The way Substance Use Disorder Prevention should work is

you get to decide your future at a young age …

Substance use/mental health disorders can have a powerful effect on the health of individuals, their families, and their communities. It is estimated that by 2020, mental and substance use disorders will surpass all physical diseases as a major cause of disability worldwide.

Preventing mental and/or substance use disorders and related problems in children, adolescents, and young adults are critical to Americans’ behavioral and physical health. If communities and families can intervene early, behavioral health disorders might be prevented, or symptoms can be mitigated – SAMHSA

… which means, delaying drug/alcohol use significantly increases a young persons chances of not developing Substance Use Disorders each year they can delay.

a new Initiative

Family Inspired Recovery (FIR)

an authentic alternative to conventional treatment because it’s recovery!

FIR strives to create a proactive environment where youth experiencing substance abuse and other high risk behaviors can receive support through a proven Alternative Peer Group (APG) recovery model.  FIR provides recovery support with clinical oversight for youth and their families.  Our recovery coaches and peer mentors educate and introduce recovery capital so the focus can be on hope, healing and preventing the desire for the need to use substances and high risk behaviors. Services include:
– Recovery Oriented  FUN Activities
– After school hangout to build community and support
– Support Groups for parents, teens, siblings

For more information please contact: info@faminsrec.org or (503) 663-8222

 

We were told to take the keys, and we did.  Now there is more to the story…

This program brings awareness to the local conditions around underage drinking to our community – to leaders, parents, and youth – and sends a message that parents who provide alcohol to teenagers do so at great risk to our community. Taking the keys was a start but understanding that substance abuse/substance use disorder (SUD) for 9 out of 10 of people in recovery started when they were teenagers.  Many different factors act together to affect a person’s risk for SUD. 

 

Despite being identified by youth as one of their primary sources of alcohol, hands down, parents are the most influential person or thing in a child’s decision not to drink at all or not to drink on occasion. Learn more
Oregon ranks #6 of the States with the biggest drug problem. Learn more
Adolescents, genetic vulnerability, and people with mental disorders are at greater risk of drug abuse and addiction than the general population. Genetic factors account for between 40 and 60 percent of a person’s vulnerability to addiction. Learn more
2 of every 3 Oregonians either struggle with a substance abuse disorder or have a family member or friend who does. Learn more
Oregon ranks 49th in the country for a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care. Learn more
Teenagers Embrace JUUL, Saying It's Discreet Enough To Vape In Class Learn more
Kratom sold in Oregon tests positive for salmonella; two people report sickness Learn more

News, Stats, Facts, Laws, and Trends seen in Oregon

Where does Oregon rank in the country with regard to substance (drug/alcohol) use – looking at the problem areas?

Substance use disorder and many mental health concerns are insidious – they proceed in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects many life-altering. So in the same incremental way, it appears there is not a quick fix or solution to substance use/mental health disorders.

Substance use/mental health disorders aren’t an adult or youth problem it’s a human problem. It’s complicated and important that communities come together to bring awareness and an understanding to what prevention, intervention, acute treatment needs, and aftercare/recovery could look like in communities where individuals and families feel safe to share their experiences and receive support.

 

Healing for families and communities starts when substance use/mental health prevention education is discussed and learned about in our homes, schools, healthcare systems, law enforcement agencies, local/state governments, faith communities, anywhere community members thrive and more often the prevention focus needs to be on our youth.

It’s time to Engage, Educate, and Empower ourselves and members of our community. Together anything is possible!

 

 

The two most important risk factors are genetics and age at which a person starts to use drugs/alcohol. The younger the person the more vulnerable the brain.   Scientists estimate that genetics accounts for roughly half a person’s likelihood of developing SUD.  So, sharing with our children whether or not they are genetically vulnerable could be a life altering conversation.  Prevention education is creating a new social norm that ALL TEENS DON’T use drugs and alcohol and that delaying use for all youth is the safest path.   

Our community can rally around our youth and help support delaying use, understanding that substance use disorder comes in different shapes, sizes, drug of choice/alcohol, frequency, and that when someone does find they need help do they know where to look for support.  The message starts with each of us talking with our children so we can support the community-at-large.