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The
tragedy of Gia tells us about the misfortunes that for years have
plagued our society. One of the many lessons it teaches is that
drugs consumed by young kids are generated by the society in which
we live. It's in our families, in our schools, in our nightclubs -
It's everywhere.
The road to drugs is easy to find. It often starts when the
condition under which we live in becomes unbearable or when the
crisis in our family worsens. Rejection, depression and the fear of
facing life itself play even more important roles in this journey.
What Gia and hundreds of thousands of kids like her look for in the
subcultures they belong to is what their families have failed to
give them: security and understanding. Gia, like many of her
friends, had parents who went through a great deal of difficulty and
who transmitted to their children - unconsciously - the despair,
loneliness, bitterness and resentment they faced. Families need to
acknowledge this problem and take responsibility for it. The lines
of communication need to be opened at home and parents should take
the initiative to do so.
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Addiction is a chronic disease caused by the interaction of
biological, psychosocial and environmental factors. As with other chronic
diseases, treatment is effective, but there is no "cure". The patient
remains at lifelong risk for relapse, and recovering individuals must understand
that total abstinence from all psychoactive substances is essential to maintain
sobriety. Careful aftercare planning is an integral component of treatment,
including ongoing involvement with Twelve-Step
self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and
Cocaine Anonymous. (www.eaglevillehospital.org)
Click
here to find a 12-Step Self-Help Group nearest you.
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