Study Identifies Heaviest College Drinkers
Researcher Can Predict High-Risk StudentsDrinking among college students has been recognized as a serious problem on college campuses in the U.S. Research has shown that college drinkers drink more, and more often, than young people not in college.
A recent study shows just how much some college students, especially males, drink. The study was conducted by researchers at the Prevention Research Center, a center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), which focuses on the environmental problems related to drug and alcohol use.
Results from the survey connected to the study, which included 3,000 students from the state of California, show that among 1,000 male college drinkers, there may be 50 or more occasions per month on which more than 24 drinks may be consumed.
"These are levels of drinking at which most men will have passed out or become comatose," says principal investigator Paul Gruenewald, Ph.D. "These are levels at which drinkers are at risk for the very serious problems posed by peak drinking, including alcohol poisoning and accidental falls."
With funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Dr. Gruenewald has discovered a way to identify those drinkers who are most likely to drink to these peak levels. Using self-reports of drinking from college students, and applying mathematical models of drinking patterns to these data, he can calculate the probability that very heavy drinking events will occur for individuals and groups of college drinkers.
The results of the study indicate that college drinkers may have 12 or more drinks on about 10 percent of the occasions they have alcohol. Male college drinkers may have 12 or more drinks on 20 percent of these occasions. While much of this drinking takes place among college students who regularly drink large amounts of alcohol, some of it takes place among students who occasionally drink to extremes.
At these highest levels, both immediate and long-term risks related to alcohol use are greatly increased. The heaviest drinking occurs among freshman males, and at the beginning of each academic year. By senior year, drinking appears to have moderated.
Prevention efforts such as designated driver programs, responsible beverage sales and service, and programs that deter underage drinking can be effective. These strategies can be made even more effective if they focus on groups of drinkers most likely to become involved in potentially catastrophic drinking.
Dr. Gruenewald said, "We would like to see many fewer reports of student tragedies related to extremely high levels of drinking. Our new understanding of peak drinking among college students helps pave the way towards better college prevention programs."
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Sober College Heralded as the Young Adult Drug Rehab of Choice by Southern California CEO’s and Generation X & Y Market Leaders
Extreme Sports events and tours will promote the innovative new drug rehab and education center, Sober College, to Generation X & Y crowds. CEO’s committed to considering Sober College graduates for work.
“159,000 of today's first-year college students will drop out of school next year for alcohol or other drug-related reasons”, according to the Core Institute, a leading research, assessment and development organization serving alcohol and drug treatment programs across the nation. “The average student spends about $900 on alcohol each year, opposed to $450 on his or her books.”
Coming on board to endorse Sober College's unique drug treatment approach are Mark Billik, CEO and Founder of BeCore Promotions, Rick Stark, President of Stark Events & Associates, David Weaver, CEO of DAW Design and Construction, and Robert Tamkin, President and Founder of RIO Company.
“We believe Sober College is such a captivating blend of drug rehab and education based treatment for young adults. We look forward to considering graduates of Sober College for job opportunities within our various organizations”, stated the group. “Their mission is important to our audience and the main reason we have agreed to promote their work at our events.”
About the CEO’s:
Mark Billik, CEO and Founder, BeCore Promotions, Inc. (www.becore.com)
Mark is considered one of the most "recognized" names in the Extreme Sports world, and is widely sought to promote products to Generation Y. Mark is an expert in skate park design; many of his parks can be seen in California and Texas.
Rick Stark, President, Stark Events & Associates (www.thecoretour.com , www.ignlive.com )
The objective of Stark Events & Associates is to consistently deliver the elusive Generation X and Y U.S. demographic to major consumer brands and sports equipment manufacturers through large-scale outdoor event production and consulting. The company was founded in 2001 on the premise of bringing action sports events to the best on-site venues in the United States. SEA created the coveted NISS (National and International Skate Series) before the X-Games was ever launched.
David Weaver, CEO, DAW Design and Construction
DAW Design and Construction is a small, high-end design firm headed by David Anthony Weaver. They specialize in interior/exterior residential design and construction, providing complete architectural as well as construction services.
Bob Tamkin, President and Co-Founder, RIO Company (www.riocompany.com).
Bob Tamkin is Co-Founder and President of RIO Company. Mr. Tamkin is a real estate investment professional and brings strategic planning, financial experience and vision to the management team. He employs a network of real estate contacts to locate underperforming assets focusing on event-driven opportunities in regional markets.
About Sober College:
Sober College, headquarted in Southern California, is a small private institution providing sober residential and treatment environments for young adults. While education focused, they also provide a range of drug treatment and intervention options for those that are struggling to overcome the impact of drugs and alcohol. The Sober College curriculum builds core competencies in life skills, employment, academics, emotional well-being and fitness.
More information is available at www.sobercollege.com
or by contacting:
Nancy Tamkin
Public Relations Director
phone: 818-917-7903
email: sobercollege-at-aol.com
website:www.sobercollege.com
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Getting Back on the Right Track, A Promise From Courtney Love
by Tashi Singh
Feb 6, 2006
by Tashi Singh
Feb 6, 2006
The widow of Nirvana frontman, singer-actress Courtney Love won a release from home detention monitoring on Friday from a Los Angeles judge who praised her progress in recovering from drug addiction, according to published reports. "I've just been playing guitar and taking care of my daughter ... I want to [take this opportunity] to let the community know I'm doing great," the singer stated emphatically. The 41-year-old former singer for the band 'Hole' appeared before Superior Court Judge Rand Rubin for a routine progress hearing on three criminal. That landed her in a drug treatment facility this pat November. Love reportedly thanked the judge "for not being as punitive as you could have been" and told him, "I feel like I'm getting my creativity back...and that I've put a very gnarly drug problem behind me." Hopefully Courtney Love will keep her promise this time and set her life back on the right track after now officially finishing six months of house arrest and drug rehab. The judge ordered the Courtney to return to court on May 12 for another progress report and to continue twice-weekly random drug and alcohol testing and avoid places where alcohol is the main item for sale. Her probation has been extended to March 2007 and she must attend further counseling.-- Compiled from wire reports
Tuesday » February 7 » 2006
Drug rehab: one day at a time
With sons Nicolas, 17, and Julian, 15, struggling with crack addiction that was tearing their family apart, Rodolfo Borello and Jennifer de Freitas sought help at the Portage treatment centre in the Laurentians.
SUE MONTGOMERY
THE GAZETTE
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
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In Chapter 4 of the family's seven-part story, a picture of the boys' daily life in rehab emerges
There are three cardinal rules at the Portage rehab centre for teen
addicts: no sex, no drugs, no violence. Other rules, such as no more than seven cigarettes a day, no spitting on the ground or grass, no headbands, are established by the residents.
The day starts at 6 a.m. or 5:45, depending on the phase of the program, with cleanup of rooms. Breakfast is at 7, followed by cleanup and the morning meeting. There's school every day except Fridays and residents are responsible for serving all meals and cleaning up afterward. There's a group meeting every night at 8:30 and lights are out at 10.
Fifty per cent of residents quit before completing the program; of the graduates, 85 per cent stay straight.
- - -
"Bonjour famille!"
"Bonjour Nicolas!"
Nicolas, dressed in his usual baggy jeans and polo shirt with the collar standing up, stood at the front of Portage's dining room on a hot and humid June day, about a week before his 17th birthday. He'd had his hair cut close to his scalp and he'd put on some weight, working out in Portage's sparse weight room. He's the spitting image of his father, with his large brown eyes and high cheekbones.
"I'm frustrated with my behaviour," he said to the group of adolescent boys gathered in the room. "I threatened someone."
"Merci, Nick!" the group said in unison.
This is the morning meeting, where a couple of dozen or so hormone-charged, gangly teenage boys gather to talk about their progress in their fight against
addiction, their concerns and needs. If they want to talk to someone, another resident stands up and volunteers to make an appointment to listen and perhaps offer advice.
Francois Lemieux, a graduate of the program and one of 17 staff members, supervises the meeting, but it's basically run by the teens.
Accepting crack addicts Nicolas and his brother, Julian, at the same time was a first for Portage. Staff had many reservations about the boys being able to find their own way.
Nicolas was absolutely determined to not only get through the program, but
being a kid who hates to be criticized, do it with shining colours. As someone who looked up to his older brother and would do anything he did, even smoke crack, Julian was determined to get through as well.
But as they would later discover, succeeding at Portage, with its lack of temptations and constant watch by other residents, wouldn't be the hard part. Staying straight while on the outside would be.
On June 10, Nicolas went home for the first time since starting at Portage. He was accompanied by a "shotgun" - another Portage resident who was farther along in his therapy and could help Nicolas if he felt himself slipping. But before being allowed to leave Portage, Nicolas had to fill out a form, saying exactly what he was going to do, who he'd see and how much he'd spend and on what. He wrote, "Home at 11 p.m. Lights out at 11:30."
Julian, who wasn't allowed yet to leave Portage, called home that night, crying, wanting to be with the family to celebrate Nicolas's 17th birthday, and apologizing for all the bad things he'd done to his parents, Rodolfo Borello and Jennifer de Freitas.
After dinner, Nicolas headed out on the town with his shotgun. As his curfew approached, Nicolas called home to say they were heading to Mount Royal Park to meet a girl with whom he'd had had a stormy relationship. They'd be home at 11:30, he promised. As the hands of the clock inched toward midnight, and there was still no sign of Nicolas, Rodolfo and Jennifer could feel the dread rising in their chests.
"It kind of took us back 21/2 months," Rodolfo recalled.
"I was worried about a dramatic night ahead," Jennifer said. Then, as always, putting her faith in the boys: "Not that he'd take drugs, but that he'd have strong cravings and break something, or a dealer would come to the door."
Finally, Nicolas came through the door at the stroke of midnight, and Jennifer and Rodolfo were able to breathe once again. Twice that weekend, a friend called offering him pot. Both times, he explained he wasn't using anymore.
- - -
Midsummer, a group of 14 boys, including Nicolas and Julian, headed into Tremblant Park from Portage for five days. They were pushed to challenge themselves physically, swimming, playing capture the flag in canoes, sleeping in tents and fishing for their food.
The following week, something seemed to be in the air at Portage. Kids were jittery, being out of their regular school-year schedule. Five kids dropped out of the program and the long-time director, Francois Bourdon, announced he was leaving after 20 years,to open a golf
driving range with his brother. Patrick Varin was named his successor.
- - -
Julian turned 15 on Aug. 15 and marked off four months of sobriety on his calendar. But Jennifer was in Europe for both milestones.
"It makes me sad," Julian said, biting his lower lip.
His brother had been clean for five months.
"I take it one day at a time," Nicolas said, sitting in a light rain at the edge of Lake Echo and spitting on the ground. "Today I don't feel like getting high, but I don't know what I'll feel like tomorrow."
- - -
One family's fight against crack
Julian, Nicolas and their parents agreed to share their very personal story with The Gazette in the hope of helping others battling addiction.
Saturday: Chapter 1 - A drug problem uncovered.
Sunday: Chapter 2 - Nicolas on the road to rehab.
Yesterday: Chapter 3 - Julian makes it to Portage.
Today: Chapter 4 - Sticking with the program.
Tomorrow: Chapter 5 - Support group for parents. What went wrong?
Thursday: Chapter 6 - Family therapy.
Friday: Chapter 7 - Bringing the boys home.
To read this story online or to catch up on chapters that you've missed, go to www.montrealgazette.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006 Copyright © 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Drug rehab: one day at a time
With sons Nicolas, 17, and Julian, 15, struggling with crack addiction that was tearing their family apart, Rodolfo Borello and Jennifer de Freitas sought help at the Portage treatment centre in the Laurentians.
SUE MONTGOMERY
THE GAZETTE
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
More Columns By This Writer
:: Lego and the agony of de feet subscriber only content
:: God save us from policies of harper subscriber only content
:: Voters should punish MPs for Haiti subscriber only content
:: I honestly expected mayor to be honest subscriber only content
:: Aid still needed after water recedes subscriber only content
:: Canada is failing its children subscriber only content
:: When art imitates life subscriber only content
:: Nanny policy is akin to slavery subscriber only content
:: Lord, help me remain calm
In Chapter 4 of the family's seven-part story, a picture of the boys' daily life in rehab emerges
There are three cardinal rules at the Portage rehab centre for teen
addicts: no sex, no drugs, no violence. Other rules, such as no more than seven cigarettes a day, no spitting on the ground or grass, no headbands, are established by the residents.
The day starts at 6 a.m. or 5:45, depending on the phase of the program, with cleanup of rooms. Breakfast is at 7, followed by cleanup and the morning meeting. There's school every day except Fridays and residents are responsible for serving all meals and cleaning up afterward. There's a group meeting every night at 8:30 and lights are out at 10.
Fifty per cent of residents quit before completing the program; of the graduates, 85 per cent stay straight.
- - -
"Bonjour famille!"
"Bonjour Nicolas!"
Nicolas, dressed in his usual baggy jeans and polo shirt with the collar standing up, stood at the front of Portage's dining room on a hot and humid June day, about a week before his 17th birthday. He'd had his hair cut close to his scalp and he'd put on some weight, working out in Portage's sparse weight room. He's the spitting image of his father, with his large brown eyes and high cheekbones.
"I'm frustrated with my behaviour," he said to the group of adolescent boys gathered in the room. "I threatened someone."
"Merci, Nick!" the group said in unison.
This is the morning meeting, where a couple of dozen or so hormone-charged, gangly teenage boys gather to talk about their progress in their fight against
addiction, their concerns and needs. If they want to talk to someone, another resident stands up and volunteers to make an appointment to listen and perhaps offer advice.
Francois Lemieux, a graduate of the program and one of 17 staff members, supervises the meeting, but it's basically run by the teens.
Accepting crack addicts Nicolas and his brother, Julian, at the same time was a first for Portage. Staff had many reservations about the boys being able to find their own way.
Nicolas was absolutely determined to not only get through the program, but
being a kid who hates to be criticized, do it with shining colours. As someone who looked up to his older brother and would do anything he did, even smoke crack, Julian was determined to get through as well.
But as they would later discover, succeeding at Portage, with its lack of temptations and constant watch by other residents, wouldn't be the hard part. Staying straight while on the outside would be.
On June 10, Nicolas went home for the first time since starting at Portage. He was accompanied by a "shotgun" - another Portage resident who was farther along in his therapy and could help Nicolas if he felt himself slipping. But before being allowed to leave Portage, Nicolas had to fill out a form, saying exactly what he was going to do, who he'd see and how much he'd spend and on what. He wrote, "Home at 11 p.m. Lights out at 11:30."
Julian, who wasn't allowed yet to leave Portage, called home that night, crying, wanting to be with the family to celebrate Nicolas's 17th birthday, and apologizing for all the bad things he'd done to his parents, Rodolfo Borello and Jennifer de Freitas.
After dinner, Nicolas headed out on the town with his shotgun. As his curfew approached, Nicolas called home to say they were heading to Mount Royal Park to meet a girl with whom he'd had had a stormy relationship. They'd be home at 11:30, he promised. As the hands of the clock inched toward midnight, and there was still no sign of Nicolas, Rodolfo and Jennifer could feel the dread rising in their chests.
"It kind of took us back 21/2 months," Rodolfo recalled.
"I was worried about a dramatic night ahead," Jennifer said. Then, as always, putting her faith in the boys: "Not that he'd take drugs, but that he'd have strong cravings and break something, or a dealer would come to the door."
Finally, Nicolas came through the door at the stroke of midnight, and Jennifer and Rodolfo were able to breathe once again. Twice that weekend, a friend called offering him pot. Both times, he explained he wasn't using anymore.
- - -
Midsummer, a group of 14 boys, including Nicolas and Julian, headed into Tremblant Park from Portage for five days. They were pushed to challenge themselves physically, swimming, playing capture the flag in canoes, sleeping in tents and fishing for their food.
The following week, something seemed to be in the air at Portage. Kids were jittery, being out of their regular school-year schedule. Five kids dropped out of the program and the long-time director, Francois Bourdon, announced he was leaving after 20 years,to open a golf
driving range with his brother. Patrick Varin was named his successor.
- - -
Julian turned 15 on Aug. 15 and marked off four months of sobriety on his calendar. But Jennifer was in Europe for both milestones.
"It makes me sad," Julian said, biting his lower lip.
His brother had been clean for five months.
"I take it one day at a time," Nicolas said, sitting in a light rain at the edge of Lake Echo and spitting on the ground. "Today I don't feel like getting high, but I don't know what I'll feel like tomorrow."
- - -
One family's fight against crack
Julian, Nicolas and their parents agreed to share their very personal story with The Gazette in the hope of helping others battling addiction.
Saturday: Chapter 1 - A drug problem uncovered.
Sunday: Chapter 2 - Nicolas on the road to rehab.
Yesterday: Chapter 3 - Julian makes it to Portage.
Today: Chapter 4 - Sticking with the program.
Tomorrow: Chapter 5 - Support group for parents. What went wrong?
Thursday: Chapter 6 - Family therapy.
Friday: Chapter 7 - Bringing the boys home.
To read this story online or to catch up on chapters that you've missed, go to www.montrealgazette.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006 Copyright © 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
IUP substance abuse council meets
By Paul PaterraTRIBUNE-REVIEWSaturday, December 3, 2005
Since taking over as president at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in February, Tony Atwater has made a commitment to curbing substance abuse on campus.
Among those efforts is the formation of the IUP Commission on Substance Abuse, which had its first meeting Friday in Folger Hall at the 14,000-student campus in Indiana County.
"It was a result of my being sensitized as a new president that there was a small core of students in our student population that was handling alcohol irresponsibly and engaging in substance-abuse behaviors," Atwater said. "I felt it was appropriate for us to intervene."
More than 40 people from the university and community will serve on the commission. They represent a cross-section of the educational population from instructors to students, from campus administrators to borough and county officials.
It's chaired by Robert Ackerman, professor of sociology and director of the college's Mid-Atlantic Addiction Training Institute.
"The goal is to reduce alcohol and drug abuse, but at the same time, it's to do it in such a way that what you're really looking out for is the safety of your students," Ackerman said. "You need to keep in mind rather than saying you're stopping something, curbing it and pushing it down, what should emerge is how to have a safe environment for the other students."
Dan Reardon, a senior and nontraditional student, believes that can be done by paying attention to students' social lives.
"Find out what the students want and see if there's something they can offer other than what's being offered now to take up their time," Reardon said. "I think it is a time issue. When you have some free time, you don't want to sit around and do nothing. You want to let loose. You've got to provide something other than the bar scene. There's not a lot to do, you're in a rural community."
The commission will focus its efforts on studying and developing recommendations to combat excessive alcohol consumption and intoxication, curbing underage drinking, and reducing the incidents of public drunkenness and driving under the influence.
Various subcommittees have been created that will address issues such as current campus substance abuse programs, best practices and literature.
About a dozen students will be involved. Their participation is seen as pertinent.
"I think it's a really positive thing," said Megan Horst, a senior and Pan-Hellenic Council representative. "Usually, you just have people telling you what to do. If this comes from a cross-section of everyone, it might be apt to go through. People may deal with it better than it would be if it was just people dictating to you. We have a different ability to communicate with other students. We can talk more openly with what people want. "
"If you don't get the students involved, it's not going to be received and it's not going to go over very well," said Bill Sutton, Indiana Borough chief of police. "Everybody has to put aside personal agenda, students have to look at it as their safety and concerns for them as opposed to somebody looking to control their lives."
Atwater thinks the substance abuse commission can make a difference.
"We will not eliminate substance abuse at IUP, that's not a reasonable goal or objective to achieve," Atwater said. "But we can reduce the incidents, we can create awareness of consequences of substance abuse, and we can educate our student body."
By Paul PaterraTRIBUNE-REVIEWSaturday, December 3, 2005
Since taking over as president at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in February, Tony Atwater has made a commitment to curbing substance abuse on campus.
Among those efforts is the formation of the IUP Commission on Substance Abuse, which had its first meeting Friday in Folger Hall at the 14,000-student campus in Indiana County.
"It was a result of my being sensitized as a new president that there was a small core of students in our student population that was handling alcohol irresponsibly and engaging in substance-abuse behaviors," Atwater said. "I felt it was appropriate for us to intervene."
More than 40 people from the university and community will serve on the commission. They represent a cross-section of the educational population from instructors to students, from campus administrators to borough and county officials.
It's chaired by Robert Ackerman, professor of sociology and director of the college's Mid-Atlantic Addiction Training Institute.
"The goal is to reduce alcohol and drug abuse, but at the same time, it's to do it in such a way that what you're really looking out for is the safety of your students," Ackerman said. "You need to keep in mind rather than saying you're stopping something, curbing it and pushing it down, what should emerge is how to have a safe environment for the other students."
Dan Reardon, a senior and nontraditional student, believes that can be done by paying attention to students' social lives.
"Find out what the students want and see if there's something they can offer other than what's being offered now to take up their time," Reardon said. "I think it is a time issue. When you have some free time, you don't want to sit around and do nothing. You want to let loose. You've got to provide something other than the bar scene. There's not a lot to do, you're in a rural community."
The commission will focus its efforts on studying and developing recommendations to combat excessive alcohol consumption and intoxication, curbing underage drinking, and reducing the incidents of public drunkenness and driving under the influence.
Various subcommittees have been created that will address issues such as current campus substance abuse programs, best practices and literature.
About a dozen students will be involved. Their participation is seen as pertinent.
"I think it's a really positive thing," said Megan Horst, a senior and Pan-Hellenic Council representative. "Usually, you just have people telling you what to do. If this comes from a cross-section of everyone, it might be apt to go through. People may deal with it better than it would be if it was just people dictating to you. We have a different ability to communicate with other students. We can talk more openly with what people want. "
"If you don't get the students involved, it's not going to be received and it's not going to go over very well," said Bill Sutton, Indiana Borough chief of police. "Everybody has to put aside personal agenda, students have to look at it as their safety and concerns for them as opposed to somebody looking to control their lives."
Atwater thinks the substance abuse commission can make a difference.
"We will not eliminate substance abuse at IUP, that's not a reasonable goal or objective to achieve," Atwater said. "But we can reduce the incidents, we can create awareness of consequences of substance abuse, and we can educate our student body."
December 05, 2005
Substance Abuse Claims Lottery Winners' Lives
Within five years after Mack W. Metcalf and his estranged wife, Virginia G. Merida, split a $34 million winning lottery ticket, both were dead -- him of complications due to alcoholism and her to a possible drug overdose. In a New York Times article, "Instant Millions Can't Halt Winners' Grim Slide" James Doa tells their tragic tale.
In 2003, three years after winning the lottery, Metcalf died at age 45 from his chronic alcoholism. On Nov. 23, 2005, Merida's body was found decomposing in her bed, authorities believe as a result of a drug overdose, proving once again that money and good fortune can't cure alcoholism and drug addiction.
Substance Abuse Claims Lottery Winners' Lives
Within five years after Mack W. Metcalf and his estranged wife, Virginia G. Merida, split a $34 million winning lottery ticket, both were dead -- him of complications due to alcoholism and her to a possible drug overdose. In a New York Times article, "Instant Millions Can't Halt Winners' Grim Slide" James Doa tells their tragic tale.
In 2003, three years after winning the lottery, Metcalf died at age 45 from his chronic alcoholism. On Nov. 23, 2005, Merida's body was found decomposing in her bed, authorities believe as a result of a drug overdose, proving once again that money and good fortune can't cure alcoholism and drug addiction.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Elkhart drug-rehab facilities lack visibility, leaders sayBy Teresa AuchThe (Elkhart) Truth
ELKHART – Dawn Waggoner wanted her son to get into trouble with the law.
The way she saw it, being put on probation was the only way Chris Waggoner could get a referral into rehab to help kick his drug habit.
“It’s pretty bad when you want your kid to get nailed in court,” she said.
She accepts the 15-year-old would have found a way to use drugs, but she believes he might not have died April 19 if she had been able to find him help.
Programs are available to help parents in Dawn Waggoner’s situation, but officials say more resources, improved communication and better advertising are needed.
Chris had dabbled with marijuana, Adderall and magic mushrooms in the past, his mother said. But his problem came to a head April 10 when he and a friend took jimson weed, a legal, naturally growing drug that causes hallucinations and a faster heartbeat.
Police had taken him into custody because he was aggressive and trying to break into a car that he thought was his friend’s. They released him to his school, Life Program at the Elkhart Area Career Center, where administrators noticed he was high.
The hospital wouldn’t keep him, though, his mother said, because his blood and urine tests came back clear.
Jimson weed does not usually appear in normal tests, said Ken Norman, manager of addiction programs at Oaklawn, one of the clinics where Waggoner tried to get her son admitted. Without a referral from the courts, police or hospital, Oaklawn couldn’t take him, she said.
A medical facility in another city finally agreed to admit him, but only long enough for him to come down from his high, she said. He was discharged after a day, but the hallucinations continued. He kept looking for a cigarette he never had, chased around a dog that wasn’t there and at one point didn’t recognize her, his mother said.
Chris died 10 days later from an accidental overdose of methadone.
“I figured it was just a matter of time until he wanted a bigger high,” his mother said.
Waggoner says she had tried getting her son help for a year – asking police, doctors, family and friends for referrals.
But she did not learn of any programs offering help with drug addictions.
Richard Pedler, president of Recovery Journey in Elkhart, which offers counseling to juveniles, said that is one of the problems with counseling programs in the county.
“The public is not aware of the resources available,” he said.
An umbrella group, which the county lacks, could help distribute information to the public about where to find help, he said.
The group would have other benefits.
The county has the resources to help adolescents battle drug abuse, Pedler said, but the programs and centers lack a central group that could be used to come together.
“The treatment options are fragmented to the point that I’m not sure anybody is really sure what anyone else is doing,” he said.
Cathy Blum, an Elkhart drug-abuse counselor, says more programs are needed, though.
“The programs that we have here are good, but there just aren’t enough of them,” she said.
Clyde Riley, principal of Elkhart Community Schools’ alternative programs, said his program has about an 80 percent success rate, but it can only help so many people.
“We can’t accommodate all the kids who need to and want to be in a program like this,” he said. “We have to turn people away.”
ELKHART – Dawn Waggoner wanted her son to get into trouble with the law.
The way she saw it, being put on probation was the only way Chris Waggoner could get a referral into rehab to help kick his drug habit.
“It’s pretty bad when you want your kid to get nailed in court,” she said.
She accepts the 15-year-old would have found a way to use drugs, but she believes he might not have died April 19 if she had been able to find him help.
Programs are available to help parents in Dawn Waggoner’s situation, but officials say more resources, improved communication and better advertising are needed.
Chris had dabbled with marijuana, Adderall and magic mushrooms in the past, his mother said. But his problem came to a head April 10 when he and a friend took jimson weed, a legal, naturally growing drug that causes hallucinations and a faster heartbeat.
Police had taken him into custody because he was aggressive and trying to break into a car that he thought was his friend’s. They released him to his school, Life Program at the Elkhart Area Career Center, where administrators noticed he was high.
The hospital wouldn’t keep him, though, his mother said, because his blood and urine tests came back clear.
Jimson weed does not usually appear in normal tests, said Ken Norman, manager of addiction programs at Oaklawn, one of the clinics where Waggoner tried to get her son admitted. Without a referral from the courts, police or hospital, Oaklawn couldn’t take him, she said.
A medical facility in another city finally agreed to admit him, but only long enough for him to come down from his high, she said. He was discharged after a day, but the hallucinations continued. He kept looking for a cigarette he never had, chased around a dog that wasn’t there and at one point didn’t recognize her, his mother said.
Chris died 10 days later from an accidental overdose of methadone.
“I figured it was just a matter of time until he wanted a bigger high,” his mother said.
Waggoner says she had tried getting her son help for a year – asking police, doctors, family and friends for referrals.
But she did not learn of any programs offering help with drug addictions.
Richard Pedler, president of Recovery Journey in Elkhart, which offers counseling to juveniles, said that is one of the problems with counseling programs in the county.
“The public is not aware of the resources available,” he said.
An umbrella group, which the county lacks, could help distribute information to the public about where to find help, he said.
The group would have other benefits.
The county has the resources to help adolescents battle drug abuse, Pedler said, but the programs and centers lack a central group that could be used to come together.
“The treatment options are fragmented to the point that I’m not sure anybody is really sure what anyone else is doing,” he said.
Cathy Blum, an Elkhart drug-abuse counselor, says more programs are needed, though.
“The programs that we have here are good, but there just aren’t enough of them,” she said.
Clyde Riley, principal of Elkhart Community Schools’ alternative programs, said his program has about an 80 percent success rate, but it can only help so many people.
“We can’t accommodate all the kids who need to and want to be in a program like this,” he said. “We have to turn people away.”
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