February 28 v23 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB




In the end, people appreciate honest criticism
far more than flattery.



STEP 9 - We made direct amends to such people except when to do so would injure them or others.



Think back to the time you went to the mall with your best friend. You know , that friend who knows everything about you .You and your best friend are having a great day shopping when all of sudden your friend has got to go to the bathroom . Ten minutes later your friend comes strolling out of the bathroom and attached to the bottom of there shoe is a six foot trail of dirty toilet paper . WHAT DO YOU DO ? I don't have the heart to tell them because I don't want to embarrass them . So I say nothing and that is just as bad as lieing to them. As we travel through the mall I can see everyone staring at my friend and I still say nothing , then out of nowhere a total stranger yells to my friend YO , YOU GOT TOILET PAPER STUCK ON YOUR SHOE ! Immediately your friend turns to you and gives you that look and you know . Then the questions come why didn't you tell me . Then the shock wears off then comes the disappointment .The sad part about this story is it happens everyday though the circumstances can be different. When I was caught up in addiction all I could do was lie about everything and to everyone. When we finally get sober we have to train ourselves to tell the truth at all times in every situation we need to speak up to our friends before someone else tells them . Not saying something can sometimes injure your friends and family more .

DEA Cracks Down on Potent Marijuana Product Called “Wax” in California
 

By Join Together Staff | February 27, 2014 | 2 Comments | Filed in Community Related & Drugs

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is cracking down in California on a potent marijuana product called “wax,” according to ABC News. Wax is legal—and popular—in Colorado.

Wax is a distillation of marijuana said to be so potent that a single hit will keep a person high for more than a day, the article notes. A person making wax uses the flammable substance butane to strip out the THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes a high.

“There is no weed out there that possesses the punching power that the wax does,” an anonymous undercover DEA informant told ABC News’ “Nightline.” “And it’s like smoking 20 joints of the best grade of weed that you have into one hit of the wax.”

Gary Hill of the DEA’s San Diego office said, “We have seen people have an onset of psychosis and even brain damage from that exposure to that high concentration of THC. Our concern is that this is going to spread before we get it under control.”

In Colorado, wax is legal for anyone over the age of 21. It is sold in recreational marijuana dispensaries. A three-day contest called the X-Cup, held in Denver, is designed to determine who can make the most potent batch of wax.

“Study Drugs” Popular Among Florida College Students, Despite School Bans
 

By Join Together Staff | February 27, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related, Prescription Drugs, Young Adults & Youth

“Study drugs” such as Vyvanse and Adderall are gaining popularity among Florida college students, even though area colleges have a zero-tolerance policy against students using medicines not prescribed for them.

CBS Miami reports these drugs are easy to obtain and abuse. Vyvanse and Adderall are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The drugs increase focus and concentration, and help students stay up all night to study.

“It’s a stimulant at the end of the day. It increases heart rate, loss of appetite. It’s the exact same symptoms when people use a substance such as cocaine,” said Dr. Michelle Gonzalez of the Coral Gables Counseling Center. She said it’s common for teens and adults to mix these drugs with other substances, like Red Bull, or even addictive drugs such as cocaine. These dangerous combinations can send users to the hospital, she said.

According to a report in 2013 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the number of emergency department visits related to nonmedical use of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, including Vyvanse and Adderall, among adults aged 18 to 34 increased from 5,605 in 2005 to 22,949 in 2011. The number of emergency department visits involving CNS stimulants and alcohol also increased. About 30 percent of emergency department visits involving nonmedical CNS stimulant use also involve alcohol.

SAMHSA notes that nonmedical use of these drugs has been linked to heart and blood vessel problems, as well as to drug abuse or dependence. “When combined with alcohol, CNS stimulants can hide the effects of being drunk and increase the risk of alcohol poisoning or alcohol-related injuries,” the report noted.

The University of Miami handbook states, “The possession, use, or sale of the following is prohibited: unprescribed use of prescription medications and inappropriate use of legally obtained over the counter medications.” Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University both have a zero-tolerance policy for study drugs, according to CBS Miami.

February 27 v 12 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB


A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.



STEP - 11 We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out.



I am at times the fool and the wise . You know when you know that what your about to do is not a good idea. That does not make us bad people it makes us human. I certainly had enough of being a fool . Living my life out of Gods will certainly left me empty wandering looking for purpose and fulfillment in my life. I have learned from step eleven and the other steps that I am not perfect nobody is. God did not put us here for no reason ,he has a plan and a purpose .Mistakes are Gods way of teaching us and shaping us into the step eleven kids he wants us to be . Be smart , listen , watch where your going and always listen to that small still voice that whispers this is not a good idea.  

 

Like us on Facebook                        www.RecoveryWalks.org                       Follow us on Twitter

Have You Seen the  Video of PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! 2013?  Click here to see it  A Look Forward to September 20, 2014 PRO-ACT's 13th Annual Recovery Walk            PRO-ACT holds our annual Recovery Walk in September to celebrate the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) National Recovery Month. Now in its 25th year, Recovery Month is a national observance that educates Americans on the fact that addiction treatment and mental health services can enable those with such disorders to live a healthy and rewarding life. Anyone with any doubt about that has only to attend the huge and jubilant celebration, "PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! 2014,"that we're planning for 20,000-plus people at Penn's Landing on September 20 in Philadelphia.         SAMHSA's theme for Recovery Month 2014, "Join the Voices of Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out" is to encourage people to openly discuss--or speak up about--mental and substance use disorders and the reality of recovery. The theme aims to foster public understanding and acceptance of the benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery from behavioral health conditions. It also promotes ways first responders, faith leaders, youth and young adults, and policymakers can recognize these issues and intervene--or reach out--to help others, as well as themselves. "Even though meth addiction was a long and painful ordeal for me,  I finally beat it, and have been 100% clean and sober for over 4 years now."                                                                                           Stephen, February 2014          To speak up and add your story to Voices for Recovery, please click here. REGISTER HERE for PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! 2014          Please support PRO-ACT's Recovery Walks! 2014, which is a fundraiser to support PRO-ACT's prevention, advocacy and recovery support services. With 20,000 participants in 2013, we're hoping you will help us to break that record on September 20, 2014. To help us make it a success, tell your friends and co-workers about it; post a flyer on your bulletin board (click here for one), register to walk; sign up for the Honor Guard; form a team; do some fundraising; become a sponsor; donate to a walker or the Walk; volunteer for a committee now, or help on that day. You can do all of that on the Recovery Walks website. To make a donation to the Recovery Walk, please click here

At Least 6 More States Considering “Good Samaritan” Laws to Prevent Overdose Deaths

By Join Together Staff | February 25, 2014 | 2 Comments | Filed in Community Related, Drugs, Legislation & Prevention

At least six states are considering joining the 17 states that have passed “Good Samaritan” laws, designed to prevent drug overdose deaths. The laws grant limited immunity to people who seek help for someone who has overdosed, USA Today reports.

Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia are considering the measures, the newspaper notes.

In addition, 17 states have expanded access to the overdose antidote naloxone. The treatment, sold under the brand name Narcan, has been used for many years by paramedics and doctors in emergency rooms. It is administered by nasal spray. The medication blocks the ability of heroin or opioid painkillers to attach to brain cells. The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy says it is encouraging police departments to carry Narcan.

North Carolina and Oklahoma are among the states that have passed Good Samaritan laws with the support of conservative Republican legislators. The measures have the support of groups including the American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators.

Republicans spearheaded Good Samaritan and naloxone legislation in North Carolina last year. According to Robert Childs, Executive Director of the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, since the naloxone legislation went into effect in April, there have been 45 documented cases of overdose reversals due to the use of naloxone. The coalition has dispensed more than 700 reversal kits in the past five months.

Maine Governor Paul LePage opposes the naloxone access bill under consideration in his state. He says making naloxone more available would encourage more drug use. He also vetoed a Good Samaritan bill last year.

More Must be Done to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse in Military

By Join Together Staff | February 25, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed inMilitary, Prescription Drugs & Prevention

The Department of Defense needs to do more to prevent prescription drug abuse among members of the military, according to a new government report. Some branches of the military are doing a better job than others in medication management policies, the report concluded.

The report, by the department’s Inspector General’s office, examined policies related to troops wounded in combat who are taking multiple medications, according to USA Today. The Army aggressively guards against “doctor shopping” and using the same prescription to obtain more medication than has been prescribed, the report notes. The Army closely monitors a soldier’s prescriptions when he or she is receiving four drugs, including one controlled substance.

The Navy’s medication management policies vary by location; in some locales, close monitoring occurs only when a sailor or Marine receives five controlled substances. “Medication management policies, especially for the high-risk patient population of wounded warriors, need to be standardized,” the report states.

The Pentagon should be more aggressive in seeking approval of the federal government in letting pharmacies take back unused medication from troops, the report recommends. “Take-back” programs are currently conducted only twice a year at military installations. “Wounded warriors did not have a reliable, safe, accessible and accountable method to dispose of medications that were no longer needed for treatment,” the report said. “As a result, wounded warriors may be at risk for overdose or misuse of unneeded medications that could result in unnecessary hospitalization and death.”

The Department of Defense responded that corrective steps are being taken, the article notes.

In 2010, almost 1,000 troops were hospitalized for drug overdoses, according to the report. In 2011, a survey of troops found one-fourth use pain medications.

Drunk Driving Crashes Reduced Since Drinking Age Was Raised to 21

By Join Together Staff | February 25, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed inAlcohol, Legal, Legislation, Prevention & Young Adults

Raising the minimum drinking age to 21 has been associated with a reduced rate of drunk driving crashes among young Americans, according to a new review of studies.

The increased legal drinking age has also led to a reduction in other health threats associated with heavy drinking, including unsafe sex, suicide and dating violence, HealthDay reports.

In one study, researchers found 36 percent of U.S. college students said they had engaged in binge drinking (five or more drinks in one sitting) in the past two weeks in 2011, compared with 43 percent in 1988—the first year all states implemented a legal drinking age of 21. Among high school seniors, binge drinking decreased from 35 percent in 1988, to 22 percent in 2011.

The findings are published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

“The evidence is clear that there would be consequences if we lowered the legal drinking age,” lead researcher William DeJong of Boston University School of Public Health, said in a journal news release. He called for increased enforcement of the legal drinking age, instead of lowering the age, to further decrease alcohol-related health threats among young adults. “Some people assume that students are so hell-bent on drinking, nothing can stop them. But it really is the case that enforcement works,” he said.

In 2008, a group of more than 100 U.S. university presidents and chancellors called for re-evaluating the legal drinking age, pointing to a hidden culture of heavy drinking among college students.

Good morning everyone,
This is a reminder that The Next Overdose Prevention and Education Advisory Board Meeting is this Wednesday!

Please note: If you have already RSVP’d, there is no need to RSVP again.

If you have not RSVP’d yet and are interested in attending, just follow the link below or simply reply to this email.

Wednesday February 26th

Time: 5:00pm - 6:30 pm

Location: Chancellor Center - Classroom #2

Council Rock Coalition for Healthy Youth

30 N. Chancellor St. Newtown, PA 18940

215-944-1006

Light food and beverages will be provided.

ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND !
Please forward this open invite to your contacts!
Click here to RSVP !
You are invited to come out and find out what is being done in both Bucks County as well as state wide in response to overdose deaths and the increased use of opioid drugs. You are invited to be part of not only the conversation but learn how you can be part of the solution.
The Overdose Prevention and Education Advisory Board goals include but are not limited to:

· Educate others on the topic.

o Outreach and education creates partnerships that may then focus on other initiatives or strategies.

· Train members to facilitate Overdose Prevention and Education trainings.

· Promote awareness and encourage further action.

o Actions may include getting the word out and gaining support for legislative actions such as Senator Pileggis HB 1164 – good Samaritan Act.

Please feel free to David Fialko with any and all questions at 215-230-8218 x 3162

Click this link for more information- Unintentional Drug Overdoses: An unfortunate trend affecting all communities and what you can do.
This program is made possible by funding through the

Bucks County Drug Alcohol Commission, Inc.

Sincerely,
David Fialko, BS

Prevention Specialist

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.

252 West Swamp Rd. Unit 33, Doylestown, PA 18901

Office: 215-230-8218 x 3162

February 25 v 23 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger .

Step 10  -We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

Out of all my defects of character , this is the one I struggle with most . What I have to try and do is mind my own business . I have to consider the person I am talking about ! Its called trust and once you lose it is almost impossible to earn it back .Someone told me your mouth is a cage and your teeth are bars so lock it up tight and just listen .

Jesus said I am the truth the life the way ,no one comes unto the father but through me . 

Like us on Facebook                      www.councilsepa.org               Follow us on Twitter       The Council and PRO-ACT are pleased to invite you to the William Way LGBT Community Center 1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (13th and Spruce Streets)   Wednesday evening, February 26, 2014 for a new showing of the feature documentary film about the 23.5 million Americans living in long-term recovery, and the emerging public recovery movement that will transform how alcohol and other drug problems are dealt with in our communities.    To view the trailer, click here  Doors open at 5:30 pm; Welcome and Expo Opportunities 6:00-6:30 pm; Film Begins at 6:30 pm followed by a Panel Discussion (8-9 pm) with the following  behavioral health and public policy experts: Roland Lamb, Director, Office of Addiction Services Philadellphia Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disAbility Services   Christopher Whitney, Public Health Professional Board of Directors, The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.  Brooke M. Feldman, Community Outreach Coordinator Mental Health First Aid Unit, Dept. of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disAbility Services Fred Martin, Project Coordinator PRO-ACT Philadelphia Recovery Community Center    Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of panelists Tickets You may purchase tickets in advance or at the door for the same price of $15 (thanks to our sponsors) Click here to purchase tickets now For sponsorship information email Michael Harper here  or call 215-345-6644, ext 3109 www.councilsepa.org

February 23 v 29 v 30 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?

Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?

Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,

trying out new drinks.

STEP 1 -We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and drugs—that our lives had become 

unmanageable. 

What the Proverb is missing is trying out new drugs. It does not , nor can it not get any clearer than that. The Bible has your entire life covered that's why God put it here . Its sad and devastating too think kids in schools don't have the instruction book taught to them like the old days. Let us not wait for some stranger too teach them about drugs because someone will and some parents wont find out until the fateful phone call comes. The Proverb is a warning for everyone. I never listened too the Proverb in Catholic school and I wound up with more than red eyes and bruises , I wound up homeless lost and desperate for a better way . Step one taught me that I was not alone and my life was not over .Once I could see through the blurry haze of my false sense of reality I found God . God gave me my life back but not just life but a new one full of excitement peace love and joy . I can't explain it but its real and it can happen , you just have to come to the end of you !

Powerful, billionaire drug lord captured in Mexico

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/video?id=9441980

The Upside Down World of Welfare Drug Testing | The Fix

The Upside Down World of Welfare Drug Testing | The Fix

Do Efforts to Crack Down on Prescription Drug Abuse Drive Users to Heroin? | The Fix

Do Efforts to Crack Down on Prescription Drug Abuse Drive Users to Heroin? | The Fix

Hollywood, Addiction and Recovery - An Insider's View | The Fix

Hollywood, Addiction and Recovery - An Insider's View | The Fix

Recovery: There's an App for That | The Fix

Recovery: There's an App for That | The Fix

February 21 v 16 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

The person who strays away from common sense will end up in the company of the dead .



STEP 11 -We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God ,praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.




Unfortunately this Proverb is true ! How many of our brothers and sisters have moved on from this physical world into the spiritual prematurely. I am almost positive before they took their finals steps here that their inner voice was warning them .Some call it that nagging feeling in the gut. We must learn to never ignore that inner voice or as the Proverb would call it common sense .If your at step 11 congratulations but don't get prideful because a fall can be right around the corner. Step eleven is a great opportunity for us to fine tune that inner voice , and never ignore common sense .


What are your thoughts ? On the inner voice and common sense !

 

Jesus said I am the truth ,the life the way no one comes unto the father but through me.

Heavy Drinkers Found to Reduce Drinking with Anti-Epilepsy Drug

By Join Together Staff | February 20, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Addiction, Alcohol, Research & Treatment

New research shows that an anti-epilepsy drug may help heavy drinkers reduce their alcohol consumption, says HealthDay.

In a study that included 138 heavy drinkers, one half took the drug topiramate (Topamax) for 12 weeks at a maximum dose of 200 milligrams a day. The other half were given an inactive placebo. Both groups had brief counseling to help them decrease their drinking.

At the end of the 12-week study, placebo group patients were five times more likely to have had a heavy drinking day than those in the Topamax group. Also, compared to the placebo group, more than twice as many patients who took the drug had no heavy drinking days during the last four weeks of the study.

In a press release from the University of Pennsylvania, the study’s lead author, Henry R. Kranzler, MD, professor of Psychiatry, director of Penn’s Center for Studies of Addiction, says that the results represent an important next step in understanding and treating problem drinking. He added, “Our study is the first we are aware of in which topiramate was evaluated as a treatment option for patients who want to limit their drinking to safe levels, rather than stop drinking altogether.”

Researchers suggest that this could help lead to personalized treatments for heavy drinkers, as well as additional research to support patients who struggle with heavy drinking.

Good afternoon –



I hope this email finds you well and enjoying this touch of Spring. I wanted to share some information on an event that may be of interest to the families your agency serves.



Attached please find a flyer for the upcoming Bucks Works Job Fair. This event is a true community wide collaboration formed out of relationships made at last Junes Future of Bucks County Youth’s event.



This event is hosted by State Rep. Marguerite Quinn, The Intelligencer, PA CareerLink and the Y; and in addition to over 30 employers who are currently hiring, will include resource providers such as United Way, Bucks County Opportunity Council and Child Home & School.



We kindly ask that you share this information in your community and please feel free to contact me if you would like any more information.



Thank you in advance for your support.



Sincerely,

Rachel Mauer

Executive Community Director

CENTRAL BUCKS FAMILY YMCA

2500 Lower State Road

Doylestown, PA 18901

(P)215 348 8131 ext 1167 (F) 215 348 1329

(E)rmauer@cbfymca.org (W)ymca.net

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Pinterest

The Y: We’re for youth development, healthy living and social response



http://www.cbfymca.org/bucksworks

Hi Joseph

Greetings from snowy Upstate New York! I hope this e-mail finds you well.


My name is Amanda, and I'm reaching out to pitch a topic that I think would resonate with your audience. As someone with close family members facing addiction, this topic really hits home for me as well.


I thought you might be interested in sharing an interactive infographic by Rehab Hotline with your readers; it allows you to click state-by-state to learn more about the drug epidemic in our country. It's incredibly eye-opening to see what is most used in each state:


http://rehabhotline.org/americas-addiction-epidemic/
They even have an infographic regarding substance abuse in the armed forces, which you could embed on your site:
http://rehabhotline.org/substance-abuse-armed-forces/
Rehab Hotline is a nonprofit organization that provides free counseling to help individuals find the right substance abuse treatment program. There’s no cost, and they walk people through the process and let them know what they can expect. They even provide a free benefits check to help callers find treatment facilities that accept their insurance


If you are able to post about Rehab Hotline in any form, it would really help continue to spread the message of addiction, along with resources for getting assistance, and with some pretty interesting statistics that is sure to resonate with your audience, encouraging them to reach out for further help should they or a friend or family member need it.
Please let me know if you have any questions, I do hope you will consider sharing this information! Thank you so much!
Warmest regards,
Amanda DeFisher
On behalf of Rehab Hotline
www.rehabhotline.org

February 20 v 27 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,
    exposing every hidden motive.

STEP 3 -We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

Take a few minutes and think.GOD creator of Heaven  , Earth , You and all creatures. God knows how many hairs are on your head  . He put you together ! So why do so many people have a hard time with step three . When I was  running the show of my life , I had addiction  , depression , fear , anger , hate just tto name a few. Now with God running the show I have joy peace and love. Its a no brainier people just hand the mess  you call life over too him . He already knows everything about you so you might as well let Him take charge .   

Jesus said I am the truth ,the life the way no one comes unto the father but through me.

Gastric surgery increases risk of alcoholism




Patients may be thinner after bypass operations but could be at greater risk of drunkenness and dependency, research has found

Roger Dobson

Sunday 09 February 2014

One of the most drastic but effective ways of losing weight risks turning people into alcoholics, warn researchers. Bariatric or obesity surgery, where patients' stomachs are radically reduced in size, also changes the way the body processes alcohol, they say. Drinking after a surgical procedure can result in drunkenness within minutes of swallowing. The surgery may also affect a patient's body chemistry, making the drinking more rewarding and satisfying, which can make dependency more likely.
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Animal studies have found a significant increase in alcohol uptake after surgery. Anecdotal evidence in men and women who had undergone stomach surgery set alarm bells ringing. As a result, a human trial is due to start at St Olav's University, Trondheim, Norway. "Some complications with this surgery are known, but an increased risk of developing alcoholism caught most of us by surprise," said Magnus Strommen, one of the researchers.

"It seems it increases the availability of alcohol [to the blood], and, to make things even worse, from normally reaching a peak alcohol concentration at about 30 minutes, it can happen within the first five to 10 minutes after swallowing the drink. Hence, the effect of alcohol is dramatically altered, with the maximum concentration being both much higher and coming much sooner than before."
Obesity surgery in rats has been found to change the way the body processes alcohol He said he had met patients who had developed alcoholism following surgery. "They are, of course, not that obese any more, but are dealing with a serious new problem which jeopardises their very existence. I have also spoken to former patients who are not abusing alcohol but have damaged their social reputation because they suddenly get blackouts when drinking."

Gastric bypass is an effective treatment for obesity, and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most frequently used procedure. It is estimated that there are around 8,000 operations for weight loss carried out each year in the UK. After surgery, patients lose around a third of total body weight, or up to 70 per cent of excess body weight.

The Roux reduces the size of the stomach to a small pouch – about the size of an egg – by stapling off a section of it, which has the effect of reducing the amount of food that can be eaten. The surgeon attaches this pouch to the small intestine, bypassing most of the rest of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine, which reduces the amount of fat and calories that are absorbed from food. It can be highly successful for weight loss, but there have been a number of reports of alcohol abuse in patients.

An animal study at Penn State University in the United States showed that rats given the bypass surgery had a much greater uptake of some alcohol than rats who had placebo surgery. The researchers say this could reflect metabolic changes triggered by the surgery, and changes in the levels of various compounds, including hormones and brain chemicals, such as dopamine.

"We show that gastric bypass surgery significantly increased alcohol consumption and increased water intake, which provides some support for the clinical reports that surgery is associated with an increased risk for alcohol abuse," they say.

In a human trial at St Olav's Hospital, 30 patients will have one of two types of obesity surgery, including the Roux, and the effects on the metabolism of alcohol will be compared. Just how surgery could have such an effect is not clear. When we drink alcohol it goes into the stomach where the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase helps to oxidise a fraction of the alcohol, which reduces its toxic potential.

"This very wise biological defence is highly individual. With me – I tested myself before I included patients – the bioavailability of ethanol is 93 per cent, meaning that almost the entire drink reaches my blood, with well-known consequences. In contrast, one of my patients showed only 42 per cent bioavailability. This is the kind of guy who would drink most of us under the table," said Magnus Strommen.

"What happens in gastric surgery, we believe, is that it increases bioavailability to close to my level or even higher. Hence, the effect of alcohol is dramatically altered, with the maximum concentration being both much higher and coming much sooner than before.

"Awareness about these mechanisms is very important. Clinics as well as GPs need to be more aware of these issues in patients who have undergone surgery to be able to detect developing alcoholism before consequences get too serious."

Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: "This is a very interesting study and I look forward to seeing the results of the trial. Food can be an addiction and if we mechanically take away or reduce the ability to eat food, they may turn to something else, like alcohol."

Dentistry from the Heart.

Hello Jeanne,
I was made aware of today of Dentistry from the Heart. On Saturday, March 29th Dream Dentistry and Sleep Care (Dr. Gordon Roeder) in Quakertown will be providing a day to give back to the community. They ask those without dental care to arrive and register at 7:30am and they guarantee the first 100 patients. They can choose from fillings, extraction or cleanings for 18 years and older. See the link below and the attached flyer. I hope that you can get the word out to the clients and attendees of The Council and Pro-Act and men's and women's houses.
See link:
http://www.dream-dentistry.com/above-and-beyond/dentistry-from-the-heart/

Like us on Facebook                           www.councilsepa.org                   Follow us on Twitter         To view the trailer, click here  FREE Showing Wednesday, February 19, 2014 (2 PCB Credits) Bucks County Community College  Gateway Center Auditorium 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940 DIRECTIONS: Auditorium is very near the West Gate Entrance. Visitors may park in the student or visitor lot; however Student Lots A or B are closest to the Auditorium.  For directions and a Newtown Campus map, please click here. The Gateway Center Auditorium is designated as "Building 3" on the campus map.  Doors open at 5:30 pm; Welcome and Expo Opportunities 6:00-6:30 pm; Film Begins at 6:30 pm followed by a Panel Discussion (8-9 pm) with the following  behavioral health and public policy experts: The Honorable Donald Nasshorn,  Magisterial District Judge for Newtown, PA Aaron Kucharski, Recovery Advocate,  National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, NJ  Diane Rosati, Executive Director  Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission  Lena Marder, Coordinator of Recovery Support Services in Bucks County  for The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania  Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of panelists. RESERVATIONS NOT NECESSARY BRING A FRIEND! A freewill collection will be taken All proceeds will help us to continue to advocate for and support individuals and families accessing and sustaining long-term recovery
			www.councilsepa.org

February 18 v 13 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Spouting off before listening to the facts

is both shameful and foolish.

STEP 7 - We humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.

The Proverb is describing me ! Why is it we hold onto the old ways of doing things. I really have a hard time with step six and seven . Just when I think I have reached the next level wham something else pops up and I realize , I have not moved an inch. Just the other day i heard something from someone and immediately I finished their story and then I decided how they can and what they can do to fix their problem. Well guess what I was all wrong and I pissed the person off . This is so difficult but we have got to learn to shut the trap and listen God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.

Jesus said I am the truth the life the way no one comes unto the father but through me.