This career criminal went on a raiding spree merely days after his release from jail. His recent activities include breaking into the home of an 88-year-old victim and slashing the tires of a witness’s car in revenge for her calling the police.

When arrested, Craig did own up to a long list of crimes he had committed to fund his expensive drug habit. His criminal record, not surprisingly, goes back to when he was a boy. He received a sentence of three years in jail for the burglary of the 88-year-old woman’s home and the tire damage.

The judge in Craig’s case told him he had an appalling criminal record. "You know that these offenses are so serious only a custodial sentence can be imposed for them," he was quoted in the Burnely Express.

Craig had also been responsible for break-ins at Blessed Trinity College, helping himself to at least three overhead projectors. Craig owned up to three of the break-ins. He was found in a raid of a house and when interviewed, made a full confession to his crimes.

On November 10th, Craig had been released from custody for other drug-related crimes and within days was breaking the law again to support his habit. At his point of arrest, he had 98 previous convictions, had breached court orders and had qualified for a minimum of three years behind bards as a “three-strike” burglar.

Philip Holden, defense attorney said: "His problem, of course, is drugs, and his good intentions seem to lapse very quickly after release. There is a glimmer of hope for the future if he can rid himself of his drug addiction."
 

One of the major substance-related difficulties in partner violence is that batterers have impaired decision-making when intoxicated. Control of violent behavior for batterers is largely a matter of making conscious choices for safety based upon empathy for others. Intoxication can sabotage the batterers’ ability to make such recovery-based decisions and to use cognitive coping skills designed for safety.

Intoxication also leads to poor impulse control that can override recovery efforts and safety plans meant to control coercion and abuse of partners. Poor impulse control allows emotions to surface with fewer mental checks and balances than are present when not intoxicated. High emotionality is a classical trigger to violence relapse for many batterers who use substances. High emotionality is also a common trigger for relapse to substance use.

Batterers who use substances also tend to have a more distorted perception of others when intoxicated. This can lead them to believe that their victims have hidden agendas, are provocative, disrespectful or any number of other things that trigger the impulse to control and abuse partners. Misinterpreting cues and situations because they are intoxicated can sabotage the batterers’ usual efforts to control violence. Substance use in these cases greatly increases the risk of partners becoming targeted and consequently harmed through the misperception of the batterer. Batterers who make conscious recovery efforts to stop violence are sabotaged by their continued use of substances.

Similarly, it is well known that batterers with substance use disorders do not always become nonviolent with sobriety. It is, however, something of a stretch of the imagination to say that batterers who continue violence while abstaining from substances are “sober”. Sobriety, especially in the self-help recovery community, is based upon the use of spiritual principles in one’s behavior and relationships. For this reason, a violent lifestyle is philosophically at odds with the concept of having sobriety from substances.

There are significant ways that domestic violence and substance use are distinct from each other, but they do share many characteristics. For example, denial is a core problem in each. For both the batterer and a substance user denial impedes recovery. Responsibility for behaviors is blamed on situations and others and, at times, there is not even an awareness of being responsible for problems. The tendency to avoid responsibility and blame others increases the dangerousness of batterers and the chances of relapse to substance use.

There are other effects of battering and substance use that are similar in both problems such as difficulty functioning in daily life, at work and in responsible and protective parenting. Legal problems are also typical. Depression, poor self-esteem and poor self-image are common characteristics of the two as well.

Treatment issues for batterers who use substances include the need to examine the relationship between battering and substance use. Some of these are:

• How much violence occurs when intoxicated and how does intoxication change the frequency of violence or the severity of violence?

• At what point during substance use does violence occur?

• Which is triggered first, substance use or violence?

• What substances are used in episodes of violence?

• Are substances used after episodes of violence?

• What does the batterer expect from substance use?

• Are substances used along with the victim?

• Is the victim’s use of substances used as excuse violence?

• What are the batterer’s expectations when the victim is using substances?

• Is the victim ever coerced to use substances with manipulation, intimidation or other tactics?

• Are substances used as “an excuse” for violence?

• Are substances used in premeditation preparing for violence?

Questions such as these help clarify the cycle of substance use and battering that are specific to the individual. Such an inventory allows recovery efforts to focus upon the specific coping skills and strategies needed at each step in the dual abuse cycle. In this way, relapse prevention for both issues can be thoroughly addressed. These intertwined and closely related issues create many challenges in achieving recovery and maintaining a good relapse prevention program.

Additionally, the close and complex relationship between substance use and domestic violence requires that good treatment for either screen for both problems or be prepared to handle many of the issues that surface for both. For example, both groups in treatment frequently reveal that they have experienced childhood abuse and/or neglect, have witnessed parental violence and were children of parents with substance problems. These types of trauma can present long-range and significant problems that impede recovery efforts in both substance use and battering. While some of this work is long-term and will require specific counseling apart from the primary issues of substance use and violence, it is important that they are identified, a plan is formulated and initial coping skills are learned in order to be successful in the first phases of substance recovery and nonviolence.

Treatment for substance use disorders occurs in phases and is typically time-limited. Treatment is necessarily specific in each stage as it identifies the goals for successful recovery such as detoxification, education and engagement with recovery supports. Longer term substance treatment focuses upon maintenance of sobriety and relapse prevention. Similarly, treatment for intimate partner violence is also typically time-limited and very goal specific. It is common for batterers to participate in educational groups that focus upon information about the cycle of violence, the impact of violence, coping strategies to stop battering and to prevent relapse. While substance use and domestic violence are commonly concurrent issues, treatment programs do not typically treat them simultaneously as, for example, some programs treat concurrent disorders of mental illness and substance problems. For these reasons addicted batterers may need to be referred to multiple services or multiple programs in order to successfully resolve a variety of issues that prevent us sustained recovery from substance use and battering.

Treatment providers for each problem should be able to screen and make appropriate referrals for additional services that are needed to thoroughly treat substance problems, domestic violence, parenting, trauma, mental health symptoms, self-esteem and anger and impulse control problems. Often, the legal system is involved in getting individuals to substance treatment and also to treatment for domestic violence. Court involvement helps to ensure that treatment needs are identified and appropriate services secured and coordinated. Treatment compliance is usually also monitored by the courts for such clients. Clients with substance use and domestic violence who wish to be compliant with court orders and/or to enter recovery successfully may need help in navigating multiple services and access to multiple programs. Court monitoring programs can provide the structure needed to assist them.

This study tests the effectiveness of Mindfulness Meditation – which is the calm awareness of one’s body and its functions – in the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions.

According to Aleksandra Zgierska, professor of family medicine and lead researcher, she was drawn to this study due to her roots in family medicine. She has witnessed the impact addiction can have on lives of the addict and those around them, especially those living in Wisconsin.

“Clearly, there is a need for development of new therapies to help improve outcomes in alcohol dependence and other addictive disorders,” Zgierska said, citing scientific evidence that shows 60 percent of people who quit their addictions relapse within a year.

Zgierska believes meditation is a perfect therapy to fill this need, especially since mindfulness treatments are proven to be an effective treatment for many triggers of addiction relapse. She believes that conceptually, it is a perfect fit as a therapy for addictions.

A pilot study was conducted by Zgierska in 2008 in which 15 alcohol-dependent adults were given meditation therapy in addition to their other treatments. Subjects participating in the study reported having new tools for dealing with their alcohol cravings. In addition, participants also liked the mediation.

While this is the first published study measuring meditation as a treatment for addiction disorders, many other small and large scale studies have been conducted since.
 

"I had become a functioning alcoholic," said Heather Fanning, a recovering alcoholic.
Fanning says she’s lucky her drinking didn’t kill her or anyone else. "Around my house there would be alcohol stashed every where, and I’d drink when people weren’t watching," said Fanning.

At her worst, Fanning was drinking three shots of vodka, 10 beers, and two glasses of wine every day, all while holding down a job and raising a son.

According to a federal study, the number of women between 30 and 44 who reported abusing alcohol doubled over the past decade. The number of women arrested for DUI is up almost 30 percent.

Psychologist Barbara Kelly says families need to look past the stereotype of the old man on the barstool and look more closely for signs of a functioning alcoholic. Some of the warning signs include always thinking about the next drink, behaving in ways that are uncharacteristic, and having trouble controlling alcohol intake.

"They hide the alcohol in places that they know people wouldn’t typically look for it," said Kelly." Sometimes they hide it in the nursery where their baby sleeps."

Stay-at-home mom Michelle McClennen kept an immaculate home, took care of her two kids, and still managed to juggle daily drinking.

"It was one of these huge goblets that became so in style a few years ago. It was more than half a bottle of wine, but to me I felt like I was having one glass of wine," said McClennen. "So I’d put the roast in the oven and I’d go out into the driveway with my daughter with the glass of wine in my hand."

Her nights out with other moms became her excuse. "We’d go to jewelry making parties to Tupperware parties," said McClennen. "There was also Bunko, a dice rolling game, that’s actually called Drunko, because you definitely drink a lot."

Fanning found help through an inpatient addiction treatment center. Both McClennen and Fanning say that admitting they needed help was the toughest part. "It’s the socially acceptable sleeping giant that nobody’s going to say anything," said McClennen.

Don’t Panic

If this is the first time your child has experienced a problem with alcohol, don’t panic. If you’ve maintained an open line of communication with your child, he or she knows that alcohol use is not permitted. So, this could simply be a moment of temporary abandonment of the family values or an infraction of the established rules of behavior. While this is not insignificant, it doesn’t mean that your child is destined for a life of crime or heading down the path of addiction – not yet, at least. So, while you needn’t panic, you do need to take action. Things can’t just continue in the family as if nothing happened. There are consequences for bad behavior, and this fact needs to be clearly expressed to your child.

Find Out the Facts

Naturally, you’ll need to find out all the facts. Gather any paperwork, reports and eye-witness accounts of what happened during the incident. If it was an alcohol-related traffic incident, there will be a police report. There may also be eyewitnesses who have given statements. If it is a school-related problem, you will need to interview the appropriate school principal, teachers, classmates or others who can give you information. Get as much factual material together as you can.

Next, you need to have a heart-to-heart talk with your child. Be prepared for some denial, evasiveness, perhaps a bit of fear, anger, or comments that it’s “not that big a deal.” Try to ascertain the reasoning behind the action. Did he or she just get in a situation that was over their head? Was it a case of peer pressure to drink that they gave into? Did someone else spike their soda with alcohol? Was it a dare?

Pay attention to any other contributing factors that may not have been evident prior to the incident. How are your child’s grades and performance in sports or extracurricular activities? Has your child been depressed lately, or anxious, fidgety, unable to sleep, feeling inadequate, lonely or bullied? Has he or she been fighting with your other children? Have you noticed your child is no longer hanging out with certain friends or engaging in activities they formerly found pleasurable?

Once you have all the facts and have talked with your child, you need to take the appropriate action with respect to the degree of trouble your child is in. Of course, if this is not the first time your child has gotten in trouble with alcohol, your course of action may be considerably different.

Immediate Steps

Depending on the severity of the infraction, your child may be suspended from school, need legal representation for court appearances, may be hospitalized for alcohol intoxication, or may require treatment for alcohol abuse. First-time offenders usually are not dealt with as seriously as repeat offenders, but some states have been stepping up enforcement of underage drinking and driving, so it really depends on where you live and how serious the problem is. Similarly, many schools have instituted a zero-tolerance policy against alcohol and drug use. It pays to know where your child’s school stands on these issues. Hopefully, you already know this, but if you don’t, now’s the time to find out.

Having amassed all the facts and with a good knowledge of the consequences of your child’s actions, you now need to sit down with your child and have a serious discussion about the ramifications. Whatever punishment you deem appropriate needs to be enforced. Do not make any idle threats, no matter how disappointed or angry you are. In fact, do not even have this discussion with your child until you are sufficiently calmed and can approach the matter in a level-headed manner. It is also extremely important that both parents participate in this conversation and be in agreement on the course of action to take. In the case of a single parent, the presence of another adult family member is recommended.

Something has to be taken away. Whether this something is freedom, as in grounding your child for some period of time, or no friends in, no television, no videogames, loss of cell phone privileges, or something else, make it something that is meaningful. It has to be something that your child values and will feel a sense of loss when it has been temporarily taken away. In fact, you should acknowledge that you know this is important to your child, but so is adhering to the family rules. Breaking the rules has consequences, and this is one of those consequences. Tell your child that you are willing to reinstate some of the privileges you’re taking away when your child is able to demonstrate that he or she has learned from their mistake and has regained your confidence in their determination to abide by the family rules.

How To Talk With Your Child

Be careful about tone of voice. Be as loving as possible, but remain firm. In addition, here are some other tips about how to talk with your child.

• Pick the right time. In order for the conversation to be effective, you need to pick the right time to hold it, say the experts. Make sure that your child is sober, not coming off a hangover or still drunk. In addition, it’s important that your child is not agitated, extremely upset, or angry.

• Express your love and concern. Before you begin with the difficult topic, the first words out of your mouth need to be about how you love your child and are very concerned about his or her welfare. That’s why you’re having this discussion. Be prepared for the fact that your child may not acknowledge this love, or may act as if it is irrelevant. This is their fear and denial asserting itself.

• Point out responsibilities. Again, experts say that it is important here to point out that while it is the child’s responsibility to grow up, it is the parents’ responsibility to make sure the child has a safe environment in which to grow up.

• Bring up warning signs you’ve observed. Beyond the alcohol-related incident that landed your child in trouble, bring up any warning signs that you have observed. Be as neutral and non-judgmental as possible when stating these, however, and say things like, “This problem needs our attention and support, perhaps even professional help, because it can get out of hand.” Mention any negative effects your child’s alcohol use has had on you and others in the family, particularly other children.

• Listen to what your child has to say. In the spirit of open communication, listen to whatever your child has to say. Some of the comments may be related to other topics and not the issue at hand. Hear him or her out and then promise to address those concerns at another time. But now is the time to deal with the issue of alcohol use. Do not be distracted by the other issues, since alcohol use may be at the core of some of those problems.

• Use motivational interviewing techniques. Clinicians use a type of interviewing technique known as motivational interviewing. Borrow a page from their playbook by encouraging your child to talk about what he or she wants their life to be like: at school, with friends, family, afterschool job or extracurricular activities, etc. Then ask how things are going at the present time in each of these areas. Really listen to the responses to these questions.

• Have them draw the line between the two. After your child has expressed desires and how things are currently going, ask them to draw the line between the two. How is the alcohol use detracting from the goals? Where it doesn’t match up is the area where you want your child to be able to recognize the dissonance and have the opportunity to correct their patterns of behavior. Teens especially want to feel that they have the power to make the right decisions. Given the direction and appropriate opportunity, most do make the right ones. Your child needs that chance to be able to do so.

• Ask your child to reassess the problem. Now that you’ve come this far in the discussion, ask your child to reconsider the problem. What does he or she think could best be done to address the issue of alcohol? Together, work out a plan for getting to the next steps, which may include education about alcohol and addiction, and counseling.

• Reiterate your love. Conclude the discussion by reiterating your love and promising to work together with your child to get the help he or she needs. By expressing your love and concern and letting him or her know that they’re not alone, you are helping bulwark your child’s willingness to move forward. They’ve made a mistake, true, but you are not withdrawing your love and you will get through this together.

What About Counseling?

Many schools have programs offering health education classes to students that include content on drug and alcohol abuse. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program provides financial assistance for drug and violence prevention activities and activities that promote the health and safety of students in elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher learning.

You need to get your son or daughter to talk with someone about their alcohol use. This should be a health care professional who is knowledgeable about the problem and can help counsel your child. You could select a child psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in treating clients with alcohol or drug problems. The counselor will utilize individual and possibly group meetings and may recommend that your child participate in 12-step meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous (for teens, not general adult population).

What to Look For in Counseling or Treatment Programs

If you decide to seek counseling or treatment for your child who has had a problem with alcohol, consider asking the following questions:

• Why is this program/counseling the best for my child? How does it compare with other treatments or services that may be available?

• What are the program’s credentials or licensing? Is it specially designed and appropriate for teens?

• What are the credentials and licensing of the treatment professionals? Does the team include experts in physical and mental health as well as substance abuse treatment?

• What is the program’s philosophy on 12-steps, abstinence, medications, therapy approaches, and recovery?

• Does my child have other problems (beyond alcohol abuse)? How will these be addressed in the treatment program?

• To what extent will our family be involved in the treatment program? Is aftercare or continuing care programs included as part of the overall treatment plan?

• How much does treatment cost? Does my insurance cover any portion of it?

• What length of time does the treatment generally take?

• If my child shows improvement, is there a reassessment of needs or a stepping-down of the treatment program to accommodate this progress?

• How will my child’s education continue while he or she is in treatment?

Early Intervention Pays Off

The earlier you address the situation of your child’s problem with alcohol, the better. Seeking help to identify underlying causes, how to spot and deal with triggers, how to resist peer pressure, and learning healthier behaviors is key to preventing alcohol use from becoming abuse and addiction.

Recognize that young people are bound to experiment, to test limits, and to sometimes push beyond boundaries. When your child gets in trouble with alcohol, it isn’t the end of the world. While some of this is a natural part of growing up, the family rules and boundaries of expected behavior must be respected. Through it all, surround your child with your love and caring concern. Express in clear and loving fashion that you will be there for them, and encourage them to grow to their full potential – and you won’t take no for an answer. In fact, that’s what being a family is about.
 

John W. Kindt, professor of business administration at the College of Business at the University of Illinois, called it a major development.

"Gambling interests have been financing so-called studies for many years," he said, "trying to ensure that this is not listed as an addiction,” he said, adding that in 1994 the American Medical Association passed a resolution that showed the medical cost of gambling addictions was $40 billion annually. That would amount to $200 to $300 billion in medical costs to taxpayers and insurance companies by today’s standards.

Representatives of the gambling industry are downplaying the changes in the DSM. Chad Hills, gambling analyst with Focus on the Family Action, said gambling proponents have tried to hide the importance of the change "for a long time."

"For the DSM to actually come out and classify it as such is going to make the industry have to dance a little bit," he said. "Manufacturers of gambling machines and casino operators may now have to assume greater responsibility for the damages their products cause."
 

The Invitational Model of Intervention, also known as the Systemic Family Intervention Model, was developed by Ed Speare and Wayne Raiter. Rather than focusing solely on the person with a substance abuse problem, the Invitational Model addresses the entire family together, with the addicted individual invited to attend as well. This model is based on the idea that if the system changes, every individual within the system will also change, including the addict (systems theory). It is designed to be a non-confrontational and nonjudgmental form of intervention.

Description

The Invitational Model of Intervention calls for the entire family to participate in an interventionist-led workshop, which generally takes place over two days. In the workshop, the family is educated on addiction, covering such topics as addiction’s underlying neurobiology and intergenerational nature, how addiction affects the family, and the process known as enabling (among many others). The interventionist helps each member of the family understand the role they play in the system of addiction, with the goal of having every family member commit to a plan of recovery. The hope is that a commitment by every family member will encourage the addicted individual to accept help.

To proceed with the Invitational Model of Intervention, a concerned family member must contact an interventionist about the person with a substance abuse problems. Several family members meet or talk with the interventionist, and plans for the workshop are made. One family member is coached on how to invite the addicted individual to the workshop, although it will take place regardless of whether the individual decides to attend. Family members who will be attending the workshop are often asked to do some preparation, which may include attending Alcoholics Anonymous/Al-Anon meetings and completing some assigned reading.

The workshop is conducted, and each family member learns about their different treatment options. These may include addiction or co-dependency treatment, among others. The interventionist usually maintains contact with the family for up to a year, following up either in person or via telephone.