Addiction

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THE BRITE BLOG

We share the voices, opinions and stories of many Ventura County youth and young adults here. Not all posts reflect the opinion of BRITE or our sponsors. Managed by Ashley Heatherly.

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A young person is sitting at a desk with purple headphones on, writing in a notebook. The desk is covered in trinkets, crystals, and notes. The writer is bathed in a soft, pink glow.

A young person is sitting at a desk with purple headphones on, writing in a notebook. The desk is covered in trinkets, crystals, and notes. The writer is bathed in a soft, pink glow.

The Letter

A college student describes her experience growing up as a child of parents with alcohol use disorder and the effects it has had on her life and relationships in a love letter to a friend.

Jun 13, 20244 min read

A young person sits in a jail cell with their hands handcuffed. The jail cell bars are casting a long shadow over the negative space of the photo.

A young person sits in a jail cell with their hands handcuffed. The jail cell bars are casting a long shadow over the negative space of the photo.

How Did This All Begin?

An incarcerated adult tells the story of their struggle with substance use disorder and how they ended up in jail.

May 29, 20242 min read

A young woman sits on a couch holding a beer bottle in her right hand. Her left hand is covering her face as if she is ashamed or upset. There are several other empty beer bottles in the foreground.

A young woman sits on a couch holding a beer bottle in her right hand. Her left hand is covering her face as if she is ashamed or upset. There are several other empty beer bottles in the foreground.

Alcohol Use Disorder: From the Perspective of the Alcoholic, Interview 3

A college student interviews a friend about her experience with alcohol use disorder and her struggle with addiction.

Mar 13, 20245 min read

A photograph of a small, red toy sportscar next to a glass of brown alcohol. The red car is being blocked by a small toy police car.

A photograph of a small, red toy sportscar next to a glass of brown alcohol. The red car is being blocked by a small toy police car.

Alcohol Use Disorder: From the Perspective of the Alcoholic, Interview 2

A college student interviews a peer about his experience with alcohol use disorder, receiving a DUI, and sobering up.

Feb 6, 20244 min read

A man is passed out face down on a couch with one arm drooping to the floor. There are several empty alcohol bottles and glasses on the floor.

A man is passed out face down on a couch with one arm drooping to the floor. There are several empty alcohol bottles and glasses on the floor.

Alcohol Use Disorder: From the Perspective of the Alcoholic, Interview 1

A college student recounts an interview with a peer who deals with alcohol use disorder and discusses his experience with rehab.

Jan 18, 20245 min read

A close up image of a green prescription drug bottle on its side with white pills spilling across a table top.

A close up image of a green prescription drug bottle on its side with white pills spilling across a table top.

David's Addiction

A college student discusses a friend's experience becoming addicted to pain killers and how they recovered.

Dec 28, 20232 min read

A group of young people are holding red plastic Solo cups filled with red liquid and straws at a party.

A group of young people are holding red plastic Solo cups filled with red liquid and straws at a party.

How BRITE Helped Me Cope with My Family’s Addiction

A college student discusses how working with BRITE helped her process her experience growing up around addiction in her family.

Sep 17, 20233 min read

A white person's hands are stretched out over drug paraphernalia including white powder, a small lit candles, a spoon, and a syringe.

A white person's hands are stretched out over drug paraphernalia including white powder, a small lit candles, a spoon, and a syringe.

Meth and My Life

A college student discusses her experience watching people close to her struggle with meth use and addiction, and the ways it has affected her life.

Jul 31, 20235 min read

A man with salt and pepper hair holds a mostly empty bottle of hard alcohol to his forehead. He appears solemn and distraught.

A man with salt and pepper hair holds a mostly empty bottle of hard alcohol to his forehead. He appears solemn and distraught.

Living With An Alcoholic Father

A college student discusses how her dad's alcoholism has affected her family and her decision not to drink.

Jul 9, 20236 min read

Alcohol Abuse Within the Family

A college student discusses alcohol use disorder and the effects that his uncle's addiction has had on his family.

Jun 14, 20234 min read

A close up image of an orange Rx bottle of white pills that is spilling on to a table next to a metal stethoscope and empty syringe.

A close up image of an orange Rx bottle of white pills that is spilling on to a table next to a metal stethoscope and empty syringe.

The Seriousness of the Opioid Crisis

A CSUCI student discusses their experience with the opioid crisis in Ventura County.

Apr 30, 20233 min read

A hand is laying on a table, palm facing up. The hand is chained to a bottle of hard liquor, also sitting on the table.

A hand is laying on a table, palm facing up. The hand is chained to a bottle of hard liquor, also sitting on the table.

How Did This Happen?

A poem written by a college student about the experience of drinking and alcohol use disorder.

Apr 23, 20231 min read

An illustration of a person with long brown hair and an orange shirt. The person has no face but the upper right corner of their head is cut away and a brown and red vapor is flowing upward out of their head. The text reads, "Hidden Danger."

An illustration of a person with long brown hair and an orange shirt. The person has no face but the upper right corner of their head is cut away and a brown and red vapor is flowing upward out of their head. The text reads, "Hidden Danger."

Vaping Poem

A poem about vaping written by teens and young adults in a weekly writing group.

Dec 27, 20221 min read

Image shows a syringe, a spoon with white powder on it, and various pills on a flat surface.

Image shows a syringe, a spoon with white powder on it, and various pills on a flat surface.

First Love

A college student tells her story about dating someone who struggled with addiction to methamphetamines and the effects it had on her life.

Dec 22, 20224 min read

An illustration in red of a fake magazine cover promoting vaping. The image reads, "Totally NOT cigarettes! Super cool! Happier healthier lungs!"

An illustration in red of a fake magazine cover promoting vaping. The image reads, "Totally NOT cigarettes! Super cool! Happier healthier lungs!"

Addiction

A poem by a Ventura County high school student about vaping and addiction.

Oct 18, 20221 min read

A young person with long hair is shrouded in shadows while lighting up a cannabis joint. The words, "I strongly believe that gateway drugs such as cigarettes and marijuana DO lead to harder drug usage and peer pressure. People always think they're in control until suddenly they're not." are written underneath.

A young person with long hair is shrouded in shadows while lighting up a cannabis joint. The words, "I strongly believe that gateway drugs such as cigarettes and marijuana DO lead to harder drug usage and peer pressure. People always think they're in control until suddenly they're not." are written underneath.

How Did We Become Strangers?

A college student recounts her experience of a family member dealing with drug addiction as they were growing up.

Sep 27, 20224 min read

A group of teens are sitting at a table in a library studying. There is a stack of books on the table. One teen is sleeping on the table with his head resting on his folded arm and his eyes closed.

A group of teens are sitting at a table in a library studying. There is a stack of books on the table. One teen is sleeping on the table with his head resting on his folded arm and his eyes closed.

Teens and Drugs: How Cannabis Affects School Performance and Teen Brain Development

A discussion of the negative effects of cannabis use on teens, highlighting the resource Cannabis Factcheck Ventura County.

Jun 9, 20224 min read

A pile of square, light brown, wooden Scrabble tiles that spell out the word, "HOPE."

A pile of square, light brown, wooden Scrabble tiles that spell out the word, "HOPE."

How Life Has Changed My Cousin For The Better

A college student discusses her cousin's struggle with substance abuse disorder, getting sober, and enjoying her life.

Apr 26, 20222 min read

A young person is sitting in a chair with a glass of brown liquor in one hand and is reaching for a bottle of brown liquor with the other hand. She looks very distressed and intoxicated.

A young person is sitting in a chair with a glass of brown liquor in one hand and is reaching for a bottle of brown liquor with the other hand. She looks very distressed and intoxicated.

How BRITE Helped Me Cope With My Family’s Addiction

A college student discusses how working with BRITE at our Reality Party for Parents helped her confront and reflect on her family's drug and alcohol abuse.

Apr 26, 20223 min read

A close up of a white hand with fingernails painted black is outstretched across a beige floor. There are a lot of colored pills in her hand and spilled across the floor.

A close up of a white hand with fingernails painted black is outstretched across a beige floor. There are a lot of colored pills in her hand and spilled across the floor.

The Fight Against Prescription Drug Abuse: Resources in Ventura County

A discussion of opioids and prescription drug abuse in Ventura County including resources available for parents and families.

Mar 31, 20224 min read

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