In working with adolescents through the years, I have learned that Halloween is a very difficult time for them to be or remain clean/sober. It is as troublesome for many as Christmas or New Years (or even more so).  It appears that this Holiday can be equated with having fun and acting different because that’s how it has evolved over the years.

Adolescence is a time of struggling with who you are and where you fit in. Teens are no longer children--but not yet adults--just trick or treating for candy is no longer the thing to do. Some teens may get the message from friends, "What better way to have fun than to take *Fry? (or other psychedelic drugs, or any other kind of drug) This will make Halloween a "trip" to remember! Man, it’s different than little kid stuff and it’s different than adult stuff, hey! Maybe this is where we fit, it’s just teen stuff, it's who we are, and what we do. . ." And don’t forget the idea that we must party today because tomorrow may never come, often thought of by teens as "there will never be another chance like this one".    *(AKA: Acid, LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide)

This is a glimpse of how it is for some of our kids in the real world today.  If you know an adolescent who is trying to stay clean and/or sober, pass this on to them:

2.   Get permission from your parents (or a friend's) and design a haunted house for younger kids to walk through. Enjoy watching them experience it. You'll feel good by providing a good, fun, safe time for them.

3.   Go to the movies and do a marathon movie night.

4.   Call Resource Alliance (408 292-7292) the week before Halloween. They can let you know about the    clean/sober parties and other activities going on in the Bay Area.

5.   Rent a whole bunch of videos and have a movie marathon at home with friends, making sure that parents are agreeable, and that you work out the rules for the evening, with them, in advance.

6.   Go to an AA/NA, or any other 12 step meeting with friends, then out for coffee.

7.   This may be a time to go to a variety of meetings to check out different ones--to attend a type of meeting you've never attended before.  So, put on a costume and do a 12-step marathon evening with friends.

8.   Have a clean/sober costume party with friends--again, make sure you cover the bases with parents.

I hope you get the idea that no matter what you do, you must find friends or relatives who are serious about sobriety or are at least supportive and respectful enough around you to remain sober and supportive throughout this night.  If you are a loner, you can read or write in your room, if that works for you.  Use your imagination!   Use it in a way that will help you get through the evening, have fun and not use drugs/alcohol.

You know you have a good imagination…remember all of the whoppers you made up to hide your use and abuse of drugs from your parents? This was before you became honest and came out of the closet with your harmful and troublesome drug and/or alcohol use, abuse, or dependency.  It doesn’t matter if the word got out through your honesty or because of consequences involving others or the law.   What does matter is that you decide to take care of yourself in healthy honest ways. This definitely includes clean/sober FUN! ! !

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© 1999 Linda Burrough, LMFT

Linda has extensive experience with teens and families in the areas of parenting, substance abuse and sobriety issues.  Call her at 408.814.8530, or e-mail by clicking the mailbox link:

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