Drug Addiction Treatment Blog

Underage Drinking and Alcohol Abuse

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich signed legislation that underscores adults’ responsibility for preventing underage drinking. Senate Bill 158, sponsored by State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) and State Representative Karen May (D-Highland Park), increases the penalty to 1-3 years in prison and up to a $125,000 fine for parents who knowingly allow underage alcohol consumption in their home and the drinking leads to serious injuries or death. This bill is in response to a tragic car accident that killed two Deerfield teens and injured three others who had been drinking at a house party last October.

“Last year we grieved with a high school in Deerfield that lost two students in a car crash after parents allowed teen drinking in their home,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “As parents, we have a responsibility to protect young people from harm, even when it’s not popular. This legislation will send a clear message to parents that they will face stiff penalties, including prison, if they knowingly allow kids to drink alcohol in their home.”

SB 158 amends the Liquor Control Act by changing parents’ and guardians’ liability and punishment for incidents of underage alcohol consumption in the home. The new legislation increases the penalty to a Class 4 felony for a parent if they allowed underage drinking in their home and bodily harm or death resulted. This would include an underage drunk driving accident, alcohol poisoning, and other accidents leading to injury or death involving an underage drinker. An exception is allowed for a parent/guardian who provides alcohol to underage individuals for religious observance.

The impetus of the bill was a tragic car accident in which two teens died and three others were injured during Homecoming weekend last year in Deerfield, a Chicago suburb. The Chicago couple that allowed teen drinking at a party at their home was charged with a misdemeanor, the maximum charge. Under the new legislation, officials could charge parents or guardians with a felony in similar situations.

Debra Trypak, a Glenview mother who lost her son two years ago, is a strong advocate for laws protecting minors from acquiring alcohol. Her son, Joey, died after an area liquor store sold alcohol to minors. She subsequently supported the state’s effort last year in tracking alcohol purchases, entitled TrAIL (Tracking Alcohol in IL), currently underway in eight Illinois counties.

“The state has made it a priority to reduce underage drinking, and I commend the Governor for his commitment in this fight,” said Ms. Trypak. “Cases like Deerfield are still an all-too-common occurrence in our state. With programs like TrAIL and laws like SB158, parents and retailers know that the state is serious about solving this problem and protecting our kids.”

“I hope this law will be another milestone to ensure cooperation between parents, teens and law enforcement when it comes to underage drinking. Our goal is to keep our communities stronger, our parents more involved and our teens safer,” said Sen. Garrett.

“The accident in Deerfield hit our community hard last year,” said Rep. May. “We saw that parents need to be parents and stop destructive behavior rather than ignore it. This legislation will send a message to parents throughout the state that we do not tolerate lax attitudes toward alcohol.”

The State of Illinois recognizes that people will still sell alcohol to underage teens and that alcohol rehab must be made available to those teens. Alcohol rehab in Illinois may not be what it is in other states, so don’t limit yourself to alcohol rehabs in your local area. Do your homework so that you can properly evaluate the alcohol rehab. Review their family program, staff credentials and licensing.

To locate a reputable Illinois alcohol rehab or an alcohol rehab in another state, call the national alcohol abuse helpline at 1-800-511-9225. Alcohol rehab does work!

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Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Carol L. Adams Ph.D announced a $13.9 million Access to Recovery grant that will allow DHS to expand options for over 6000 people seeking drug and alcohol treatment. The grant is part of a federal initiative to provide vouchers for substance abuse treatment and recovery services.

ATR is a three-year competitive discretionary grant program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The new ATR grant will provide Illinoisans seeking drug and alcohol treatment with vouchers to pay for a range of individualized addiction treatment and recovery services, including faith-based and community-based services.

“There is more than one way to treat drug addiction and people should be able to choose what is best for them,” said Secretary Adams. “With this grant, we can continue to promote client choice while expanding access to a greater array of treatment options and recovery services.”

With the ATR program, people in need of addiction treatment or recovery support services can inquire about vouchers at one of three different enrolling agencies: Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), Family Guidance Centers, Inc., and IOTA Inc. (Information, Organization Training and Applications). After an enrollment assessment and screening interview, participants will be allowed to select services from a list of alternative local providers enrolled in the ATR program. There are now more than 110 providers who can receive the electronic vouchers to provide treatment services to individuals in the state.

“By increasing the number of providers that can offer addiction treatment and recovery support services through vouchers, we are expanding recovery options for thousands of people while improving our service delivery system throughout the state,” said Theodora Binion-Taylor, Director of the IDHS Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

The recovery grant will allow Illinois to expand its Recovery initiative implemented in 2004. As a result, ATR-supported services will be continued in Cook County and the 5th and 6th Illinois Judicial Districts in east central Illinois, and will be expanded to the five counties that comprise the 10th Judicial District in west central Illinois. The program will include a focus on individuals involved with the criminal justice system, a methamphetamine treatment component, and Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) among its voucher services.

To locate an Illinois addiction treatment program call the Illinois addiction helpline at 1-800-511-9225.

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The aim of a good addiction treatment program is help the individual remain free of the drug on a permanent basis; but, more immediately; it is to get that person off the drug right now, so to enable that person to function in society.

Unfortunately, millions of people who need drug addiction treatment do not seek it or are not given the funds or latitude to receive it. If untreated, substance abuse can rip apart families, lead to child abuse, delinquent child-support, and is often the cause of violent infractions. This leads to larger social consequences –increased welfare costs, unemployment and a loss of productivity. It is estimated that drug use costs our society billions of dollars each year; as healthcare and justice costs mount with each addiction. Addiction Treatment, if administered effectively, can help bring these costs down, as well as cut down on the number of secondary infectious diseases promoted by drug abuse –such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other potentially fatal illnesses.
Studies have shown that with effective drug addiction treatment, people can escape the clutches of addiction. There is an old adage that you are not what you feel, but what you do. In essence that means what you do can change the way you feel; and this is the purpose of addiction treatment: to change your behavior, and thus alter the physiology of your brain so as to combat the physical illness of addiction. This is not done simply; it is a long-term process and each individual responds differently to each rehab program.

Some big keys to effective drug addiction treatment are: availability, attention to the specific needs of the individual beyond his or her addiction treatment, therapy, regular counseling, and patience on the part of the person who has sought treatment. No one cures their disease overnight. Drug use is often contingent on other, seemingly unrelated emotional triggers; thus, a host of other behavioral therapies may be introduced to aid and bolster the treatment. Certain addictions may require the use of medications which, when working in concert with behavioral therapies, can be invaluable in combating addiction. As well, effective addiction treatment should address the patient’s withdrawal syndrome, often the most difficult stage of treatment.

Does the patient have to admit themselves for the addiction treatment to work? Not at all. Studies have shown that involuntary patients, or people admitted after intervention, have worked equally well. People at the mercy of this insidious disease are often unaware of just what it is doing to them. If left to their own devises, they will destroy themselves from within. Drug treatment is not a one-shot deal. It is requires frequent treatments, which include “booster sessions” and continuous care to monitor the behavior of each individual.

The course of effective drug addiction treatment is usually: 1.) Drug Detox 2.) Drug Treatment, and 3.) Relapse prevention. One of the more important aspects of drug treatment is the reduction of withdrawal symptoms so as to prevent early relapse. That’s why a good drug treatment program examines each individual, his or her chronic addictions and secondary conditions and behavioral patterns, so as to be able to spot the warning signs before relapse can take hold. In such cases, family and community-based support systems may be consulted so to keep tabs on the individual once he/she is discharged.

To locate effective addiction treatment, you can call the national addiction helpline at 1-800-99-DETOX. 

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Drug rehab clients always complain, but sometimes there is reason to really listen as  treatment often confines the addicted person to one location. Receiving addiction treatment in the center’s living room, den, or spare room can be disappointing. When the only outside activities are 12-step meetings, the gym, or church, the rehab experience is frequently discounted or dismissed by clients because their rehab program lacks individualized care and the need for daily physical activities.

A successful drug rehab program will engage and motivate clients to participate in sustainable recovery activities instead of just lecturing on the critical nature of these activities to continue their recovery process. The addiction treatment center should be the program’s feature, not an after thought handled in the room next door to the kitchen. Staff should include a Clinical Director that is licensed and a Medical Director that board certified and ASAM credentialed along with a qualified addiction treatment counselors the clients will respect. We encourage callers to ask who is actually going to be with your loved one on a daily basis and what activities are scheduled for them.

I have heard experiences like the following one from a mom about her daughter’s addiction treatment center far too often. “During the entire month our daughter only saw the credentialed people pictured on the internet once or twice. She hardly left her residence because that’s also where all the clients were crammed together for one group after another run by entry level staff, eating carbohydrate rich school cafeteria type food, gaining too much weight, pacing around within the same four walls, with only the occasional outside 12-step meeting. It’s no wonder my daughter did not relapse. Watching TV and eating was the alternative to smoking cigarettes to pass the time in between groups.”

“Our family was in crises with my daughters’ addiction. We attended Alanon family support meetings and read books on addiction. Our family was ready to do our part and follow direction, but there was no family program. We knew our daughter needed to go to drug rehab. We liked the idea of all the professional staff helping her and the one-on-on attention. The pictures of the staff and the facility looked great on the internet but this was not our experience.”

When looking for a Florida drug rehab, take your time and do your homework. While some of the best addiction treatment centers are located in Florida, you have to be careful. If you require assistance locating a Florida drug rehab you can call the addiction treatment helpline in Florida at 1-800-511-9225.

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