Every once in a while I come across a person, a community, or organization that peaks my interest, makes me stop in my tracks and take notice. Actually, working in the field of addiction recovery, even at the level I do, I engage with people in the sober community a lot. But, nothing turns my head and makes me take notice than working with kids’ programs.
I grew up in an alcoholic home, both parents fighting a lot, disappearing on benders, and my siblings and I were left to fend for ourselves. We weren’t allowed to talk about what was happening, we were just told to be good, get good grades, and mind our own business. I was left alone often. At the time, I didn’t know there were other kids and families going through what I was going through. I thought our family was unique, but I know now if I’d said something I would have found others just like me.
It’s what happens when your child of an alcoholic. Our alcoholic parent(s) isolate us. I don’t believe it is out of meanness though. I think it’s basically out them surviving in their alcoholic world. In other words, if less people know about what they are doing the longer they can continue to drink. If people knew, they might step in and life would have to change. In some alcoholics’ minds change like that is unwanted.
So, again, it’s no wonder that I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol when I was 13. The rest, as they say is history.
A few weeks back I was at Pat Moore Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Celebration and one of the speakers, the last one actually was a, Victoria Morgan, a wonderfully soft spoken woman from a kids’ organization called Bis Kids.
The BIS KIDS program is an evidence-based proactive prevention against drug and alcohol usage for children 7-12 year of age. Using age appropriate language, BIS KIDS is proactive prevention through artwork, music, play activities, movement, role-playing, puppets, story-telling, games and prizes. They teach children the important skills they need to overcome adversity and stay drug free.
Please take some time to learn more, and support this organization. www.biskids.org.
Recovery Rob BIO
Recovery Rob is a 48-year-old man who has been sober since August 23, 1992, whose drugs of choice at one time were alcohol and drugs. Rob has worked in and around the field of addiction for more than 30 years. Rob has his own website at www.askrecoveryrob.com, and he hopes to reach out and continue to help others who work through their process of addiction and recovery. Recovery Rob is a professional writer who has published two novels and is currently working on his third.