By Lena Turcios
I decided to write about this important issue because there are not a ton of addiction resources or a lot of information that is available to Benicia High School students. Addiction is a problem that many struggle with, from older adults to younger teenagers. Addiction is a common issue that impacts everyday life for many people, even if it’s not in the form of drugs. Common addictions are unhealthy foods, sugary soda/candies, social media, caffeine, sleeping and more. Addiction can happen at any age, but high school is a common starting place for addictions. I will discuss as many resources as possible to hopefully spread awareness about this topic. I highly recommend that students in high school reach out for help if you are dealing with any problems.
There are no addiction related resources here at BHS, solely mental health related resources (and just one or two links/hotlines on the BHS website). Since high school is known as a common place of addiction, the fact that there are no resources for it at BHS seems wrong. The same can be said about the fact, there are only a few mental health resources for the entire school. And since the wellness center has been shut down for the rest of the year, there are little relaxing places to go at BHS. So, instead I will provide some addiction facts/mental health+addiction resources, as well, to help anyone who is searching for help.
Addiction is a complex disease with behavioral characteristics. 40 million Americans ages 12 and older have substance problems. Another 80 million people engage in risky use of addictive substances in ways that threaten public health and safety, but do not meet the clinical criteria for this disease. 75% of high school students have used addictive substances including; cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine. 1 in 5 has a substance problem. Needless to say, addiction is quite a problem in today’s modern society. Especially in high school. Not a lot of people are able to stop cold turkey. Usually people use addictive substances because of family trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
These resources are going to be local but not all in Benicia because of how scarce resources are here .There is a recovery group in Benicia called LifeRing Secular Recovery. Created by a worldwide network of individuals seeking to live in recovery from addiction to alcohol or to their non-medically indicated drugs. LifeRing meetings are friendly, informal, and confidential. Another resource is a rehab center in Vallejo called Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment- Bayside Marin. It is a small, private, and highly personalized program for adult men and women, over 18 years of age, who struggle with substance abuse and addiction.
Another option is therapy. One good resource in Benicia is the school funded therapy that BHS provides. If you are struggling, I highly recommend talking to your counselor about hiring a therapist that you can meet with. Having someone to talk to is a very important part of healing and working to overcome personal issues. As someone who has a therapist and talks to her on a weekly basis, it’s benefited my life so much. I am a much happier person now that I have an emotional outlet.
Overall, there are many good outlets that can help you get through addictions or mental health problems. These include seeing a therapist, going to rehab groups, and using school resources. I hope this article was helpful to you!
beniciapaw.com 