CHEMISTRY LESSON

The point of comparing chemical illness to diabetes was not to discount
this illness.

The very fact people still think the chemically ill are "weak-willed" and
immoral people is uneducated and uninformed of current discoveries. The
facts are that mood-altering drug, which includes tobacco, coffee or
caffeinated drinks, chocolate, alcohol, prescription and illegal drugs,
alter the chemistry of the brain.

Most all of us have natural chemicals at birth known as serotonin and
dopamine, as well as other chemical players that affect mood and
perceptions. We know serotonin is a leading contributor to depression. The
use of Prozac or like medications is commonly used successfully to combat
this mental illness.

Dopamine gives us a sense of well being and contentment. The pleasant
slight buzz of alcohol - not drunk - social drinkers get from a drink or
two is the dopamine being released.

The lack of the re-uptake of dopamine when released, leads to depression as
well. The use of drugs disrupts the chemical make-up of the brain, so in
reality once drugs are used, it sets in motion events no one counted on.
The consumption creates a drug-induced depression, which no one likes, so
they will use again.

Unfortunately, in spite of all the prevention programs and "don't use"
messages youth receive, the power of curiosity, peer pressure and a lack of
constant parental "no use" messages get too even the most responsible kids.
The brains of youth are sitting ducks for quick addiction to any
mood-altering drugs due to a lack of maturity. Also, there are parents of
children your kids associate with who communicate behaviorally or verbally
to their kids "a little pot is no big deal," or "I rather my kid drank
alcohol or smoke cigarettes than do those other drugs," not realizing
they're setting up their kids for serious trouble later in life. The
perception of trying to provide another excuse for behavior is not my goal.
It's all about chemistry. In the Narcotic Anonymous book, it clearly
states, "I may not be responsible for my disease, but I am responsible for
my recovery."

Steven L. Rueschenberg, Executive Director, Turning Point