by A Women in Sobriety | Mar 10, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction
The Overdose Death of a Cheerleader
By: Tim Myers
While you fill out your college basketball tournament bracket this year, as you cheer on your favorite team and dunk another wing into ranch dressing, I want you to think for a minute about who you’re cheering for.
You may think you’re cheering on your favorite team, but what you’re really doing is spending time idolizing the NCAA, an institution partly responsible for the death of one of it’s own. Danielle Cogswell, a former University of Louisville cheerleader, died of an overdose in the summer of 2014.
On July 28th, the body of University of Louisville cheerleader Danielle Cogswel was found in an off-campus student-housing complex with ties to the University. The Associate Athletic Director called her death, “saddening.” I call her death criminal.
The twenty-two year old Danielle died from an overdose of heroin, amphetamines, and Xanax. Let me say that again – heroin, amphetamines, and Xanax. Based on the sheer quantity of chemicals in her system, it’s safe to say this wasn’t a one time only, experimentation overdose. Danielle had a serious problem and this is where fault can be, or should have been, pinned on the NCAA and the university.
Dangerous Student Athlete Standards
The University of Louisville is required by the NCAA to do drug screenings of all student-athletes. But guess what? Cheerleading isn’t an NCAA sanctioned sport.
These girls fling themselves over three feet in the air day in and day out. They flip, tumble and, in most cases, are the star attraction of every home and away game. They compete in competitions and their athletic skill is on par with their male counterparts.
The NCAA, though, doesn’t feel these female student athletes deserve the same level of attention to their health as the rest of the student athletes. The tennis team, swimming team, and even the badminton team are required to take drug tests.
The reason that cheerleaders are not tested is simple. They’re required to look good, not perform well.
College basketball players and football players are asked to perform at the highest level, bringing in huge endorsement contracts, advertisers, and boosters. They drug test their athletes to prevent the school from being held accountable for infractions that would impose sanctions. In turn, these would strip the university of the dollars their male athletes earn for the school. So, in the process of making sure they covered their butts from losing money, the school let Danielle slip through the cracks.
Amphetamines, Xanax and heroin promote weight loss. It’s no wonder the university doesn’t test the cheerleaders. Had the NCAA required testing for cheerleaders, Danielle might have gotten the help she needed.
Her coach Todd Sharp said that Danielle was, “an elite gymnast in the upper echelons of our program.” Apparently being an elite gymnast doesn’t mean you’re an athlete and it doesn’t mean the NCAA cares about your health.
A Disturbing Response
Danielle’s story was carried in the national press for a minute or two. It was, however, nothing compared to the coverage a male point guard or god forbid a quarterback would have gotten.
Just search Google for “college sports overdose” and you’ll see nothing for pages and pages but the story of Len Bias. Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose in 1986. Danielle died this year.
Why the NCAA doesn’t drug test cheerleaders I don’t know. Why they don’t consider cheerleading a sport I don’t know. These women are athletes and they deserve just as much care and attention as everybody else. So, will these policies change now that Danielle is gone? Nope.
When asked after Danielle’s death if the University of Louisville will increase drug prevention and education options for cheerleaders and dance teams, Christine Simatacolos, the Associate Athletic Director, responded, “We are constantly reviewing our policies to be sure we are providing the best possible support.”
Fantastic, because after one of your students dies of a drug overdose what really makes a difference is a save your own butt, politically correct answer. Saving your own butt is what brought us to Danielle’s death in the first place.
Hey, Associate Athletic Director Christine Simatacolos, this is what you should have said, “Your goddamn right we will, we will do what ever it takes to make sure this never ever happens again.”
There you go Christine. Next time a young woman dies at your school, that should be your answer.
by Fiona Stockard | Mar 5, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Recovery
By Tim Myers
Practical Tips for Meditation
How many people with ADHD does it take to screw in a light bulb? Want to Ride Bikes?
See, that’s the problem people with ADHD have when it comes to meditation. I have ADHD. I have NOT been able to sit still since my head first popped out.
Going to the movies is a problem. Sitting in church is horrific. Going out to dinner is fine…until they ask if I want dessert. Dessert? Dessert? I’ve been sitting in this wooden chair for forty-five minutes, you have nothing good enough to keep my butt in this seat one second longer.
Now, my sponsor tells me that meditation is crucial to my long-term sobriety…so I’m screwed, right? Nope, even an ADHD affected individual like myself can find the necessary tools to meditate.
With that in mind, here are five meditation tips for people with ADHD!
5) You Don’t Actually Have to Stop Moving!
Buddha is a liar! Meditation doesn’t have to mean you sit still! Boom! Take a walk, go for a bike ride, or draw. As long as your mind is focused on the right thoughts or actions, you’ll be able to slow down.
You can pray, focus on a negative situation, and then think about how to handle it based on AA principles. You can even journal as a form of meditation!
4) Use Music to Focus!
Find a song with 100% positive lyrics or pick your favorite song and interpret the words to meet your desired goal for meditation. If you’re bummed, find a song that speaks to motivation and the improvement of your mood. The song doesn’t have to have lyrics either. Let the mood of the music lead your thoughts and help maintain your focus.
3) Two Minutes is All You Need!
Start at two minutes. Can ya meditate for two minutes? Start at two and then move to three. The longer you meditate, the more you’ll ratchet it up.
ADHD peeps may not be able to sit still, but we do love a challenge!
2) Make it a Routine!
ADHD affected drug addicts do love routine. It helps us stay on track and get stuff done. Most people think we prefer to be scattered, but that isn’t true at all. Routine is our comfort zone and it saves us from stress.
Pick a time for meditation that you can repeat day after day. This will ensure that you’re practicing your mediation techniques each day. This then makes the connection between you and your higher power stronger. Routine will also make it easier to stay in one place. The more you do it the easier it is.
1) Make it Fun!
Recovery got easy when it became fun. We first started doing drugs because it was fun and made us feel great. Meditation can unlock a whole new world of recovery if you make it fun.
As soon as it becomes a joy to do, you’ll do it every single day. Meditating everyday will make your reflection time more potent and more powerful than any drug.
Meditation will change your life. There’s no wrong way to do, just do it. Period!
by A Women in Sobriety | Mar 3, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Sobriety For Women
Women in Recovery
Alcoholics Anonymous, the primary program of recovery from addiction amongst substance abusers worldwide, was founded by – and initially exclusively for – men.
Men would gather for coffee and conversation as their devoted wives met separately and figured out how to cope with the emotional distresses their husbands had caused them over the years. While some of these women undeniably struggled with excessive consumption themselves, it was their duty as wives to support their husbands as they overcame addiction, keeping up the home and caring for the children.
In 1935, the societal role of the female in any matrimonial relationship was relatively cut-and-dry. It was a woman’s responsibility to fulfill expectations of being a good wife and mother, and sweep any personal hindrances under the rug. As times began to change and women’s liberation gained momentum nationwide, ladies began speaking up and seeking help themselves.
While the first female member of Alcoholics Anonymous, Florence Rankin, joined the fellowship in March of 1937, females did not heavily infiltrate the program until the 1960s.
Girls Rule!
The first women in recovery displayed absolutely astonishing amounts of courage, and helped to pave the way for decades of recovering women that came after them. The initial role of women within the fellowship was complicated by numerous factors, and sadly, many wives and mothers found it easier to simply perpetuate the allocated role of committed homemaker than to rattle societal standards.
Not only did gendered structure assume an alcoholic to be male, but there were also fears revolving around the alleged sexual behavior of drinking women – a stereotype that has trickled down for years since and shaped the current prevalence of women in the rooms.
While the innumerable benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs in the lives of women have been proven time and time again, less than one-third of all fellowship are females. This is due, in large part, to the misguided stereotypes that have followed women throughout history. While these pigeonholes are constantly being disproven, many women fail to seek treatment based on fear of disapproval or the general stigmas relating to women in recovery.
Fortunately, in recent times, being a woman in recovery is not only accepted – it is celebrated! Female-exclusive treatment centers have been established nationwide, and the importance of addiction recovery amongst females has become exceedingly clear.
As women, the only current barriers we face are self-imposed. We are strong, we are capable, and we are deserving. Slowly but surely, the role of women in recovery is growing, and as it does, more and more ladies are casting the hindrances of shame and stigma aside and giving themselves the chance at the fulfilled and joyous lives they so warrant!
This essay was written by Cayla Clark, a woman in recovery and writer for many top south Florida drug rehabs!
by A Women in Sobriety | Feb 26, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction
Longer Hours = More Drinking
A new paper, published in the British Medical Journal, suggests there’s a link between working long hours and heavy drinking.
Sounds kind of obvious, right? The longer you work, the more tired and stressed you are. For many people, the solution to this stress is alcohol. Speaking from personal experience, alcohol and drugs were my answer to stress, and most everything else, for many years!
Well, now there’s science to back up this common sense truth. The longer and harder you work at a job that raises your stress level, the more prone you are to drink to excess. What’s more, these new findings show that gender, race, and economic status don’t factor in at all. Rather, it’s a one-to-one relationship between hours worked and alcohol intake.
Marianna Virtanen, the author of the paper and leader of the study, had the following to say about the link between overworking and overdrinking:
“…these findings suggests that some people may be prone to coping with excess working hours by habits that are unhealthy, in this case by using alcohol above the recommended limits” (Voice Chronicle).
So, what exactly does this study tell us? What are the new facts?
Work Hard & Play Hard
Scientists from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, located in beautiful Helsinki (hello, can I get a job there!), studied date from more than 330,000 people across fourteen different countries.
Their findings show that people who work for forty-eight or more hour per week are 11% more likely to drink heavily. That’s a rather large increase! Heavy drinking is defined as men having twenty-one or more drinks per week and women having fourteen or more drinks per week.
Backpacking off this new research, Cassandra Okechukwu, of the Harvard School of Public Health, estimated that there are two million people drinking heavily due to work. Again, that’s a lot of people driven to the bottle for no reason other than working long hours!
What this study doesn’t take into account are rates of alcoholism. Remember, heavy drinking and alcoholism are two different beasts altogether. So, if working long hours makes you 11% more likely to engage in heavy drinking – how much does it contribute to alcoholism?
That, my dear readers, is a conversation for another time. For now, let’s look at some of the dangers of heavy drinking.
Dangers of Heavy Drinking
Okay, this part is fairly obvious. Drinking to excess brings with it some significant dangers. This is true of heavy drinking, binge drinking, alcoholism, or mixing alcohol and other drugs.
Health problems common to heavy drinking include: heart disease, liver issues (including chronic Hepatitis), kidney problems, alcohol poisoning (overdose), increased risk of stroke, increased risk of cancer, drunk driving, unsafe sexual practices, and other negligent behavior.
Is There a Solution?
Here we reach the crux of the new research. Is there a solution to heavy drinking brought on by working forty-eight plus hours per week? Unfortunately, the research and resulting paper don’t suggest a solution. Rather, they state:
“Further research is needed to assess whether preventive interventions against risky alcohol use could benefit from information on working hours” (Voice Chronicle).
So, I’d like to suggest my own solutions. First, stop stressing out over work! This is much easier said than done, however it’s absolutely possible for everyone. If work is stressing you out, instead of turning to booze you can try meditation, journaling, talk therapy, other forms of therapy, or even talking with friends.
Second, if you find yourself drinking to excess, seek help! Don’t stay stuck in the cycle of drinking, feeling guilty, working, getting stressed, and drinking more! Trust me, it’s a hard cycle to break, but it’s 100% possible to come out the other side.
Think about it like this – if I can get sober, then anyone can get sober. If I can stop drinking to excess, then anyone can stop drinking to excess. This is true of people who drink due to work, stress, family issues, or anything else.
Finally, I’d like to suggest adopting a spiritual way of living. This is wonderful for living a life that’s productive, happy, and stress free. Once again, it’s hard to live based on spiritual principles, but the benefits far outweigh the challenges and work involved.
by A Women in Sobriety | Feb 24, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Recovery
Breaking the Stigma
It’s possible to break our anonymity in such a way that we don’t harm the various twelve-step fellowships we belong to. In fact, it’s possible to break our anonymity in such a way that not only are we not harming twelve-step fellowships, but we’re also helping the still sick and suffering.
Isn’t that what recovery is all about? Helping those who are struggling with active addiction? Helping those who can’t, come hell or high water, put down the bottle, the pipe, the syringe?
It was made clear to me very early on that my primary purpose in life was to help those struggling with drugs and alcohol. It doesn’t matter how busy I am. It doesn’t matter what else I have to do. It doesn’t matter if I don’t feel like it. If someone reaches out, I need to always be there to help.
So, with all that in mind, the question becomes how can I help people the best? How can I be of service to the still sick and suffering addict or alcoholic the best?
I’ve come to the conclusion that the best way to help those struggling with addiction, this entire planet’s worth of active addicts, is to break my anonymity. It’s to proclaim from the metaphorical rooftops that I’m a sober woman. It’s to shout at the top of my lungs that yes, I’ve recovered and yes, you can too.
Consider this my coming out, of sorts. I’m an addict in recovery. I’m a sober alcoholic. I’m a self-harmer who hasn’t seen light shine off a blade in years. I’m an eating disorder survivor. I’m depressed but still get out of bed each morning. I’m anxious but still talk to strangers. I’m mentally ill but still take my meds.
Of course, I’m not all of those things, but I might as well be. I’m many of them and the one’s that I’m not, well, I can identify with. The important part is the fact that I’m just like you. Yes, you. You reading this right now. I’m just like you.
I’ve felt the same despair and the same hope. I’ve celebrated and mourned the same things. I’ve been through the same impossible situations. It doesn’t matter if my impossible situations were different in the details than yours. We’re the same.
And, more importantly than anything else I’ve said so far, we can recover. At time it might not seem like it. At times it might seem like we’re doomed to die from our demons, or, even worse, to live with them. But I promise you that’s not the case. I promise you we can recover.
I’ll leave you with a quote that I can’t seem to stop thinking about. It’s from an essay I recently read about addiction and recovery.
The author, David Cohen, is the clinical director for one of the oldest and most respected rehabs in the country. He’s many years my senior. He been educated, I’m sure, at the country’s top schools. He’s a man and I’m a woman. Despite all of that, we’re the same.
We’re the same because we’ve both survived the same disease. A disease of our thinking and a disease of our actions. A disease of dishonesty. A disease that tries its hardest to appear to be anything but a disease. I’m talking, of course, about the disease of addiction.
So, enjoy David Cohen’s words. I certainly did. They triggered something in me that I can’t quite place my finger on. Read them and remember that we can all change!
“It is due time that the recovery community mobilizes to haul addiction out from the depths of dark basements, and into the light of the open and evolving nature of our society. I am proud to be in recovery. I am grateful everyday that I am free from the crippling grips of active addiction. Now is a time for all of us to spread the message of hope and healing to others who are still suffering. No longer should we glamorize addiction, nor should we oust the addicted individual from society, but rather we should join with the force of the current recovery movement to rejoice and celebrate the very human journeys of recovery that continue to emerge among us” (Huffington Post).
