Book Blurb & Info
Parents will learn from Richard Capriola, a mental health and addictions counselor, the importance of comprehensive assessments – and what to look for in a counselor to know you’re getting the right help.
Buy Links
AmazonBarnes&Noble
IndieBound
Author Guest Post
I
HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS GOING ON
Richard Capriola
I have been an addictions counselor for over two decades. I’ve sat in hundreds of diagnostic conferences with parents and explained the history of their child’s alcohol or drug use. After listening to the details of their child’s substance use, a frequent response from parents was “I had no idea this was going on.” Or, if they suspected their child was using a substance, they were shocked at how extensive the use was.
Adolescents can be very clever at flying under their parent’s radar. Parents want to believe the best in their children. But that belief can quickly turn into a double-edged sword when they learn their child is abusing substances. Parents sometimes feel angry or frightened or will ask themselves “how did I miss the warning signs?” For most of these parents, they didn’t just simply miss the warning signs. They were unaware of what signs to look for.
Alcohol is a good example. By age fifteen nearly 33 percent of teens have had at least one drink, and by eighteen about 60 percent have had a drink. Eleven percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States is by people ages twelve through twenty, and 90 percent of their drinking is binge drinking.
Jack was one of my patients who was admitted to the hospital with a history of anxiety, self-injury, marijuana and alcohol abuse. He’s an example of teens hiding their drinking, sometimes right under the nose of their parents. Jack’s parents kept their liquor in an unlocked cabinet. When he wanted alcohol, Jack stole gin or vodka. He’d take part of the alcohol from a bottle and replace it with water, so his parents never discovered Jack raiding the liquor cabinet. Not until it was almost too late.
Sometimes parents can be too trusting of their children. Sarah was another of my patients. She was fifteen when admitted for depression, anxiety and marijuana use. During our first session she shared with me an event just prior to her admission. She baked a batch of cookies laced with marijuana while her parents were shopping and set them on a table to cool. Her dog found the cookies and helped himself. When Sarah’s parents returned home, they found their dog sleeping in a corner. They asked Sarah why the dog was sleeping. She said she had taken him for a long run and he was tired. Her parents bought the story. While it might have seemed like a simple lie, it was a red flag to Sarah’s deeper unresolved issues.
Regardless of a child’s attempt to hide their substance use, there usually are warning signs. The Addicted Child: A Parent’s Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse identifies many of those warning signs. In addition to listing the signs for alcohol and drugs like marijuana, the book gives parents warning signs for eating disorders, self-harm and gaming, all of which can accompany a child’s substance abuse.
As a general rule however, parents should pay close attention to any changes in their child’s behavior or attitude. This includes declining academic performance, changes in peer groups, loss of interest in favorite activities, changes in sleeping or eating habits and deteriorating relationships with family members or friends. The more changes a parent sees, the more likely there may be an underlying reason that needs further assessment.
Parents who suspect their child is using alcohol or drugs should obtain a comprehensive assessment. It’s not enough to focus only on the substance use. There may be underlying psychological issues driving the substance use. The Addicted Child guides parents through these comprehensive assessments. A comprehensive assessment, rather than simply an addictions assessment, is the basis for diagnoses and a treatment plan. It’s also the basis for helping parents decide what form of treatment is best for their child. There is no “one size fits all” treatment approach and a comprehensive assesment and diagnoses can lay the foundation for exploring effective treatment options.
Parents should also have a discussion with their child about any suspected substance use. This is not a confrontation. It is a discussion where parents listen to not only the words their child is speaking but also the feelings behind those words. Listening to words and feelings is a skill every parent can learn and practice. Examples are included in my parent workbook. The goal of a discussion is to reach a better understanding of why your child may be using a substance and whether you may need a professional assessment. Regardless of how the discussion goes however, if you suspect your child is using a substance it’s important that you get a comprehensive assesment completed. Your family physician or school counselor may be a good source for referrals.
Parents also need support and guidance when working with a child abusing a substance. Often a parent will experience feelings of shame, anxiety or questioning how they missed the warning signs. The Addicted Child Workbook is a brief book intended to help parents. In the workbook parents process their child’s motivation to change their substance use behaviors, identify which behaviors have become problematic, assess interventions that may or may not have worked, identify and rate their own emotions, discover coping skills for anxiety, and learn tips to help connect with their teen.
Richard Capriola has been a mental health and addictions counselor for over two decades. He recently retired from Menninger Clinic in Houston Texas where he worked for over a decade as an addictions counselor for adolescents and adults diagnosed with substance use disorders. He is the author of The Addicted Child: A Parent’s Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse and the parent workbook. Both are available on Amazon and http://www.helptheaddictedchild.com
Toot's Review by Betty Bee
In this book, 'The Addicted Child: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse,' Capriola defines what exactly it means to have a child who is addicted to a substance and how to take the next steps in seeking help and treatment for that child. It is made up of very practical advice for parents who need help. Everything from determining whether or not your child actually needs help, to how to find that help in a short, easy-to-read volume that leaves nothing out.
The middle section of the book is devoted to outlining different substances that your child may be addicted to and how exactly each substance may be affecting them. Everything from vaping to hallucinogenics is covered and all aspects of each drug are discussed.
I recommend anyone with kids who might be susceptible to negative influences to read this and I would even recommend letting your child read it in order to let them fully understand how these drugs can affect their health. It's might be good to let them know what negative influence might look like so that they can avoid it if it comes into their lives.
The final section of the book deals with how to get help for your addicted child and it was perhaps the most comprehensive part, with a very clear list of steps to take and people to contact. I could definitely see how this type of list would be useful in the shock of discovering that your child is using drugs, when you are not sure where to turn.
This is well worth the read! I give it 5 stars.
Author Info
Website: https://helptheaddictedchild.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.capriola
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CapriolaRichard
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/richardcapriola
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instarick1949/
~Giveaway~
~To Enter~
Please fill out the rafflecopter below
Tour Info
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar4 Kickoff & Interview
Lu Ann Rockin’ Book Reviews Mar 5 Review & Guest Post
Sage Nor Bound 4 Escape Mar 8 Guest Review
Am Goodreads Mar 9 Review
Mike Goodreads Mar 10 Review
Betty Toots Book Reviews Mar 11 Review & Guest Post
Bookgirl Goodreads Mar 16 Review
Miller Amazon Mar 17 Review
Laura Lee Celtic Lady’s Reviews March 19 Guest Review & Excerpt
Andy Amazon Mar 22 Review
GudReader Goodreads Mar 26 Review
Becky Life As Rog Mar 30 Review
Ayesha theayeshasite Apr 6 Review
Linda Lu Goodreads Apr 7 Review
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Apr 8 Review
Bee Book Pleasures Apr 9 Review & Interview
Gracie Goodreads Apr 12 Review
No comments:
Post a Comment