Posts Tagged ‘Alcohol’
Do as I Say Because I Do
Last Updated on Friday, 5 March 2010 07:53 Written by Monica Friday, 5 March 2010 07:53
Teenagers have a way of using our own words and actions to get back at us when they get in trouble. Whether they are in Texas, California, Michigan, Canada or some other place, I don’t believe there is a parent of a teenager alive today who has not wondered if their child hailed from some planet in outer space at one time or another.
It is therefore important that parents realize that when they are speaking to their teens, when they are handing out instructions or discipline, that they have “practiced what they preach” to that teen. I will use a true example of what happens when a parent does this: myself.
More and more teens are experiencing with alcohol every year. Peer pressure, wanting to appear “cool”, wanting to forget some unpleasant thing in their own lives, every day teenagers succumb to the temptation and many of them get hooked without intending to. What does a parent do? Does he or she yell at the teen while holding a beer in his own hand?
This is my experience with something involving my own teens. I wanted to teach them that drinking can be handled irresponsibly, leading to tragedy if one is not careful. Two were in high school, ages 14 and 15 and one was in the military. My youngest and only girl was at a sleepover at one of her close friend’s house and my son was at his buddy’s house playing video games. I was home, relaxing from a busy week at work and writing assignments on top of my regular schedule. I was having a second glass of wine.
The phone rings. It is my daughter. Her friend’s mother is not there, something I did not know would occur. The mother’s ex-boyfriend had dropped in and the two girls were uncomfortable. They wanted me to pick them up. I said I would be there immediately.
Of course, remember now, I 
had been drinking. I called my son who was down the street at his own friend’s house and explained the situation. His friend’s brother was 17 and immediately came over to the house picked me up and we were over picking the girls up within just a few minutes. By the way, further sleepovers with this friend were allowed only at our house after that night.
Two glasses of wine might not affect some people, they THINK. This mother practiced what she preached because open and honest communication between parents and teens is a successful tool when it comes to parenting and as Texas is very strict on drinking and driving (something I steadfastly approve of), my own teens and their friends saw an example of what a responsible parent should do under unforeseen circumstances which is ALWAYS have a back up plan and NEVER drink and drive for any reason.
The other important lesson? Enforcing rules are easier when teens see that parents not only state the rules, they follow them, too.
Tags: Alcohol, drinking and driving, parents, teen drinking, teens | Posted under Alcohol Addiction | No Comments
Catch-22
Last Updated on Thursday, 25 February 2010 07:05 Written by Monica Wednesday, 24 February 2010 06:58
I saw a letter to the editor in the paper the other day. I don’t know if the woman was writing from personal experience, because of a loved one or just what she had seen around her but she brought up a very valid point. She basically asked the question: if a person does his or her time, pays for the crime, then why don’t we see it as just that? We give people who have been in trouble with the law a hard time and then wonder why they return to what got them in trouble to start with.
The economy is still rough. There is no denying it. But as I thought about that woman’s letter, I understood what she meant. People get paroled from prison for their drug convictions, then they can not find a job to meet their parole requirements. I have seen a woman get the third degree over writing bad checks eleven years earlier because she was honest about it in a fast food job application. A misdemeanor had her judged harsher than necessary. There is no doubt someone with a drug felony is getting an even harder time.
So, the question is, where does the rehabilitation factor come in? If we deny people jobs, turn our backs on them, refuse to give them a chance, then are we not interfering with the rehabilitation of that person? Several repeat offenders have stated they could not get a job. They said they had no way to make money. They could not get a job.
It is my understanding that the Patriot Act is suppose to be about protecting us from terrorist attacks. We had drug and alcohol problems before 9-11, we had felonies and misdemeanors before then, too. You want honesty on an application, someone gives it to you, and you turn them down? The truth is what the Patriot Act is about, right? Someone who is planning an attack gets to set off a red flag for nearly two years and shoots up a military post or attacks are made on passengers on a plane even today. Someone who made a mistake, paid for it and admits to it is ostracized. Seems like the wrong people are being penalized here.
Getting clean is hard but it can be done. Being honest about it is a matter of integrity. If someone is honest about it, give him a chance. Political correctness is helping the wrong people. Try remembering what rehabilitated means and look at the individual situation. He doesn’t want a Catch-22, he just wants a job.
Tags: Alcohol, drug, drug felony, rehabilitation | Posted under Texas Rehab | No Comments
Even Football Players Can Get the Jailhouse Blues
Last Updated on Monday, 1 February 2010 11:08 Written by Monica Monday, 1 February 2010 11:08
Celebrity scandals happen all the time. Whether movie stars, talented musicians, or awesome sports figures, their arrests make the news sometimes even before they are given their free phone call. We see them highlighted in news segments, entire shows are dedicated to them and articles such as this one are written about them. Here in Texas, many of us fall into that same wishing well: “if someone else has it bad, especially a celebrity, then that means my life and my mistakes are not so bad.” Maybe we do not phrase it just that way but the truth is, scandal sells no matter what state you are in. Did you know that there were at least four celebrity drug busts in Texas in 2009? All were former professional football players.
Quincy Carter, the former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, was released after just three years due to unknown reasons, although rumor had it that he failed a drug test. His problems with marijuana did come out after he was signed by the New York Jets and in February, 2009, he was arrested in south Texas for a DWI and for having marijuana, which seems to give the drug problem rumors merit.
Another former Dallas Cowboys’ player, receiver Terry Glenn, was arrested in Irving in January, 2009, for public intoxication and possession of marijuana. Another promising career cut short by drug addiction?
The Dallas Cowboys is not the only team to have drug addiction problems, as Roderick Green proved with his arrest in his hometown of Brentham, Texas. The former Baltimore Raven/SF 49er was arrested in February last year after a routine traffic stop for speeding led to charges of possession of marijuana as well as four other charges.
Former Jaguars wide receiver Reggie Williams was arrested in Houston last February for DUI and possessing marijuana. Another night partying that ended with a traffic stop, a failed sobriety test and the finding of illicit drugs. All four were talented football players, all four fell under the control of drug addiction and alcohol.
In Texas, it does not matter if you are a celebrity, a regular working guy, a soccer mom, a professional football player, or a political big wig. In Texas, you do not drink and drive and you do not get caught with drugs, because even football players can get the jailhouse blues here. An autograph and a great arm are not going to help you out with that.
Tags: Alcohol, drug addiction, DUI, football players, marijuana | Posted under Alcohol Addiction, Texas Rehab | No Comments
Meeting Two Success Stories from Teen Challenge of Texas
Last Updated on Monday, 18 January 2010 03:32 Written by Monica Monday, 18 January 2010 03:31
My fiance and I were shopping at Walmart on Saturday after going to a friend’s speaking engagement regarding the release of her book. I went outside for a few minutes to wait for him and saw two young men with a stand. One asked the question many people ask who set up charity stands for wonderful causes: “would you care to make a donation, ma’am?”
Being me, I went over and checked out the cause. It was Teen Challenge of Texas. I found both young men to be polite and personable. I gave what little cash/change (approximately $3.00) that I had on hand and placed it in their bucket. However, the wonderful crafts and books got my attention. As I looked at the fine artwork, I struck up a conversation with one of the young men.
He told me that Teen Challenge of Texas is a ministry that helps young people to get back on track after falling victim to drugs, alcohol and other situations that make them go by the wayside. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, but sometimes we can not correct them on our own. So Teen Challenge of Texas and its related organizations throughout the country take in the young people and help them to find themselves again. They help them get clean, they help them to recover from addiction and they teach them that they are worthy of saving.
I think this is a wonderful organization and not just because of the “spiel” that may have been spoken but because I saw the integrity of the two young men right before my eyes. I reached for a cookbook and offered over my debit card. The cookbook was only $5.00 and the young man said it was okay because he had seen me make a donation. However, I personally knew I had not made the donation equal to the book. He explained about how it does cost to use the credit machine, something I knew to be true. So I waited on my fiance to exit the store and he gave me the money to pay for the book.
As I waited for my fiance, I talked more to the young man who shared his own experience of getting a second chance in life with Teen Challenge of Texas. We spoke of the recent disaster in Haiti and he said he had dreamed of taking his honeymoon there. Tears came to his eyes as he said he had been praying for the earthquake victims and survivors. He yearned to go over. You could see it honestly reflected in his eyes.
To know that there is such an organization in Texas that helps our youth is something I am proud of. To know that honor and integrity is instilled in these wonderful young people who deserve a second chance as much if not more than people twice their age or higher class statuses makes me both humble and proud that our nation has a youth that can win a war against the enemy, whether it be drug addiction, standing up and going to combat or feeling the pain of another country. I was honored to meet two such young people two days ago.
Thank you, Teen Challenge of Texas (http://www.texasteenchallenge.org/) for being there for our youth and for allowing me to come in contact with two of your success stories.
Tags: Alcohol, drugs, second chances, Teen Challenge of Texas, young people | Posted under Texas Rehab | No Comments
Toll-Free Helpline
