October - December 2006

Our 5th Annual OkSOBERfest.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

On the Cover—Mending the broken bridges that addictions create. HFT’s 5th Annual OkSOBERfest.

Letter from the President—Dangers lurking within our homes.

Hope for Tomorrow’s Residential Programs—Safe, structured, and sober residential services for men and women .

Homelessness Initiative—Help end homelessness in Aurora. Thank you!

Gratefully Acknowledging our Contributors—Hope for Tomorrow, Inc. expresses their sincere gratitude to its supporters.

Donation Wish List—See how you can assist Hope for Tomorrow re-build broken and shattered lives.

Fourth Annual Awards Banquet & Silent Auction—Attendees enjoy an evening filled with inspiration and HOPE.

An Addiction is An Addiction—No Matter What It Looks Like—By HFT Founder & Executive/Clinical Director, Jeff Gilbert.

HFT’s 2006-2007 Board of Directors, Administration, and Staff—Who’s holding what office in 2007? Get to know our staff.

Building lives, Restoring hope & Strengthening families

Our mission is to help the chronic substance abusing, chemically dependent, and/or compulsive pathological gambler develop into

what they are capable of becoming, and to ultimately develop a life based upon truth, goodness, wholeness, justice and order, richness

and totality, and autonomy and self-sufficiency.

Hope for Tomorrow, Inc.

An annual family event aimed at “Mending the broken bridges that addictions create”.

A special expression of gratitude to Heriaud’s Catering and Moon Jump

Lisle for their continued support.

From the Founder & Executive Director’s Desk I presume it would be safe to say that the majority of us believe that the word “home” conjures thoughts of love, safety, security, happy celebrations, fun, laughter, and peace. It is a place where we can be ourselves, relax, and not worry about the worldly stressors. While I hope that this is true for everyone, you may find it interesting to learn that many of the items found in a household are being used by our adolescents to get high. All one has to do is listen to a news broadcast and you’ll hear about America’s intensifying dependence upon mind-altering behaviors and illicit substances. Children, many of them between the ages of 12-17 are experimenting with hard core dangerous

Check out our new website: www.hopefortomorrow.net

chemicals such as: heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Ecstasy, PCP, alcohol, and LSD. However, what you may not he aware of is the more covert danger present in our homes. Readily available household chemicals like airplane glue, carbon tetrachloride (used in swimming pools) halogen compounds, Scotch-guard, computer cleaner, gasoline, butane, air freshener, cooking spray, deodorant spray, aerosol whipping cream, hair spray, correction fluid, colored markers, Nyquil, Vicks Formula 44, Robitussin, and Coricidan HBP Cough & Cold tablets (which contain Dextromethorphan or DXM) are being consumed by adolescents—at an alarming rate! Unaware of the long-term residual health hazards, such as: kidney and liver damage, heart and bone disease, diminished cognitive abilities, optic nerve damage, unintended trauma, asphyxia; suffocation, and cardiac arrhythmias; coupled with the mindset of invincibility and immortality, adolescents are turning to cheaper methods of getting high.

In searching for a reason as to why adolescents are turning to such a dangerous form of thrill-seeking behaviors, it is important to discuss how we, as a society, are becoming or have become desensitized to the normality of life. From birth to death, humans are inundated with extremely high-intensity media. In the past twenty years, video games have skyrocketed our children into hardcore galaxies of gang violence, high-intensity tactical simulations, and fast and furious action adventures. In addition to high impact video games, Hollywood is continually producing action-packed, mega adrenaline-driven movies that depict “heroes” as masculine, exotic, and intense killing machines. These stereotypical roles impress upon the minds of our youth an image that is not in touch with reality. How does someone find enjoyment from the routine of normal everyday life after hours upon hours of super high-intensity adrenaline-seeking adventure? These “games” alter the pleasure-reward neurotransmitters (endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin) in our brain to the point that increased tolerance, withdrawal, and psychological dependence is established (same as any other addiction). In a quest to satisfy this thirst for more pleasure-reward activities, adolescents are turning to extremely dangerous behaviors by huffing everyday household chemicals.

Adolescence is a period where an individual develops the ability to comprehend abstract content (e.g., higher mathematic concepts and moral philosophies), question old values, and move toward a sense of identity and purpose. It is appropriate for an adolescent to begin to separate from their parents and establish individual identity. How can you tell if your child is using drugs? Certain cognitive and behavioral changes may occur. These changes include: unusual outbursts of anger, changes in sleeping patterns, changes in friends, negative changes in schoolwork (declining grades, missing school or incomplete/absent homework), increased secrecy about possessions or activities, use of incense; room deodorant; or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors, increase in borrowing money, use of secretive or coded language amongst friends, evidence of use of inhalant products such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, and other common household products, and bottles of eye drops, which may be used to mask dilated or bloodshot eyes.

If you suspect that your adolescent is using drugs/chemicals, please contact Hope for Tomorrow, Inc. to see how we can assist you and your child recover from this extremely dangerous addiction. We, as parents, serve as the “anti-drug”. It is my hope that everyone has a blessed holiday season, and may God keep your family safe throughout the new year.

“Readily available household chemcials like airplane glue, carbon tetrachloride, halogen compounds, Scotch-guard,

computer cleaner, gasoline, butane, air freshener, cooking spray, deodorant spray aerosol whipping cream … are being consumed by adolescents—at an alarming rate”!

Check out our new website: www.hopefortomorrow.net

Hope for Tomorrow, Inc.

“Building lives around recovery instead of building recovery around lives”®

OFFERING BOTH DASA LICENSED & FAITH-BASED SERVICES

SAFE, STRUCTURED, SUPPORTIVE, SUBSTANCE-FREE RESIDENCES FOR ADULT MEN & WOMEN RECOVERING FROM THE DISEASES OF SUBSTANCE

ABUSE, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY AND/OR PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLING.

TWO DASA LICENSED RECOVERY HOMES

FAITH-BASED (Christian) RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INTAKE PROCESS, CONTACT OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT (630) 966-9000 or visit our web site.

Professional clinical services are licensed by the Illinois Department of Human Services,

Division of Alcohol & Substance Abuse (DASA).

• Safe, Structured, Sober Residential Living (16 beds) • Level I Adult Alcohol & Drug Treatment • Level I Adolescent Alcohol & Drug Treatment • Level II Adult Alcohol & Drug Treatment • Level II Adolescent Alcohol & Drug Treatment • DUI Evaluation / DUI Remedial Education • Early Intervention Treatment

In addition, we provide: • Faith-Based, Structured Residential Living (21 beds) • Certified Pathological Gambling Treatment • Freedom from Smoking Classes® • Relapse Prevention • Family Support / Reunification • Introduction into 12-Step Programs • Case Management, focusing on employment, education, daily living skills, and financial management. • Assistance with medical, dental, and mental health treatment, under the supervision of a Medical Director.

IF QUALIFIED, PROMPT RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT MAY BE POSSIBLE.

OFFERING

LONG-TERM

SUPPORTIVE

SOBER

RESIDENTIAL

SERVICES

Level I & Level II (IOP) Adolescent & Adult

DASA Licensed Outpatient Services, along w/

DUI Evaluations & Early Intervention S i

Hope for Tomorrow, Inc. Would Like To Gratefully Acknowledge The Following Contributors

Dr. William and Mrs. Sheryl Gossman Mr. & Mrs. Robert French Aspen Financial Services Mr. Jeffrey Weseman Ms. Barbara Pancake Mr. & Mrs. Donald Sandstedt Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Lundeen True Blue Painting & Decorating Mrs. Arthur Duetsch Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Gilbert Mr. & Mrs. Steve French Jimmy Johns, Naperville/Aurora Mr. & Mrs. Robert DePauw Hollywood Casino Pheasant Run Resort & Spa Drury Lane Walter Payton’s Roundhouse Complex Advanced Biomedical Research, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Michael Willett Mr. & Mrs. Carl Jordan The Growing Place, Naperville Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fiore Ms. Teala LeBlanc

Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Craig Mr. & Mrs. Bruce White Colonial Café, Aurora Thomas Russell Foundation Fox Valley United Way The Chicago Bulls Chicago White Sox Mr. Frank Aldridge, Sr. Mr. Michael Goodman Ms. Joan Goodman Ms. Barbara Crockett Ms. Annette Ward Ms. Dee Crest Mr. & Mrs. David Emery Mr. Thomas Killion Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Murphy Paramount Theater, Aurora The Chicago Cubs Chicago Bandits Meson Sabika The Smith/Wilson Family Mr. Gary Sabol Mr. & Mrs. Ken Love

KSL, Inc. Ms. Marilyn Palifka Ms. Maria Jamell Willowbrook Bowl The Gaslite Manor Heriaud’s Catering Gene Heriaud Joe Heriaud Ginger Creek Community Church Fox Valley United Way Moon Jump, Lisle Rental Max, Aurora Allied Concrete Repair, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. George Matson Christ Community Church Mr. Donald Phelps Mr. Todd Day Mr. Geoff Matson Mr. Steve Smethurst Mr. Rudy Meza Mr. Jim Urbanowski Mr. Kirk Klapperich Mr. Maurice Bufkin

Hope for Tomorrow, Inc., in collaboration with the City of Aurora; Fox Valley United Way; Carpenter’s Place Aurora; Hesed House/PADS, and a host of other not-for-profit agencies, is involved in an initiative to reduce homelessness in our area. Homelessness is not always a matter of choice. In fact, there are many systematic barriers to individuals and families finding, securing and holding onto appropriate housing. Listed below are some reasons why people become homeless. PLEASE JOIN US BY SENDING IN A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO HOPE FOR TOMORROW—MARK ON YOUR CHECK “HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVE”.

• Unemployed or Underemployed (nearly half of all Illinois residents earn less than $25,000 per year). • Domestic Violence (ninety-two percent of homeless women have experienced severe physical or sexual assault at some

point in their lives). • Divorce (Before the 1980’s, the majority of the homeless population were men. However, the fastest growing

population among the homeless is the single mother with 2-3 children). • Substance Abuse and Mental Illness (substance abuse accounts for an estimated 30% of the homeless population.

More than ½ of the adults with a co-occurring serious mental illness/substance use disorder received neither specialty treatment nor mental health treatment during the past year).

• Natural Disaster (Most recently, Hurricane Katrina left tens of thousands of people homeless and without food, toiletries, or medical attention).

• Death of a Loved One (The death of a loved one can devastate a family in many ways). • Lack of Affordable Housing (Forty-six percent of the jobs with the most growth rate between 1994 and 2005 pay less

than $16,000; these jobs will NOT move families out of poverty). • Release from Prison or Jail (The Illinois Department of Corrections is releasing record numbers of ex- offenders each day. Many of these individuals lack safe, structured, and supportive housing). Send in a tax-deductible contribution today!

Help Us Put an End to Homelessness

God hath given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time

eternity depends. Jeremy Taylor

DONATION WISH LIST

• Twin Sheets & Pillowcases • Bath Towels • Pace Bus Passes • Metra Train Passes • Pharmacy Gift Certificates • Yard/Garden Tools • Cargo Van or Pick-up Truck • Spiritual Books / AA Books • House Plants • Dental Assistance • Men’s & Women’s Bicycles

Contact our office at (630) 966-9000 to make delivery arrangements or you

may mail your contribution to:

44 ½ West Downer Place, Suite 39 Aurora, Illinois 60506

Hope for Tomorrow’s 2006 Annual Awards Banquet & Silent Auction

HFT would like to gratefully acknowledge all the banquet attendees, contributors and sponsors, speakers, family members, and friends that helped to make our 2006 Awards Banquet &

Silent Auction successful. With your help, we raised over $6,950.00 toward our life-changing mission of “Building lives, Restoring hope, and Strengthening families”. Thank you!

VIEW VIDEOTAPED CLIENT TESTIMINALS BY VISTING OUR WEB SITE:

www.hopefortomorrow.net/testimon.html (Authorization to post testimonials on web site was obtained from individuals)

Next years banquet is scheduled for September 15, 2007 Call (630) 966-9000, and reserve your table early.

Individuals pictured are attendees, HFT board members, community leaders, family, and friends.

When we broaden our vision on cross-addiction, it is imperative that we discuss the similarities and differences among the various forms of addiction. Too often, I hear clients report that they are “alcoholics or drug addicts” but they fail to acknowledge any other forms of compulsive behavioral disorders. When asked, “do you have a gambling problem or are you addicted to sex, lust, adrenaline, and relationships?”, the vast majority fail to recognize that addiction is addiction—no matter what is looks like!

First, let’s define what an addiction is: An addiction is a cognitive; behavioral; spiritual disease that manifests itself in the afflicted individuals life in a variety of ways. Three definable and observable characteristics of addiction are: loss of control, increased tolerance, and continued use despite adverse consequences (DSM-IV TR, 2000). When someone starts to lose control over their maladaptive behaviors, their ability to set established limits on that behavior is diminished or becomes non-existent. Once they engage in the behavior, an obsessive-compulsive physiological cognitive process begins and their upper level cognitive processes (mainly the ability to think rationally) are “short-circuited” to the point that they obsess about the continuing use of that behavior. For example, an alcoholic may say, “I am only going to have 2 beers or I’ll leave the bar at 8:00 p.m.”, and find themselves still at the bar at 11:00 p.m., having consumed 12 beers. In another example, a pathological compulsive gambler walks into a casino thinking they are only going to bet $25, and finds themselves there hours later, having gambled $250 or more. Definable and observable characteristics of loss of control can be seen in all forms of addiction (e.g., alcohol, illicit and prescription substances, sex, nicotine, food, pornography, rage, relationships, spending, self-mutilation, internet …). Increased tolerance is the brains’ need for more of the substance or behavior to achieve the desired effect. In alcohol, for example, where someone would begin to feel the intoxicating effects of alcohol after consuming two beers, now they require four or more beers to begin feeling the effects. In compulsive pathological gambling, where someone could feel energized and satisfied from gambling with $20, now it takes $100 to achieve the same desired effect. Increased tolerance can also be observed in all forms of addiction. Continued use despite adverse consequences is the compulsion to continue acting in a behavioral manner—despite the fact that it is causing you harm and you recognize it is causing you harm but you continue to act in that manner anyway. Here is the insanity of this behavior; let’s say I am a carpenter. While building a house, I accidentally nail my thumb to a board. Rightfully, realizing how much that hurt, and not desiring that to re-occur, I would be a lot more careful in the future. However, if I continued to act in a manner that placed me at risk of repeating that behavior, it’s fair to say that my behavior would be considered dysfunctional. Continued use despite adverse consequences can be defined and observed in all types of addictions.

Having said all this, I would like to point out that in order for someone to fully recover from an addiction, they must stop engaging in ALL forms of addictive behaviors. That means, an alcoholic jeopardizes their recovery when they smoke marijuana or ingest other drugs; a drug addicted person is likely to relapse when they consume alcohol; an alcoholic/addict is likely to return to their drug(s) of choice when they hang around a casino; a compulsive pathological gambler is likely to relapse when they use psychoactive substances; and a sex addict is far more likely to engage in sexual behaviors under the influence of mood-altering substances. Why? All addictions originate and are centered in the primitive part of our brain; more specifically, the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area (VTA)—or the pleasure-reward center. When psychoactive substances or mood-altering behaviors are introduced to this area of the brain, the foundation of addiction is formed. When a behavior is continually reinforced with a sensation of pleasure or reward, the brain becomes conditioned to the response (pleasure) from the outside stimuli (stress, boredom, loneliness, fear, anger, money ...). So, you’re an alcoholic or an addict and you don’t think you have a gambling problem, right? Wrong! Your thoughts and behaviors are exactly the same as a compulsive pathological gambler. Look at the following scenarios: It’s early in the evening, and you’ve had a hard day at work. Instead of going home after work, you decide to stop at the corner bar for a few beers before calling it a night. You have diabetes and doctors have warned you against consuming alcohol. By 8:00 p.m. you’ve downed 5-6 beers and a couple of shots with the boys. You’re feeling a bit tipsy but “okay to drive”. You get into your car and drop the keys on the floor. Scrambling to find them, you hit your head on the steering wheel. Picking up the keys, you slide them into the ignition, start the car, and drive away toward home. Are you gambling? Yes, everyone knows that the DUI laws are extremely strict and you’re gambling with your life, someone else’s life, your freedom, and hundreds, if not thousands, of

Addiction is addiction—No matter what it looks like!

By Jeff Gilbert, B.A., C.A.D.C., P.C.G.C., MISA 1

dollars in attorney/driving reinstatement fees. You’re rolling the dice that you won’t get caught. In a second scenario, you’re an addict, and you decide you need a fix. After gathering your drug paraphernalia, you head toward the city to score heroin. The anticipation of getting high makes your mind begin to race. As you approach the city limits, your stomach knots; your heart palpitates; your palms begin to sweat; your respiration shallows, and you feel nauseated. Police are all around. Fears of incarceration only serve to increase the adrenaline that is rushing through your veins, and fear of being mugged or ripped off heighten the flight or fight sensation. Once you “score” you need to escape without getting caught possessing a controlled substance. Finally, after making it out safely from the area, you commence the ritualistic process of scrapping, preparing, straining, and drawing the heroin into the hypodermic needle—ready to inject the drug into your veins. Are you gambling? You “bet” you are! And, the stakes are extremely high! Life versus death; health versus disease; freedom versus incarceration; family/friends versus loneliness and despair; emotional pain/discomfort versus emotional escape. In addition, compulsive pathological gamblers experience the same physiological characteristics as drug addicts while engaged in gambling or in preparation to gamble (heart palpitations, increased respiration, hypertension, sweating palms, indigestion). The DSM-IV TR diagnostic criterion for Pathological Gambling (diagnostically coded 312.31) states the “the essential feature of Pathological Gambling is persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior that disrupts personal, family, or vocational pursuits the individual may be preoccupied with gambling (e.g,. reliving past gambling experiences, planning the next gambling venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble”). The diagnostic criterion for the pathological gambler are identical to the criterion describing someone who is alcohol or substance dependent; sexual dependent relationship dependent; food dependent; shopping dependent; self-injurious dependent, etc… All dependencies have the tendency to disrupt an individuals personal, family, or vocational pursuits, and all include cognitive or behavioral preoccupation.

In order to achieve long-term abstinence from any maladaptive behavior, the addicted individual must “build their life around their recovery instead of building their recovery around their life”®, remain cognizant of all dysfunctional cognitions and behaviors that may—even remotely—jeopardize their program of recovery, and implement a comprehensive plan of action to avoid possible pitfalls. Remembering that ALL addictions originate in the pleasure-reward center of the brain (the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area), the brain understands a euphoric reward as a reward, and it does not differentiate the origin of the reward. Over time, with repetitious use or repetitious behaviors, the brain becomes conditioned to expect the reward when exposed to a stimuli (operant conditioning). That expectation creates a craving, and the craving triggers a response. Therefore, “addicted to one, addicted to all” is a slogan that individuals in recovery need to remain forever mindful of. Table below shows cognitive-behavioral-psychological relational similarities between different types of addictions.

ALCOHOL OR

OTC MEDS. WITH ALCOHOL

ILLICIT OR PRESCRIPTION

DRUGS

PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLING

SEXUAL ADDICTIONS

OTHER ADDICTIVE DISORDERS

LOSS OF CONTROL X X X X X

INCREASED TOLERANCE X X X X X

CONT. USE DESPITE NEG.

CONSEQ. X X X X X

COGNITIVE PREOCCUPATION X X X X X

EUPHORIC RECALL ORIGINATES IN THE PLEASURE-REWARD CENTER OF BRAIN

X X X X X

LEADS TO THE DEMORALIZATION X X X X X

DEGENERATIVE IN NATURE X X X X X

LEADS TO OTHER ADDICTIVE

THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS

X X X X X

HOPE FOR TOMORROW, INC. Building lives & Restoring hope

44 1/2 West Downer Place, Suite 39

Aurora, IL 60506

Professional Clinical Services

Level I Adolescent Alcohol & Drug Treatment

Level I Adult Alcohol & Drug Treatment

Level II Adolescent Alcohol & Drug Treatment

Level II Adult Alcohol & Drug Treatment

DUI Evaluations

Remedial Education

Licensed Recovery Homes (16 Beds)

Structured Faith-Based Supportive Housing

(Alcohol & Drug-Free / 21 beds)

Certified Pathological Gambling Counseling

Freedom From Smoking ® Counseling

(Through the American Lung Association)

Medication Management

Case Management

Phone: 630-966-9000 Toll Free : 866-301-HOPE

Fax: 630-966-9002 Website: www.hopefortomorrow.net E-mail: Jjhope4tomorrow@cs.com

Hope for Tomorrow, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Our mission is to

help the chronic substance abusing, chemically dependent individual fulfill their needs to grow, to develop into what they are

capable of becoming and to ultimately develop a life based upon truth, goodness, wholeness, justice and order, richness and

totality, and self-sufficiency and autonomy.

We provide professional clinical services to individuals regardless of race, ethnicity,

creed, sex, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or financial ability to pay.

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. Postage

PAID

PERMIT NO. 436

AURORA, IL

Licensed through the Illinois

Department of Human Services,

Division of Alcohol & Substance

Abuse (DASA).

Member of the Illinois

Association of Extended Care (IAEC)

2007 Board of Directors

Chairman Carolyn Duetsch

Treasurer Luke Marquardt

Secretary Barbara Pancake

Directors Jeff Gilbert, BA, CADC.PCGC,MISA I

Janet Gilbert

Rob Castillo, MSW, LCSW, CADC, MISA II

Dr. Terrilee Dalton, Ph.D., LCSW, CADC

State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Steve DePauw

Thomas Killion

Robert Niemann A complete board listing, inc. committee members, is listed on our web site.

Administration & Staff

Founder & Executive/Clinical Director Jeff Gilbert

Co-Founder & Administrative Assistant Janet Gilbert

Assistant to Executive/Clinical Director Luke Marquardt

Medical Director Dr. William Gossman, M.D.

Hartford I House Manager Don P.

Hartford II House Manager Jim C.

Elmwood House Manager John B.

Orchard House Manager John B.

Downer House Manager TBA

Volunteers /Office Help Annette, W., Minnie S.,

Barbara C., Lynne D., & Barbara B.