Manlys Pheonix rehab Unit re-opening soon - 2011

  
Xmas 2009 was a hard day for us to see our beloved Pheonix Unit closed with no ideas on what the future held - (strangely, we are a touch distrustful of our State Governments promises when it comes to health services on the northern beaches! ) Mark Buckingham from Kedesh Rehabilitation Services has assured us however,  that since their successful tender none of the units services would be reduced and that, in fact, “We will also be able to offer a slightly more intensive, longer-term program, of up to nine weeks. 
 Our wonderful Pheonix Unit has been the catalyst for so many local lives saved and its closure over a year ago was a devastating blow to the northern beaches drug and alcohol recovery community so this is great news to us all!  We are still unsure as to the exact date the unit will re-open but will post the info as soon as we hear it along with as many details as we can source.


Congrats to Kedesh and we look forward to supporting the new unit as we did the old Pheonix.  Mack

MDECC Resource

Check out reset.org.au

Good Kids Take Drugs!

As parents its very easy to see what we want to see and miss important information about whats going on with our kids.  The classic line of parents in denial is the old "they're good kids - theres no way they'd even try drugs" or "they've never done it before - it was just her friends pushed her into it / put something in her drink." In a lot of cases its true and loads of kids don't ever try drugs, peer pressure does lead to a first one-off experimental night and people do indeed get their drinks spiked but its also true that really great kids are out there using drugs and alcohol recreationally and mostly they'll be OK and sometimes they won't  but they need guidance and support not avoidance of the possibilities.
Talk to your kids.  Be watchful but not paranoid - trust your kids but be aware that there is a lot happening out there that you probably didn't have to deal with in your day so get yourself educated!  If you need some info sites just send us an email and we will point you to the right places.
  northernbeachescounselling@gmail.com
 northernbeachescounsellingsupport.com.au
 fds.org.au

Support and Talk

This blog is about drugs and alcohol and the issues that they bring along when we like them just too much.  It is not a formal, educating blog but somewhere that we can write our professional thoughts in a more relaxed environment and hopefully give you all some comfort or ideas to help.

If I were to write a journal article about how taking drugs are fun I probably wouldn't even get published but the fact is that using drugs and alcohol is fun and thats why some of us get into trouble.  It is, to me, one of the most important things to remember when you are dealing with someone with a drug or alcohol problem because if you don't get this then you just don't have the amunition you need...  The only reason someone even thinks of giving up their using is if it stops making them feel good and the consequences out-weigh the fun!!  Don't take away the consequences and don't relieve the pressure even when you want to make them feel better so, so much - DON'T.  These consequences are the motivators for change.  You can help by supporting them and not their choices to use - that means don't give them money to pay off their mobile phone bill (they'll just get really happy, go and score and swear to themselves that they'll quit tomorrow).
 More next time.   Cheers, Mack