Recovering Teen Addict Helps Others Find Recovery

Kimberly Schliekelman started with alcohol and marijuana, graduated to cocaine and crystal meth, overdosed twice, became a heroin addict, then got clean after seeking help through a drug treatment center.

All before age 18.

The Simi Valley resident hopes her harrowing journey to sobriety can serve as an example and give hope to other young people struggling with heroin addiction.

"It's just a matter of kids being willing to listen," Kimberly said recently while sitting in her family's home. "Because I know what it's like to be stuck in heroin addiction. Nothing gets through."

"If kids have that chance to actually withdraw, you get that moment of clarity. That's kind of what happened to me."

Kimberly has been clean for more than a year.

Last month, she addressed a packed community meeting in Simi Valley, recounting her descent into addiction and eventual recovery.  The response was outstanding.

Kimberly's counselor Stacey Haughawout said, "She can touch the youth community because of her age and her maturity and how much she's grown.  She's matured into just a really amazing young lady."

Kimberly has one life goal above all others: stay clean.

"At this point, I just want to become a functioning member of society," she said. "I just don't want to be part of the problem anymore."

Teens Succeed at Treatment Centers with Comprehensive Mental Health Services

A new study found that teenagers who receive substance abuse treatment at facilities with comprehensive mental health have a better success rate, one year later, than those treated at facilities with fewer such services, or none at all.  

Researchers at the RAND Corporation studied teenagers at three types of substance abuse treatment facilities. One group of 932 teens attended a site that had a psychiatrist and/or licensed social worker or psychologist on staff, and was able to offer comprehensive psychiatric services. A second group of 1,375 teens attended a site that could treat psychiatric conditions except for severe/persistent mental illness, and a third group of 1,210 teens attended a facility that could not treat psychiatric conditions.
 

After one year, teens who attended facilities that could treat all psychiatric conditions had lower average levels of substance use problems and substance use frequency compared with the other two groups. 
 

Why is this the case?  A government report released earlier this year found that depression and substance abuse often go hand in hand.  The found that teenagers who experienced a major depressive episode in the past year had about twice the rate of illicit drug use compared with teens who had not experienced depression—37.2 percent versus 17.8 percent.
 

The Rand study, according to many in the treatment community, is a great aid for families seeking help for teens with substance abuse issues. 

Contest: Calling All Young Musicians

The GRAMMY Foundation, Partnership at DrugFree.org and MusiCares are looking for young musicians (ages 14-18) to write an original song or create a music video that promotes and celebrates a healthy lifestyle and appropriately depicts a story about drug abuse. Songs should raise awareness about addiction and recovery. 

The first, second and third place winners will each receive:

• A trip to Los Angeles to attend the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards Backstage Experience, a unique backstage tour taking place as artists rehearse live for the GRAMMY awards;
• Placement and exposure of their musical entries on the GRAMMY365 website, MTV Act Blog, and the Above the Influence campaign website;
• An iPad, equipped with the GarageBand app;
• The opportunity to release a record with Iron Ridge Road Recordings, courtesy of Clarity Way of Hanover, PA; and
• A certificate from the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares in acknowledgment of each winner’s activism in disseminating of health information on substance abuse.

To get in on the fun visit the GRAMMY Foundation, Partnership at DrugFree.org or MusiCares now!

Thank you for visiting Paradigm Malibu, home to the most innovative Teen Drug Treatment available today.  We are leaders in the provision of treatment for mental health, chemical dependency and co-occurring disorders among adolescents.  We look forward to being of service to you in the future.