We want to thank Dr. James DiReda for offering this excellent guest post for us! Dr. DiReda has over twenty years experience working with individuals, families, and organizations to address alcohol, drug, and mental health issues. He holds a dual Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Work from Boston University. He is currently Director of Counseling and teaches at Clark University in Worcester, MA.

Kids, Drugs, and Parents: What to do?

I recently received a call from a former client saying, “My 15 year old son is out of control, and I don’t know what to do. He’s drinking alcohol and smoking a lot of pot, he’s disrespecting his brother and me, he’s breaking all rules and ignoring any curfews I try to impose, and I’m afraid he could get physically violent because he’s so angry and enraged.” So we spoke about her situation and what was happening, not just with her son but with her family. We spoke about how to address the issues (alcohol/drug abuse, anger, unhealthy family relationships) they were struggling with, and how to change some of the dynamics that were allowing the “out of control” behavior to continue. I sensed my suggestions were not what she was hoping to hear. She was looking for an answer, the solution to fix her son and stop his behavior. It’s a parents’ nightmare when situations with their children are out of control. It can be scary, threatening, and extremely stressful, especially when parents aren’t really sure what their child is using. So, what do we (professionals, experts) tell them? Often it’s not what they hope or expect to hear.

I can’t count the number of calls I have received from parents, loved ones, friends, and even employers regarding someone they know who is in trouble and struggling, but they don’t know what to say or do to help. It’s a difficult position to be in, to watch someone you care about spin out of control and there doesn’t seem to be anything you can do to stop or change it. This position really can make a person feel powerless and helpless; but are we? That depends. There are times and instances where you simply cannot protect or save a person from themselves and their self-destructive actions no matter what you do. That is a very bitter pill to swallow, and often the only option is to keep stay healthy yourself and set clear boundaries in the relationship. There are other times though, which you can do something effective in bringing about change and help get things back under control. This usually entails examining our role in the family drama that is taking place and making changes in places that we do have some ability to control.

Educating parents about alcohol and drug use is good information to have, and very useful in helping them recognize and label the condition. It helps them see warning signs, identify suspicious behavior, and know the differences among various drugs and their effects. It’s a good start, but it isn’t enough. Remember, if nothing changes, nothing changes. So what will help? What do we tell them? It’s more than what we tell them to do; it’s a change in thinking and behaving on the part of the parent or loved one. It’s a different mind-set in looking at or trying to manage an out of control situation. I’ll share something that I learned from a Family Therapist I worked with early on in my career about working with individuals and families struggling with alcoholism, drug abuse, and dependence. It’s affectionately known as the “3-C’s,” and they were pasted on his office walls to share. He would simply explain to parents and loved ones that 1. You didn’t cause this condition. 2. You can’t control it, and 3. You can’t cure it. This might seem like strange advice in some ways, especially after reading my comments saying you (parents/loved ones) do have some control in this. It probably seems confusing, and it can be. But, using rational and logical thought processes when dealing with irrational and illogical behavior (alcoholics, substance abusers) and out of control situations doesn’t usually work very well. So here’s a different way of looking at it, thinking about it, and managing it.

A common scenario in working with individuals and families around alcohol/drug abuse and dependence looks something like this: The person abusing substances, regardless of which ones, usually ends up in trouble at school, work, legally, in relationships within the family and outside the family. Due to their drinking and drug use, and their out of control behavior they become the focus of attention and labeled as the “problem” or “troublemaker.” In the treatment world they are called the identified patient. To the family and loved ones these individuals need fixing so the family can get back to being “normal.” Much of the energy and attention (and blame) is put on those individuals to change their “crazy” behavior. The problem is that often times they aren’t able to at that point, so you’re asking someone who is out of control to take control. It usually doesn’t work, and continues to worsen until finally the court, police, families have to take control. So if the 3-C’s say “you can’t control it,” what do you control? Well, if enough pressure is exerted upon an individual (jail, job loss, divorce, eviction) they might agree to go into treatment which will, hopefully, begin the process of change. However, entering treatment can be used as an escape from the current situation and once it ends the individual quickly returns to their prior behaviors and lifestyle. Treatment is useful, even vital, but it is limited; it’s a beginning. If all the pre-existing conditions (stressors, relationships, etc) in a persons’ life remain unchanged, returning from treatment and maintaining change can be very difficult. Many families I’ve worked with believe that by sending someone to treatment “cures” them and they should never want to use again. That has not been my experience over the past twenty two years working in this field. What I have seen is that families get sick together, and families recover together; if they change.

In speaking with my former client about her son I couldn’t help but think about the entire family and also ask her, how did he become so “out of control?” It’s unusual that one particular family member would be out of control for no reason. As we spoke, she told me about what had been going on in their family since I saw her last. After hearing her story, it was not surprising that he was acting out, what surprised me (again) is that all the emphasis and focus is on him and his behavior, not the family. Understanding families and family dynamics is difficult enough, but adding alcohol and drugs takes it to an entirely different level. Many families have little or no understanding of alcohol and drug abuse or addiction, and are scared and confused by it. It’s difficult to figure out without help. What do I do? What do I say? And, how do I say it? These are the questions I get asked by parents, spouses, and concerned others who are at their wits end, struggling to make sense of their situation and in fear that a tragic ending is on the horizon.

I find myself returning to the 3-C’s time and again when trying to offer advice, or guide others in this situation. I start by validating for them that they are not the cause of this condition, nor can they control it, or cure it. But, that doesn’t mean they have to sit around and wait until their loved one decides to change, which could be a long wait or something that might never happen. The choice is a hard one to make, but it can be very effective in jump-starting the change process with those who are out of control, or not interested in changing their behavior. I also help them identify and label what changes within their power and control they can make. I emphasize that any changing has to begin with them, and that will vary depending on their relationship with the IP or out of control individual. Often times when we change, those around us change as well if they want to continue in the relationship.  Seeking treatment is often the beginning of this change process which, hopefully, leads the individual and the family into lifelong Recovery.

One of the hardest things to do as a parent is to watch a child self-destruct. We want to help our children succeed and to live lives free from pain and trouble. For a family that is being tested by a substance-abusing teen or young adult, the parents suffer as much as their child.

“Recovery Benefits Everyone” is the theme for this year’s Recovery Month. This holds especially true for parents whose child is in need of recovery. Too many parents have had to stand by and watch their child become lost to substance abuse. Too many parents feel helpless to do anything for their child because they feel like they’ve done everything they can to help, and failed. There are things parents can do to prevent their child from abusing substances, and to help them if they are addicted.

It All Starts with Prevention

Parents need to remember while their children are still young that they hold much power in the anti-drug/alcohol struggle with their children. Teens and adolescents do hear what their parents are saying and are much less likely to get caught up with substance abuse if their parent had regular talks with them about it. Talk to your child early and often about the dangers of drugs and that you expect them to avoid using them.

Early Intervention

Many parents miss a crucial window of opportunity to get their substance-abusing child help. Parents don’t want to overreact, or they are too busy to notice, or they are too ashamed to admit it is happening to their family. For these reasons, many parents wait and try to handle the situation on their own, rather than get their child help right away. Parents of teens must remain vigilant in talking to their child and watching for signs of drug abuse. Sudden changes in behavior, a change in friends, dropping grades, demanding of privacy, and being more secretive are all things that teens tend to exhibit when they are first starting to get hooked on drugs. It is at this time that a parent should seek help, rather than waiting.

Get Professional Help

If a parent has tried to get help for their “hopelessly” addicted child and they keep sinking deeper and deeper into their self-destructive behavior, there are still things a parent can do. It may be necessary to show tough love, or to let the child fall to rock bottom before they can recover. Or, maybe the child just needs a supportive parent to stand by them. It is at this time that it would be helpful for the parent to seek professional help for their entire family. A parent can learn from a therapist or support group about what they need to do to help their child. Parents who feel they have no place to turn need to allow a professional to step in and help.

Sources

Recovery Month

Above the Influence

Al-anon

The reality TV show Celebrity Rehab has wowed fans since it began 3 years ago, but recent accusations by some of the show’s past celebrities have people questioning the motives of producers of the show. Are they exploiting messed up lives to bring in the money, or are they really working to save lives?

Exploiting Drug Abuse 

Actor Leif Garrett claims that when he went on the show in late 2010, he had been sober for a few days, but producers encouraged him to do drugs so they could get footage of it. Garret said he couldn’t turn that request down. Cast mate Jason Wahler backs up the accusation with his own experience. He was asked to drink alcohol by producers, even though he came into the filming already sober. Wahler reports that he was committed enough to sobriety that he refused, but says that many celebrities aren’t that serious about recovery. “I wanted to show that I was taking my problem seriously,” Wahler told TV Squad. “I was revamping myself and showing everyone I’m not drinking.” (1)

Other celebrities have also come forward with accusations that the show is cashing in on displaying the train wrecked lives of celebrities on drugs. Jeff Conway said that during his time on the show, “We all knew we were on TV. I think everybody, like myself, made choices. Sometimes we would go a little bit further than maybe we normally would. You can’t help it. There are cameras sitting in front of your face, and we’re paid to be dramatic. That’s what we do.”

Steven Tyler, about fellow musician Steven Adler, said, “They wanted him to act out his own messed-up state when he entered rehab. It was ghoulish and unreal. They gave him 30 grand for the episode, he snorted it all, crashed his car, and he ended up in jail detox. It didn’t seem to me all that ethical…not to mention getting trashed celebrities to mime their own self-destructive nosedives which they then sensationalize on a melo-fing-dramatic reality show, which so traumatizes them they end up in worse shape than ever — from the drugs they bought with the money from the show.” (2)

Helping Celebrities

Celebrity Rehab’s producers deny all such allegations. A VH1 publicist said, “The show’s producers would never ask anyone to use…PERIOD.” (1) And to be fair, many celebrities, even those unhappy with the pressure from producers, say Dr. Drew is genuine and honest. Cast member Janice Dickinson says he saved her life.

Many people have been uneasy with the concept of Celebrity Rehab since the show’s beginning. Sure, dr. Drew is able to help some celebrities sober up, but many don’t stay that way. Some say that producers even asked them to lie to keep relapse a secret.

The show magnifies drama for ratings, and it puts people’s private struggle on display for the world to see. Because we as a society are drawn to viewing the shocking, the uncomfortable, and the unbelievable, the show will continue to be aired. With the recent accusations, however, more people should be aware that reality TV is not really real.

Sources

(1) Jason Wahler and Leif Garrett take shots at Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew

(2) Steven Tyler Calls ‘Celebrity Rehab’ Fake, Lashes Out 

Leif Garrett says Celebrity Rehab producers asked him to use when he was sober

Celebrity Rehab

Continuing with numbers 6 through 10, these are the most common myths people have about recovery. Myths 1-5

Myth 6. You can’t force someone into treatment. A person, in the end, has to want to recover for it to be successful, but people do enter into treatment for reasons other than wanting to get better. Family interventions that persuade someone to be carried off to treatment, court orders, and other involuntary means can “force” a person into treatment, and these means are just as effective as a person walking in under their free will.

Myth 7. Treatment is treatment; it’s all the same. One of the main misconceptions about recovery is that rehab is the same everywhere. Many people have failed at their program because they believed this myth. Everyone is different, and there are different types of rehab and different programs that can be tailored to meet someone’s needs. Some people are more likely to succeed if they are in a program with their peers, others thrive in a secluded atmosphere. Still others will require a program that treats their specific addiction or has the medical capacity for them to safely detox. Treatment should be personalized for each patient.

Myth 8. Relapse sends you back to square one. No one wants to relapse. Everyone going through recovery is afraid of it. It is important for someone in recovery to heed the warnings of doctors and therapists, in an effort to prevent relapse. Developing good stress relieving techniques and avoiding triggers are ways to help. But a person who relapses will still have all the knowledge and experiences they gained from the first time around, making it easier to get and stay sober again.

Myth 9. A person’s recovery is done once they complete treatment. Treatment facilities know that recovery is a lifelong process, which is why many have created after care programs and encourage their patients to join support groups. Staying active with a support group or finding an accountability partner will help someone stay active in recovery. The journey of recovery does not end once treatment is over; a person must work to stay sober for the rest of their life.

Myth 10. Some individuals are a lost cause. Just ask some of the millions of people who have been through recovery and are sober today. A great number of them and their family members would say that they had lost hope along the way. Many of these people know they shouldn’t be alive today, and know almost everyone had given up on them as a lost cause. But because of one spark of hope, they were able to recover. It’s never too late to get help. Treatment can work, recovery is possible. Never give up hope on yourself or someone you care about.

Sources

Recovery Month 

Drug Abuse Recovery – 4 Common Myths Debunked

Three Myths About Drug Addiction and Recovery

Stupid Myths About Recovery

Addiction treatment has certainly come a long way. It used to be that people thought drug and alcohol addiction was a choice, and that someone just had to want to be sober enough to achieve it. Much blame was placed on recurring addicts, that they chose their lifestyle and were too lazy to get out of it. These people tried simple behavior modifications and strict mind rehabilitation to heal their addiction, but in many cases, it just didn’t work. “In the past, the specialty was very much targeted toward psychiatrists,” said Nora D. Volkow, the neuroscientist in charge of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “It’s a gap in our training program.” (1)

Addiction is a Disease

Today, we almost go to the other extreme. There are those who simply say addiction is a physical disease, caused by a malfunction of the brain, and an addict is somehow wired to abuse substances and has little control over it. These people are the ones that are working on treatment methods such as brain surgery and medication-based therapy to help patients achieve sobriety.
Addiction is actually both a result of bad choices, poor stress management techniques, and sometimes a problem with brain chemistry. Therefore, treatment may require a series of approaches, from therapy and stress management to medication. Many treatment facilities already use these different approaches in their programs, but now the medical community is hoping to offer effective treatment also.

Addiction Medicine

The American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM) created a program in 2007 that helps promote the medical treatment of addiction. The program has created medical residencies at 10 medical institutions that will specialize in the treatment of addiction. The goal is to establish addiction medicine as a specialty, just like pediatrics, cardiology, or dermatology.
The residents of this medical program hope to create awareness for addiction and to explore different options for treatment. “The management of folks with addiction becomes very much like the management of other chronic diseases, such as asthma, hypertension or diabetes,” said Dr. Daniel Alford, who oversees the program at Boston University Medical Center. “It’s hard necessarily to cure people, but you can certainly manage the problem to the point where they are able to function.” (1)

Effective Treatment

With the help of the medical community, it will be possible to continue treating someone with an addiction after their detox is over. High class treatment facilities already offer extended programs to patients once their standard 28 day stay is over. The hope is that more patients will receive this kind of specialized care that helps the patient maintain sobriety. Just as with any chronic disease, when the brain is affected by addiction, it may never heal completely, and may require therapy for life.

Sources

(1)Rethinking Addiction’s Roots, and Its Treatment

Addictions & Answers: Is alcoholism really a disease?

Rethinking addiction: Expanding treatment isn’t enough

Even though the first few days and weeks of drug and alcohol rehab are very difficult and filled with detoxification and fighting the physical urge to stay on the substance, people at this point of treatment are often motivated to get sober. Sometimes it is the time after treatment is finished that people struggle the most, as they work to avoid relapse.

Relapse is unfortunately a common part of the treatment process. Many people relapse, which causes them either to completely return to their addiction or else become more determined the next time to succeed. Relapse does have some warning signs that the recovering addict and their family should be aware of. A good treatment program will help the addict learn of the feelings they may face that might be cause for concern, and if families know what to watch for, they may be able to step in and help also.

Signs for the Addict to Watch For

A person who has recently made it through a drug or alcohol treatment program may at first feel happy about their recovery, even though they know it will still be a long, hard road. They may be excited about a support group and will attend meetings regularly, as well as keep in touch with a therapist or a doctor from their treatment program. As time goes on, however, the newness wears off, maybe they don’t have family checking in on them as much anymore, and things can begin to slide. Someone recovering from an addiction should be concerned if they start to feel depressed or anxious that they won’t make it without their substance, or overwhelmed by everyday problems. They might also feel self pity and the temptation to hide things from their loved ones and they might stop talking about their thoughts or feelings. A recovering addict may continue to feel the urge to use for months or years after recovery, but when that urge is accompanied by strong negative emotions, they should consider getting help.

Signs for Family to Watch For

On the other side, family members and loved ones should also be on the lookout for warning signs that their loved one might relapse. They might notice a change in their mood or increased depression. Their loved one might become frustrated easily and feel sorry for themselves. In addition, a recovering addict who is relapsing will become more isolated, will not attend support groups as faithfully, and will avoid family and friends. This return of denial that there is a problem is actually a telltale sign that a person is about to go back to their drugs or alcohol.

Getting Through a Relapse

To a person who is working so hard to recover from an addiction, and to their family, relapse can seem like the end of the world. It’s not. A person can get back on the track of recovery, even after relapse. It is important for someone who is relapsing to get help right away. By watching for the warning signs of relapse, a person can more easily get back to their sobriety.

Sources

Relapse Symptoms 

Relapse Prevention

Treatment and Recovery

Humans naturally do things out of habit. Everyday tasks are often done without much planning because we like to do things the same; we like consistency. Thinking about our everyday triggers may give us a glimpse into how hard it is to fight a drug habit.

Triggers in Everyday Life

Our lives are often filled with triggers. Fortunately, many of our triggers get us to do things that we should. Experts explain that many of our normal, everyday motions are a result of triggers. The human brain is an expert at learning responses to stimuli. Our brains associate certain activities with things around us, such as sounds, smells, feelings, and motions.

Most of us start to feel hungry when we smell something good. Sitting at a red light, we jerk our foot to the gas pedal when we feel cars around us start to move, even if we don’t see the light turn green. For some people it might be that when they eat, they feel the urge to turn on the radio, or when grilling, they want to grab a beer. These triggers connect with our brain in a way that reminds us to do an activity, whether there is a good reason to do it or not.

Of course, with most of these things, we can make ourselves overcome the trigger if we think about it and rationalize why we have that urge. When a person has an addiction, especially to a substance like drugs or alcohol, those triggers become nearly impossible to resist.

Triggers for Addiction

For many smokers, getting into their vehicle is a trigger to light up. Other people are compelled to use drugs whenever they have a drink of alcohol. Others want to use when they see their ex or a certain friend, and often times emotional triggers like feeling stress or disappointment or anger can make someone use.

Because triggers play such a big role in a drug addict’s life, many treatment programs are designed to help the person deal with the triggers. In many cases, a recovering addict will need to start over with a new group of friends, maybe a new job, and even new neighborhood. Avoiding triggers can help a great deal when someone wants to stay sober.

Managing Triggers

Other times, avoiding a trigger isn’t an option. Some people’s spouses are their trigger, or a certain room in their house that they can’t just leave. For many people, stress and negative feelings will continue to show up for the rest of their lives, making it necessary to work through the triggers, rather than avoid them.

It is possible for a recovering addict to fight through a trigger, and knowing that the trigger exists is a good first step. Researchers estimate that cravings from triggers last for 2 minutes, and if a person is aware of that and can take their mind off their substance for that long, they will feel much better. Most treatment programs help patients learn to avoid triggers or fight them in order to help the person maintain sobriety.

Sources

Brain ‘remembers’ drug triggers

Triggers

Avoiding Drug Relapse Triggers After Drug Rehab

Former first lady Betty Ford died last month at the age of 93. Betty was instrumental in creating awareness for drug and alcohol addiction, as she herself was a lifelong recovering addict.

A History of Addiction

Betty Ford’s struggles with drugs and alcohol began in 1964 when she suffered a pinched nerve injury. She was put on prescription painkillers, and before long she began taking more and more pills. The pill abuse, combined with increased alcohol abuse, became an addiction she couldn’t shake. Even during her time in the public eye as her husband served his brief term as president, Betty Ford was a drug addict and an alcoholic. The stress of being the first lady and having to raise four children with a husband that was so busy led to an increased dependence on drugs and alcohol just to get by. She once said that her addiction was “an escapism from all that living in a fishbowl to a certain extent and the pressure of always having to be ‘on’ when perhaps you feel very ‘un-on’ or very down inside.” (1)

It became so bad that people began to detect a problem as she went on television talk shows or spoke at events. Her inability to remember things and her slurred speech didn’t go unnoticed by many. Finally, when she was living on the west coast with her husband after he lost the 1976 presidential election, Ford’s family knew Betty needed help. They staged an intervention in 1978, when Betty was 60, and it opened her eyes. “I collapsed into tears,” she said later. “But I still had enough sense to realize they hadn’t come around just to make me cry; they were there because they loved me and wanted to help.” (2) She sought treatment and lived the rest of her life as a recovering addict.

Open and Honest

Of course, the natural reaction would be to cover up a flaw as big as drug and alcohol addiction, but Betty Ford came to realize that trying to hide an addiction is one of the main problems with drug abuse and alcoholism in our society. She decided to be honest about her struggle in order to help many others overcome theirs.

Betty Ford was always known for her candor and honesty. While her political views and openness disappointed and frustrated some, her work in the area of addiction treatment has helped millions. Betty Ford always said that if addiction could happen to her, it could happen to anyone. She faced embarrassment and went public with her weakness and even founded the famous Betty Ford Treatment Center in California. She worked hard to offer programs that worked for everyone, and she personally encouraged many women and celebrities through their recovery.

Sources

(1) Former first lady Betty Ford dies at 93

(2) Betty Ford showed strength in admitting weakness for alcohol, pain medicine

History of the Betty Ford Center

There have been a few proposals throughout the country recently that involve drug testing among low income citizens. This is one issue that people tend to fall strongly on one side of or the other, with very few people in between.

Florida just passed a law that requires drug testing for people that wish to apply for state welfare benefits. Other states have looked at similar measures. Now, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is hoping to be able to test all resident who benefit from public housing in the city. The new proposal, which would be the first in the nation, would allow CHA to test all applicants over 18 years of age, as well as current residents who renew a housing lease. Anyone who tests positive for drugs would be directed to a drug treatment program at no cost to them. Those who refuse treatment would face eviction.

Opposed to Drug Testing

Those opposed to the measure state that the program would punish the poor and that it targets low income, African Americans who find themselves in need of the assistance. “Current tenants find the proposed measure degrading – and it treads dangerously on their Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful search and seizure. A lot is on the line for an expensive experiment that might not produce results, but will definitely cause harm.” (1)

They say that the new measures unfairly increase the stereotypes about people in low income housing projects, making people feel that they are all drug users and criminals. They also say that it is discriminatory in nature because it does not require middle income people living in the same areas to be tested.

In Favor of Drug Testing

Those in favor of the CHA proposal argue that when people sign up for public assistance they should be drug tested, much like an employer requires testing for new employees. Federal employees are required to go through testing, so it shouldn’t be a problem testing people who are going to receive taxpayer-funded benefits like housing. They say that if taxpayers are going to pay for benefits, they are entitled to know they are not enabling someone to continue their drug abuse.

The CHA’s proposal would provide free drug treatment to those who fail the test, so that in the long run they and their family would benefit, rather than be the victims. “It’s too simple to respond that poor people have ‘no choice,’ that they are forced by their ‘circumstances’ to seek public subsidies. And that their circumstances have led them into substance abuse so, by implication, they can’t be held responsible. As if the only truly compassionate alternative is to look the other way and hope that those creating a hellish nightmare for their neighbors will somehow see the light and end their abuse on their own.” (2)

There are many who are concerned about the cost for such a program. States are struggling to avoid deficits, and shelling out extra funds to help people get off drugs can be a big commitment. However, for those states that begin to realize the benefits of treatment and prevention in the long run, they realize it may be worth the extra cost up front.

Sources

(1) In Chicago, Public Housing Residents Asked To Submit To Drug Tests

(2) Who wouldn’t want a drug-free neighbor?

CHA residents seek blocking of drug testing

Even though drug abuse is common among athletes, there are some sports that are less prone to drug abuse among participants. Racing is one of those sports, thankfully. That does not mean drug abuse never finds its way in; it simply means that when drug abuse is found, it is taken care of pretty quickly.

Zero-Tolerance

Given the nature of racing and the danger of the sport, you won’t find many competitors who would risk their safety by doing drugs. Most people feel there is little need for performance enhancing drugs in racing because the power is in the car, not the driver. Pit crew teams and drivers often have a closeness that helps keep people from sneaking drugs. And since crews need to trust each other to ensure everyone’s safety, coming to work high would mean putting a lot of people’s lives in jeopardy.

All this does not mean that drug abuse never occurs in racing. It does. A crew member from Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 team, Gary Frost, has been suspended for violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. According to a press release, substance abuse is taken very seriously. “Richard Childress has zero tolerance when an employee fails a NASCAR drug test due to an illegal substance,”  Richard Childress said in a statement. “As a result, that person’s employment is terminated. It is important for our fans and our partners to know illegal drug use at RCR is simply not tolerated.”

A Clean Sport

Gary Frost is certainly not the first person to be suspended from racing, but he is one of only a small number of people who have. Most people credit that fact to the swift action that is taken by NASCAR in cases like this, and the message that comes along with that action. If a driver or team member is found violating NASCAR’s drug policy, the person is usually banned from the sport. Unlike other sports where players can go through mandatory rehab, do their time, pay their fine, and then get back in, NASCAR drivers often face a complete career change if they are caught with drugs. “The responsibility here rests across the board — with the drivers and competitors, owners and teams and NASCAR,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. “A positive test results in severe consequences and is a career-changing moment for that person. No system is flawless; but we believe our zero tolerant policy that is in place has served the sport well.” (2)

For anyone trying to sneak through the cracks, NASCAR enacted random drug testing in 2009. Most drivers and teams have been supportive of the drug testing because they know how important it is to everyone’s safety that competitors remain sober. Most NASCAR participants agree that drugs are unacceptable in this sport, and that attitude has helped make the sport as clean as it is today.

Sources

(1) Richard Childress NASCAR crew member suspended for substance abuse

(2) Drivers voice support for tougher drug testing policy

NASCAR Drivers Don’t Use Performance Enhancing Drugs