|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
| ||||||||||
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Today's Scripture
"All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - 2 Proverbs 16:2-3 NIV
Thoughts for Today
For our last look this week at inventorying our lives, let's think
about choices in the workplace. Sometimes we tend to live by a different
set of standards in our career or business, but God wants us to be
guided by his principles in every area of our lives. It is especially
important to consider our motives for doing what we do
at work. Are we motivated mostly by our desire to move up the ladder and
make more money—or is honoring Jesus still our most important
motivator?
In taking inventory, make a list of questions to ask yourself. You might want to use some like these:
- Have I been swept into a competitive mode that causes me to try to get ahead even at the expense of hurting other people?
- Do I base business decisions solely on my desire to succeed, or do I first consider the integrity of my choices?
- Has my work become so all-consuming that I am putting it above my focus on my family?
- Am I participating in workplace gossip or complaining?
- What kind of influence am I having on those around me?
Consider this …
Honestly inventorying your attitudes and actions in the workplace
is the first step toward correcting any problem areas. As you confess
your failures to God, he will forgive you and help you chart a better
path. Jesus loves you. Only as you choose to do things his way will you
find real success—the kind that lasts for an eternity.
Lord, help me clearly see my motives for all I do in
the workplace. Forgive me for letting my desire to get ahead in my
career overshadow my desire to honor you in all I do. I pray above all
that my employer and co-workers will see Jesus in me and that you will
use me to encourage them and influence them toward you. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program by
Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in
support groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for
anyone struggling with a life-controlling problem like drug addiction,
alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. Note: This
curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage
people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a
personal study for individuals or couples.
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.
Parents More Important Than School in Preventing Use of Alcohol, Marijuana Use
A new study concludes that parental involvement is more
important than the school environment in preventing or limiting
children’s use of alcohol or marijuana.
Researchers evaluated data from more than 10,000 students, parents,
teachers and school administrators. They looked at “family social
capital”—bonds between parents and children—as well as “school social
capital”—a school’s ability to provide a positive environment for
learning, Science Daily reports.
Measures of family social capital include trust, open communication
and active engagement in a child’s life, while school social capital
includes student involvement in extracurricular activities, teacher
morale and the teachers’ ability to address student needs.
“Parents play an important role in shaping the decisions their
children make when it comes to alcohol and marijuana,” study co-author
Dr. Toby Parcel of North Carolina State University said in a news release.
“To be clear, school programs that address alcohol and marijuana use
are definitely valuable, but the bonds parents form with their children
are more important. Ideally, we can have both.”
The researchers found students with high levels of family social
capital and low school social capital levels were less likely to have
used either marijuana or alcohol, or to have used them less frequently,
compared with students with high levels of school social capital and low
family social capital.
The study appears in Journal of Drug Issues.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Was this sent to you from a friend? Sign up here for your own free subscription to the Stepping Stones Daily Devotional.
|
Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser. |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
| ||||||||||
Government Report: Thousands of Prisoners Wait Months for Drug Treatment
By Join Together Staff | December 5, 2012 | 4 Comments | Filed in Addiction, Alcohol, Drugs, Government, Legal & Treatment
Thousands of prisoners wait months to enter drug education or rehabilitation programs, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The delay is caused by staff shortages and limited resources, USA Today reports. Drug offenders represent the largest category of prisoners in the federal prison system, the article notes.
In 2011, more than 51,000 inmates were on waiting lists for basic drug education programs, some for up to three months. A total of 31,803 inmates were enrolled in such programs last year, the report states.
Inmates who complete the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Residential Drug Abuse Program receive a sentence reduction of one year. Waiting lists for the program were so long last year that only one-quarter of graduates entered the program with at least a year left on their prison terms.
“These are important programs, because so many people come into the system with substance abuse problems,” David Maurer, primary author of the GAO review, told the newspaper. “These programs can help in the whole re-entry process.”
According to Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Ed Ross, the number of inmates on waiting lists for the programs, and the time spent waiting for treatment, has begun to decrease.
“To the extent the budget allows, we will continue to add treatment staff to meet the needs of the increasing inmate population, and in the future, we expect to reduce the amount of time an inmate is wait-listed for treatment,” he said. “Reducing the time spent waiting to enter treatment will allow for longer sentence reductions at the back end for non-violent eligible inmates.”
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
PRIDEFUL ARROGANT ME
Hello Readers,
PHILADELPHIA RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER CELEBRATES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
Dec. 10 dinner marks holidays and five years of service
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. —Dec. 4, 2012 — When the Philadelphia Recovery Community Center (PRCC) hosts its holiday dinner on Dec. 10, the celebration will mark more than the season. The party will also celebrate the fifth anniversary of the center, which was established in 2007 to provide programs and services to help individuals sustain long-term recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol.
“The center provides a place where people can come to build a strong foundation for recovery and to meet other people in recovery,” said Sean Brinda, senior peer services coordinator at PRCC.
PRCC is a collaboration between Pennsylvania Recovery Organization-Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT) and the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility Services. Programs and services include peer-to-peer recovery coaching, life skills workshops, housing and credit information sessions, health and nutrition programs, discussion groups, drug- and alcohol-free social activities and more. In fiscal year 2011-2012, the center provided 1,561 individuals with more than 17,100 hours of recovery support services.Drawing on staff and volunteer resources, PRCC offered an average of 85 events and activities each month.
In its first five years, PRCC has made a positive impact. Its programs and services contributed to a 64.3-percent increase in education or employment among clients and a 81.1-percent increase in stable housing. The center also helped clients avoid substance use and illegal activities, according to data obtained from the Government Performance Results Act (GRPA) baseline and six-month follow-up assessments.
PRCC is located at 1701 W. Lehigh Ave., Unit 6, in North Philadelphia. To learn more, visit http://www.councilsepa.org/programs/pro-act/philadelphia-rcc/ or call 215-223-7700.
About PRO-ACT
PRO-ACT is the regional nonprofit organization working to mobilize and rally individuals in recovery from addiction, as well as their families, friends and allies in a campaign to end discrimination, broaden social understanding and achieve a just response to addiction as a public health crisis. PRO-ACT is hosted by The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania.
About The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. is a private nonprofit prevention, education, advocacy, and intervention organization, providing a wide range of services to families, schools, businesses, individuals, and the community. Founded in 1975, The Council serves the Southeast region of Pennsylvania and is a member of a nationwide network of National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Affiliates. The Council has offices and Recovery Community Centers in Doylestown, New Britain, Bristol, and Philadelphia. For help with alcohol, tobacco or other substances, or for information on the disease of alcoholism and addiction, call 800-221-6333, toll-free, 24-hours a day. For more information, visit www.councilsepa.org.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Recovery from the disease of addiction is possible!
Reminder!
This is a busy time of the year so this is just a friendly reminder!
In the event you cannot attend,
order your ornament now and we will place it on the tree for you
|
|
Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along
taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You
need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you.
Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it." - 2
Corinthians 13:5 MSG
Thoughts for Today
Yesterday we considered the importance of taking a regular inventory of our lives. A good place to start is by examining our relationship with God. As you begin to do this, ask yourself some hard questions like these:
You can trust Jesus to forgive your failures and give you the strength to get your life back on track. The changes might be small or large. The important thing is to always be moving in the right direction … toward God and his plan for your life.
Prayer
Father, I desire to grow in my walk with you, to know you better, to accomplish your plan for my life. As I celebrate the birth of your Son and all that he means to me, help me see the areas in my life that need change—and then to do something about it. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in support groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for anyone struggling with a life-controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
Thoughts for Today
Yesterday we considered the importance of taking a regular inventory of our lives. A good place to start is by examining our relationship with God. As you begin to do this, ask yourself some hard questions like these:
- Do I know God better today than I did last month or last year?
- Am I asking God about his plan for my life—or just forging on ahead, doing my own thing?
- Am I too busy for God?
- Am I persisting in some behavior that I know is displeasing to him?
You can trust Jesus to forgive your failures and give you the strength to get your life back on track. The changes might be small or large. The important thing is to always be moving in the right direction … toward God and his plan for your life.
Prayer
Father, I desire to grow in my walk with you, to know you better, to accomplish your plan for my life. As I celebrate the birth of your Son and all that he means to me, help me see the areas in my life that need change—and then to do something about it. In Jesus' name …
Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in support groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for anyone struggling with a life-controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.
Kratom Popularity on the Rise in South Florida
By Join Together Staff | December 3, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related & Drugs
Kratom, used as a medicinal plant in some countries in Southeast Asia, is increasingly popular as a drug of abuse in South Florida, the Sun Sentinel reports. The drug is available online, and at tobacco and head shops, the newspaper notes. Some people use it recreationally, while others use it for pain relief, or as a treatment for depression and other ailments. It is also used by some people as a substitute for heroin, prescription painkillers or opium.
“It’s very easy to get,” said Nancy Steiner, founder of The Sanctuary, a transitional living facility for people in recovery from chemical dependency in Delray Beach, Florida. “It’s not just a problem for the recovery community, but it’s in high schools and colleges. It’s a mass problem.”
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), kratom is mainly being abused orally as a tea, but some people chew kratom leaves. Kratom has been described as producing both stimulant and sedative effects. Acute side effects include nausea, itching, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, increased urination and loss of appetite. Kratom consumption can lead to addiction, according to the DEA.
The agency notes that while kratom is not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act, there is no legitimate medical use for kratom in the U.S.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Kentucky Finds Heroin on the Rise as Prescription Drug Abuse Declines
By Join Together Staff | November 30, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Community Related, Drugs & Prescription Drugs
As Kentucky begins to see results from its crackdown on prescription drug abuse, officials report a rise in heroin use.
Earlier this year, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed into law a bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse. The law requires that all pain clinics be licensed, specifies requirements for ownership and employment, and obliges Kentucky’s licensure board to develop regulations for pain clinics. It gives law enforcement easier access to the state’s prescription drug monitoring database. Doctors must examine patients, take full medical histories, and check electronic prescription records before writing prescriptions for opioids.
“There’s always some type of drug to step up when another gets taken out,” said Dan Smoot, Law Enforcement Director of Operation UNITE, which combats substance abuse in Kentucky. “We didn’t know it was going to be heroin. We knew something was going to replace pills.”
Law enforcement officials say heroin is imported from Mexico and Central America, according to the Associated Press. It is cheaper and more easily available than prescription opioids, such as oxycodone. Van Ingram, Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, told the AP that a single oxycodone pill can cost between $80 and $100, compared with $15 to $20 for a bag of heroin.
The rise in heroin use as a result of prescription drug abuse is part of a national trend.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
U.S. Military Working on Combination Anti-Heroin/HIV Vaccine
By Celia Vimont | November 30, 2012 | 9 Comments | Filed in Addiction, Drugs & Treatment
A scientist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research is developing a vaccine designed to treat heroin addiction while at the same time prevent HIV infection. This project is one of a number of research initiatives around the world that are working toward new vaccines to fight addiction.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently pledged $5 million toward Dr. Gary Matyas’ work on the new dual vaccine. The goal of the vaccine is to fight heroin abuse and the high risk of HIV infection among heroin users who inject the drug.
“Heroin users have a high incidence of HIV, especially in regions of the former Soviet Union, South America and parts of Europe,” Dr. Matyas said. “If you can reduce heroin use, you can reduce the spread of HIV. That’s why we’re focusing on both heroin and HIV in one vaccine.”
The two parts of the vaccine are being developed separately, and will be combined when they have both been shown to be effective in small animals. The vaccine could be ready to be tested in nonhuman primates in several years.
The heroin component of the vaccine is in a more advanced stage, he explained. Researchers are taking small molecules that mimic heroin, and attaching them to the active component in the human tetanus vaccine. They are using a potent adjuvant formulation—a substance that enhances the immune system response. “This produces a very strong antibody response,” Dr. Matyas notes. “The antibody binds to heroin and prevents it from crossing the blood-brain barrier and producing a pleasurable effect.”
The HIV component of the vaccine is based on one that was tested in Thailand. A clinical trial of that vaccine, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2009, was the first HIV vaccine study to show any efficacy, Dr. Matyas said. The study found the vaccine effectiveness rate was 31.2 percent. The U.S. Military HIV Research Program, part of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, is working to enhance the response rate.
Once the vaccine is commercially available, it will require booster shots in addition to the initial injection, according to Dr. Matyas.
Most current addiction vaccines are focused on nicotine. Although several nicotine vaccine trials have had disappointing results, researchers continue to test nicotine vaccines. A benefit of a vaccine is that it would be given once a month, which would be easier to stick with than daily nicotine patches or gum. Researchers are studying cocaine vaccines as well.
Last year researchers in California, using a mouse model, announced they have found three new formulations that could be used in a vaccine to treat addiction to methamphetamine.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)