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Prevent ion
Law & Justice
Treatment
Meth in
Spokane
County
Working Together Toward
Safe Communities
Free From Substance Abuse
Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council’s (GSSAC)
Prevention Center
(509) 922-8383 * www.GSSAC.org
Meth Watch Member e-Letter
Publisher: Lacey Jones July 2010
Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council’s (GSSAC)
Prevention Center
Spokane County Meth Action Team (MAT)
Opiate Addiction Reaches Epidemic Proportions in Afghanistan
At least 2.7 percent of Afghanistan’s adult population is addicted to heroin or opium,
according to a study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),
Reuters Health reported June 21.
The world’s largest exporter of raw opium for heroin joins Iran and Russia as the
world’s biggest consumers of the drug per capita. Addiction in Iran ranges from 1.5
percent to 3.2 percent of the population, while Russia averages 1.64 percent of its
population. The global average is 0.3 percent.
Opium use has risen 53 percent since the UNODC’s last study of the country in 2004,
while heroin use has skyrocketed, up 140 percent. Many children are also addicted, as
the study noted a troubling phenomenon of adults intentionally getting their kids
hooked on the drug.
The country, which grows the poppy that supplies over 90 percent of the world’s
illegal opium and heroin, has only 40 rehabilitation clinics –
far too few for the 700,000 Afghans who said they wanted to quit.
(Join Together)
Prescription drug abuse is nothing new, but it’s a problem that is growing and now babies
are paying the price.
Hospitals are delivering more newborns addicted to the powerful opiates than ever before.
At any given moment, hospitals like Harborview Medical Center in Seattle are delivering
babies that are addicted and more and more of them are withdrawing from prescription
pills.
Barbara Drennen is co founder of the non-profit Kent Pediatric Interim Care Center. She
takes care of addicted newborns.
Drennen says the medical community is well aware of the growing problem of prescription
pill addiction and pregnant women.
They’re using opiates like Oxycontin, Vicodin and Percocet, which can be highly addictive
and very powerful.
One the biggest problems is that many times these types addictions can start out with
legitimate prescription use but then quickly spin out of control..
It takes anywhere from 30 to 60 days for newborns to wean off of the drugs.
“So we need to move rather quickly because the minute that baby is born he’s going to go
cold turkey now that he’s not receiving these drugs any longer,” says Drennen.
As for the babies’ long term recovery, the Pediatric Interim Care
Center says other than being hypersensitive to overstimulation
like noise and light, the babies should be fine.
Of course this is relatively new and the long term effects won’t
be known for some time.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says some of the best
ways to try and stop this growing problem are better training
for doctors to spot the addictions, better training for
pharmacists who interact with patients and can give them clear
directions and for the patients themselves to follow the
prescribed directions.
(KREM.com)
Hospitals Seeing More Prescription Drug Addicted Babies
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that a known drug dealer
admitted to them that he was shocked with thousands of volts
when he climbed a telephone pole with the intention of
stealing the wire for drug money. Which had us wondering –
is this common?
People desperate to make some quick cash see dollar signs
when they look at power lines because copper wire sells for
$2 a pound. When Jeremy Embler tried to cut though a live
power line, 7500 volts of electricity likely shot through his
body. “It’s possible,” Embler said. “I don’t recollect nothing.”
That’s Embler’s story and he’s sticking to it. Embler claims he doesn’t remember how
he ended up so injured doctors had to amputate his arm. But the Sheriff’s Department
does remember and told KXLY4 that Embler and a friend admitted he was trying to cut
a power line when he was shocked.
Jeremy said it’s something he’s never done before to make a quick buck for meth.
“When you have an addiction you do what it takes to feed that addiction,” Embler
said. Law enforcement and recycling companies would agree because it’s becoming a
common occurrence.
“The theft of copper and other recyclable materials from power lines has become
more and more common,” Sergeant Dave Reagan said.
Avista says it happens at least once a month and that they are aware of it. Inland
Power has similar problems. “Over the past several years there has been an increase in
theft,” George Brown with Inland Power said.
Hap Ahlborn, who owns Action Recycling, is also being impacted by the risky attempt
to make a quick buck. “They don’t call drugs “dope” for nothing,” Ahlborn said.
“We’re always on the lookout for any type of stolen material.” Jeremy says he’s lucky
to be alive after everything he’s been through.
A law was passed a couple of years ago to try to discourage people from trying to sell
copper wire. The law requires recycling companies to take ID and an address and then
mail a check if someone is trying to sell more than $30 in copper wire.
Ahlborn says he’s seen three or four guys all get out of the same car and sell just under
$30 worth of wire to get around the law.
(KXLY.com)
Drug Addicts See Dollar Signs in Telephone Poles

Grief and Loss Coping Strategies for Foster Parents

You may experience grief when a foster child leaves your home.  Certainly, parents are grieving when their children have been placed in out of home care. Children being placed in your home are experiencing grief related to their removal, changing schools, losing contact with friends, worrying about their parents, missing their pets—the list is a long one!

Grief is a natural response to a loss.  It is the emotional suffering that you feel when something or someone you love is taken away.  Any loss can cause grief including:

• The end of a relationship
• Loss of health
• Changes in a role or job
• Loss of financial stability
• A miscarriage or still birth
• Death of a family member
• Death of a pet
• Loss of a cherished dream
• A loved one’s serious illness
• Loss of a friendship
• Loss of safety after a traumatic experience

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross introduced the world to the theory of five stages of grief in 1969.

• Denial:  “This cannot be happening to me!”
• Anger:    “Why is this happening?  Who is to blame?”
• Bargaining:  “Make this not happen and in return, I will_______”
• Depression:  “I am too sad to do anything.”
• Acceptance:  “I am at peace with what happened.”

If you experience any of these emotions following a loss, or observe these emotions in others, it may help to know that the reaction is natural and that healing will come in time.

Grief is a roller coaster, not a series of stages and people often do not experience the stages in the same order:

It is best not to  think of grief as a series of stages, Rather, we might think of the grieving process as a roller coaster, full of ups and downs, highs and lows,.  Like many roller coasters the ride tends to be rougher in the beginning, the lows deeper and longer.  The difficult periods should become less intense and shorter as time goes by but it takes time to work through a loss.  Even years after a loss, especially at special events such as a family wedding or the birth of a child, we may still experience a strong sense of grief.

Common symptoms of grief:

While loss effects people in different ways, many people experience the following symptoms when they are grieving.  Just remember almost anything you experience is early states of grief is normal.

• Shock and disbelief-Right after a loss, it can be hard to accept what happened.  You may feel numb and have trouble believing that the loss really happened, even deny the truth.
• Sadness- Profound sadness is probably the most universally experienced symptoms of grief.  You may have feelings of emptiness, despair, yearning or deep loneliness. You may also cry a lot or feel emotionally unstable.
• Guilt- You may regret or feel guilty about things you did or did not say or do.  You may also feel guilty about certain feelings. Sometimes, children will blame themselves for causing the loss, even though they did nothing wrong.
• Anger-Even if the loss was nobody’s fault, you may feel angry and resentful.  You may feel the need to blame someone for the injustice that was done to you.
• Fear- A significant loss can trigger a host of worries and fears. You may feel anxious, helpless or insecure.  You may even have panic attacks.
• Physical symptoms- We often think of grief as a strictly emotional process, but grief often involves physical problems, including fatigue, nausea, lowered immunity weight loss or weight gain, aches and pains and insomnia.

Practicing Self-care during periods of grief:

• The single most important factor in healing from grief and loss is having supportive people around you.  You can help the children in your care heal by asking about their feelings, spending time just being with them and listening when they want to talk.
• Remember that being a caregiver may sometimes lead to your own feelings of loss.  When you are grieving, it is more important than ever to take care of yourself.  The stress of a major loss can quickly deplete your energy and emotional reserves. Looking after your physical and emotional needs will help you get through this difficult time.
• Face your feelings.  You can try to suppress your grief but you cannot avoid it forever.  In order to heal, you have to acknowledge the pain.  Unresolved grief can also lead to complications such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse and health problems.
• Express your feelings in a tangible or creative way.  Write about your loss in a journal or write a letter to the one who is gone…even if you can’t mail it.  It can make you feel better.
• Look after your physical health.  The mind and body are connected.  When you feel good physically, you also can feel better emotionally.  Combat stress and fatigue by getting enough sleep, eating right and exercising.  Don’t use alcohol in excess.  See your medical provider if needed.
• Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel and don’t tell yourself how to feel.  Your grief is personal.  Let yourself and the children in your home feel whatever you feel without embarrassment or judgment.  It is ok to be angry, to yell at the heavens, to cry or not to cry.  It is also ok to laugh to find moments of jog and to let go when you are ready.
• Plan ahead for “Grief Triggers”.   Anniversaries, holidays and milestones can reawaken memories and feelings.  Be prepared for an emotional hit and know that it is completely normal.
• Feelings of grief and loss can be uncomfortable and overwhelming, especially for children whose coping skills are not fully developed.  But the feelings are common, maybe even inevitable.
• Keep a lookout for signs of grieving in children you serve, in the families you work with and yes, even in yourself.
• Having a plan and knowing where to look for support will help you get through it.

This is an update on 5 of the sessions that will be at the workshop. There will still be others that are being coordinated – based on the needs of the parents/caregivers attending. This day is exciting to come together and recognize the need for our children that we call family. Six hours of CE credit toward license renewal for Foster Parents. Registration is reimbursable CE through the Adoption Support Program.  Contact your Adoption Support coordinator for that information.

***We recommend putting a family team together and learn new techniques at the same time.
Example of a good team- Parents, Teacher, Therapist and Grandparents.  Foster Parents, Social Worker, Therapist, Teacher, CASA, Respite Provider.  The more creative, the more support for you and your family!***

Please Pass this on to whomever it can benefit. This seminar has been made possible by the wealth of information and knowledge we gained at Healing Hearts Camp in Oregon in 2009. Our children are healing and doing amazing things for themselves and our lives.  We have used the techniques and professional recommendations with our whole family.

We live and raise children (foster/adopted) that have been diagnosed by professionals with Reactive Attachment Disorder, Complex and secondary PTSD, Sensory Integration disorders, Fetal Alcohol, Meth and Heroine effects, Developmental delays, Anxiety/Panic Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Sleep problems, Depressive Disorder, Mixed Receptive Expressive Language Disorder, ADD, ADHD, Attachment Disorder, Cognitive Disorders, Borderline Intellectual Functioning…..whew!
Why did you need to know all that?  Because we have seen a light of hope shine on our family and want to share it with others!

Have you ever asked, thought and searched for…
Why are they acting this way?
Why does it have to be so hard?
When are they going to get it?
Nobody understands us…
The teacher thinks I am mean!
They are so nice to everybody else!
The therapist wants to help…But how?
We’ve raised others- where did we go wrong?
Love is not enough…
They are not working to full potential.
Grandma thinks she can do better:)
This kid is driving us nuts!

Join us for a full day seminar and workshop including Speakers and Presentations.
I do not have the full agenda done and people are calling!  The enthusiasm is awesome- I will list some of the workshop ideas- they are not concrete and the details are being worked out.

Healthy Siblings- How to support your healthy kids and balance their needs.
How to Survive as a healthy kid living with mentally ill siblings
Awesome Mom stuff- How to take care of you- remembering you are lovable!
Awesome Dad stuff- How do you take care of you when your ship is sinking!
Stories of hope from healing kids
Camp Revolution 2011 information- www.armorranchhouse.webs.com
Give Me a Break- Therapeutic Respite
Circle of Support- How to support parents and family in the middle of the zone.
“Realistic Optimism” It would be education about how to shift from hopelessness to optimism in an insane world.

Hannah Fischer is coming to us from Portland,OR
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon.
Hannah has extensive knowledge and experience with Attachment and Bonding that she will share with us. She has put together an expert presentation for all to soak in. She will cover the brain and heart issues.  Hannah has energy that is amazing to offer hope from the toughest cases. She works with kids and adults with attachment issues and uses art, talk, sand tray and soon EMDR.

Learn new Techniques for: Therapeutic Parenting, Therapeutic Respite, Neurofeedback/Biofeedback, Neurological Reorganization

Sponsored by:
OK-9 Corral Bed & Biscuits, Inc. Loon Lake
Lunch provided by Loon Lake Nazarene Youth Group