Gathering in the auditorium Friday morning, the student body heard a lecture from Hope is Alive’s Ann Sandager and Brett Mills discussing the neuroscience of addiction and how hope can be found in its darkness.
Hope is Alive is a recovery program that aims to educate and support those impacted by drug addiction. The program offers support nationwide with recovery homes in six states, as well as school support teams to address issues concerning drug and alcohol addiction.
“It’s time that we take the mask off and we have a real conversation about it, so that you guys are educated and you can make informed decisions,” Sandager said.
Sandager, a HIA alumni, explained the effect drug use can have on brain function and the cycle in which it takes place through her own experience with addiction.
“Quite simply, you can break it down into three phases; binging, withdrawal, anticipation,” Sandager said.
During the time she was addicted Sandager’s priorities became disordered as she put substance abuse over her own children.
“I did time after time after time, and it was because that prefrontal cortex was hijacked and I was stuck in that cycle,” Sandager said.
Later, Sandager discussed the fact that both genetics and environment can put people at higher risk of addiction, that substance use at a young age can increase the risk of addiction later in life.
“When you choose to introduce drugs and alcohol into your system too soon, it’s absolutely too dangerous because your brain is still developing,” Sandager said. “So people ages 26 and older who began drinking before the age of 15 are reporting much higher odds of developing an alcohol use disorder, as opposed to those who waited until maybe around the age of 21 or later.”
With these risks, Sandager stressed the importance of education about addiction.
“We want to come in. We want to educate you all, present you with the information and some other choices,” Sandager said.
Following Sandager’s discussion, HOI alumni Brett Mills gave his account of drug addiction and how he found hope through faith.
“The difference in knowing God and not not knowing God is instrumental,” Mills said.
During his addiction, Mills said he had no hope for recovery until he found God.
“Faith has a light in the darkness that no other person could ever give you,” Mills said. “Hope is a steady flame when everything around you is falling apart.”
Mills added that he believes people who have faith can be hope in a world of darkness.
“You can cast all your worries onto him, no matter how big, no matter how small, whether it’s drug addiction, whether it’s something you’re struggling with in school, maybe it’s your home life, anything, you can put anything onto him, and he will carry it,” Mills said.
Hope is Alive is set to return Nov. 3 and later this year.
For more information on Hope is Alive, click here.
