The Council Link Volume 5, Issue 11 November 2014 Administrative Office 1801 S. Alameda, Ste.150 Corpus Christi, TX 361-854-9199 Coming Soon Save the Date  The Council’s 23rd Annual Safe and Sober Kickoff is coming on Dec. 5. Please put this on your calendar and RSVP soon. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBMIT ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION. DEADLINE FOR DECEMBER ISSUE: NOVEMBER 25. DO YOU THE KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE A COPY EMAILED? SEND US THEIR ADDRESS SO WE CAN ADD THEM TO OUR LIST.  NOT INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THE LINK? LET US KNOW AND WE WILL REMOVE YOUR E-MAIL (Please note change of place for event) FROM OUR LIST. Inside this issue: From the CEO Why getting help for a loved one really matters NOW Dee Ogle, CEO ADDICTION DOESN’T TAKE A HOLIDAY BREAK Some common myths about addiction are:  Addicts and alcoholics need to reach bottom before they It is amazing how many can accept help. people believe that asking a  Addiction is a willpower family member to go to problem. People can stop if treatment during the holidays they just put their mind to it. is somehow wrong or cruel or  People don’t need treattoo disruptive. Despite good ment. They can stop using if research, stubborn myths they are motivated. about addiction prevail and  Treatment doesn’t work. are a major factor in keeping individuals ill by promot-  People must want treatment in order for it to be effecing the belief that this is a tive. disease of choice or will. Cont. on Page 2 FROM THE CEO CONT. 2 HOLIDAYS & AL- 2 COHOL WHO SAYS I’M AN ADDICT 2 GREAT AMERICAN 3 SMOKE-OUT YCCC COMMUNITY COALITION 4 YCCC TOBACCO COALITION 5 The Council Link From the CEO cont. And, during the holiday season, we too often encounter another dangerous myth: That it is inappropriate or improper to go to treatment during the holiday season. Actually, the holidays may be the best time of the year for people to get healthy and reclaim their lives from addiction. The holidays are here. While the holidays are a festive season, homes that play host to active addiction are not filled with joy and happiness during the holidays…they tend to be decked with dysfunction, stress, fear, and shame. Sometimes family gatherings can exacerbate difficult or unhealthy relationships and cause additional anxiety. From Thanksgiving family feasts to company office parties to counting down the old year and ringing in the new, people celebrate by drink cheap beer, expensive wine and cheerfully packaged distilled spirits. There are many opportunities to celebrate in excess, which can cause tremendous challenges for those with addiction and trying to hold it together. This is the right time of year to take the step and get healthy. For families besieged by addiction, the greatest gift they could give their addicted loved one, and themselves, is the gift of recovery. The Holidays and Alcohol Addiction Surviving Thanksgiving for Those in Recovery Prepare for Thanksgiving by focusing on what the beautiful holiday is really about – taking the time to remember the things that we are grateful for. This is the real meaning of Thanksgiving – everything else is just what people have added to the festivities. Despite the heavy emphasis on feasting and celebrations, alcohol does not need to be part of the holiday. It’s harder to think you’re missing something when you realize just how unnecessary it is to you, your life and these special holiday moments. Keep your loved ones abreast of how you feel about the holidays in relation to your alcohol addiction. Support from loved ones can go a long way in your journey of recovery. Also be sure that your loved ones are in fact familiar with the warning signs of potential relapse. If they know what to watch out for, they can be better prepared to support you through this challenging time as well as in the future. Have a happy Thanksgiving and we wish you many more sober years to come! Who Says I’m An Addict (Excerpt from Who Says I'm an Addict, by David Smallwood, available from Amazon.com) 1. Find your vice Addiction isn’t only about drugs and alcohol. Some people think that working a 12-hour day and drinking six double espressos isn’t a problem. Others think that eating sugar or going to the gym seven nights a week is fine. These things can be difficult to recognize as addictions because they are common and socially acceptable, but they can be as detrimental to your health as any other addiction. Asking a friend for a critique of your lifestyle can be frightening, but it may open your eyes to addictive behavior you aren’t aware of. 2. Avoid triggers “Compulsivity” is a word used to describe addiction. Perhaps you feel compelled to check Facebook all the time or are a compulsive shopper. It’s helpful to know that certain triggers are likely to set off compulsions: feeling hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Take action if you feel a craving coming on: eat something or have a warm drink. If you feel irritable, breathe deeply; phone a friend and try to keep your day simple. Breakfast is important, because if you skip it hunger cravings will build up and they can be misconstrued as a craving for your vice. Try to have a healthy routine – our bodies appreciate the comfort of a regular pattern. Find structure by writing a plan for your day. 3. Stay in the moment Learn the mindfulness concept of “keeping it in the moment” to deal with anxieties associated with giving up your vice. Instead of worrying about the past or future, concentrate on now. Focus on what you are doing, rather than what you are not doing. Go for a walk and make a conscious effort to absorb your surroundings through your senses. Another helpful tool for achieving mindfulness is meditation. Sit and breathe slowly for 20 minutes – concentrating on one thing, such as your breathing – while you empty your mind. 4. Address the root of the problem Be careful of cross-addiction or, as I say, swapping deck chairs on the Titanic. We’re very good at going from one addiction to another. For example, a person addicted to work who has been told to take more time off may over -exercise to compensate. This is not dealing with the addiction, it’s transferring it. Look at addiction as a whole. As a general rule, if your addiction is a manifestation of something you have done and feel bad about, you need to pay attention to it and get advice on how to lay your demons to rest. Page 2 The Council Link Education Department News Page 3 The Council Link THE YOUTH CONTINUUM OF CARE COALITION Community Coalition Partnership November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month Guest Article from Coalition member Elizabeth Urbina, Prevention Specialist, Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas, (Formally known as RGV Council Inc.) [email protected] Clearing the Air November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. What can you do to spread the word? We all know the dangers of tobacco and the multitude of carcinogens and chemicals that are in a cigarette. My focus today is marijuana and the damages that it can cause in our body, specifically our lungs. Many of the same carcinogens that are found in tobacco smoke are also found in marijuana smoke. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50 -70% more irritants and carcinogens than tobacco smoke, which promotes cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract. Marijuana smoke has been associated with pre-cancerous changes in lung tissue, and also causes inflammation and cell damage. Immune system dysfunction, possibly predisposing individuals to cancer has also been linked to marijuana use. Research has found that the regular use of marijuana can cause microscopically visible injuries to the airway. This information shows that marijuana does cause multiple damages to our airway and to our lungs. It has also been linked to higher risks of other cancers such as testicular, prostate, cervical, and certain brain tumors. Interestingly, damage to the lungs and pulmonary system from smoking one marijuana joint is equal to approximately 25 commercial cigarettes. Quick fact for the day: nationwide, 6 to 11% of drivers responsible for fatal accidents test positive for marijuana. Donine Schwartz, Coordinator Interested in joining the Coalition? Call Donine at 361.854.9199. Follow our Facebook Page for current information and activities: Youth Continuum of Care Coalition. Be a quitter today for yourself and others in honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month! Community Coalition Partnership News The mission of the CCP is to encourage community mobilization to implement evidencebased environmental strategies with a primary focus on changing policies and social norms in communities to prevent and reduce underage drinking and underage drug abuse across Texas. In addition to the prescription drop box projects, the Coalition is working on projects to ensure that I.D. requirements are being met by community alcohol and tobacco retailers. The next meeting will be on Thursday, November 13 at the Council’s office - 1801 S. Alameda, Ste. 150, 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided. Call Donine at 854-9199 if you would like to attend or want more information. Check out our new website: www.ccpcoastalb end.org for information, current news, and list of coalition partners. Page 4 The Council Link THE YOUTH CONTINUUM OF CARE COALITION Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition Lung Cancer Awareness Month NO MORE EXCUSES NO MORE LUNG CANCER Council’s Executive Director Dee Ogle welcomes the Coalition’s newest member, Tobacco Jack. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cancer among both men and women in the U.S. Each year, about 200,000 people in the U.S. are told they have lung cancer and more than 150,000 people die from this disease. About 90% of lung cancers are linked with cigarette smoking. The most important thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking, or quit if you smoke. Smoke from other people’s cigarettes, pipes, or cigars is called secondhand smoke. Make your home and car smoke-free. Ready to quit—need help? Call 1-877-YES QUIT Coalition Working for Smoke-Free City Parks Each month, youth members of the TPCC visit a City Park to pick up cigarette butts. The goal is eventually to make all public parks tobaccofree zones, but we are beginning with removing the debris to clean up the parks. November 19, 4:30 to 6:00 is the next scheduled Butt Hunt. If you would like to join the group, contact Jacob Martin at 882-1008 or [email protected] for more information. Everyone is welcome. The YCCC’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition focuses on preventing and reducing illegal and harmful use of tobacco products in Nueces County, with a particular emphasis on reduction of youth use. Efforts are made to promote community-based and environmental strategies that will have an impact on the social, cultural and economic processes of the community. The next meeting is Monday, Nov. 10, 3:30-5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 900 Shoreline Blvd, Room 223. If you are interested in joining this group, call Melissa at 882-1008. Melissa Hofstetter, Coordinator Interested in joining the Coalition? Call Melissa at 361.882.1008. BITS AND PIECES Check out our website: www. tobaccocoalition.org for updates on Coalition Membership and other activities. Like us on our Facebook Page to enjoy informational articles, photos and program announcements: Tobacco Coalition of Nueces County. Follow us on Twitter @TPCC (NuecesCounty) Page 5 Offering Hope and Healing for Those in Need COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE - COASTAL BEND 1801 S. Alameda, Suite 150 Corpus Christi, TX 78404 Phone: 361-854-9199 Fax: 361-854-9147 E-mail: [email protected] The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse—Coastal Bend is a private non-profit organization that serves a multi-country region with a continuum of care in prevention, intervention and treatment of the disease of alcoholism and other drug abuse for individuals, families and communities. Programs include: Pregnant/Post-Partum Intervention, March of Dimes Hope Chest, Adult Need someone to provide a program for your business, civic group or service organization? The Council will be glad to add you to our presentation schedule. Call Jan at the Council 854-9199. Donate to help stop drug abuse and provide treatment options to those in need. Call 854-9199 Use GoodSearch as your search engine and select the Council to benefit each time you search online. It’s free: www.goodsearch.com Outpatient Treatment and Aftercare Treatment, Youth Outpatient Treatment and Aftercare Treatment, School-based Youth Programs (Botvin’s Life Skills), Youth Continuum of Care Coalition (Community Coalition Partnership, Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition). We’re on the web at www.coada-cb.org Board of Directors: Elvia Aguilar, Vice President Marcia Lewandos, Secretary Kathy Adame Lisa Blair, M.D. Richard Torres James Hunter “Like” us on Facebook to get updates on events and issues. Funded by: Advisory Committee: Libby Averyt John Otto Sheriff Jim Kaelin Dianne Lang Charles Kaffie Carol Duque (The Board meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.) And other community partners and individuals