Friday, November 30, 2012
CALL TO ACTION !
Now is the time Gentlemen! The mighty spirit of the LORD is sounding the alarm! One hundred thousand sons and daughters of the Almighty FATHER are being slaughtered every year by the powerful demonic force of addiction.Families devastated ,young children dieing before their time. Marriages trampled ,houses being robbed innocent blood spilled!How long will we as soldiers of the cross lie dormant. Your Congregations are full of souls crying out to the Almighty FATHER for deliverance ,hope ,and help.These are the times in which we find ourselves. My mission is to unite ,educate and break the back of this demonic force. As a fellow solider of CHRIST , GOD has equipped me with the tools and resources you will need for this great on going struggle. Contact recoveryconnections@gmail.com with whatever your needs may be.GOD has brought you the broken and wounded , and you now have a guide to assist you so you can assist them.My never ending prayer is to give sight back to the blind , to set the captives free and preach good tidings to the poor.We will live in a addiction free world someday , but until then lets armor up and fight the good fight ! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
By Joseph Dickerson November 30, 2012
Number of NFL Players Testing Positive for Amphetamines Has Increased
By Join Together Staff | November 29, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Prescription Drugs
The number of NFL players who are testing positive for amphetamines such as Adderall has increased, according to the Associated Press. More than 10 players suspended for failing drug tests since the start of last season have blamed Adderall.
NFL Senior Vice President Adolpho Birch told the AP the number of positive tests for amphetamines has increased. The league does not identify what substance a player tested positive for when he is penalized, the article notes. This means players can blame Adderall even if they tested positive for steroids or another stimulant.
Birch said that because many college students use Adderall as a study aid, players are used to relying on the pills as a stimulant. “It’s not a secret that it’s a societal trend,” he noted. “I think we’re starting to see some of the effects of that trend.”
Football players who are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can apply for an exemption that allows them to use Adderall. Several players who tested positive for the drug said they had a prescription, but did not receive an exemption.
Adderall “would absolutely give you a competitive advantage. Fatigue, focus, concentration, maybe aggression,” said Dr. Michael Joyner, a sports physiologist and anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “And if they were using it during training, the ability to train harder, longer, the ability to have fewer bad days.”
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Canada Allows Six Generic Drug Makers to Produce Oxycodone
By Join Together Staff | November 28, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Government & Prescription Drugs
The Canadian government has given approval to six generic drug companies to manufacture oxycodone products. The Canadian health minister had been under pressure to forbid the generic version of OxyContin because of concerns about widespread abuse of the painkiller, CBC reports.
Canadian Health Minister Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the drug is safe and effective when used as prescribed, the article notes. Last week, she announced drug manufacturers and pharmacists will be required to report spikes in sales, or changes in distribution patterns, in an effort to curb prescription drug abuse. The government also is requiring drug companies that manufacture oxycodone products to provide better education for healthcare professionals and the public about the potential risks of the drug.
The Associated Press reports Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock sent a letter to Aglukkaq asking the Canadian government to reconsider its decision, which he said will make oxycodone easier to abuse.
Bullock pointed out features that OxyContin’s manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, had included to make the drug harder to abuse will not be included in generic versions.
“Studies have shown that the tamper-resistant changes OxyContin manufacturers have made to the drug have resulted in less abuse among addicts,” Bullock wrote. “I have concerns that allowing easier-to-abuse oxycodone in Canada could undo some of the work that both Canadian and U.S. government and community leaders have accomplished in combating this epidemic.”
The AP notes officials in Canada’s provinces and aboriginal communities are also concerned about abuse, particularly in rural areas.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit” Workshop Dec. 18 in Doylestown
CALENDAR LISTING:
“Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit” Workshop Dec. 18 in Doylestown
Free monthly workshop series for individuals and families with a current or pastdrug/alcohol addiction issue. Next session meets Tues., Dec. 18, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., 252 W. Swamp Rd., Unit 12, Doylestown, Pa. Topics include using yoga and meditation to battle drug addiction; how addiction differs from other diseases; and a group participation period on a day in the life of a heroin addict. Refreshments. To register, call 215-345-6644 or email JSchwartz@councilsepa.org.
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Commentary: Research on Recovery Residences is Critical
By TRI_Amy A. Mericle PhD_Jennifer Miles BA_John Cacciola PhD | November 27, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related, Recovery & Research
For many in recovery, hard-fought gains are often jeopardized by precarious living arrangements or untenable housing. Recovery residences, like recovery homes, sober living houses, and Oxford HousesTM represent an important component in the continuum of care for substance use disorders. Unfortunately, recovery residences, particularly recovery homes, are understudied in scientific literature and are often regarded with skepticism by community members. Without published research, licensed professionals, policymakers and potential funders will continue to question the legitimacy of recovery residences and peer-based recovery.
With funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, scientists at the Treatment Research Institute seek to fill this critical gap in the literature by studying recovery homes in Philadelphia. The city is ideal to study recovery homes because it has a high concentration: more than 250 privately funded recovery homes, 18 homes that receive funding from Philadelphia’s Office of Addiction Services (OAS), and several others that receive funding through SAMHSA’s Access to Recovery program.
Although data collection has been underway for only a few months, several important themes have emerged:
1. Recovery home operators are willing to participate in research. Despite the unpredictable nature of their busy schedules, site contacts have been extremely accommodating and have graciously welcomed research staff into their homes. They understand the necessity of research data in promoting the legitimacy of recovery homes and peer-based recovery.
2. Although site contacts have been welcoming and supportive of this research, we have encountered barriers because there is no central registry of recovery homes, and the recovery home landscape in Philadelphia changes frequently with homes closing and opening, or changing names, ownership or target population.
3. Despite not being considered formal “treatment providers,” recovery homes operate in a highly structured and therapeutically oriented manner. These homes have a number of rules and expectations for residents, and provide basic as well as a variety of recovery-oriented services, all at a modest cost to residents. All of the homes interviewed performed drug testing, and over half mandated involvement in AA/NA and/or substance abuse treatment. Residents had curfews, were expected to do chores and typically lived in shared sleeping quarters.
4. Although site contacts were stoic in discussing the challenges they face, many cited stigma from the community as a hindrance to home operation. To counter this stigma, many of the homes participated in community engagement activities, (e.g., litter abatement), which they felt fostered good neighbor practices and positively affected the attitudes of surrounding neighbors. Financial hardship was also cited as an impediment, but most operators found ways to overcome these obstacles, and remained hopeful in continuing to run their homes.
5. Finally, recovery home operators do what they do to help others in recovery, which often comes from a very personal place. Although they had varying levels of education and came from diverse professional backgrounds, nearly all were in recovery themselves. Often having come through the home they now operate, site contacts mentioned a sense of dedication to the program, stating “[t]his place saved my life.”
The findings from this study are preliminary, but we hope this work will raise awareness about the potentially critical role of recovery homes in meeting the needs of those in recovery and lead to future research. It is important to learn how these residences promote recovery and where they fit in the continuum of care for substance use disorders, and to identify factors that contribute to their sustainability. Data on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness may allow us to say more about the essential services and value these homes provide to supporting those in recovery.
Amy A. Mericle, PhD, Jennifer Miles, BA, & John Cacciola, PhD
The writers are researchers in the Center on the Continuum of Care at the Philadelphia-based Treatment Research Institute (TRI), an independent, non-profit research and development organization dedicated to developing evidence-based solutions to the problems of substance use affecting families, schools, businesses, courts and healthcare.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Detox Center Can Be As Good As Emergency Room for Some Drunk Patients
By Join Together Staff | November 26, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Research & Treatment
Some inebriated people picked up by emergency medical service ambulance crews can be treated effectively at a detoxification center, instead of an emergency room (ER), according to a new study. Increasing the use of such centers could reduce costs and lessen crowding of emergency rooms, the researchers note.
“Widespread use of this type of protocol has the potential to provide significant financial savings for the U.S. health care system,” lead author David Ross said in a news release. “This population is very frequently transported to the ER by EMS or police, consuming a disproportionate share of resources and contributing to ER overcrowding. A detoxification center is a good alternative to the ER for certain intoxicated patients who just need an appropriately staffed facility to ‘dry out.’ Our research suggests that EMS personnel can identify patients who are safe for this alternative destination.”
The researchers estimate that in 2004, ER visits by people whose only medical issue was inebriation cost about $900 million, Reuters reports.
Ross and colleagues created a checklist with 29 yes-or-no questions for ambulance crews. These questions included whether the patient is cooperating with the ambulance worker’s exam, and if the patient is willing to go to the detox center. If the ambulance worker checked “no” on any question, the patient was sent to the ER.
The researchers evaluated the outcome of 718 inebriated patients transported by ambulance workers who used the checklist.
The workers brought 138 to detox centers, and the rest went to the local ER. The detox center had a 24-hour nurse and technicians, who could consult by phone with a physician’s assistant and a psychiatrist. They found four patients at the detox center were taken to the ER because of minor complications, but no serious complications were reported.
The findings are published in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Commentary: Facebook: “Liking” the Benefits of Health Behavior Interventions
By Dr. Nathan Cobb | November 20, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Addiction, Healthcare & Tobacco
This month Facebook announced that it had reached one billion active users. Not one billion accounts or registrants, but one billion individuals using the website every month. Of these approximately 200 million are in the U.S. and Canada – a staggering number. Each one of the users is connected to hundreds of their friends, actively exchanging information, sharing photos and news and even playing games together.
Two studies published at the same time in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggest that Facebook can do more. It can be used to deliver evidence-based health behavior interventions. Particularly interesting was the study by Sheanna Bull and colleagues where they used Facebook with youth to increase condom use and potentially prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Not only did their randomized control trial show that it’s possible to build an effective intervention within Facebook, but they also showed that a well-designed intervention will spread from friend to friend more efficiently than something that lacks interest or utility.
Taken together, these facts suggest that we may be on the cusp of a tremendous change in how we deliver health behavior interventions. An intervention that can reach people where they live and work, but can also involve and spread through their own social network, would have tremendous impact. An accompanying editorial that I wrote with Dr. Amanda Graham lays out some of this potential. But equally important, here at Legacy we have similar work underway, including a randomized control trial funded by the National Cancer Institute to evaluate how a Facebook app may spread through a quitter’s network and involve their friends.
We think that health behavior change interventions in the future will be inherently social, leveraging the Internet to involve your friends, family and co-workers, but also exposing you to people you have never met. What role Facebook will ultimately play is unknown, but as of today, the future is incredibly exciting.
Dr. Nathan Cobb
Nathan Cobb, MD, is a Research Investigator at the Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Legacy®, a practicing physician, and expert in the field of behavioral informatics. His prior work as a smoking cessation counselor and computer programmer for health risk assessments were a springboard for the development of QuitNet, one of the first Internet based behavior change interventions. Dr. Cobb’s current work leverages social networks to effect behavior change through social support and social influence. This includes both retrospective exploration of a 10 year database of interactions of participants in the QuitNet network, as well as novel interventions using social utilities such as Facebook and alternative delivery mechanisms such as text messaging.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Study Links Marijuana Psychosis With Genetic Variation
By Join Together Staff | November 21, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Drugs & Research
A new study suggests a specific genetic variation may increase the risk of developing marijuana-related psychosis. Researchers found people with the variation were twice as likely to develop a psychotic disorder when using marijuana. The risk increased up to sevenfold if they used marijuana daily, Health Day reports.
The findings could help lead to new treatments for marijuana-induced psychosis, the researchers say.
In the journal Biological Psychiatry, they note evidence is increasing that marijuana use during the teenage years may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. Their study of more than 700 people found marijuana-related psychosis was linked with a variation in the AKT1 gene. The gene is involved in the regulation of the brain chemical dopamine, which plays an important role in mental health, the article notes.
“Our findings help to explain why one cannabis user develops psychosis while his friends continue smoking without problems,” the researchers from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry note in a news release.
A study published last year suggested marijuana may accelerate the onset of psychotic disorders in some young users. Researchers conducted a review of the literature examining the effects of marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs on the onset of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. They found patients with psychotic disorders who smoked marijuana at an early age developed symptoms almost three years sooner than those who did not. The link was strongest among those who started smoking at ages 12 to 15 or younger.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Alphahouse Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
About AlphaHouse
Alpha
House, Inc. provides help and hope for substance abusers through a
variety of programs that use a “whole person” approach to help addicts
and alcoholics change their lifestyle. We have been changing lives
since 1970, long before medical models realized the need. We have
proactively responded to decades of change and continue to be a
innovative leader in treating substance abuse.
Our firm but loving therapeutic community provides inpatient and outpatient services that combine therapy with education, work, peer interaction, family involvement and community service.
At Alpha House, we believe that highly motivated addicts and alcoholics can change their lives and we are dedicated to teaching them how.
Our firm but loving therapeutic community provides inpatient and outpatient services that combine therapy with education, work, peer interaction, family involvement and community service.
At Alpha House, we believe that highly motivated addicts and alcoholics can change their lives and we are dedicated to teaching them how.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tree of Hope Listing Dec 12 2012
When the stately evergreen is raised in the lobby of the Bucks County Courthouse, it will be more than a symbol of the holiday season. Decorated with personalized ornaments bearing the names or initials of people who have directly or indirectly experienced addiction to drugs or alcohol, the the annual Tree of Hope represents the possibility of recovery.
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and PRO-ACT will hold the Tree of Hope dedication ceremony on Dec. 12 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Please find attached:
Tree of Hope 2012.doc — press release
Tree of Hope Listing Dec 12 2012.doc — calendar listing
I hope you can find room for one or both in your publication. If you have an online calendar, I will post the information there. Proceeds from ornament sales benefit recovery support services.Call 215-345-6644 or visit www.councilsepa.org .Click events and select Tree of hope.
Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Cathie Cush
C2 Communications
Copywriting * Public Relations
cathiecush@comcast.net
Ph:
215.579.2076Fx: 215.579.2169
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Prevention North Carolina
Why is PREVENTION the answer?
Because Prevention WORKS!
The prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs has been a priority in North Carolina, and the country, for decades. The North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) has stated that
“Substance use and abuse is both a health problem in itself and a health risk contributing to other health problems” In its recent report (2009) the NCIOM goes on to say that Prevention should be the cornerstone of North Carolina’s efforts to reduce inappropriate use, misuse, and dependence on alcohol and other drugs, and to prevent the incidence and severity of stress, depression, or other anxiety disorders.
In turn, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that if effective prevention programs were implemented nationwide, substance abuse initiation would decline by 1.5 million youth. Youth who do initiate use will delay that initiation by an average of two years. For subsequent years, this would have estimated a return of:
5.6 percent fewer youth ages 13–15 would have engaged in drinking;
10.2 percent fewer youth would have used marijuana;
30.2 percent fewer youth would have used cocaine;
8.0 percent fewer youth would have smoked regularly.
SAMHSA goes on to report that these reductions in use would also contribute to a reduction in cost to our cities, counties, states, and the country. For example, the average effective school-based substance abuse prevention program costs $220 per pupil including materials and teacher training, and these programs could save an estimated $18 per $1 invested if implemented nationwide. The report goes on to argue that if full implementation of effective prevention programming would occur nationwide it could have a cost benefit of:
Saving state and local governments $1.3 billion, including $1.05 billion in educational costs within 2 years;
Reducing social costs of substance-abuse-related medical care, other resources, and lost productivity over a lifetime by an estimated $33.7 billion;
Preserving the quality of life over a lifetime valued at $65 billion.
As you may recognize from the information listed here, Substance Abuse Prevention is not just about “feel good” programs that tug at the heart strings of individuals, families, and the community; instead it is combination of care and concern for our youth with a combination of science to assure our achievement of our target. To put it into one phrase, the state of
North Carolina strives to provide all Prevention Professionals with the best trainings and tools for “effective prevention programs” and strategies because we know that helping just one high-risk youth graduate from high school, avoid heavy drug use, and not engage in crime would create a healthier youth AND save our state between $1.7 and $2.3 million dollars.
NC Institute of Medicine. (2009). Prevention for the Health of North Carolina: A Prevention Action Plan. More information can be found at: www.nciom.org/projects/prevention/Prev_Interim_Report-09.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (2008). Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Centers: A Cost Benefit Analysis
Cohen, M. (1998). The monetary value of saving a high-risk youth. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 14, 5-33.
Contact Info
Website http://www.preventionistheanswer.org
NIH Announces It Will Not Create Single Institute Devoted to Addiction
By Join Together Staff | November 19, 2012 | 3 Comments | Filed in Addiction& Government
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced it will not pursue the proposed creation of a single institute devoted to substance use, abuse and addictions. The proposal would have dissolved the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and replaced it with a single body, according to the Nature News Blog.
NIH Director Francis Collins said in a statement that instead of dissolving the two institutes, he will seek their “functional integration,” along with related research in the NIH’s other institutes. NIDA has an annual budget of $1 billion, while NIAAA’s budget is $459 million, the article notes.
Citing budget uncertainties, Collins noted, “The time, energy, and resources required for a major structural reorganization are not warranted, especially given that functional integration promises to achieve equivalent scientific and public health objectives.”
In June, Collins told his committee of external advisers that leaders in the alcoholic beverage industry were concerned about the new single institute. According to the article, the industry’s opposition suggested it was not comfortable with a single body that would more closely align the public’s perception of alcohol consumption and abuse with drug addiction.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Seattle Police Department Produces Guide to New Marijuana Law
By Join Together Staff | November 16, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inCommunity Related, Drugs & Legislation
In response to the newly approved recreational marijuana law approved by Washington state voters last week, the Seattle Police Department has produced a flippant guide that explains the new law, according to NBC News.
On November 6, voters in Washington and Colorado approved measures to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use, becoming the first U.S. states to do so. The measures allow personal possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for anyone at least 21 years old. They also permit marijuana to be sold and taxed at state-licensed stores.
The Seattle guide takes a lighthearted approach to answering questions about how the Washington law will be applied. “We deliberately designed (the guide) in a way that people would enjoy it,” Seattle Police Department (SPD) spokesman Sergeant Sean Whitcomb told NBC News.
One example from the guide:
Q: What happens if I get pulled over and I’m sober, but an officer or his K9 buddy smells the ounce of Super Skunk I’ve got in my trunk?
A: Under state law, officers have to develop probable cause to search a closed or locked container. Each case stands on its own, but the smell of pot alone will not be reason to search a vehicle.
The guide notes that while the new law, known as I-502, has decriminalized marijuana possession in Washington, it does not change federal law, which classifies marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic. “All Seattle Police officers have taken an oath to uphold not only state law, but federal law as well. However, SPD officers will follow state law, and will no longer make arrests for marijuana possession as defined under I-502,” the guide states.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Milestone Foundation Maine
About
Mission It is the mission of Milestone to provide the best quality of services to empower individuals with substance abuse problems to attain stability, dignity, recovery and an enhanced quality of life.
Company OverviewFor over forty years, Milestone Foundation has been providing emergency shelter, detoxification, and extended care to chronic substance abusers.
The Milestone Foundation is one of the oldest substance abuse treatment programs in Maine.
General Information
Milestone Foundation has two locations to help serve our community:
Portland Facility - Shelter & Detoxification Program
65 India St. Portland, Maine 04101
Old Orchard Beach Facility - Extended Care Program
28 Portland Ave. Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064
65 India St.
Portland, Maine 04101
Phone Portland Office:
(207) 775-4790 Old Orchard Beach Office: (207) 934-5231Email kellyt@milestonefoundation.org
Website http://www.MilestoneFoundation.org
Real Recovery North Carolina
About
Real Recovery is a sober living program for young men ages 18-28 located in Asheville, NC. For more information, please visit www.soberasheville.com.
MissionOur Mission Statement
Every young man willing seeking 12 step recovery should get the opportunity to achieve their full potential mentally, physically, and spiritually. That no young man should ever be ashamed of their affliction and the steps necessary to obtain recovery. That with hard work in life and recovery, comes the opportunity to enjoy premier snowboarding, longboarding, fly fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting, and the beautiful and fun-filled life that sober living in Western North Carolina's premier recovery home affords
DescriptionNorth Carolina's premiere Recovery Home and treatment aftercare program.A sober living program serving males age 18-28 with primary diagnosis of chemical dependence/ poly-substance abuse. Located in Asheville, North Carolina a young and eclectic town with southern charm and a vibrant local economy. Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains an extremely popular outdoor vacation destination. With a large local music scene and outstanding 12 step recovery community.
Basic Info
Founded November 2009
Location 399 Old Leicester Rd, Asheville, North Carolina 28804
Awards Recognized by leading treatment centers nationwide as a premier aftercare program and sober living home for young men seeking 12 step recovery.
Contact Info
Phone
(828) 989-1967Email kevin@real-recovery.net
Website http://www.soberasheville.com
Gaudenzia
Mission Gaudenzia helps people affected by chemical dependency, mental illness and related conditions to achieve a better quality of life-allowing them to live as productive and accountable individuals. This is accomplished through comprehensive treatment and prevention methods guided by a philosophy of mutual concern and responsibility. Gaudenzia also conducts research and educates the community on the causes, treatment and prevention of addictions, mental illness and related conditions.
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~ Gaudenzia Philosophy ~
*********************
We are here because there is no refuge,
finally, for ourselves.
Until people confront themselves in the eyes and hearts of others, they are running.
Until they suffer others to share their secrets,
they have no safety from them.
Afraid to be known, they can know neither themselves nor any other; they will be alone.
Where else but in our common ground
can we find such a mirror?
Here, together, people can at last appear clearly
to themselves - not as the giant of their dreams,
nor the dwarfs of their fears - but as individuals,
part of a whole, with a share in its purpose.
In this ground we can each take root and grow, not alone anymore as in death, but alive to ourselves and to others.
Company OverviewFounded in Philadelphia, Gaudenzia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people help themselves. We provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment & recovery services.
DescriptionTreatment Works. Recovery Happens.
Contact Info
Phone (610) 239-9600
Website http://www.gaudenzia.org
*********************
~ Gaudenzia Philosophy ~
*********************
We are here because there is no refuge,
finally, for ourselves.
Until people confront themselves in the eyes and hearts of others, they are running.
Until they suffer others to share their secrets,
they have no safety from them.
Afraid to be known, they can know neither themselves nor any other; they will be alone.
Where else but in our common ground
can we find such a mirror?
Here, together, people can at last appear clearly
to themselves - not as the giant of their dreams,
nor the dwarfs of their fears - but as individuals,
part of a whole, with a share in its purpose.
In this ground we can each take root and grow, not alone anymore as in death, but alive to ourselves and to others.
Company OverviewFounded in Philadelphia, Gaudenzia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people help themselves. We provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment & recovery services.
DescriptionTreatment Works. Recovery Happens.
Contact Info
Phone (610) 239-9600
Website http://www.gaudenzia.org
Alcohol Taxes Can Reduce Young People’s Drinking
By Celia Vimont | November 16, 2012 | 4 Comments | Filed in Alcohol,Government, Legislation, Marketing And Media, Young Adults & Youth
Raising alcohol excise taxes can help deter young people from drinking, according to a leading expert on preventing drinking in youth.
“These taxes prevent and reduce drinking and death among young people, as well as among heavy drinkers,” says David H. Jernigan, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who has conducted research on the effect of the taxes.
He notes that Maryland, which increased its sales taxes on liquor in 2011 from 6 percent to 9 percent, is a good example of how community coalitions can work together to translate research into action. The passage of the state alcohol sales tax increase was the first rise in spirits taxes since 1955, and the first increase in the beer and wine tax since 1972.
“When alcohol is cheaper at the corner store than milk, orange juice or sometimes even water, it sends young people the wrong message,” Jernigan says. “It makes alcohol look like an ordinary commodity when it is not.” He notes that prices on alcohol used to be much higher than those on other beverages. The most important factor in the price drop has been the inability of alcohol taxes to keep up with inflation.
In a report prepared as part of the campaign to advocate for the Maryland excise tax, CAMY estimated that a dime a drink increase in Maryland’s alcohol excise taxes would reduce alcohol consumption by 4.8 percent, raise $214.4 million in new revenue for the state and result in a savings of an additional $249 million in costs incurred in the state as a result of alcohol consumption. CAMY said that such an increase would prevent almost 15,000 cases of alcohol dependence annually. “The impact could be even larger among youth, since they are less likely to be addicted to alcohol than older drinkers, and also have less disposable income—both factors that make them more sensitive to increases in the cost of alcohol,” the report states.
The Maryland sales tax on alcohol is expected to raise about $75 million this year, about $10 million less than projected when the law was passed. An estimated $14 million collected through the alcohol tax will be used to expand community-based, long-term care for the elderly and those with disabilities. Most of the money is being directed to health-related programs. In addition to the $14 million to expand services for the elderly and disabled, the funds will be used for programs for people with developmental disabilities, and community health services, including a program that covers outpatient primary care, substance abuse and pharmacy benefits.
The coalition promoting the Maryland excise tax increase led the campaign with the public health case for the tax, Jernigan says, including two CAMY reports summarizing research on alcohol taxes. “Our message was, ‘Regardless of what we do with this money, the tax will save lives because that is what these taxes do.’” The coalition immediately got copies of the report out to the media to engage their interest.
In one study cited, which was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2010, researchers reviewed 72 papers and reports, nearly all of which found an inverse relationship between the tax or price of alcohol and measures of excessive drinking or alcohol-related health outcomes. The results “constitute strong evidence that raising alcohol excise taxes is an effective strategy for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms,” the researchers conclude.
The coalition did polling to assess and demonstrate public support for the tax. “More than half the population supports alcohol excise taxes consistently, and if you earmark the revenue for specific things, that percentage rises to the mid-60s to low 70s,” Jernigan says.
The next step was to write a resolution to support the idea of increasing Maryland’s alcohol tax, and find organizations to sign it. The coalition then made it an election-year issue by asking candidates running for statewide office in 2010 to support the resolution, and was able to obtain backing from one-third of the candidates.
Finally, the coalition began educating policymakers about why alcohol taxes are good for public health. Jernigan cautioned that anyone who receives public funding, whether local, state or federal, cannot use those funds to be involved in direct lobbying, even about public health issues.
Once an alcohol excise tax has been passed, supporters must continue to inform the public about the effect of the tax, according to Jernigan. “The public needs to know how much has been raised, where the money is going and what impact it has. It usually takes three to four years to measure that.”
Jernigan is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on technical tools that are designed to assist states and communities in implementing recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services, a nongovernmental group appointed by the CDC director. One of the recommendations is to raise alcohol excise taxes.
FedEx and UPS Targets of Criminal Investigation Related to Online Pharmacies
By Join Together Staff | November 16, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Legal& Prescription Drugs
Shipping companies FedEx and UPS say they are targets of a federal investigation related to their dealings with online pharmacies, ABC News reports. The probe is part of an international effort to reduce prescription drug abuse.
On Thursday, a federal jury convicted three men of operating illegal pharmacies that used the two shipping companies to deliver drugs without proper prescriptions, according to the news report.
FedEx spokesman Patrick Fitzgerald said the Drug Enforcement Administration has refused to provide the company with a list of online pharmacies under investigation. Without such information, it is not possible to know which companies are operating illegally, he told ABC News. “We have no interest in violating the privacy of our customers by opening and inspecting their packages in an attempt to determine the legality of the contents,” he said.
In 2011, Google agreed to pay $500 million to avoid being prosecuted for aiding illegal online pharmaceutical sales. In the settlement, the company acknowledged it had improperly and knowingly assisted online pharmacy advertisers, allegedly based in Canada, to run ads for illegal pharmacy sales that targeted American customers.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Letter from an addict
Shelly 6:11am Oct 21
Hi My name is Shelly
I am just the MOM...I thought maybe I would give you a different view on the
Life of an addict..MY VIEW....
I was 15 when I had my first and only child,not yet an adult,but back then
You couldn't have told me that..
Single and living in a shack with an alcoholic father,but I was HAPPY .I was
Happy because I had no supervision,,
What a life huh?Partying my days and nights
Away with no recollections the next morning,not caring that I now had
A child to tend to,because ,why should I worry,I had my dad.Even though my
Dad was a drunk,he always seemed to
Be there for us,and now,, for this child of mine.With dads help ,I was able
To continue the way I wanted to LIVE...
Mescaline,Acid,Mushrooms,Thc,and the occasional
MR.RUSH.I wasn't out there stealing and hurting people,going through
Medicine cabinets, in and out of jail,, I MY FRIEND
WAS HAVING FUN!!!! I cared about nothing but where the next hit of acid
Was coming from,
Because I wanted to LAUGH..I never bothered to find out what this stuff was
Why would I...I knew it was fun,and fun we had,yes we did..
This continued from 13 to 25,and of course we cant forget the booze...I was
Drinking in bars at 14..Back then it was like nobody cared.
We were making memories...Where was my son?HMMMMMM,I am sure my dad was
Taking care of him in between beers.
My son moved on when I was 27,He decided that he wanted to live with his dad
I moved around so much ,I could understand why
He wanted stability..Pretty hard to make friends when mom
Is so f........ up she doesn't know you exist,(although there was all of the
Fun times we had)..So here I was
Alone at 27 finally,nobody but ME...I got a job,and a 1 bedroom apartment
(WHICH I STILL MISS BY THE WAY)
And I met people,One of them introduced me to cocaine,That first time ,
Ohhhh I still remember that first time.Within minutes I was wanting more..
I don't know how long I kept it at the simple little 1/2 gram,but I kept it
That way for maybe ohh a few weeks..then it wasn't enough..I wanted more
It called my name.And I got it,I graduated to 8 balls.
Now how was I going to pay for this?I know Ill sell it,I would sell 3 keep a
1/2 ,,yes this was working for me ,,and I could now feed my addiction.Never
Caring that things just werent right in my world.I was super human,,stay up
All night doing lines,and going to work the next day..Easy life,When it got
To hard to stay awake,I would just do more lines.I could handle this way of
Living.it was the best ,or so I thought...it just wasn't enough I needed
More,and then more on top of that.
I came home to visit my dad and told him what I was doing ,he asked me to
Stop..
But I couldn't,it called my name every waking moment,it called to me...It
Took me about 2 years to really realize I was hooked..I needed to get out of
This mess I was in,So I ran back home ,way UP north,to where I knew I was
Safe,I have been clean now for 22 years.that is just a little bit about my
F........... up life,
In the meantime,I didn't even stop to think about what my son was doing.It
Was years before I really knew the truth about how bad it really was for him
I never believed my son would get into way more than I ever could have
Dreamed of.I first heard about the cocaine he was shooting,when he was 27,of
Course I didn't want to believe this.I am just now finding out that he was
Shooting starter fluid along with the cocaine.my god,how bad is it out
There?when did he graduate to the thing that I never could have imagined
HEROIN???I watched as he lost everything,a job ,a car ,a home,and most of
All his life,no he didn't die,but he may as well have been dead..He was
Scrambling,working hard to find that next hit.When did it all get this bad?
And why couldn't I fix it?I wanted my son back.over the years I have done a
Lot of stupid things,turning him in ,making his life hell,but I didn't know
The answers,I only know for the next 10 years,I enabled my son to keep going
.I thought I was helping him to get better,but in fact ,I was making things
worse for him.In the past 2 years,i have taken a step back,and I am working
on me.I am allowing my son to work on himself.Even if he relapses,this is
his choice,not mine..I cant live under the constant stress anymore.I am
living the few years left here for ME.taking care of ME.I guess I really
wanted you all to know what goes on in a moms head and heart,when they are
watching their child spin out of control..It hurts ,,there are days I would
have rather been dead.I cant go backwards,,I must move on,with or without
him in my life.as a mom ,of an addict,I have lost grandchildren that I will
never know..how fair is that to me?I didn't ask for this.so ,why should I
have to suffer?I want you all to imagine ,for one minute,,what if this was
Your child??how would you feel? I want to help save my son,but I cant..this
isnt fair..
When did life become all about drugs..when did family become unimportant
well,I wish
you all the best of luck in your sobriety.I pray for each and everyone of
you to make your life count.
Thanks for being here,and thank you Silver,for everything that you do for so
many...
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