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Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania
POTADA - Parents of Teenage Alcoholics and Drug Abusers
This article deals with an organization whose focus is to help parents of teens who are experiencing problems around their use of alcohol and other drugs. Parents are easily overwhelmed by stress and conflict introduced into the marriage and family by a teenage substance abuser. The organization, POTADA (Parents Of Teenage Alcohol and Drug Abusers), can be a life saver in helping parents cope with the stress that adolescent substance abuse places on the entire family. The following is a synopsis of the information on the Pittsburgh POTADA web site: www.potada.info/
What Is POTADA?
POTADA is a fellowship of men and women who meet together to deal more effectively with the anxiety, frustration and heartache that is usually present when those we care about are involved with the misuse of drugs and alcohol. The POTADA focus is on the parent. Through the exchange of thoughts, feelings and experiences we learn not to play into the progressive illness pattern that so often enables the victim to become worse rather than to recover. We learn what has worked for others.
Why Does POTADA Work?
We learn that our anger, anxiety and guilt contribute to the progression of the illness. The family members learn more effective skills to cope with their problems. Our lives get better by sharing our experiences with one another.
How Do I Know If I Need Help?
As a Parent, Do You?
- Make excuses for your child's behavior to your friends or authorities?
- Argue with your spouse about your child's behavior?
- Find yourself "walking on egg-shells" around your child for fear of upsetting him/her?
- Continually threaten your child and fail to carry out the threat?
- Find money or valuables missing?
- Go out and look for your child or telephone around to find him/her?
- Bail your child out of legal problems?
- Find that you have not had a peaceful night's sleep in a very long time and constantly worry about your child?
If you checked more than three, attending a POTADA meeting may be helpful to you.
Does Your Child?
- Exhibit solitary behavior (staying in his/her room all day) and not participate in family activities?
- Have failing grades in school?
- Experience other problems in school such as cutting classes, being tardy or truant?
- Exhibit drastic mood changes?
- No longer participate in activities?
- React to your authority with physical or verbal abuse?
- Have problems with the Law?
- Disregard curfews and other family rules and responsibilities?
- Have new and different friends?
If you checked more than three, attending a POTADA meeting may be helpful to you.
The Bethel Park Meeting is held on Thursdays, 7:30 PM
at the John McMillan United Presbyterian Church
located at 875 Clifton Rd.