YSB: Chemical Health Monthly
January 2021
Youth Services Bureau
Youth Service Bureau helps youth and families learn the skills they need to be more successful at home, in school and throughout their community.
Stillwater I Cottage Grove I Woodbury
Email: info@ysb.net
Website: www.ysb.net
Phone: 651-439-8800
Facebook: facebook.com/YSBKnowsKids
Youth Service Bureau (YSB) supports the chemical health needs of youth and their families in a variety of ways:
- School Based Services – direct chemical health support and prevention services to reduce youth substance use and improve wellness; in partnership with local Independent School Districts 622, 833 and 834
- Chemical Awareness Class – early intervention at first signs of chemical use
- Teen Intervene – individualized support to address a teen’s mild to moderate chemical use
- Speakers Bureau – educational presentations on local trends in the community
- Find Resources to help support a young person with Chemical Health concerns/issues
Nikki Bussert
John Glenn Middle School
Maplewood Middle School
Oak-Land Middle School
Stillwater Middle School
Taila Ward
Kristin Wanhala
Matt McCune
Woodbury High School
East Ridge High School
Park High School
Alternative High School( ALC)
Meghan Heffner
Lake Middle School
Cottage Grove Middle School
Woodbury Middle School
Oltman Middle School
Excerpt from “You Don’t Need a New Year's Resolutions in Recovery” By: Michael Graubart
We have two traditions in our society:
One is of setting life-changing New Year's resolutions for ourselves, typically focused on dropping the weight, drinking less, living on a budget, finding Mr. or Ms. Right, and so on. And we have a second tradition, closely tied to the first. It's called abandoning our over-reaching resolutions typically within a couple of days of setting them, feeling guilt and despair, and then giving up entirely.
I'm here to suggest that this year, instead of setting resolutions, which really is just a diabolical method for setting ourselves up to fail, maybe living your ‘program’ is enough. We work a program that allows, encourages, and pretty much requires us to live our lives one day at a time.
Why do we focus on one day at a time? Because when we resolve to take a major step, we are often resorting to black and white, pass and fail thinking. This is standard operating procedure for addicts and alcoholics, and it seems as though everyone else in society joins us in this manner of thinking at this time of year. One of the biggest problems with this all-or-nothing thinking is that we set ourselves up to fail.
Those of us who have achieved long-term recovery understand that change doesn't happen overnight, but change can happen in one day. And the next one day. And the next. That's right, change happens over time, by repeating a behavior, learning new skills, and understanding how to apply them, day by day. Not by randomly selecting a date (January 1 for instance) and declaring it the day of change.
It is not about setting goals. It's just about getting through the day without our drug or addictive activity of choice and trying to be a better person at the same time. I'm not saying aim low, but I am suggesting we aim for what's possible. The operative phrase, or slogan, for many in Twelve Step fellowship is "just for today." So instead of saying, "This whole year, I will (or I won't) …" You might say, "Just for today, I'm going to eat in a healthy manner." Or "I won't spend money I don't have." Or maybe "I'll do the best I can." I'm definitely not saying it's easy, but it is simple.
So here's my suggestion for New Year's resolutions: don't make any. Then on January 20, and July 20, and December 20, for that matter, you'll be able to look yourself in the mirror and say the one thing that no one else in America can: "I didn't break a single one of my New Year's resolutions!"
"Because I choose to live one day at a time."
Click here for the full article: https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/sober-dad/recovery-new-years-resolution
RESOURCES
Resources for Educators:
Suspected Substance Use in Students (video): https://youtu.be/GJWm0aJD1-4
Resources for Parents:
YSB Partner in Parenting Podcast: https://ysb.net/partner-in-parenting-podcast/
Teen Substance Use podcast series for parents:
1. Just Experimenting: https://youtu.be/2rQNvJa8fPQ
2. Taking Action: https://youtu.be/UXEwtaAJqVw
3. Taking Care of You: https://youtu.be/aO2bOop3UTQ
Click below for Substance Use: A Resource Guide for Parents (PDF)