Help for Family & Friends

A Personal Story: Sean Marsee, the Boy Who Trusted US Tobacco Company

Sean at 18 was tall, handsome, and a highly competitive track star at Talihina High School in Talihina, Oklahoma. He was eye-turning good looking and in great physical shape. Sean did not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or cigars; however,…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

A Personal Story: Patsy Lynn; One Cigarette Too Many - by Mary Weston

We were giddy; we were young; and Irish full of ourselves. We lived in a magical brownstone on a tree-lined street in New York City. Our home was filled with talented female performers all working hard to make a name…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Nicotine is a “feel-good” drug.

Nicotine is a “feel-good” drug. It works on your brain’s pleasure zone and within ten minutes, you have a nicotine high.

I recall days as a single working mother when a cigarette seemed a reasonable solution to stress. Now I…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Workplaces can be supportive of recovering coworkers

We often hear alcoholism and other drug addiction called a “family disease,” because addiction impacts not just addicts but all those who love them. But addiction is also a workplace disease. According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Alcohol-free summer activities are safest bet

Bob is driving a boat with a few friends on the lake. All have had a few beers. Suddenly, one of Bob’s buddies stands up, tipping the boat and throwing him off balance and overboard. The friend hits his head…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Clarifying ‘addiction’—helping define the disease of alcohol and other drug dependence

Today the word “addiction” is applied so loosely and to so many different things as to become almost meaningless. Listen for this word in daily conversation and you’ll hear about much more than alcohol and other drugs. People also talk…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Parents can spot teen drug use and take steps to prevent it

Even if you’re 99 percent sure that your teenager is not drinking alcohol or using other drugs, consider the facts:

•Sixty percent of high school seniors report having been drunk at least once–as do 20 percent of eighth-graders.
•Forty-six percent of…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Prevention needs a comprehensive, communitywide approach

Although schools can and should play a role in prevention education, Join Together concluded they “should not be relied upon to act as the principal provider of general prevention programs.” What works best, they said, is a comprehensive community prevention…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Recognizing the Signs of Alcohol Abuse

With so many parents working long hours, it is easy to either miss the signs of alcohol abuse or explain them away. Many parents don’t want to believe that their beloved child is engaging in alcohol use. But burying your…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Why do Teenagers Drink Alcohol?

When children go through adolescents, their bodies and their emotions go through a tremendous change. Teens are under constant peer pressure, an intense need to conform and fit in with their peer group. At the same time, they’re discovering their…

[ Read more | Download PDF ]

Page 1 of 512345»