What do you think about Darvocet pain killers being pulled from the market?

Good-bye Darvocet

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What do you think about Darvocet painkillers being pulled from the U.S. MARKET?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it is pulling off the U.S. market the prescription painkillers Darvon and Darvocet because of new scientific evidence they can damage the heart, even at recommended doses, or cause fatal cardiac abnormalities.

Crack was my drug of choice. If I had an extra $10.00 in my pocket it was to be spent on crack and crack only. Darvocet however was something I would ingest whenever I found it in someone else’s medicine cabinet.

Yes, people really do scavenge through other people’s medicine cabinets. If you haven’t stored your prescription pills in an alternative place, you should because someone is going to rummage through your medicine cabinet!

I knew there was something wrong with this drug. Once I had taken a handful in someone’s bathroom and the next thing I knew I woke up with my head in a wall. Not because I had taken a handful at once but because something about Darvocet made my heart skip a beat. Literally! Yes my head was actually stuck in someone’s bathroom wall. Trying to explain that was almost next to impossible! The point is it most certainly affected me in the negative way that the FDA now claims that it can.

So my question is: Do you suffer from pain and are being prescribed Darvocet? And if so, do you think you have become addicted to them? What are you going to do now in light of the recent FDA decision? Switch to something else or are you ready to give up pain killers all together?

Got a question for me? Enter your email on the right side of this page.

Super Star

About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.

Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.

I am also an author and musician. I am currently finishing my work on the book, “The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Essential Guide to Staying Sober,” which can be pre-ordered here. I have also just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. “Serenity,” was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here

Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com

Killer in a can gets sentenced

Killer in a can gets crunched... A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about the harmful effects of a drink called Four Loko. A deadly cocktail that many refer to as “Blackout in a can.” I reached out to Phusion Projects for some responsible answers as to why they would release and market such a potent cocktail to our nation’s youth. I of course was blatantly ignored.

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Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told the manufacturers of seven caffeinated alcoholic beverages like Phusion Projects that their drinks are a “public health concern” and can’t stay on the market in their current form.

I liked hearing this. In fact, I was up and pinned to the radio awaiting the FDA’s verdict this afternoon. As soon as I heard it I practically jumped up and down with excitement. Yes, I am that guy. I do care about the lives of others.

The move follows a year-long review by the FDA, which gave the companies 15 days to either reformulate their products or face possible seizure under federal law, said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the agency’s principal deputy commissioner. Experts have said the caffeine used in the beverages can mask the effects of alcohol, leaving drinkers unaware of how intoxicated they are. For me, lines of cocaine did the same thing. It completely obliterated my sense as to how much alcohol I had consumed. Caffeine, cocaine, same thing in my eyes. Mixing either of them with alcohol; I can’t ever recall not waking up a morning after one of these nights without some crazy consequence to have to deal with.

Phusion Projects has a right to do business and make a fortune but no right to put anyone’s life in jeopardy. I am happy the FDA made this swift move and curious to see what Phusion Projects will do next. They need to do more than take the caffeine, guarana, and taurine out their drinks. They need to step up and use this lesson as one that can serve as a lesson to us all. It would have to come from a much higher level of thought than they might be used to but if done right, it’s a thought that can lead them into a much more powerful position than the one they just were taken from.

Adults and teens will be watching to see if this company can become a responsible one or one that will continue to hurt others for the sake of profit. I know I’ll be watching!

-Super Star

Got a question for me? Enter your email on the right side of this page.

About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.

Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.

I am also an author and musician. I am currently finishing my work on the book, “The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Essential Guide to Staying Sober,” which can be pre-ordered here. I have also just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. “Serenity,” was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here

Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com

An open letter to my addiction

An open letter to my addiction

I know my addiction wants me dead. That’s what my addiction whispers to me every day. “I want you dead Super Star. I want to put you so far under so I can have another glorious death under my belt. “

Hate’s a strong word but I can comfortably say that I HATE my addiction. I HATE IT!

I am supposed to be working on my book tonight but can’t. I just cannot seem to break free from my thoughts of disgust for my disease of addiction. Just the utter thought of knowing I have it makes me cringe. I know it wants me dead. It doesn’t want me to see life beyond it.

So I am writing it a letter. I have to let it know how I am feeling at this very moment.

Dear Addiction,

I know you hate me. I know you want me to fail at everything I have to offer in life. Fail at everything I try and do. Create havoc everywhere I go. To stop loving and to start hating everyone in my life. But I cannot let this relationship continue. You’re selfish and it’s been completely all about you from day 1.

You must understand my perspective. I love life. I enjoy happiness. I enjoy knowing who I am and have finally become comfortable in my own skin. To look in the mirror and see all my beauty is a gift. Why would you want to take this from me? I don’t think I’ll ever understand.

Truth be known I’ve been disappointed in you for quite some time. What started out as fun ended up becoming a nightmare. I believed you when you told me that you would take care of me. I didn’t believe anyone that told me otherwise. Now I know all of your promise of ecstasy was an outright lie.

You are a murderer. A whirlwind of doom that wants me dead. I can see this now. How could I have been so naive to think otherwise. UGH!

I know you will be stalking me. Watching every move I make for the rest of my life but I won’t be paying you any more attention. So beat it!

So this is our good-bye. I am sorry but it has to be this way.

I will not accept anymore of your advances or calls. You are pathetic and this whole relationship between us was a waste. It was all about you all the time. Well not anymore. It’s become about me now, my family, my friends. You are now a thing of my past.

-Super Star

P.S You were never good anyway

I recall while in rehab, the counselors would tell me to write about my addiction. They said it would help me deal with understanding why I had it in the first place and develop the strength to eventually overcome it. I fought this for a long time. I didn’t want to write. Well turns out the counselors were right. It has helped me tremendously and I promise you that it will help you also. Try it out!

As for my addiction, I’ll hear from it again but I will never respond. That’s my promise to myself. I have better things to do now with my life, like finish this book!

Got a question for me? Enter your email on the right side of this page.

About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.

Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.

I am also an author and musician. I am currently finishing my work on the book, “The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober,” which can be pre-ordered here. I have also just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. “Serenity,” was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here

Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com

When love becomes your drug of choice

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Articles below! Want updates? Enter your email on the right side of this page

Relationships can be harmful to your health.

I have to admit, there was a time when I used others to make me feel better about myself. I was consumed with someone else’s happiness and this distracted me from my own life. This is called “codependency.” At the time I didn’t see how unhealthy it was but now I understand just how negative it was. To those watching from the outside, seeing someone so caught up in another’s life, looking for happiness where happiness doesn’t exist, is for lack of a better word, problematic. Do you know anyone like this?

That used to be me. I was that guy! I was extremely codependent! It wasn’t until I was faced with some very difficult challenges that I finally realized that happiness can only come from within. Thanks to these experiences I have been able to shed those truly unattractive behaviors and break free from codependency.

Wikipedia defines Codependency or codependence as a tendency to behave in overly passive or excessively caretaking ways that negatively impact one’s relationships and quality of life. It also often involves putting one’s needs at a lower priority than others while being excessively preoccupied with the needs of others. ^[1] Codependency can occur in any type of relationship … with family, co-workers, friendships, and also in romantic, peer or community relationships.

I dislike the word codependence. It was a word I heard often while growing up. It never sounded like it was a good thing and I didn’t realize how damaging it was until I finally understood what it meant to be codependent. It’s just an ugly word.

My codependent behavior would rear its ugly head at the beginning of almost every relationship I have ever had. Very soon into the relationship I’d shower her with gifts and massages. I’d then skip work to just have 5 extra minutes with her during lunch break, oh and while at lunch, I’d spend my last $10.00 treating her even though I hadn’t eaten all day. After 3 days into our dating I’d already consider her my other half and smother her with text messages, hundreds of them, all sent while I was driving, putting other lives in complete danger, all because I couldn’t wait a few extra minutes to see what her reply would be. I couldn’t sleep. I wouldn’t work. I’d just be too busy waiting for that next email. Ack! My skin crawls when I think I used to be this way.

This was all normal to me though. I was unhappy with myself and I thought if I made someone else happy then I’d be happy. That’s codependence at its simplest definition. The act of believing you are making yourself happy while making it appear you only care about making those around you happy. Make sense? Took me a while to grasp it but when I did, I didn’t want anything more to do with it. It’s just completely backwards.

In a way this behavior is like the behavior of an addict abusing drugs. I used drugs to mask my feelings. I used them to escape my world and enter into another one. That’s the exact same reason why people engage in codependent behaviors. Codependent people are in hiding. They would rather find comfort in running to “rescue” someone else than face themselves in the mirror. The problem with this is everything. It’s a destructive way to live. Imagine having to start a new relationship every few years because the one that you had spent so much toxic time in ended. Imagine never finding true love because you never took the time to find yourself. Yuck, I’ve been there and I don’t want to ever go back.

Finding sobriety was my turning point. This is what allowed me to see my life without the “gooey goo gaga girlfriend goggles”. Sobriety is where I finally understood how loving myself first, depending on no one else for my happiness, was what was healthy and true.

I sure am one of the happiest now because I’ve learned to put myself first! Hope this helps someone somewhere!

Got a question for me? Enter your email on the right side of this page.

About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.

Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.

I am also an author and musician. I am currently finishing my work on the book, “The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober,” which can be pre-ordered here. I have also just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. “Serenity,” was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here

Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com

How do kids today view themselves?

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This week I had the pleasure of Skyping with a high school health class on the East Coast. As usual, the kids were extraordinary and asked some amazing questions! I am always surprised with how much thought kids put into the questions they ask. It makes me wonder where they are coming from with their questions. Do they want to know more about my story and message? Are they curious because they might have a concern with themselves or someone they know? Or, are they just completing a homework assignment?

There are always a wide range of questions from “Why did you start doing drugs?” to “What made you stop using drugs?” to “Why did you and your brother change your names?” These are all good questions. I appreciate that today in my life I don’t shy away from questions but answer them with complete honesty. This is so much better than when I was in active addiction and I avoided these types of questions.

This week, one question stuck out in my mind that I haven’t been able to shake so I decided to blog about it!

One of the students asked “Were you popular in school?”

I replied, “Nope neither my brother nor I were popular in high school.”

And then I got to thinking as I looked at the students on the computer screen. I wonder how they see themselves? Is popularity important to them? Do they sell out to fit in? Do they have a lower self-image because they don’t believe they are somebody? Do they think that being in the ‘in-crowd’ means that they ARE somebody … that they are only important if they are seen as popular?”

Wow! This reminds me of my own teenage years and how I believed some of those things. How I didn’t feel that I was good enough back then and the price it cost me. Now I see a whole different picture!

The definition on www.dictionary.com of Popular – regarded with favor, approval, or affection by people in general. Do we really want to send the message to kids that they need to seek approval or affection by others? In a way this is similar to someone using drugs to feel better. If someone finds value in being popular then they might just not feel good enough about themselves … always feeling they have to strive to be the best, to excel to be somebody — then comes the insertion of having to mask those feelings with drugs.

I’ve learned that acceptance starts with me ….

Often popular kids use their popularity to intimidate. That’s why I believe popularity is also a form of bullying. I know I felt this growing up. Just the energy that those popular kids had was enough for me to feel less than adequate and at times shameful to even be me.

I think it’s great when kids can be themselves even if others might perceive them as “different.” This is what builds character and strengthens a person’s ability to succeed in the world. Being popular doesn’t offer this. Also, what almost all kids don’t understand is that the popularity contest at school ends the moment you are handed your diploma. Once that piece of paper is in your hands, the phone calls from those you thought were your “friends” stop. It happens to everyone.

My advice? Stop worrying about what others think of you. Love yourself first. This will put you in a position to have things that you cannot even comprehend at the moment. A life full of love, happiness, success, and rewards are right around the corner for you.

Got a question for me? Enter your email on the right side of this page.

About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.

Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.

I am also an author and musician. I am currently finishing my work on the book, “The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober,” which can be pre-ordered here. I have also just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. “Serenity,” was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here

Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com

Four Loko is killing our kids!

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Newsflash: Four Loko (Phusion Projects) doesn’t care about you!

Did you know that drinking a whole can of Four Loko is the equivalent of having almost 5 shots or 5 beers? Yup, Four Loko’s contain 12 percent of alcohol in each can, equal to four beers. That’s pretty steep.

What does this all mean? It means that this drink can potentially kill you!

To a lot of people that like to drink, this may sound like music to ones ears, but for others, it may mean a trip to the ER and the possibility of death.

I am appalled by Four Loko’s parent company, Phusion Projects. Their blatant disregard is obvious, it stems from nothing more than greed. They are preying upon people, especially teens, who want a buzz strong enough to knock them out cold. Literally! I wonder if Phusion Projects ever stops to think about the underlying reasons why so many kids are reaching for their beverage.

I have proof of my own that Phusion Projects doesn’t care about its consumers. I have spent all week trying to get a hold of someone that might want to help me shed some light as to why this company feels it’s ok to feed this rubbish to our kids, and all my phone calls and emails have been ignored. You would think that a company like this would go above and beyond trying to promote responsibility on things other than its website. Which by the way, is only there to entice the reader into purchasing its supposedly sweet concoction of alcohol, sugar and caffeine. I wasn’t at all fooled by their attempt to cover up their true marketing initiative by some lame graphics and trivial questions so neither should you. This drink needs to be banned!

Caffeine only adds to the false impression of invincibility that alcohol creates and I have no doubt it’s been leading to some very unfortunate circumstances for the younger demographic that its marketing itself to.

“My friend drank two cans and I drank one and a half,” one student tells The Hurricane. “That half was the difference between life and death.”

Life and death! Do you hear that kids? This is serious. Don’t drink it!

It’s been referred to as a “blackout in a can” and for some kids the results are far worse.

Four Loko masks the taste of alcohol with heavy amounts of sweets and carbonation. This to me is proof that the intent is to entice the younger age bracket. After all, what kid doesn’t like a glass of Hi-C, which this has often been referred to. And what adult do you know that would reach for a glass of Hi-C when out amongst friends? None! That’s my point!

And what’s with all the caffeine? Here’s what! The caffeine may make you feel like you’re not getting drunk as quickly, so you will undoubtedly ingest more of their beverage, that is until you’ve way overdone it and 911 has been called. With a promise of such a kick, what inexperienced, youthful teenager trying to impress friends or drinking as a means to escape wouldn’t want to slam one of these back?

So since I couldn’t get a hold of anyone at Phusion Projects to respond to my calls, my message to them is: Hey Phusion Projects! Want to really reach out, get your side of the story out there? Then return my calls and countless emails, I’m waiting.

But I won’t hold my breath.

Got a question for me? Enter your email on the right side of this page.

About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.

Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.

I am also an author and musician. I am currently finishing my work on the book, “The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober,” which can be pre-ordered here. I have also just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. “Serenity,” was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here

Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com

Will you ever accept my apology?

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Will you ever accept my apology?

Today, the Rockstar Superstar Project went to a school arts show in Illinois and handed out substance abuse literature. We did this in an attempt to convince as many parents as we could that the conversation of drugs needs to happen at home, and happen frequently. I think overall, we handed out over 200 pamphlets and talked with well over 30 different sets of parents.

This week was an important week for us. Not only because of this event, but also due to the fact that “Serenity,” our physical CD, one that we have aspired to create and release for well over two years, had finally arrived in my hands.

Next week will prove to be an even more exciting week. We will be skyping to three different health classes to talk to kids about the importance of sobriety and self-worth and another article will soon be coming out conveying our story. But for all this beauty that I have found, one important “I accept your apology,” has eluded me.

My long battle with addiction left nothing but disaster, overdoses and heartbreak in my wake. My whirlwind of doom reached far and beyond anything that I could see. I hurt a lot of people. A lot! Some of them have accepted my amends and some have not. The ones that have not, well, I have to accept their decision, despite the hurt and the wish they would. It’s doing this that I, as well as other addicts sometimes have trouble with.

Do you have a person in your world that you had always dreamt of the day would someday accept your apology for something and despite your best efforts to make amends, still hasn’t? That your vision was to show that person your recovery was for real and not just some fly by night manipulative way back in to their good graces? Hurts when they aren’t ready to move beyond their pain doesn’t it?

It’s a tough thing to accept not having control over something to fix what you believe is fixable. To call a friendship a total loss right now when it doesn’t have to be. You have to realize that some things truly are out of your control and that some of those things that you wish could be healed, may take longer than you thought they would. But you cannot use this as an excuse to get you down or even worse, go back out over. You have to find the strength within yourself to stay on your path and to keep doing the right thing. The pain hurts, it’s heartbreaking, but what other option do we have but to move forward? And how do we know your apology won’t be accepted tomorrow?

There is always hope…

One of the most interesting things about the road of recovery is not knowing what lies around the next turn. What is always further down the road is not what you are able to see in front of you now. Those amends may or may not always elude you but one thing is for certain, as long as you are sober, you will never elude yourself from the possibility of that amend. So stay sober, everything that is meant to be, will be and remember, whatever is eluding you today may not be what eludes you tomorrow.

Always love, always encourage, and never let despair get in the way.

About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.

Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.

I am also an author and musician. I am currently finishing my work on the book, “The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober,” which can be pre-ordered here. I have also just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. “Serenity,” was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here

Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com

Lack of self-esteem plays a big role in teen drug abuse

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Building self-esteem starts at home.

Based on SAMHSA's 2007 National Survey on Drug Use & Health, 7.8% (19.3 million) persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for their alcohol problem in the past year. Do you know that for many of those that needed help, the reason for their drinking started due to their lack of self-esteem? That’s right. Teenagers who lack self-confidence are 70% more likely to abuse drugs vs. teenagers who are happy with how they feel about themselves.

As parents, you can do many things to enhance your children’s self-image. Here are 5 pointers that I know would have helped me growing up:

1. Offer praise for any job well done. This can go a long way. Despite how it may seem, kids are always trying to impress their parents and for them to know they did, goes a long way!

2. If you need to criticize your child, talk about the action, not the person. If your daughter gets a math equation wrong, it’s better to say, “I think you added wrong. Let’s try again.” - Than to say something that may sound demeaning to them.

3. Assign do-able chores. A 6-year-old for instance can bring her plate over to the sink after dinner. A 13-year-old can have a much larger responsibility such as feeding and walking the dog after school. Performing such duties and praising your child if done correctly makes them feel better about themselves because they did the jobs themselves.

4. Spend one-on-one time with your teenager. Setting aside at least 15 uninterrupted minutes per child per day to talk, play a game, or take a walk together, let’s your teen know you care. 15 minutes a day can keep the drugs away!

5. Say, “I love you.” Nothing will make your child feel better than these 3 words!

Information and lessons like this concerning drugs are important to repeat and revisit frequently with your teenager. I am not a parent but I was the child who would eventually turn to drugs due to lack of self-esteem. So please let my lesson be yours.

Don’t forget about our book, The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober and “Serenity” CD by Rock Star and Super Star. They both come with accolades from drug counselors and experts in the field of addiction. Both are recommended tools in fighting teenage and adult drug abuse. Order our very special Recovery Pack HERE

About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.

Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.

I am also a musician who has just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. It was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here

Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com

Teenager addicted to Heroin? “Sorry, we don’t cover that.”

Be sure to visit our other Teen Drug Abuse Articles below!

Teenager addicted to Heroin? “Sorry, we don’t cover that.”

I just came from a rehab faculty where I dropped off a Teenager who was addicted to heroin. On the way there, the teenagers parents wanted to know how much their teenage son was to be covered during his stay in treatment. So on their behalf, I took the initiative and made a series of calls to the teenagers insurance provider. I figured it’s the least I can do for them as they clearly have been through a lot lately with this kid.

The parents, having always been under the assumption that they had “premier” coverage, thought that this 30 day visit would be, for the most part, covered. After all, their monthly statement touts coverage of up to 75% for addiction treatment issues!

But they weren’t.

“Just what is it the boy is addicted to?” asks the operator? “Heroin,” I exclaimed.

Then the silence.

….

……

…….

“Oh, I am sorry sir, we only cover alcohol addiction”.

It should be obvious to all of us why this is so wrong on every level. Alcohol covered but not drugs? Wait, isn’t alcohol a drug?

I’m not here to talk about why this is wrong, just here to help you know that this issue exists. Read the details of your coverage Mom’s and Dad’s. Teenage drug abuse is on the rise so talk to you kids about the dangers of drugs at home, and often, so you can avoid having to go through with what these poor parents are now having to deal with.

Thank you for reading my Teenage Drug Abuse blog!

-Super Star

Please visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com and if you feel this can help someone you know, please pass it on!

Tagged as: Teen Drug Abuse, teen substance abuse, Teenage drug abuse

I am having a craving for drugs, what do I do?

I am having a craving for drugs, what do I do?

Its often I have cravings for drugs and/or alcohol. Heck, even with all this time sober, my disease still haunts me. It’s waiting for the moment that I turn to it and ask it for help again like I used to before I learned how to help myself. Help to take away my pain, my sorrow. The mornings dread that I face at the beginning of each new day while taking a shower. It would be so easy for me to succumb to its relentless pleading. But I can’t. In fact, it’s not even an option for me anymore. Drugs and alcohol are just no longer an option because I know what they want, my soul; and as long as I am alive, I am not going to give it to them.

Life is hard. My parents used to tell me that all the time but they never mentioned if there was anything beyond that. Well there is and it’s called having to stay sober when you finally decide that you want to. Having to fight the cravings that we drug addicts face is like no other. Those brutally hard moments that I cannot compare to anything. They are like a weight on my thoughts, but heavier. Or like a push in the wrong direction from a force that is invisible but with a clear and shadowy evil grin. Cravings are brutal alright, that’s why many of us fail to survive them. But there is a way to get past them and it took me 15 years to figure many of those ways out. In fact I am having a craving right at this very moment but I know in the next, I would have already forgotten that I was having it.

There are a ton of tools that we can use to fend off the advances of our disease. A lot of them can be found in our forthcoming book: The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober. I mention the book not as a selfish plug but for you to consider if you are still struggling with the disease of addiction or if you are the friend or family member trying to help someone like me. Someone who is always having to fight to stay free from its grip. The tools are my necessity for survival and they are all out there for you to have for your toolbox as well.

Remember that craving I was just having? It’s gone. Why? Because I just told someone. I told you. That’s all I had to do. In the time it took me to write those last two paragraphs (about 10 minutes), I have killed off the craving simply by sharing my desire for drugs with someone. Sounds easy but in reality, its hard for some. Especially for the newcomer. Opening yourself up enough to show someone you’re vulnerable and human is something that eludes most people but you cannot let this elude you. Here are 3 reasons why telling on yourself works.

1. Telling someone makes it harder to go out and get your fix. If you’re having a craving, tell someone. Depending on the situation, all eyes might now be on you now. We can’t depend on others to baby-sit us but if you are in that type of situation early in recovery, you sure better take the babysitter! If I wanted to go out and buy some dope right now I couldn’t because whomever I just told would think I am leaving to go score it. Telling someone who now knows that I want it makes it that much harder to go out and get it. Time and time again it’s been enough for me to buckle down and stay safe inside.

2. Telling someone immediately holds you accountable. I’ve told the world that I have a substance use disorder. Now guess what would happen if I screw up? Exactly! All that I have built comes tumbling down. I don’t suggest you start telling everyone that you know though. In fact, I would pick and choose wisely with whom you share your secrets with. Most people are not as they appear, love to pass along the newfound drama and professionally, it can hurt you. However, telling people who are close to you and you trust, might just make you choose sobriety over having to utter the words “I’m sorry,” after yet another relapse, ever again. Having to say I am sorry sucks and gets worse every freaking time.

3. Telling someone kills time. Did you know that most cravings leave in a matter of 5 minutes or less? Yup, they sure do. In fact, the tick-tock of the clock is our biggest asset. In the time that you took to muster up the courage to tell someone that you are experiencing a craving, that very craving will most likely be gone. It’ll be back though, and next time you might need another tool to pull from your toolbox.

There are plenty more reasons’ why telling someone close to you that you are having cravings helps take you beyond them but these are the three that came the quickest to me today. They might be obvious to some but to us others who are caught up in that moment of our disease, they are not. Learning to tell someone of your craving as its happening takes practice and courage. It’s extremely hard but it has gotten easier for me with time and it will for you also.

Thank you for reading my Teenage Drug Abuse blog!

-Super Star

Please visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com and if you feel this can help someone you know, please pass it on!

Teenage Drug abuse - Once an addict, always an addict?

Once an addict, always an addict?

I prefer to be identified as having a “Substance Use Disorder ,” but to each their own I suppose!

I saw someone posted this on my Facebook account yesterday.

Well I am SO NOT perfect but I understand and if I could help someone– maybe they could help me. Trust me dude– once an addict– ALWAYS an addict. And we in our souls KNOW we are not perfect no matter HOW good any one else thinks we are doing…

This last sentence was brutally honest and important.

Sometimes we addicts in recovery are in fact doing quite well and we have found our way to peace. However, sometimes we have not. If we have not yet found that peace that has been long so elusive to us, we must not despair. It will come!

If you are reading this and are the loved one of an addict, just so you know, it would pain us to have you think otherwise of us in the meantime. After all, we are tired of being known as “the addict.” Having you think we might be slipping in any areas of our recovery means us having to be identified by those words even longer. Yuck! You see, we hate disappointing the ones we love often more than we hate disappointing ourselves. “Once an addict always an addict,” is only half the truth. Yes we are addicts, but this should not define us entirely. What about handsome or charming? Did you forget about those words? At the very least, most of us prefer to be seen as an “addict in recovery.” Or as having a “Substance Use Disorder,” Just so you know! And although most of us know that in order for our recovery to last, it must be for ourselves first foremost; we often try and try again as a means to not let those who love us, down again and again. Eventually we learn that the key to having recovery for ourselves is to make that recovery for ourselves only.

Let’s expand just a little deeper on what it’s like to be an addict. Most of us addicts have very similar traits you know. A lot of us are of the sensitive type. We wear our hearts on our sleeves. How many times have you heard someone else talk about someone that they know who is abusing drugs? Often the conversation is about how truly wonderful they are as a person while not using. Also, and unbelievably to some, a lot of us hold above average IQ’s. Yup, those metrics have been gathered long ago and have been proven time and time again. We also have a tendency to be extremely creative. We have no problems tapping in to our creative sense and often times; others see our work as brilliant. Case in point, look back at all the music and traditional artists, actors, etc, that have been known to struggle with the disease of addiction. Their works have often been the most memorable.

BUT………

As noted in the Facebook comment above, most of us are indeed always struggling. Doing well at times yes, but fighting our “stinking thinking’” – almost always. Recovery is a constant battle. Until we are able to find peace, we are always in the midst of trying to hold onto it. If it’s not struggling with drugs, it’s struggling with our eating habits. If it is not our eating habits, it’s struggling with our OCD. If it’s not our OCD than it’s our lying. If it not our lying, it is our hoarding, and so on and so on. But you know what’s great about this entire struggle? What’s great about it is that we are working at it. Becoming stronger. We are ever evolving and always maturing. The great thing about being an addict in recovery is that we know this and have become strong enough to continue improving ourselves, shedding the undesired behaviors, and becoming some of the most truly remarkable people in our communities. So if you are an addict in recovery, be proud, you’re beautiful and remarkable! Carry the torch and when you’re ready, strong enough, and when you finally “get it’” please pass it on to someone behind you! That’s more than what most of the world’s population is ever willing to do.

So “Once an addict, always an addict? I prefer to be identified as having a
“Substance Use Disorder,” but to each their own I suppose!

-Super Star

www.superstarsuperstar.com

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