As an addictions counselor, I of course applaud all the efforts to bring honesty and attention to the abuse of alcohol in this country, in this state, in my town, into any home. The children do as they see; not as they hear. As a past board member of Citizens Against Substance Abuse in Flagstaff, I've heard the Coconino County Sheriff and the Flagstaff Police Chief state more than once that alcohol is by far the most common and problematic substance that affects the people they often have to deal with. Given the choice of a drug to eliminate from the street -- alcohol or marijuana -- they didn't hesitate to choose alcohol. I point this out not to promote the abuse of any drug, but rather to note that as long as we accept alcohol as socially and legally acceptable, how are we going to get our children to NOT do what they see done.
Leading by example is it, in my book. And speaking of books, I'd like to recommend the book “Undoing Drugs” as a must for everyone interested in bringing a truly honest and informed evaluation and clarity to this important discussion. As a counselor, I was kept honest by my clients in that if I was going to ask them to become honest in addressing their addictions, I had to become honest in so doing with my own. It made my life better and I brought integrity to my work and made what I had to share genuine and relevant. It made it easier for my clients to believe me when I said I understood what it's like to be addicted.
It doesn't mean that only an addict can work with another addict. What I'm saying is that each of us has our own version of struggle to not be ruled by outside forces which run counter to our own best interests and those of society. I gain a certain power to create for my clients a safe "container," which would support the necessary changes in lifestyle and behavior that overcoming any addiction requires.
Yet, the good news is that it is never too late, never impossible, and efforts such as this web site are building a field of consciousness and an energy that we share even when we're not aware of it, even though we don't know one another personally. Because we have taken at least one moment to become aware enough to even log on we have added strength to our common concern and efforts. Good for us and ultimately, good for our children and theirs to come.
-- Gary, Flagstaff