Thursday, December 18, 2014

Partnership for Drug-free Kids
 
 
Dear Joseph,

My son, now 25, first started using drugs when he was 16.

His addiction took our family on a rollercoaster ride. Life in our home was beyond a nightmare, and I kept wondering how this had happened to us. Having an addict in the family wasn’t on my list of life goals. Yet here I was, caught in the middle of a living hell. At times, I felt alone; like no one else could understand the turmoil that my family faced.

I decided to share my story with the Partnership and their online community. I immediately found that talking to the people there about my son’s addiction, and learning that others had been there too, was incredibly therapeutic. It helped us cope and heal.

The community has responded to my story with encouragement, support and hope. Most importantly, I learned one very important thing: I am not alone. Just like the millions of others facing addiction, there are so many people out there who have been there and understand.

The Partnership is able to provide this support service thanks to generous donations from people like you. Your gift this holiday season will help sustain this invaluable community for others facing addiction.


My son, now in recovery, is finally in a good place. And thanks to the Partnership's support on this journey, we are in a better place too.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today.


 
Dean Dauphinais
Father of Son in Recovery
 
 
 
Where Families
   
We're here to help.
Call our Parents Toll-Free Helpline
1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373)
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Blackouts Common Among Teens Who Drink: Study
December 17th, 2014/


Among teens who drink, 90 percent have blacked out after drinking at least once by the time they reached age 19, according to a new study of British adolescents. Teens who black out after drinking are more likely to be female.

When a person blacks out, they appear to be awake, alert and intoxicated, but they have no memory of what has happened. At high enough doses, alcohol impairs the acquisition of memory.

Females are more likely to black out because they weigh less and have less body water to dilute the alcohol, the researchers noted. The study included 1,402 teens ages 15 to 19 who drank. Other risk factors for blacking out after drinking included smoking, having sensation-seeking and impulsive behaviors, lacking conscientiousness and having friends who also drank or used other substances, Time reports.


“It’s not as if a blackout in these kids was an isolated phenomenon,” said lead researcher Marc Schuckit, professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Diego. “Blackouts are unfortunately often considered to be a funny thing as opposed to dangerous. I am not sure the average person realizes the dangers associated with blackouts.”

In a press release, he noted, “Someone who has had a blackout cannot remember part of their drinking episode. As you can imagine, blackouts are likely to occur when the drinker is vulnerable to a range of additional dangerous consequences. Women might have unprotected sex, place themselves in a situation where they can be raped, or not be fully capable of protecting themselves. Men can get into fights, use very bad judgment regarding another person, and are often the driver when BACs (blood alcohol concentrations) associated with blackouts can lead to a car accident. Blackouts are very dangerous for both men and women.”

States With More Traffic Stops and DUI Arrests Have Fewer Drunk Drivers
December 17th, 2014/


States that have a greater number of random traffic stops and a higher number of DUI arrests have a lower rate of drunk driving, a new study concludes.

The study looked at almost 6,900 weekend nighttime drivers in 30 communities who were stopped and screened for blood alcohol levels.

“Hardly any new laws are being passed regarding drinking and driving,” said study lead author James Fell, a senior research scientist with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Calverton, Maryland. “So we think the best strategy for making progress on reducing impaired driving could be better enforcement of the laws we already have.”


“The public notices police cars on the side of the road issuing citations or arresting drivers for DUI,” Fell said in a news release. “That serves as a general deterrent and increases their perceived risk of being caught driving impaired.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,076 people died in crashes involving a drunk driver in 2013 — one death every 52 minutes.

“People only change their behavior when they think they’re going to get caught,” Kara Macek, a spokeswoman for the Governors Highway Safety Association in Washington, D.C., told HealthDay. “When it comes to drunk driving you need to use the stick more than the carrot.”

Study Finds Meth Users Three Times More Likely to Get Parkinson’s
December 17th, 2014/


A new study finds people who use methamphetamine are three times more likely than those who do not use illicit drugs to develop Parkinson’s disease.

Methamphetamine use is associated with a number of serious health issues including severe dental problems, convulsions, changes in brain structure, strokes, heart attack and death.

The new study, by researchers at the University of Utah and Intermountain Healthcare, found women who use meth may be almost five times as likely to develop Parkinson’s compared with women who do not use drugs, according to MedicalXpress.

“Typically, fewer females use meth than males do,” study senior author Glen R. Hanson, D.D.S., Ph.D., noted in a press release. “Even though women are less likely to use it, there appears to be a gender bias toward women in the association between meth use and Parkinson’s.”

The researchers reviewed more than 40,000 records in the Utah Population Database, which provides genealogical, medical and government-provided information on Utah families. They looked at medical records of almost 5,000 people whose health records indicated they had used meth, more than 1,800 people who had used cocaine, and more than 34,000 people whose health records showed no illicit drug use.

The study found people who used cocaine were not at increased risk for Parkinson’s. “We feel comfortable that it’s just the meth causing the risk for Parkinson’s, and not other drugs or a combination of meth and other drugs,” Hanson said in a news release.

The study is published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

A study published in 2011 also found a link between methamphetamine and the risk of Parkinson’s. That study did not report risks based on gender, and only included records of hospital inpatients, the article notes. The new study used both inpatient and outpatient records, which captured a wider segment of the population, the researchers said.
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Tune in Thursday, December 18
Lighthouse Network's Dr. Karl Benzio
on "Hearing Hearts" (WEHA) at 9:30 a.m. ET

 

Karl Benzio, M.D. Shares Insights
on WEHA's "Hearing Hearts" 
about Managing Holiday Blues
 
STATION: WEHA "Hearing Hearts" (Pleasantville, NJ)
DATE: Thursday, December 18
TIME: 9:30 a.m. ET
TOPIC: Alone or Lonely? Is there a choice?
Dr. Benzio shares ways to handle holiday blues.

STREAM LIVE ONLINE: http://www.wehagospel887.com/
 
Check out other media interviews including TV appearances, radio programs, print features and articles here.
Lighthouse Network is a Christian non-profit organization whose primary mission is to help those struggling with addiction and mental health issues find lasting healing. We also help understand and treat these issues using sound science and spiritual truths.

Lighthouse Network provides help through these two main services:
  • Christian Addiction Helpline - We provide hope, encouragement and answers to help you navigate the complex system and find the right Christian addiction treatment option or secular traditional option. Our Christian Helpline is very skilled at helping you maximize your insurance whether you have a PPO, HMO, TriCare, or Medicare, to minimize your out of pocket expense. This unique service is free.
     
  • Life Growth Resources - We want to equip you to find Christian Recovery and lasting healing for your addiction or mental health struggle and to build resilience to overcome future storms and adversities. We develop many reosurces with practical tips and skills to help you achieve the fulfilling and abundant life you desire.
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      The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.PRO-ACT
                                                  and
          Pennsylvania Recovery Organization --
     Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT) 
Recovery in Our Communities
December 16, 2014 

Information and Recovery Support Line 24/7: 800-221-6333


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How Schools Can Help Preserve the Next Generation

 
Through our "Preserving the Next Generation" series, we have discussed the importance of addressing the intergenerational cycle of addiction and using the Search Institute 40 Developmental Assets to build protective factors in our youth.  Schools also play a huge role in the lives of our youth and can be powerful in the prevention of youth substance use.  One of my favorite quotes by Ron Edmonds, 1986 states "A school can create a coherent environment, a climate, more potent that any single influence - teachers, class, family, neighborhood, so potent that for at least six hours a day it can override almost everything else in the lives of children".

Academics remains the forefront in any educational setting, however, as needs of students have grown, so has the ability of schools to address the social-emotional needs of students and families.  One of the most successful programs in Pennsylvania that addresses the needs of students is the Student Assistance Program (SAP).  Now in its 30th year, SAP helps schools identify students who are experiencing behavior and or academic difficulties that are posing a barrier to their learning and success in school. SAP offers support to those students and their families.  The Council has been a proud Commonwealth Approved Trainer in the Student Assistance Program, training over 75 education professionals each year how to assist students and their families.  Schools can identify students, through observable behaviors, who may need support in academics, attendance, health or behaviors.  This comprehensive program is confidential, supportive and successful.  Through SAP, students and families may be linked to school or community-based supports to help the student maintain a healthy and happy future. 
(continue reading) 

Tomorrow is Tree of Hope!  Can you join us?

The Council and PRO-ACT will celebrate the 24th annual dedication of the "Tree of Hope," in the Bucks County Courthouse lobby on 55 Court Street in Doylestown, PA at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 17, 2014.  The event is free and open to the public, and the Tree of Hope will remain in the Courthouse lobby throughout the holiday season.  Click here for more info and to dedicate an ornament.

Overdose Prevention, Education and Naloxone 
Response Training

Learn how to recognize, prevent and respond to an overdose!  Learn what to do in case of an overdose and how to administer the life-saving overdose-reversal agent called Naloxone.  In addition, learn about the recently enacted 911 Good Samaritan Law.  
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center
1286 Veterans Hwy, D6, Bristol, PA 
Two trainings available:
12:30 to 1:30 pm and 7:00 - 8:00 pm  
Space is limited! To register email or call David at 215-230-8218x3162
 
AT OUR CENTERS

Planning to Sustain Recovery - every Tuesday 7 - 8:30 pm and every Thursday 10 - 11:30 am at CBRCC, 252 W Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown.  Educational support group to help individuals in all stages of recovery plan goals and action steps to sustain recovery. To registeremail or call Jeanne at 215-345-6644.  

Recovery Enhancement Classes at PRCC, 1701 W Lehigh Ave, Philadelphia, 19132. 10 week course running Thursdays through Feb. 12 from 5 - 7 pm.  Various topics.  Call 215-223-7700 to register. Space is limited.   

Gateway to Work every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 am at SBRCC, 1286, Veterans Highway, Unit D-6, Bristol; 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 1:00 pm at CBRCC, 252 W Swamp Road, Doylestown. Get help with resume building, barriers to employment and motivation. Contact Rick at 215-345-6644 or email for more information.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED WITH PRO-ACT

Volunteer for The Council/PRO-ACT !!

Contact one of our Volunteer Coordinators:
Central Bucks:  Email or call Rick at 215-345-6644
Southern Bucks:  Email or call Karen at 215-788-3738 x100
Philadelphia: Email or call She-Ria at 215-233-7700 or Email John or call 215-923-1661 
Chester, Delaware and Montco: Email or call John at 215-923-1661
PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! Committees: Email  or call John at 215-923-1661
Join Our Mailing List
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Employment Opportunities: Click here  
DONATEDonations help us to reduce the impact of addiction for more individuals and families. The Council is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Monday, December 15, 2014

December 15 Chp 32 v 5 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALMS


Finally , I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt .I said to myself , " I will confess my rebellion to the Lord."and you forgave me ! All my guilt is gone .


STEP 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.



Gods Big Book agrees with step five. Guilt will crush you !It will steal your sleep and ruin any chance you have of finding peace. Guilt always brings friends , shame fear and sadness .The only way to lighten your load , is to get the junk out of your trunk . A good friend can listen too you dump but only God can forgive and remove the guilt and its friends . The forgiveness we get from God brings peace and a freedom most have yet to experience . 



Revelation 21 : 4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. By Joseph Dickerson





The Fix: Addiction and Recovery, Straight Up
Best of the Week:
December 5–12
COMING UP IN THE FIX// Sexiest Drug Smugglers * Death Row Drugs *Adolescence Interrupted * Veterans with Hep C * Sober in Mexico * How Debtors Anonymous Helped My Eating Disorder * Battle Scars * Pro Voices * New Blogs *Ask an Expert * PLUS: Other incisive articles
DRUG WAR// An Ounce of Truth and a Pound of Bullshit—Against the Drug War with Ethan Nadelmann
The Fix Q&A with Ethan Nadelmann—founder of the Drug Policy Alliance—on activism, policy and that TED talk.
By Zachary Siegel
TARGETING// The Trajectories of Addiction
Who really needs treatment? And how should this be tailored to better incorporate the severity and specificity of addiction?
By Jeanene Swanson
PROFESSIONAL VOICES// The Courage of the Harm Reduction Therapist
A master therapist discusses the things that can keep him up at night in his work with clients who are still using substances.
By Richard Juman
TREATMENT ADVICE// Five Relationships That Will Get You Drunk
The odds are good—but the goods are odd.
By Bobbi Anderson
PINNED DOWN// Wrestlers Anonymous
More wrestlers are becoming open with their steroid stories. Back before testing was taken seriously, it was juice or lose.
By A.J. Dugger III
 
BEST OF THE QUICK FIX
Congress Shows Historic Support for Medical Marijuana
Men and Women Respond Differently To Smoking Cigarettes, Researchers Say
Study Finds Hookah Smoke Contains Cancer-Causing Chemicals
New York City Mayor Announces 60% Decline in Pot Arrests
New Study Identifies Part Of Brain That Could Trigger Addiction
Pennsylvania School District Scraps Pre-Teen Drug Testing Program
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
Taking It Low
This week, Richard Juman wrote about the noble efforts of harm reduction specialists. Readers appreciated the value of programs that did not demand complete abstinence:
Being a former "addict alcoholic", I abstain from drug use but have an occasional glass of wine with dinner. I abstained from alcohol ,by choice for ten years before going back to enjoying a drink with family once in awhile. I would have benefited from "harm reduction" had I been aware of Smart and other non 12 step programs back then. I did AA and hated every moment I had to admit that I was powerless over my addictions. I had the power, just chose not to use it. I let programs control my life for 20 years until I chose to control my own destiny. Thanks Tom, for SMART and giving me my life back.

-don cherms sr