Sacramento Moms Produce Documentary to Bring Awareness to Teen Substance Abuse

This is an interview with Susan King of Pathway to Prevention.

CT: Please introduce yourself to the readers.

SK: I am a co-founder of Pathway to Prevention, a California non-profit that is dedicated to educating teens and parents about the risks of that first innocent drink or pill.  Pathway to Prevention was formed by local moms who discovered their teens were enmeshed in drugs or alcohol.

We know from our own experience that most parents and teens have no idea how prevalent teen substance abuse is, or how easily teens can become addicted.  Our focus is education and prevention –to stop addiction before it starts– and also to support parents whose children are in active addiction.

We’ve developed PathwaytoPrevention.org, which focuses on education and prevention, and ParentPathway.com, which offers resources, tools and information to help navigate the fear and uncertainty you encounter when you find your child addicted to drugs or alcohol.  For example, three moms blog regularly at ParentPathway.com, sharing their proverbial wisdom, strength and hope.  I like to think of us as a daisy chain of moms who help lead others through the dark woods to the sunlight.

CT: Tell us about your documentary, “Collision Course,” and why you wanted to make it? 

SK: We set out to educate our community with authoritative, evidence-based information to dispel the preconceptions and misconceptions about teen substance abuse.  Along the way, we encountered barriers, such as school officials who insist students aren’t abusing drugs or alcohol, in spite of national statistics that say otherwise.  “Not in my back yard” was a common refrain.  And while our presentations were described as “powerful” and “life changing,” we simply didn’t have the womanpower to spread the word broadly.

So we envisioned a documentary as an alternative way for teens and parents to learn what is actually happening across the country. We raised the funds for and commissioned a local Emmy-award winning team to produce Collision Course – Teen Addiction Epidemic. Collision Course is premiering on public TV in northern California on October 12. Spread the word!  The higher the viewership, the faster it will be shown nationally, changing the way teens and parents view drugs and alcohol across the country.  People will also be able to purchase the documentary from the Pathway to Prevention web site to show in community settings.

CT: At this stage, what are the top 3 things you’ve learned about addiction and/or codependency that have helped you in your own recovery?

SK: I have learned that substance abuse is an equal opportunity brain disease that strikes good kids from good families. Understanding the biology of addiction has helped me deal with my misplaced sense of responsibility and guilt. It has also opened the door for me and other parents to speak candidly: there is no shame or guilt in having a child with a disease. We want to share that message broadly to help erase the stigma that cripples recovery.

I have learned that there is tremendous hope for recovery for parents and children.  Our beloved teens can find recovery, but we have to get out of the way first.   As a Blue Chip co-dependent, I finally understand that when I take on others’ problems, they can’t reap the benefit of learning from their mistakes. Mistakes are a great teacher that help us learn not to repeat a painful past.

I have also gained a lot of self awareness about the anguish I inflicted on myself.  I tended to automatically obsess about the worst possible outcome, when things were just fine at the moment.  My overactive imagination caused me so much unnecessary pain.  In fact, I am powerless over substance abuse (and natural disasters, and other things that kept me awake at night). So why worry?  It doesn’t change the outcome.  I am an admitted work in progress in this area, but rather than obsess about the uncontrollable, I now work consciously to stay “in the moment.” That gift of addiction translates to every area of my life.

CT: What advice do you have for parents of drug addicts/alcoholics who are just coming to terms with the diagnosis or suspicion of their son or daughter’s substance abuse?  

SK: Another Pathway to Prevention mom said it best: “Learn as much as you can about addiction and alcoholism.  Go to Al-anon, Nar-anon and open AA and NA meetings.”  I would add that you must trust your gut.  If you suspect a problem, there is a problem. If you have actual evidence of a problem, understand that you are probably only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

It is so much easier to sit on the sidelines and hope that things will get better on their own—but they don’t.  So be brave and seek help immediately.  The earlier you take action, the less damage will accrue and the more quickly you may all be on the mend.  Finally, never give up hope that your child will find recovery, and so will you.

If you enjoyed this post, consider a free email subscription and receive my ebook, “Embrace the New Life.” I’ve just started my Facebook page, Treatment Talk and would love it if you would give it a Like. Has teen substance abuse affected your family? Join the discussion and let us know in comments.

Please Note:  Is your teen struggling with teen substance abuse? The Parents Toll-Free Helpline – 1-855-DRUGFREE, sponsored by The Partnership at Drugfree.org is staffed Monday-Friday from 10:00 am-6:00 pm EST. Parent Support Professionals are available. Please call if you need help with your teen.

Be Well,

Cathy

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