627676.html

Provides outpatient treatment for substance abusers such as support groups and counseling. Call 801-851-7113 for more information.Hours of Operation: M-Th: 8 am - 8 pm, F: 8 am - 12 pm

Therapy for Mental Health, Substance Abuse or Domestic Violence ->http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/programs/2206918.html

The Institute for Cognitive Therapy, Inc. provides individual and group therapy as well as psycho-education classes that include topics such as anger management, parenting, relapse prevention, self-esteem, goal setting, and others. Hours of Operation: M-Th: 9 am - 8 pm; Sat: 8 am - 2 pm

Alcoholics Anonymous of Utah County ->http://www.unitedwayucv.org/org/programs/1418482.html

Offers a substance abuse support group that as well as information, assistance and fellowship to alcoholics who want to stop drinking. Hours of Operation: M,T,F: 9 am - 1 pm, W: 2 pm - 6 pm, Th: 2 pm - 6 pm

Sobriety Checkpoints Save Lives

By Sargent Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff's Office and SMART member 

We all hear news reports regarding the impact that impaired drivers have on individuals, families, and even on society.  When lives are lost, or shattered as a result of a crash where a driver was impaired, people ask, “Why did this person drive drunk?”, or “How can we make sure this doesn’t happen again?”  The sad reality is that so far there is no perfect solution.  Efforts to reduce the incidence of impaired driving are experiencing success and public education measures have some success, yet there is more to be done.

About Sobriety Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols

The Utah Highway Safety Office (UHSO) has sponsored a traffic safety program aimed at reducing the number of traffic fatalities in Utah.  This program is called, “Zero Fatalities – A Goal We Can All Live With.”  While this program is focused on all traffic fatalities, it gives focus to the various causes of crashes with traffic fatalities, including impaired driving.

            

In its effort to reduce traffic fatalities, which result from impaired driving crashes, the UHSO provides funding for law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Utah to conduct DUI enforcement operations.  This funding can support agencies which conduct sobriety checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols.  They also provide regular funding for law enforcement agencies to conduct regular DUI patrols throughout the year.

Source: Drive Sober, Get Pulled Over website

Sobriety checkpoints are very effective tools that can give precise focus to areas known to be problematic as it relates to DUI drivers.  Agencies must follow specific and clearly defined guidelines in establishing locations to conduct these checkpoints.  They must plan the location for the checkpoint and the written plan must be approved by a judge before any agency is allowed to carry out the checkpoint.  Saturation patrols can also be effective, as they provide maximum numbers of officer, Troopers, and deputies working overtime shifts.  These patrols put large numbers of officers in areas and at times when there is a higher likelihood of finding and arresting impaired drivers.

Tragedy Avoided - barely 

One example of a potential tragedy avoided was at a sobriety checkpoint conducted in American Fork Canyon on SR-92 on July 21, 2012.  A driver was stopped at the checkpoint and was determined to be impaired through alcohol and drug use.  He was significantly impaired and posed a significant risk to himself and others on the road.  To make matters worse, he had young children in the car with him.  This man made the choice to drive on his own, unfortunately the children in his car had to rely on his judgment to keep them safe.  Thankfully, tragedy was avoided as an alert deputy determined that this man could not legally be on the road.  Unfortunately, not all impaired drivers are arrested – as a result lives are lost or ruined through injury.

Checkpoints Happening this Holiday Season

This holiday season, from December 13, 2012 through January 1, 2013, the UHSO has provided 600, five hour overtime shifts dedicated to finding and arresting impaired drivers.  Whether it is a sobriety checkpoint or a saturation patrol, officers, Troopers, and deputies will find impaired drivers and remove them from the road.  Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!

A Story of Recovery a Story of Success

Hello, my name is Tina, and I am an recovering Alcoholic/Addict . . .

I am also a mother, wife, daughter, sister, Substance Use Disorder Counselor, friend, and volunteer on SMART.

My addictions do not define who I am today, but they are an integral part of how I got to this point in my life.  Looking back, I know now that I was an alcoholic by the time I was 16 years old.  It wasn’t about how much or how often I consumed alcohol, it was about the effect it had on me and the cravings and obsession it triggered.

My alcoholism grew into drug addiction in my early 20’s. It didn’t matter what form my substance came in, a drug is a drug is a drug is a drug. I finally hit my bottom August 14, 2005. My daughter was no longer allowed to be with me unsupervised, I lost my job, my marriage was a wreck and I was emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually broken. I weighed 105 lbs and was unable to function without some sort of substance in my body at all times.

Support those in recovery

Thank goodness for my family, friends and support from a community 12 step program.  Little by little I was able to put my life back together.  That was 7 years, 4 months and 6 days ago.  Since then I have been able to have my daughter and my stepchildren back into my life. My marriage is happy and healthy.  My family and friends can trust me to do the things I tell them I’m going to do. I even have two beautiful grandchildren that light up every time they see their “nanna.”  I have an amazing job that I get to show up to everyday and help others who struggle with substance abuse find a new way to live. I was able to go back to school and get my certification in Substance Use Disorder Counseling.

Every one of us has been touched by addiction

Every one of us has been touched by the darkness of addiction, in any of its destructive forms (alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, co-dependency, eating disorders, etc.).  Today I have a choice.  Today I choose to be “happy, joyous and free,” because for me, to live any other way is to die.

Educating ourselves and being aware of what addiction looks like is the best thing that any of us can do for our families, fellow employees and communities.  Addiction does not discriminate between race, gender, religion, income or age.  Recovery shouldn’t either.

I’m so grateful to all the people out there that have touched mine and my family’s life. In turn, I pray each day that I am able to use my experiences to help the still suffering alcoholic or addict to know that there is a different, much more peaceful way to live. Thank you all for being a part of my recovery today, and I will take another 24. 

For more information on how to spot teen substance abuse and tips on talking to your loved ones about getting help visit: www.drugfree.org. 

Join us by volunteering with SMART to prevent youth from abusing substances. 

Some things were just never cool

Underage Drinking is Never Cool!!

Well, it’s been a long time since I was in high school, but how I remember those days. Being a teenager I wanted to fit in. I didn’t want to be the weird kid. I wanted girls to like me. I wanted the other guys to accept me. I wanted to be cool.

Back then I had a full head of hair, but it had to be cut so that I resembled one of the BeeGees. I wore those wide-leg jeans, the ones with no pockets in back and only tiny ones in front. And of course, there was the Elsha. In that day, Elshawas THE cologne to have, if you wanted to be cool.

There is something else that I remember from those days. I heard stories. Fantastic stories.Stories about parties that took place at someone’s home. These were not your ordinary high school-kid get-togethers.These parties were sanctioned by someone’s parents, perhaps parents that were trying to be cool, but they provided alcohol forteenage boys, and a place to consume it.  At the time and from my 17- year old perspective, it really sounded cool. But, in reality it was quite the opposite. Those parents put the well being and futures of many people at risk.  In fact, studies show 67% of teens who drink before the age of 15 will try other illicit drugs.

Now, with the perspective of a 50-something old fart, and hopefully having a bit of wisdom about these things, I look back at how some of those guys turned out. How some came to know lives filled with trouble, sorrow, and heart ache, and unfortunately it was often related to some kind of substance abuse.

I can’t help but wonder,how much did those cool parents and those cool parties influence the lives of young boys and put them on a trajectory that eventually lead to disaster?I don’t know for certain, but this I do not know: PARENTS, providing alcohol, supporting its consumption, or otherwise enabling teens to drink is not only “not cool”, it is very illegal. You could end up in trouble that will haunt you the rest of your life, but even worse, you could help destroy the life and future happiness of a young person. It’s just not worth it.

Studies show that a child who gets through age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol, or using illegal drugs is virtually certain never to do so.  This is empowering information.

If you really want to be cool and teach your children and their friends how to be cool, help them have a party that does NOT include alcohol or drugs. Help them enjoy their youth and the joy and simple innocence that comes with it. Help put them on a trajectory for a happy, clean, and sober life, and hopefully they too will live to someday become a 50-something old fart.  You can learn more by visiting www.parentsempowered.org

John Medved

Concerned Parent and member of the SMART Utah County Coalition