It’s Free to Children 7-12!

Drug and Alcohol addiction does not only destroy the life of the addict, but it also compromises the lives of their children. According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA), nearly 1 in 4 children, under the age of 18, suffer from a parent or guardian that abuses alcohol or drugs. According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration), “Children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to develop alcoholism.” Not only at risk of following down the same path of drug and alcohol abuse, children of addicts are also more likely to suffer verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.  They are also at risk of chronic mental health disorders, physical problems such as digestive problems and heart disease and learning disabilities. The risk of suicide greatly increases for a child that has grown up surrounded by drug and alcohol addiction and the suffering it brings.

Since most health insurance companies only cover treatment for the addict and not for family, these children often bear untreated emotional scars that progress into adulthood.  This is why Brighton Center for Recovery is providing an addiction treatment program exclusively for children. The Children’s Addiction Prevention Program is a four-day program for children who have a significant other in their life with an alcohol or drug addiction or that is in active recovery.  Children ages 7-12 will learn about the disease of addiction in age appropriate ways while meeting other children their age who are in a similar situation. They also learn self-care techniques and create a safety plan.

The Children’s Addiction Prevention Program is unique to Brighton Center for Recovery and is free to all children. For more information about the Children’s Addiction Prevention Program, please contact John Furey at (810) 227-1211 or call our staff at Brighton at the Corners at (248) 406-4260. Toll-free customer service staff may be reached at (877) 976-2371 for questions about any Brighton Center for Recovery program.

Individuals inherit complex genes from their parents and studies have shown that they may inherit tendencies that can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and addiction. The behaviors learned at home throughout childhood can help facilitate these diseases.  Growing up in a household with addicted parents and/or siblings can increase the risk of alcohol and drug abuse later in life.  For this reason, Brighton Center for Recovery’s new Children’s program has a few simple and very achievable goals:

• Children of alcoholics and addicts need to know how to get help to survive their parent’s dangerous behaviors, such as drunk driving or abuse.  They need to learn how to call out for help in an effective way.
• Children in addicted households need to know they are not alone and that they are not different or strange in any way.  They need to see that they have peers who experience the same threats they endure. They can conquer the loneliness, isolation and fear that can lead to depression.
• Children need support and need adult role models who are not addicts to help assure their path as clean and sober adults, making wise choices later in life.   They need to know they have other options and do not have to use dangerous substances or partake in risky behaviors.  They need to experience what normal families do, so that they do not choose addicted spouses and friends simply because they are familiar.
• Children need to know their parent or sibling’s addiction is not their fault.  They need to understand that they are not the problem and did not do anything wrong.

Brighton Center for Recovery Children’s Program:

Dates of free upcoming programs for children ages 7-12 (registration is open to the public):

TENTATIVE 2013 Program dates. Please call to confirm and register.

• April 18-21
• June 27-30
• July 18-21
• August 8-11
• October 10-13
• December 5-8

Brighton Center for Recovery Campus
12851 Grand River Road
Brighton, MI 48116

Call (810) 220-1807 to learn more or for enrollment information. Reservations are required.

Classes are FREE and are filling quickly, so reserve today and help a child!

Note: parents are generally invited to participate in the final 2 days of the program and the entire family is invited to attend the graduation on the last day of each program.  Call for details!

CALL THE PHONE NUMBERS ON THIS PAGE FOR INFORMATION ON THIS FREE PROGRAM, WITH NO OBLIGATION.