In a recent article on Thrive Global, Awakening Co-Founder and Executive Director David Van Der Velde discussed the the challenges that young people who have co-occurring mental health issues face when they abuse marijuana and methamphetamine.

It is an issue that needs to be addressed as adolescent cannabis abuse has increased by 245% in the U.S. since 2000, with a particularly dramatic rise in the recent years since marijuana legalization has become commonplace.

From his many years experience working with young people who suffer from substance use issues,  David has seen firsthand how meth and marijuana use to go hand in hand with co-occurring mental health issues. Together, these can lead to a substance use disorder (SUD) with co-occurring mental health disorders.

David concludes that we need to reach and educate our youth about the dangers of these substances so that they will have the best chance of reaching adulthood and living a successful life.

Read the informative article on Thrive Global here.

In a recent article on Thrive Global, Awakening Co-Founder and Executive Director David Van Der Velde, discussed the need for long-term recovery solutions for women.

In the article, David discusses how the landscape of addiction treatment doesn't adequately accommodate what really works – getting long-term support in a recovery environment. David discusses in detail the unique challenges that women with a substance use disorder face. Women tend to feel more stigma about issues around substance addiction, including engaging in a recovery solution based on gender roles and expectations.

Awakening Recovery recently announced the launch of its women's recovery home in Los Angeles, read more about it here.

Read the informative article on Thrive Global here.

In a recent article on Thrive Global, Awakening Co-Founder and Executive Director David Van Der Velde, discussed the unique challenges that people in recovery face during the holidays.

The holiday season can be a precarious period for those who are either in early recovery or who are continuing to struggle with active substance addiction, according to the NIH (National Institute of Health).

For those in their first year or two of recovery specifically – and regardless of the recovery path selected – research shows that the supportive connection and community of peers is essential for sustaining long-term recovery from substance addiction.

He also points out that, for anyone, finding a way to be of service to others within the recovery community will always bring relief, plus it’s a way to practice self-care. Becoming “other” thinking is a powerful way to take the opposite action and get out of one’s own head. Plus, it can often provide the relief needed when tough times arise during the holidays.

Read the article here.

David Van Der Velde, the Executive Director and Co-Founder at Awakening Recovery, wrote an article in Thrive Global in recognition of  Recovery Month (September).

David Van Der Velde, the Executive Director and Co-Founder at Awakening Recovery, wrote an article in Thrive Global in recognition of  Overdose Awareness Day (August 31, 2022).

There is an epidemic in overdoses, largely attributable to the increased use of fentanyl in illicit drugs, that is causing  tragic loss of life to our families and friends struggling with substance addiction in the U.S.

David, who's dedicated himself to helping others recover, points out that there are also some reasons for hope as well, including improvements in the tools we have at our disposal to provide treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs).

Read the entire article on Thrive Global here: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/2022-overdose-awareness-month-brings-despair-and-hope%ef%bf%bc/.

With Pride month behind us, Co-Founder and CEO David Van Der Velde offered his insights to Thrive magazine about the unique set of issues LGBTQ+ people experience while seeking recovery from substance addiction.

Read the entire article on the Thrive website here.

David Van Der Velde was featured in Thrive Global talking about the increasingly common occurrence of a mental health (MH) issue co-occurring with a substance use disorder (SUD).

Co-occurring disorders affect each other, and need to be taken into account when treatment for either is administered. Another important issue with people entering SUD recovery treatment with MH issues is how to manage care for those who come in with prescribed medications.

The Executive Director and Co-Founder at Awakening Recovery discusses some statistics and concerns on Thrive Global, read the article here.

David Van Der Velde was featured in Thrive Global talking about the growing popularity of "Dry January."  The Executive Director and Co-Founder at Awakening Recovery discusses the trend and says: "It’s important to note that there is no quick fix for those that struggle with a SUD that includes alcohol and Dry January can make it seem like that could be a solution.  For those with a SUD the health benefits of Dry January are lost when you return to drinking in February, which can be demoralizing."

Read the entire article on Thrive Global here.

Awakening Recovery Co-Founder and Executive Director has seen many holiday seasons come and go and knows how they can challenge someone in recovery.

"Substance use disorder recovery is not only about surviving the Holidays clean and sober, but thriving with the proper tools and support to create a new perception of them as a source of renewal, healing, hope and faith," David says.  He then discusses several recovery tools for a recovering person to use throughout the season.

Read the entire article on Thrive Global here.

During National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month in October, The White House made a proclamation, that in part stated, “We know that delaying substance use until after adolescence, when the brain has fully developed, decreases the likelihood of an individual developing a substance use disorder.”  It goes on to state, “Our youth-focused efforts must also account for the fact that poverty, homelessness, trauma, and other childhood experiences affect drug use and the overall health of our Nation’s youth – especially with respect to people of color, who are disproportionately impacted by these factors.”  Youth prevention is a complex issue to holistically address that includes education, health care, criminal justice, the faith community and housing systems to help our youth develop the skills, knowledge, and resources to mitigate the likelihood of the onset of the disease of substance use disorders (“SUD”).

An NIH study about alcohol and cannabis use in the developing brain states, “The effects of alcohol use include widespread decreases in gray matter volume and cortical thickness across time; slowed white matter growth and poorer integrity; disrupted network efficiency; and poorer impulse and attention related control, learning, memory, visual spatial processing, and psychomotor speed.”

Overdose deaths soared nearly 30 percent from 2019 to more than 93,000 in 2020, according to preliminary CDC data released in July.  This sharp increase is driven by fentanyl. According to the White House, fentanyl and its analogs figured in 62 percent of deaths.  Additionally, recent CDC data highlighted that in LA County, there was a 61%+ spike in overdose deaths from March 2020 – March 2021.

A study from the Recovery Research Institute “revealed that adolescents with a history of prescription opioid misuse are more likely to engage in drug use behaviors associated with overdose risk, and an increasing number of adolescents in the U.S. are dying from overdoses that involve both prescription and illicit opioids.” The initiation and experimentation that occurs in adolescents often starts with nonmedical use of prescription opioids which makes them more likely to evolve into the street drug versions of heroin and fentanyl.  This study goes on to say, “About 1 out of 7 U.S. high-school students reported lifetime use of nonmedical prescription opioids and history of misuse was associated with a higher rate of heroin and injection drug use.”  Conducting school and family based interventions among students who have misused prescription opioids can help subsequent use and escalations to more risky drug use, which reduces the chance of overdoses and deaths.  Motivational interviewing techniques like screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in healthcare settings can help meet youth where they are without judgement, and reduce the likelihood of adolescents and transitional age youth developing SUDs.

There has been some good news lately about state and federal improvements to access to care and information about SUD recovery:

• CAADPE (California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives) announced that, “Behavioral Health training heads to school. SB 14 (Chapter 672) by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Glendale), recommends that the Department of Education identify youth behavioral health training that will equip school personnel and students with skills to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders, provide knowledge of local resources and services, safely de-escalate crisis situations, and reduce stigma and increase help-seeking behavior.”
• CAADPE also announced that, “SAMHSA announced the establishment of a national Office of Recovery. The launching of the Office of Recovery marks an important milestone in the Recovery movement, one that has been years in the making with recovery advocates and organizations advocating for elevating the importance of recovery and peer recovery support services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Establishing an office dedicated solely to recovery programming is a necessary step in ensuring sustainable federal resources.”

According to a recent article from the Mayo Clinic, the following are common risk factors for teen drug abuse:

• A family history of substance abuse
• A mental or behavioral health condition, such as depression, anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Impulsive or risk-taking behavior
• A history of traumatic events, such as experiencing a car accident or being a victim of abuse
• Low self-esteem or feelings of social rejection

The article also discusses the consequences, health risks, what are good things to talk to your teen about drugs, red flags, and other strategies to prevent teen drug abuse.  The article concludes that, “You’ll likely have multiple conversations with your teen about drug and alcohol use.  Choose times when you’re unlikely to be interrupted – and set aside phones.  It’s also important to know when not to have a conversation, such as when you’re angry with your child, you aren’t prepared to answer questions, or your child is drunk or high.”

If you are a parent of a teen or have a loved one that is suffering from a SUD, all of the above can be terrifying and worrying.  Al-Anon can be a great resource for peer mentoring as it relates to coping with your child or loved one’s SUD and can help give you the tools to walk through the minefield that active addiction can bring.  Understanding the mind, body and spirit components of SUD is essential to successfully unpacking the complex and layered process of long-term recovery, but together it is possible.

By David Van Der Velde

"Regardless of the path you or your loved one take to find a long-term recovery solution from substance use disorder, compassion and forgiveness as the watchwords will help all involved find lasting recovery."

This is from Awakening Recovery’s Executive Director and Co-Founder David Van Der Velde's recently published article on Thrive Global about the negative role that stigma plays in the process of people getting the help they need and is available.

A common misunderstanding is the perception of a substance use disorder as a “moral weakness.” The resulting stigma is compounded by the idea that therapy, education and medications can always fix the problem.

Read the entire article on Thrive Global here.

"Change is the watchword of long-term recovery from AUD/SUD. Whatever stage of change in your recovery that you’re in, I hope you find the willingness to continue to change in order to begin your journey towards a long-term recovery solution."

Click here to view the full article published on Thrive Global.