How does one of four brothers, raised in the same home by loving and supportive parents, end up addicted to drugs for more than a decade while his siblings followed a path to a healthy lifestyle? Hill places a great deal of emphasis on “prevention through protection” and pinpoints potential threats and warning signs for families.
Like other parents of youth addicts, Hill's parents experienced isolation, as well as emotional and financial hardship. Members of their community, friends, and family labeled their son with stigmas. After he hit rock bottom and entered his final treatment program, Hill began to put his life back together. Education, health, wellness and helping others became the top priorities in his life.
After completing his first year of sobriety, Hill was offered a full-time position to work at the same treatment program he went through. He returned to college and earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. In May 2018, he published his memoir “A Journey to Recovery” which became a No. 1 new release in drug dependency on Amazon.
Following Hill’s remarks, addiction psychologist Aaron Weiner and clinical psychologist Doug Bolton continued this important conversation, giving us a better understanding of how to prevent and treat a substance use disorder.
For a video of the panel discussion and Q&A session from this event, click HERE
Take-away
Jordan Esser, Community Initiatives Coordinator, DuPage County Health Department and Project Coordinator, DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team (PLT)
"As the Project Coordinator of the DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team (PLT), I focus primarily on substance use prevention and mental wellness for youth throughout DuPage. For that reason, the PLT is a proud sponsor and partner of the Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) and was happy to partner on the program on April 19th, Stephen Hill-A First Choice and a Second Chance. Stephen shared his truly compelling story about a young man who had an involved, supportive family, was a talented student athlete and good student but who went down a path that started with alcohol and marijuana use and high school and quickly escalated to an opioid addiction. His story is an example of how addiction can happen to anyone and can happen quickly. My main takeaway from this program is the importance of early prevention and talking with your kids about healthy choices, early and often. Although it may not always feel like it, research shows that over 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to use alcohol and drugs. Our kids really do care what we think! That is why it is so important to have clear expectations about youth drug use and make those expectations known to your kids. Share facts with them about the health risks associated with alcohol and drug use during adolescent when their brains and bodies are still growing and the legal risks of underage drug use."
For more tips on how to have these important conversations with your teen, visit the DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team website at www.dupageplt.org.
Resources
GPS Take 5 Preview of this event
Stephen Hill, Speak Sobriety web site
Web site for Dr. Doug Bolton, Formative Psychological Services
