Sober Fun - A Birthday Party

What happened to sober fun?

Yesterday we celebrated my son's 7th birthday.  Since it is summertime, we decided to have a Pirate Party at the local splash pad.  We invited the children from his kindergarten class.  The kids came with parents in tow.  We had a great time.  In fact, the kids did not want to leave.  
We had sober fun.  
Reflecting on yesterday's party, I started to wonder, why so many adults believe the only way to have a party is with drugs and alcohol?  
Is it possible to have an outdoor barbeque without a cold beer?  
Can friends get together and watch the Super Bowl without alcohol?  
If I attend an outdoor music festival, must I smoke a bowl before I get there?  What has happened to the simplicity of having fun?

It is in the teen years that the word "party" changes its meaning. A teenager who hears the phrase, "party like a rock star" is not thinking of the partying of his elementary school years.  No, partying is a code term for getting high.  How does going to a party become "partying" in a matter of years?  I can think of two reasons: 
The first reason is it is the custom. The thinking that goes like this:  "Everyone is doing it.  A party is no fun without getting high.  Having a party means partying - getting wasted." 
A second reason is an inability to handle the challenges of life.  Life today is full of difficult situations - money problems, family issues, school troubles, etc.  Partying and zoning out become an escape from thinking about the challenges of daily life.  For some people this zoning out or escape from daily life through drug and alcohol use becomes an addiction.  The addiction becomes the daily problem.  

If you realize you are abusing drugs or alcohol or you know someone who is, there is help.  I am an addictions counselor specializing in helping people change.  If you would like more information on addictions or how to change contact me through my website:

http://www.stages2change.com

Marijuana Facts Parents Need to Know

I Found A Lighter on My Son's Desk

My son was 14 when I found a lighter sitting on his desk. I dismissed this thinking to myself "he needs the lighter for his firecracker collection."  
I was in denial.  Fast forward 5 years and my son informs me that the doctors in Oregon have approved him for medical marijuana.  He has pins in his ankle from breaking it when his girlfriend drove over his ankle with his car - there is more to that story . . . . .

Teens graffiti on bridge "Marijuana - THC"

When I was a teenager I was exposed to friends smoking pot.  In the 1970s I attended rock concerts like Led Zepplin, Santana, Queen and Eric Clapton where the smell of marijuana was strong and the passing of the pipe was a sign of hospitality. My "partying" slowed down as I got a real job, got married and had a family.  The adolescent years are a time of peer influence, and can be a time of rebellion against the parent's values.  A parent may not want to believe the signs that their child is beginning to use drugs.  It is helpful to take the first step and learn the facts about marijuana and teen use.  
Are you being hoodwinked by your marijuana using teen?  
The online counseling website Stages2Change, LLC provides free resources for parents on drug use.  The pamphlet "Marijuana Facts Parents Need to Know" can be downloaded at: 


www.stages2change.com