Saturday, March 30, 2013

 
  


 Penn Foundation Offering Grief Support Group for
Parents Who Have Lost a Child to Substance Use

The group meets weekly on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm. Meetings are held in Penn Foundation's Library (use Dayspring Entrance; click HERE for directions). The group is free, and no registration is required. 
  
"Parents of children who have died due to substance use are a unique group of people with unparalleled grief and unprecedented need," says Sister Mary Julia McKenzie, Recovery Center Chaplain. "We provide support to these parents so they may find comfort in each other and a pathway to healing. We find that these grieving parents heal more quickly when in a supportive environment where they can share with other parents who have experienced the same thing." 
  
For more information about this group, contact Sister Mary Julia McKenzie at 267.404.5099 or mmckenzie@pennfoundation.org.
  
Penn Foundation offers many other group enhancement opportunities. To view a complete list of groups, click HERE



Recovery Center Offers Free Addiction
Education Program Every Sunday
  
The Community Education program is offered free-of-charge to all family members and friends of Penn Foundation clients as well as interested members of the public. It is held every Sunday from 12:00 - 1:30 pm at the John W. and Emily Clemens Recovery Center (807 Lawn Avenue, Sellersville).

The goal of Community Education is to provide education about the disease of addiction. It is designed to assist participants in understanding how substance abuse affects family members and friends of individuals who are abusing drugs or alcohol. Information is shared through lectures and group discussions.

For more information, contact Sister Mary Julia McKenzie at 267.404.5099 or mmckenzie@pennfoundation.org.


 Family Consultation Program Provides Support and Advice for Families Who Don't Know What to Do

The Family Consultation program is designed to assist individuals who have identified family members or other loved ones struggling with alcohol or substance use, including problem drinking and abuse of prescription medications, and don't know what to do about it.

A trained substance abuse counselor will meet with the family or significant others to discuss the specific situation and needs and will offer options for confronting the problem and engaging the user in treatment.

For more information, call the John W. and Emily Clemens Recovery Center at 215.257.9999.


Penn Foundation Part of New 2-1-1 Health and
Human Services Directory Unveiled by the
United Ways of Southeastern Pennsylvania
  
The United Ways of Southeastern Pennsylvania have unveiled a new, comprehensive Health and Human Services Directory - www.211sepa.org - to help more people more effectively find the help they need.

This directory includes resources such as food banks, shelters, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, financial assistance, job training, home healthcare, transportation, childcare, after school programs, summer camps, disaster relief organizations, and much more.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Measures to Test Welfare Applicants for Drugs Advance in Texas, Kansas

Bills that would require drug testing for welfare applicants advanced in Texas and Kansas this week.
In Texas a bill that would have resulted in children permanently losing benefits based on a third failed drug test by a parent was amended. The bill’s author accepted changes to ensure children would continue to receive benefits while their parents are in rehabilitation programs, the Austin American-Statesman reports.
Based on these changes, the state’s Health and Human Services Committee voted to approve the bill.
Under the bill, welfare applicants in the state would undergo drug screening. If the results indicated good cause to suspect drug abuse, applicants would be required to undergo drug testing. Applicants with previous felony drug convictions, or a prior positive drug test, also would be required to undergo drug testing. Applicants who tested positive would lost benefits for a year, but could reapply in six months, after they passed another drug test.
Children would receive benefits regardless of their parents’ drug test results.
The Kansas House approved a bill that would require drug testing of applicants for welfare or unemployment if they were suspected of drug abuse, according to The Wichita Eagle.
Under the Kansas bill, applicants who failed drug tests would be required to participate in drug treatment and job skills training, paid for by the state and federal government. If they applied and failed again, they would lose benefits for a year.
Anyone convicted of a drug felony would be barred from receiving welfare for five years. A second conviction would lead to a lifetime ban, the article notes.
The Kansas Senate has already approved the measure. According to the newspaper, the Senate is likely to agree to several minor changes approved by the House, before advancing the bill to Governor Sam Brownback.

Supreme Court Rules Drug-Sniffing Dog Searches are Unconstitutional

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that police must first obtain a search warrant before bringing drug-sniffing police dogs onto a suspect’s property to look for evidence, the Associated Press reports.
The decision may limit how investigators use search dogs to look for drugs, explosives and other hidden items, the article notes.
The court voted 5-4 to uphold a Florida Supreme Court ruling that threw out evidence seized based on an alert by a chocolate Lab named Franky. That court ruled the dog’s ability to detect marijuana growing inside a home in Miami by sniffing outside the house was unconstitutional.
Franky, who recently retired after seven years with the Miami-Dade Police Department, is responsible for the seizure of more than 2.5 tons of marijuana and $4.9 million in drug-contaminated money.
Government organizations around the country use thousands of dogs to sniff out illegal items, track criminals and search wreckage sites, according to the AP.
Last month, the U.S. Supreme court ruled police do not have to extensively document a drug-sniffing dog’s expertise to justify relying on the canine to search a vehicle.
The unanimous ruling overturned a Florida Supreme Court decision involving Aldo, a German shepherd. After the dog detected drugs in a pickup truck, a police officer searched the truck and found 200 pseudoephedrine pills and 8,000 matches, which are used to make methamphetamine. The Florida Supreme Court ruled police must compile detailed evidence of the dog’s reliability before probable cause to search the vehicle is established.

FedEx, UPS Say They Are Targets of DEA Probe Into Online Pharmacy Shipments

FedEx and UPS say they are targets of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation into online pharmacy shipments, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
The DEA effort is aimed at cracking down on the country’s prescription drug abuse epidemic, the article notes. The agency will not confirm its involvement in the investigation, but both shipping companies have disclosed the probe in corporate filings, according to the newspaper.
Federal officials want the companies to take responsibility for the prescription drugs inside the packages they are shipping, the article states. FedEx spokesman Patrick Fitzgerald responded, “We are a transportation company — we are not law enforcement, we are not doctors and we are not pharmacists.” He added, “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. We stand ready and willing to support and assist law enforcement. We cannot, however, do their jobs for them.”
Fitzgerald said FedEx asked the DEA to provide a list of online pharmacies that are suspected of illegal activity, so it can stop doing business with them. He said the agency has refused to provide a list.
UPS would not comment on the investigation, but stated in a corporate filing that it is cooperating with the probe.
Earlier this month, U.S. Representative John Mica of Florida sent a letter to DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart and Attorney General Eric Holder, asking them to recognize “the difficulty and unfairness of requiring those carriers to assume responsibility for the legality and validity of the contents of the millions of sealed packages that they pick up and deliver every day.”
Mica told the newspaper, “You can’t stop commerce; you can’t open every package. I’m only asking them [the DEA and Department of Justice] for a reasonable approach.”

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Livengrin's Home in Bensalem
Reminder: Breakfast with friends Sunday, April 7
time running out to get reserved tickets
Clyde Bertram was colorful, outspoken and most of all, effective.  The many hundreds of lives he touched before his passing in January inspire us to remember a grand friend.

At the first breakfast for alumni and friends of 2013, we'll gather at the Bensalem Country Club (just off Street Road) to share a meal, camaraderie and stories of Clyde. 

Join us in celebrating this significant life - and the many lives Clyde touched with his wisdom, honesty and unwavering smile.

At this event we'll unveil Clyde's Club - come find out all about it!

Seating for this reasonably-priced, full-course breakfast is limited. Place your order today on our secure Paypal site. (You do not need to have, or obtain, a Paypal account to use it.)  There's also a mail-in option. 

For more, call Livengrin's event hotline: 215-638-5200,  ext. 310

Visit the
Clyde Bertram Alumni Breakfast  

We look forwarding to seeing you there!

THE PARTNERSHIP OF DRUGFREE .ORG




Dear Joseph,

Last December at our annual Winter Wish Gala, we announced a new fund for children and families, in memory of our friend, our leader and our inspiration, James E. Burke.

His son, James, shared with us something very personal that night:

“As I look at my two young daughters, I am scared by the dramatic rise of prescription drug abuse among teens in this country…substance abuse and addiction would move my father in a way that would make him angry…make him cry at the devastation of young lives lost.”

His father’s passion for serving children and families remains with us today, and we often ask ourselves, “What would Jim do?”

It was Jim’s belief that parents and kids who struggle with substance abuse and addiction deserve the same quality of care, and open arms of support, that they would get with any other disease. It’s now our job to make that a reality.

To date, through donations to the James E. Burke Fund for Children and Families, we have raised close to $200,000 to provide valuable resources to families across the country, including sustaining our Parents Toll-Free Helpline, where our staff of caring professionals help callers every day.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Florida Sees Significant Drop in Number of Oxycodone Deaths in First Half of 2012

The number of deaths due to oxycodone decreased by 29 percent in Florida in the first six months of 2012, compared with the second half of the previous year, according to a new report.
The drugs that caused the most deaths in the first half of 2012 were benzodiazepines, oxycodone, ethyl alcohol, methadone and cocaine. The report found deaths due to methadone and hydrocodone decreased 18.3 percent and 16.4 percent, respectively. Deaths caused by cocaine decreased by 11.6 percent.
The report, issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, provides evidence the state is successfully fighting the prescription drug abuse epidemic, officials said. For many years, Florida was a popular destination for people who wanted to buy prescription drugs at “pill mills” and doctors’ offices, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
In 2011, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law a bill designed to cut down on prescription drug abuse by controlling pill mills in the state. The law authorized the creation of a prescription-drug monitoring database to reduce doctor-shopping by people looking to collect multiple painkiller prescriptions. The legislation also imposed new penalties for physicians who overprescribe medication and imposes stricter rules for operating pharmacies.
The law had a major impact, according to a state government news release. “Two years ago, Florida was home to 90 of the top 100 oxycodone-purchasing physicians on a nationwide list, and today Florida isn’t on that list,” the release states.
“I am pleased that we are continuing to see a steady decline in the number of prescription drug deaths,” said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. “These declining numbers are a direct result of our comprehensive strategy involving partnerships at the local, state, and federal level, and together we are saving lives.”

Animal Study Yields Clues to Susceptibility to Alcohol Addiction

A study of mice suggests why some people may be more susceptible than others to alcohol addiction. The findings may one day lead to improved treatments, according to the researchers from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The researchers studied how individual mice responded to alcohol. Lead author Jeff Weiner, Ph.D., explained when mice are given alcohol every day, they tend to become more stimulated and run around more, Science Daily reports.
“In high doses, alcohol is a depressant, but in low doses, it can have a mellowing effect that results in greater activity,” he said. “Those low dose effects tend to increase over time and this increase in activity in response to repeated alcohol exposure is called locomotor sensitization,” Dr. Weiner said in a news release.
One group of mice was injected with the same amount of alcohol every day for three weeks, while another group received a saline injection. They found a large variation in the development of locomotor sensitization to alcohol. “Surprisingly, when all of the alcohol-exposed mice were given an opportunity to voluntarily drink alcohol, those that had developed sensitization drank more than those that did not. In fact, the alcohol-treated mice that failed to develop sensitization drank no more alcohol than the saline-treated control group,” Weiner said.
“We know that some people are much more vulnerable to alcoholism than others, just like some people have a vulnerability to cancer or heart disease,” Weiner added. “We don’t have a good understanding of what causes this vulnerability, and that’s a big question. But if we can figure it out, we may be able to better identify people at risk, as well as gain important clues to help develop better drugs to treat the disease.”
The findings appear in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Commentary: Rx Summit Features More Than 120 Presenters

More than 120 presenters are set to lead a national discussion about ways to “Make An Impact” on the prescription drug abuse epidemic when the 2013 National Rx Drug Abuse Summit convenes in Florida April 2-4.
I am thrilled at the exceptional caliber of presenters assembled for this conference by the Summit’s National Advisory Board. The quality of their presentations is reflected in our ability to offer multiple continuing education credits for medical professionals (physicians, nurses and pharmacists), social workers, attorneys, addiction and prevention specialists, human resources, criminal justice and insurance professionals.
Operation Unite- National Rx Drug Abuse Summit 2013There is still time for you to add your voice to the more than 800 conference attendees from across the United States who will collaborate on impactful solutions at local, state and national levels through timely and data-driven data about the prescription drug abuse crisis.
In addition to an outstanding line-up of keynote speakers – Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Director Frances Harding, Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Deputy Assistant Administrator Joseph Rannazzisi, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Chairman/CEO Gen. Arthur Dean, Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. John Dreyzehner, Coalition Against Insurance Fraud Executive Director Dennis Jay and Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney John Niedermann – the Summit features:
• 30 breakout sessions grouped into educational tracks (law enforcement, education/advocacy, clinical, treatment, pharmacy and third-party payer). These sessions will be led by professionals from many disciplines on the frontline of efforts to prevent, mitigate and respond to prescription drug abuse issues.
• Nine workshops on three important focus areas: U.S. military, prescription drug monitoring programs and successful strategies for community change.
• Eight vision sessions offering in-depth examination of innovative programs and strategies from organizations and businesses deeply involved in the fight against Rx abuse and diversion.
• Four idea exchange sessions providing an interactive discussion on issues pertaining to the Appalachian region, neonatal abstinence syndrome and addiction among teens.
• A panel discussion featuring five members of the bi-partisan Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse. Learn what actions are currently being taken in Congress.
For information about the Summit visit www.NationalRxDrugAbuseSummit.org, or follow news about the event at Twitter.com/RxSummit, Facebook.com/RxSummit, or LinkedIn.com/RxSummit. Questions may be directed to Eric Rice at 606-657-3218 or erice@centertech.com.
Karen Kelly
President/CEO

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Commentary: Tax Revenue for Treatment

The abuse of prescription drugs is well documented. Many possible solutions and remedies have been offered – at various levels of government – ranging from expanded treatment and prevention, to prescription drug monitoring systems. However, we find ourselves in an era of shrinking budgets, for all domestic programs at all levels of government. Whether the solutions we face lie in the health system, justice system or elsewhere, there will be very little budget growth to fund this fight for at least the remainder of the decade. If we are to expand our fight against prescription drug abuse and want the support of policy makers, it is incumbent upon us to find new sources of revenue that will pay for the changes that must be made.
Although the word “tax” represents an incredibly sensitive and politically charged topic these days, we need to explore it if that is where our answer lies. Specifically, a sumptuary tax on the product that is at the root of this problem: prescribed controlled substances (FDA Schedules C-II through C-V). Ideally, this tax revenue would only be used for preventive and rehabilitative services, and related expenses. The funds would assist those without medical insurance, or the means to pay for treatment.
Strong precedent exists for such a concept, such as the federal tax on medical devices for the purpose of paying for health care services, or state and federal excise taxes on alcohol or cigarettes. The motivations behind so-called “sin taxes” vary. Taxes on products such as tobacco and alcohol exist in part as a deterrent, with policy makers holding the belief that a higher price on a product will discourage use to a level that becomes abusive. This sounds fair in theory, but it does not take into account the disease of addiction. For someone who is an addict, whether to tobacco, alcohol or any other substance or behavior, price is rarely an object. Our focus needs to be on the portions of these tax revenues that are set aside for treatment and prevention programs.
There is also precedence for the setting aside of funds generated from legal activities in order to assist those that develop conditions based on an abuse of said activity; specifically, problem gambling. Casinos or racetrack casinos (“raceinos”) exist in 20 states, operating legitimately, yet millions of people suffer from an addiction to gambling. In many states, those who profit from gambling enterprises, whether they be private or state entities, are required by law to set aside a pool of funds to provide treatment for problem gamblers. Depending on the state, this pool of funds can go toward assisting localities, individuals, or both, especially with counseling and prevention services.
We absolutely recognize the medical need for prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Vicodin and others, as they play a vital role in pain management for patients with no other alternatives, and who use them as prescribed or under a doctor’s care, without abuse. Yet due to the lack of institutional control over these substances – over prescription, counterfeiting and inadequate monitoring- we are facing nothing short of an epidemic caused by their abuse. Tax revenue of controlled substances, sold with a prescription, can be an invaluable funding stream used to address the damage that is known to result from the widespread availability of and poor control over prescribed controlled substances. Such an idea is easy to espouse, but far more difficult to accomplish. The resources and commitment required to draft, introduce, enact and enforce such legislation – at the state and federal levels – could turn out to be exhaustive. Yet our calls for more treatment, prevention and awareness have only taken us so far, and time is against us. All of the details are far from ready, but the time for dialogue on this idea is now. Let’s start talking.
Andrew Kessler is founder and Principal of Slingshot Solutions LLC, a consulting firm based in Fairfax, Virginia that specializes in substance abuse and mental health policy.
Sharon Blair is a national advocate for prescription drug abuse treatment and prevention. She is the mother of Jennifer Reynolds-Gonzalez, who lost her life to an overdose in 2009 at the age of 29.

Cartels Moving Drugs in Tanker Trucks Containing Industrial Hazardous Waste

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is hiring contractors who can deploy hazardous waste contamination teams to two sites in Texas, to extract drug packages buried in toxic waste, according to Wired.
Cartels are moving drugs in tanker trucks containing various types of industrial hazardous waste, CBP says. The agency acknowledged its agents are not trained to safely extract the drugs and decontaminate them for use as evidence.
The waste includes drilling fluids, oil and wastewater from gas and oil wells. Wastewater from drilling wells may include benzene, which can cause leukemia and bone marrow disease, the article notes. It also includes calcium hydroxide powder, which can cause blindness if enough of the substance gets into the eyes.
The agency wants experts for two checkpoints about 70 miles north of the Texas-Mexico border. At the checkpoints, 18-wheel trucks are scanned by drive-through X-ray machines. If the scans find anything that looks like a drug shipment inside an industrial tanker truck, the contractors will use vacuum trucks that suck out hazardous chemicals. Contractors wearing protective suits and respirators will step inside the tanker and remove the drugs.
The hazardous waste will be taken to a disposal or recycling facility that is allowed to accept the material.
Because of increased Border Patrol enforcement in Arizona, drug cartels are increasingly looking to cross the border in remote parts of south Texas, Wired states. Cartels have stolen and copied trucks owned by energy companies in the area.
Good Morning!

I wanted to send a friendly reminder to please help spread the word about The Council’s upcoming “Celebrating Families” program for women in recovery and their children (ages 3-18).  Please pass along the attached flyer to anyone you feel would benefit from this amazing and FREE program.  Space is limited!

“Celebrating Families” consists of 13 weekly sessions and includes a FREE family meal.  There will also be lots of giveaways and incentives throughout the program cycle, as well as FREE social activities outside the program sessions.

“Celebrating Families” is a program to help strengthen families and break the cycle of addiction to the next generation.  Some of the topics include: Healthy Living, Communication, Feelings & Defenses, Chemical Dependency Affects the Whole Family, Goal Setting, Healthy Boundaries, and more!

If you have any questions, please contact me any time.

Thank you,

Jessica Schwartz
Community Development Coordinator
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.
252 West Swamp Road, Unit 12
Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901
(800) 221-6333 - 24 Hour Information Line
 

Friday, March 22, 2013

Yankee Candle Simply Home Bermuda Beach Jar Candles (Google Affiliate Ad)

Some Toddlers of Women Who Used Meth in Pregnancy Show Abnormal Stress Response

Toddlers of women who used methamphetamine in pregnancy, who live in an unstable home environment, appear to have an abnormal response to stress, a new study suggests.
Methamphetamine stimulates the nervous system, and prenatal exposure to the drug could affect the development of a child’s stress-response system, HealthDay reports. If the child is repeatedly exposed to severe stress at an early age, it can further affect the stress-response system.
The study included 123 two-year-olds whose mothers used methamphetamine during pregnancy. The researchers evaluated the toddlers’ reactions when they were briefly separated from their mothers. Children who lived in stressful conditions at home—such as having a mother who drank heavily or suffered from depression or other mental health problems—did not experience normal increases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
“The lack of hormonal stress response that we observed in these children has serious implications, such as a greater risk for depression, anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,” lead researcher Namik Kirlic of the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma said in a news release.
Children who had a more stable home environment had normal increases in cortisol levels when they were separated from their mothers. “It’s not the meth alone,” said researcher Barry Lester, Ph.D., Director of the Brown Center for Children at Risk at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. “It’s the combination of meth exposure and adversity after birth. We see other things coming into play—the mother’s psychological health, alcohol use, exposure to violence at home or in the community. The postnatal environment is hugely important.”
The study appears in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Report Finds Child Poisoning Often Results From Pills Found in Purses and on Floor

A new report finds small children who end up in the emergency room after being accidentally poisoned from medication are more likely to find the pills in a mother’s purse or the floor than the family medicine cabinet.
Children also find pills in other easy-to-reach spots such as sofa cushions and countertops, USA Today reports. The report was released by the nonprofit group Safe Kids Worldwide.
Most accidental medication poisonings in children result from ingestion of medication belonging to a child’s mother or grandparents, according to the report.
The group evaluated 2,315 emergency department records for children up to age 4. In 2011, approximately 67,000 young children ended up in the emergency room after being accidentally exposed to medication. Accidental poisonings in young children rose 30 percent in a decade, they found.
Of the records that stated the source of the medication, 27 percent were on the floor or had been otherwise misplaced, while 20 percent came from a purse, bag or wallet. An additional 20 percent were left on counters, tables, nightstands or dressers, 15 percent were found in a pill box or bag of pills, 6 percent were found in a drawer or cabinet, and 12 percent came from other places.
In 86 percent of cases, the medications belonged to adults. Mothers accounted for 31 percent, while grandparents accounted for 38 percent.
“You have some grandparents who have their whole pharmacy on the kitchen counter or the bathroom counter, and it is there for the taking,” Salvador Baeza, a pharmacist who directs the West Texas Regional Poison Center in El Paso, told the newspaper.
Safe Kids advises parents and other caregivers to store medications out of sight and out of reach. SafeKids CEO Kate Carr recommends that parents ask grandparents and other relatives to secure medications when their children are visiting. “That can be an awkward conversation,” Carr said. “But you can just say that ‘I have a very curious child who is just at that age where they get into everything.’

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Heroin Use on the Rise in Southern California

An increasing number of teens and adults in southern California are using heroin, according to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials.
“Heroin use has become a particular concern for the DEA because we’re seeing people using heroin at such a young age,” Agent Sarah Pullen told NBC Los Angeles. High school counselors in Orange County are reporting a rise in heroin use, the article notes.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported initiations to heroin have increased by 80 percent among teens ages 12 to 17. The increase in heroin use is largely attributed to the drug’s low cost and easy availability, both in southern California and around the country.
A study published last year found OxyContin abuse has decreased now that the painkiller has been reformulated to make it more difficult to misuse. Many people who abused the drug have switched to heroin.
The study included more than 2,500 people who were dependent on opioids, who were followed between July 2009 and March 2012. During that time, there was a 17 percent decrease in OxyContin abuse. In 2010, the company that makes OxyContin introduced a new version of the drug that is more difficult to inhale or inject.

Anesthesia Abuse Increases Among Health Care Professionals, Study Suggests

Abuse of the anesthesia drug propofol is on the rise among health care professionals who have easy access to it, a new study suggests.
The study found the number of health care professionals treated for abuse of the drug has increased steadily, the Star Tribune reports. Most of these professionals began using propofol to get to sleep, and quickly became addicted.
Propofol is used for surgery and other procedures. It takes effect quickly, and has a fast recovery time, with fewer side effects than other anesthetics, the article notes. The researchers state in a news release, “Propofol addiction is a virulent and debilitating form of substance dependence” with a “rapid downhill course.”
They studied data from an addiction center specializing in substance abuse among health care professionals, and found 22 patients treated for propofol abuse between 1990 and 2010. They included doctors, nurses and a dentist. Most of the doctors and all of the nurses were anesthesia providers. Most of them had depression, in addition to a history of childhood sexual or physical abuse. A higher than expected number of patients had family members with schizophrenia.
Most of the patients began addiction treatment within a few months after starting to use the drug; five sought treatment after just one propofol binge. About half of patients started treatment after a dramatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident. Some patients received facial injuries after passing out from propofol.
The study will appear in the April issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
    

March With COA in the Robbinsville Parade!



On Saturday, March 23, City of Angels NJ will march in the annual Robbinsville St. Patrick's Day parade. This is a fun event that will include pipe bands, high school bands, scouts, Irish bands, fire departments, local and regional law enforcement, civic, community & labor groups, floats, military servicemen and women and much more. The route is about one and one quarter miles. After the parade, marchers will gather on the grounds at Ernie's for music and refreshments.

If you would like to join COA (and maybe carry the COA banner!), please meet us at 12:00 noon at Foxmoor Shopping Center. You will recognize us by the distinctive green COA t-shirts. The parade will begin at 1:00 pm.

Open House Videos

A Proven Way to Recover: Recovery Compliance Inc.
A Proven Way to Recover: Recovery Compliance Inc.


The final videos from City of Angels' 4th annual Open House are now online!

To watch Recovery Compliance President Rob Harrison talk about proven approaches to recovery, click here.

For the full library of all 2013 Open House videos, click here.
Redneck's Story
 

In November 2012, New York University journalism student Allie Ward interviewed and wrote a profile about COA's Director of Interventions, Tom "Redneck" Clark.  After Red helped her boyfriend into treatment, Allie wanted to better understand how Redneck became the person he is now, and why he devotes virtually all of his free time to helping others. The profile has since become a model for Allie's class and her professor uses it as an example for new students. 
To read the profile, click here.
 Tidbits 
 COA hosts support group meetings for both addiction sufferers and their families every day of the week at the Dwier Center (392 Church Street, Groveville, NJ). This includes 12-step meetings, a new Thursday night veteran's support group, Saturday night self-injury support group, Sunday night Spirituality Meeting, and the popular Sunday morning family support group, The Breakfast Club. To check out our online calendar, click here.
 
 
For directions to the Dwier Center, click here. 
 
 
The COA website now offers an Addiction News Feed with the latest studies, reports, new and other info on addiction. It's updated in real time with the top 30 articles. To read the feed, click here. 
New videos are up on the COA YouTube channel. To watch, click here.
    


Join COA's Pinterest community! To visit the boards, click here.
 
   
  
Keep current on COA activites - join the COA group on Facebook!  COA news is posted first on Facebook, and this page often has photos not available elsewhere. Click here to visit.
 

City of Angels NJ, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides many services to addicts and their families including interventions, recovery support, Family Program, counseling services and more. All of our services are provided at no charge.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Middle School Dating Linked to Increased Substance Use in New Study

Middle school students who date report using twice as much alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, compared with their classmates without romantic relationships, a new study finds.
Students who date in middle school also have significantly worse study skills, and are four times more likely to drop out of school, compared with their single classmates, Science Daily reports.
Researchers at the University of Georgia studied 624 students over seven years, starting when they were in sixth grade. Each year, the students completed a survey that asked about dating, substance use and other behaviors. The study looked at the students’ high school dropout rates, and annual teacher-rated study skills.
Study author Pamela Orpinas noted in a news release that the study suggests “dating should not be considered a rite of passage in middle school.”
The researchers reported their findings in the Journal of Research on Adolescence.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Recreational Marijuana Use Violates International Law, UN Body Says

The recreational use of marijuana is a violation of international law, the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned the United States this week.
Raymond Yans, president of the INCB, spoke about new laws in Colorado and Washington that legalize the recreational use of marijuana, at the U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. He noted U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in December that, regardless of any changes in state law, growing, selling or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Yan called this “good, but insufficient,” Reuters reports.
He added the United States has an obligation to ensure the implementation of international drug control treaties throughout the country. Recreational marijuana use violates the U.N. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, Yan said.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Medical Group Warns Against Giving Attention Drugs to Healthy Teens

Healthy children and teenagers should not be given drugs designed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the American Academy of Neurology said this week. While young people with the disorder benefit from the treatment, the group noted, a growing number of healthy young people are taking these medications in an effort to increase concentration and school performance.
“Doctors caring for children and teens have a professional obligation to always protect the best interests of the child, to protect vulnerable populations, and prevent the misuse of medication,” said position statement author William Graf, M.D. of Yale University, in a news release. “The practice of prescribing these drugs, called neuroenhancements, for healthy students is not justifiable.”
The statement concludes there are both legal and developmental reasons these medications should not be prescribed to healthy children and teens, Reuters reports. The long-term effects of these drugs have not been studied in children, the group notes. Children and teens may not have sufficient decision-making abilities while their cognitive skills and emotional abilities are still developing. In addition, children and teens face the risks of being over-medicated and dependent on the drugs, according to the statement.
“The physician should talk to the child about the request, as it may reflect other medical, social or psychological motivations such as anxiety, depression or insomnia. There are alternatives to neuroenhancements available, including maintaining good sleep, nutrition, study habits and exercise regimens,” Dr. Graf said.