THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

My wife and I just spoke with a dear friend of ours.  He mentioned the words...."Its my own dumb fault".  Lets not start the day with that thinking.  Though we have made mistakes that doesn't make us dumb.  It makes us human.  Poor choices do not determine who we are.  They shape us and make us stronger as long as we try not to repeat them.  Take these mistakes and look at them from that perspective.  That this is a learning and growing experience and I know I am not going to do that again! and move on.  My favorite book states that through trials and sufferings we learn to have faith, and through faith comes hope and after hope perseverance.  Let these trials finish their good work so that we become mature and complete.

"Blood on the Walls" Biker Bar Transformed Into House of Recovery

Once the roughest joint in town, the Eastwood Tavern has been renamed the Eastwood House of Recovery - Now healing instead of hurting.

by John LeeGoogle+ Twitter Facebook

Once a Biker bar known for violence and with literal blood on the walls, the Eastwood Tavern in Comstock County Michigan has been rechristened the Eastwood House of Recovery, and now tends to the very people who used to drink heavily within its walls.

Mike Green, a retired truck driver and ex addict opened the reincarnated Eastwood facility last year. Now serving hope instead of whiskey, the community center is open 12 hours a day to those in the community looking for sober support and recovery fellowship. Home to six 12 steps meetings a day, pot luck dinners and weekly euchre tournaments, the facility has met a real need, and the response has surprised even the optimistic Mike Green. About 100 people walk through the doors on an average day.

Steve Somers, 24, says he comes to the Eastwood House of Recovery just to chat sometimes, and describes it as "a place to come where I know alcohol won't be an issue - there are some days when I'm here 12 hours a day."

The building is owned by the non-profit Geek Group, and Mike Green pays the organization half of what he collects through "pass the hat" donations as rent each month.

Green, who spent 19 years abusing heroin and alcohol now suffers from stage 2 Hep C, and doctors say he won't make 60, but he explains "if it weren't for people in the recovery community helping me out when I needed it most, I wouldn't be alive today. This is my way of giving back to people in recovery who need somewhere to go."

Jim Wickline, 82, an appreciate patron of the new facility sums up the transformation as "A place of destruction has been turned into a house of construction."

Read more: "Blood on the Walls" Biker Bar Transformed Into House of Recovery 

Former Meth Users Can Regain Impulse Control; After About a Year of Abstinence

Researchers at UC Davis have shown that although meth users in recovery have a very difficult time with impulse control, that after 1 year of abstinence, the brain regains much cognitive control.

by John LeeGoogle+ Twitter Facebook

Some good news for those in recovery from meth amphetamine addiction…it does get easier, in time.

Ruth Salo, out of UC Davis, has spent a career studying the behavioral neuropsychiatric and cognitive consequences of meth addiction. She says that while researchers used to believe that meth addiction caused global irreversible brain damage, her latest research reveals that in time, recovering meth addicts can expect to see some improvements – after about 1 year of sobriety.

Salo led a research team at UC Davis that tested the cognitive control capabilities of 65 former meth addicts. All study subjects had been abstinent for at least 3 weeks; some had been abstinent for years. The pre abstinence duration of amphetamine use ranged from 24 months to 28 years.

Salo had users complete a computer mediated Stroop Attention Test, a very well proven test that has subjects focus on a task while trying to ignoring distractions, which measures cognitive control abilities.

She found that those very newly in recovery (6 months clean or less) fared significantly worse on the test than subjects who had been abstinent for a year or longer. In fact, subjects clean for a year or longer performed the Stroop Test as well as a control group of non-drug using subjects.

Saol also found that subjects with longer histories of meth use did more poorly and longer histories of abstinence are associated with increasing test scores.

What Is Cognitive Control?

Cognitive control enables longer term planning and effective decision making.

Sola explains the importance of cognitive control by saying, "The test taps into something people do in everyday life: make choices in the face of conflicting impulses…For meth users, impairments in this decision-making ability might make them more likely to spend a paycheck on the immediate satisfaction of getting high rather than on the longer-term satisfaction gained by paying rent or buying groceries."

She says that the study offers a lot of hope to those in recovery wondering 'if they are ever going to feel better' and that it also offers insight into why the first year of methamphetamine recovery can be so challenging. She hopes that treatment providers will take this information into account when designing programs for the early days of meth recovery.

The results of this cognitive decision making study reinforce study data from one of Salo's earlier experiments, which used MRI imaging to reveal a recovery in some brain chemical functioning after about 1 year of meth abstinence.

Salo calls meth use a "pandemic" affecting 35 million worldwide and states that although recovery is difficult, it is possible.

Read more: Former Meth Users Can Regain Impulse Control; After About a Year of Abstinence 

Get Involved Please!

I heard a long time ago that its not what you know but who you know. The more people we can connect with in our quest for sobriety the more success we will have. The more options we have the easier the transition into sobriety can and will be. So I urge all of you that are reading this post , especially those who have found success and remain sober. Its our obligation as people who are in recovery to give back and this is your opportunity to give back. Share your resources and post them on the Recovery Connection page , If I cant help than maybe you can, hence the name recovery connections. So lets get connected, stay connected and help those who we once were! Thank you, Joseph

St. Joseph Institute | 134 Jacobs Way | Port Matilda, Pennsylvania 16870

The Best in Drug and Alcohol Treatment

St. Joseph Institute offers a superior path to recovery for adults struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. We use proven methods of addiction treatment and state-of-the-art techniques combined in a faith-based approach that heals the whole person - body, mind, emotions and spirit. Most importantly, our program is very personalized.  All of our counseling and therapy is one-on-one, enabling participants to focus on the individual issues and needs that underly their addiction.

Located on a beautiful mountain-side campus in central Pennsylvania, our environment facilitates healing.  Elegant log and stone lodges, miles of walking trails, a spa and wellness center, gym, library, chapel and very private grounds all contribute to a successful recovery experience.

BREAK FREE FROM DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION
888.777.1098	814.692.4954

Oxford Houses Pennsylvania

Recovery houses run by peers

More…

Read more: Pennsylvania Drug & Alcohol Rehabs (Low Cost) 

The Kirkbride Center

Short and long term residential drug rehabs in Philadelphia. For teens, men, women and dual diagnosis patients. Free to those in real need.

• Certified
• Free/Affordable
• Dual Diagnosis
• Insurance
• Medicaid
• Teen

More…

 A not for profit community service drug and alcohol treatment organization, offering residential short and long term drug rehab to adults, dual diagnosis patients, and teen boys and girls. No one will be denied care for a financial reason. In Philadelphia.

• Certified
• Free/Affordable
• Dual Diagnosis
• Insurance
• Medicaid
• Teen

With hundreds of treatment beds available to those in need, regardless of their financial situation, The Kirkbride Center treats all in need in Philadelphia. Residential short and long term rehabilitation for adults, dual diagnosis clients and teen boys and girls (in seperate programs). Medicaid and insurance.

Contact Details

111 NORTH 49 th st.

Philadelphia Pa.19134

(215)-471-2600

Read more: The Kirkbride Center 

Gaudenzia Inc.

Drug and alcohol rehabs, medical detox and long term transitional housing, in multiple locations across the state. Very affordable entry fees, and payment assistance may be available. Programs for men, women, women with children, dual diagnosis patients, HIV positive and teens.

• Certified
• Free/Affordable
• Men
• Women
• Teen
• Insurance
• Medicaid
• Dual Diagnosis
• Detox

More…

Read more: Pennsylvania Drug & Alcohol Rehabs (Low Cost) 

Salvation Army ARC

Providing excellent residential treatment free of charge, for adults in Pennsylvania who are willing to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior

More…

Read more: Pennsylvania Drug & Alcohol Rehabs (Low Cost) 

Salvation Army ARC Pennsylvania

ARC - Pittsburgh
44 South 9th Street
Pittsburgh, PA  15203-1196
(412)481-7900

ARC - Erie
1209 Sassafras Street
Erie, PA  16501 
(814)456-4237

ARC - Altoona
200 7th Avenue
Altoona, PA  16602
(814)946-3645

ARC - Harrisburg
3650 Vartan Way
Harrisburg, PA  17110
(717)541-0203

ARC - Scranton
610 South Washington Avenue
Scranton, PA  18505
(570)346-0007

ARC - Wilkes-Barre
163 Hazle Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA  18702
(570)822-4248

ARC - Philadelphia
4555 Pechin Street
Philadelphia, PA  19128
(215)483-3340

Read more: Salvation Army ARC Pennsylvania 

Mercy Philadelphia Hospital

Residential hospital based detox and rehab for adult men and women. Sliding scale payments, Medicaid and insurance.

• Certified
• Free/Affordable
• Dual Diagnosis
• Insurance
• Medicaid
• Detox

More…

Read more: Pennsylvania Drug & Alcohol Rehabs (Low Cost) 

St Joseph's Hospital Free to those in need. Certified Free/Affordable Detox Insurance Medicaid More… Read more: Pennsylvania Drug & Alcohol Rehabs (Low Cost)

North Philadelphia hospital based detoxification. Free to those in need.

• Certified
• Free/Affordable
• Detox
• Insurance
• Medicaid

More…

Read more: Pennsylvania Drug & Alcohol Rehabs (Low Cost) 

Teen Challenge of Philadelphia

Only $750 for 12 months of residential drug treatment. Christian recovery, strict rules of conduct, seperate programs for men and women. A part of Teen Challenge International.

• Christian
• Free/Affordable
• Three Months+

Read more: Pennsylvania Drug & Alcohol Rehabs (Low Cost) 

How to Get Past Marijuana Detox

by ChooseHelpEmail Google+ Twitter Facebook

© ezola

People who claim that marijuana is not addictive have obviously never spent a sleepless night of headaches and nausea lusting for just that little something to take the edge off.

Marijuana withdrawal is tough, and the detox pains are very real and strong enough to keep a lot of people using more than they want for longer than they want to.

Because marijuana detox doesn’t present with an obvious physical syndrome of symptoms, and because enduring social perceptions about the drug were formed in decades past, when the potency of marijuana was nowhere near what it is today, there exists a lingering misperception about the severity of marijuana detox and withdrawal pains.

Marijuana Detox Is Real

They are real, they are medically recognized as such, and have been for years since a Harvard Medical School Study categorized them as a syndrome of symptoms. Marijuana detox symptoms are not physically dangerous but they can be very uncomfortable, and since the cravings during a period of marijuana detox can be so strong; marijuana detox presents a significant obstacle to sobriety and the bettering of a marijuana addiction.

Marijuana is addictive, the health risks of frequent use are many, and the benefits inherent in quitting make an attempt at detox a very good idea.

Marijuana Detox Symptoms

Marijuana detox symptoms will peak in intensity within a day of cessation of use, and only gradually start to subside after three or four days.

Symptoms include:

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Restlessness
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Aggression and irritability
• Extreme cravings

Symptoms occur to varying degrees depending on the history and extent of abuse and personal physiology. Insomnia, anxiety and irritability are very frequently experienced.

Although you're not going to die from marijuana detox, the symptoms of withdrawal are very unpleasant, and since you feel co-occurring and intense cravings to use during the period of detox, the risks of relapse during the initial days of sobriety are high.

Marijuana Detox Treatment

No prescription medications exist for the real betterment of experienced marijuana detox symptoms, and only time will truly remove the discomforts of detox.

Sustained and vigorous exercise helps many to lessen the severity of symptoms of detox. Robust exercise can prompt the release of natural "feel good" neurotransmitters, helping to ease feelings of depression and anxiety, and sustained activity tires the body, helping somewhat with relapse provoking insomnia.

Having some form of sober support network to rely on during the initial days of temptation can help a lot and focusing your energies on activities away from temptations to use may also reduce the persistence of cravings.

Get Help for Marijuana Addiction

If you cannot quit on your own (and many cannot) you will need professional detox and treatment. Because cravings to use during the initial days overwhelm so many with the best of intentions to quit, progressing through detox in a facility away from access to marijuana may be required. Additionally, successful detox alone rarely provides a strong foundation for long term abstinence. To really stay drug free you need to develop self awareness over the root causes of your drug seeking behaviors, learn concrete and effective strategies to temptation avoidance, and learn with others how to have a good time without needing to get high.

The dangers of marijuana addiction are real; marijuana robs you of your initiative and clouds your emotions and your clarity. Marijuana use is associated with an increased risk for a number of different cancers, and also with a substantially increased likelihood towards certain psychiatric conditions.

Quitting is hard, but it's worth it, and if you can’t do it on your own, get help.

Read more: Marijuana Detox 

Alcohol and drug abuse causes family violence.

What can you do when alcohol or drugs cause family violence?

Alcohol and drug abuse causes family violence.

Not all people who abuse alcohol or drugs will become violent, but statistically, family abusers are far more likely to also abuse drugs or alcohol, and violent abuse is far more likely to occur while the abuser is intoxicated.

In some cases, the acute effects of the high can cause aggressive, irrational and dangerous outbursts, for example, a meth addict ending a multi day binge can get paranoid, aggressive and violent. If this violence is very out of character and the addict is not otherwise aggressive or violent, then without the negative influence of drug abuse, the violence should stop.

Domestic Assault

In the case of chronic domestic violence though, although the abuser will often get violent while intoxicated, there is no evidence that the violence will stop with the end of alcohol or drug abuse. Most perpetrators of domestic violence will batter both while sober and while intoxicated. For chronic domestic assault, treatment for substance abuse issues alone will not remove the long term threat to the family, and the abuser will need to participate in additional therapy to learn how to end their violent tendencies.

Elder Abuse

Substance abuse and elder abuse, the physical, emotional or neglectful abuse of elderly relatives under the abuser's care also occurs with saddening regularity. The elderly are often targeted for violence and abuse for financial reasons, out of frustration or for no apparent reason at all. Due to their self perceived vulnerability, the elderly are far less likely to report such behaviors to the police or other authorities.

Violence Can Never be Justified

Whatever the reason and whatever the justifications given, if a loved substance abuser harms the family with violence, emotional or sexual assault, the family needs to look after itself in the interest of self preservation, and self preservation needs to come before the needs of the substance abuser.

You are no help to anyone if you are badly injured, and no matter how you may love someone, if they do you harm, they need to go, or you need to go…and the authorities need to get involved.

You cannot allow someone to terrorize you, and whatever your familial ties, there can be no excuses made for someone who would do you physical or other harms.

If you live with or feel threatened by a substance abusing family member, take steps to get safe and take them right now. If your teen son abuses you, he has to go. Call the police and have them escort him out. You still love him, you can still support his treatment, but you can no longer allow him to harm you or others in the family.

If you live with a substance abusing spouse, you need to get out before it gets worse. Get out and get safe as soon as you can, and don’t consider seeing him or her until both the violence and the substance abuse have been therapeutically addressed.

If children are at risk, get out. There is no excuse--no possible rationalization--that ever justifies the abuse of children, and you need to get them safe. Remaining in the home puts your children at risk of physical harm, of developmental delays and at risk to propagate the violence themselves as adults. There can be no tolerance for abuse to children.

If you live with adult children who abuse you, threaten you for money or emotionally terrorize you, you do not have to stay with them. Do not believe that you are better off with family. Call the police.

You may love them, worry for them and rationalize their behaviors, but once they get violent, they have to go. Call the police, learn your rights and your options, and take steps to ensure that it never happens aga

Read more: Substance Abuse and Family Violence