Best of the Week: February 21–27

COMING UP IN THE FIX// Baltimore, Heroin Capital of the US * Drug Treatment Moguls * Addiction Triggers * Pro Voices: Going Deeper in Addiction Treatment *Interview with Kevin Sessums * Confessions of a People Pleaser * Directing Butterflies * My Rehab Experiences * PLUS: Other incisive articles

	CANNABUSINESS// The New Canadian Cannabis Oligarchy Under new Canadian regulations, Health Canada will be minding your "cannabusiness" rather than personal growers. This oligarchy not only hurts growers, but consumers as well. By Neville Elder
	ONLINE// Are Big Alcohol's Ad Men Targeting Recovering Alcoholics? After years of posting about getting sober, I began wondering if the beer ads I was seeing online were part of a deliberate campaign to get me to pick up the bottle again. By Jeff Deeney
	PROFESSIONAL VOICES// What if We Really Treated Addiction Like the Disease It Is? A physician explains how "precision medicine" can lead to comprehensive recovery. By Howard C. Wetsman MD
	HISTORY// Saving Mabel Normand She was lustrous and brash, especially on gin-soaked days, lifting her skirt or offering offbeat quotes in jest. And for nearly 100 years her pioneering spirit has been diminished by tales of her alleged cocaine addiction and sordid behaviors. By Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli
	CHARITY// 14 Great Addiction-Based Nonprofits And Charities You have to give it away to keep it and there's never a bad time to consider giving to any of the worthy regional and national organizations listed below. By MccCarton Ackerman

 

BEST OF THE QUICK FIX Federal Government to Require Drug Courts to Allow Opioid Maintenance Programs House Republicans Warn D.C. Mayor She Could Go to Jail for Legalizing Pot Heroin Addict Robs Girl Scouts to Get His Fix

Senator Cory Booker Explains How Drug Law Makes America Less Safe Pot Activists Enlist Republican Grandma In Legalization Fight Highly Processed Foods to Blame for Food Addiction

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

Real Treatment This week, Howard C. Wetsman MD proposed health care experts actually treat addiction as a disease. Readers debated whether legalizing all drugs would be a better solution:

While I agree with the premise and it makes sense on so many levels, I can't see selling heroin over the counter as not leading to a whole new group of folks who will become addicted to something that they may have never otherwise messed with if it weren't so easy to get and inexpensive as a result of its mass merchandising. -thefreedomtorecover MORE »

 Hello everyone

Romans Road Ministries are on tour (Save a Life Tour 2015 See below)

There are support link as you feel lead; However; the best support is Prayer.

Please pray for these community outreaches; For the Spirit of God to save the souls of men.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Romans Road, Headstone 118, and Right to Become will be on this tour together joined by several other bands and special guests. Our Mission:

To use our individual gifts and talents to bless and reach the inner cities through worship, testimony's and song. Our goals are to lead people to Jesus Christ and provide them with the necessary connections to get involved in group discipleship meetings with Christ oriented churches in the specific location, and be a needed spiritual voice in the communities. The tour will stop in four different cities this spring and summer. 

May 16: Kensington/Philadelphia, PA

May 30: Camden, NJ

July 11: Trenton, NJ

July 25: The Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York 

We will provide food and beverages to the community at each stop, purchase bibles to be distributed to all who will benefit from reading the Word of God. We will be joined by Rock Ministries, Disciples For Christ, Motorcyclist For Jesus, Equipt ministries, Faces Of Change, Promise of Grace and The Lower East Side Fellowship church. 

Updates on this tour will be posted

Thank you and God Bless,

John Simons and Jason Simons – Romans Road Ministry

Brian and Kathy Tucker – Positively Uplifting Music Productions

More info can be found at

www.romansroadministry.com

Support and donations can be made at

http://www.crowdrise.com/savealifetour2015

 

 

 

Joe Johnson

Ministry Leader

Disciples for Christ M/M

"God's work, done God's way, will never lack God's supply." Hudson Taylor

WE NEED HELP!!!! In an effort to reach out to mothers of addicted children so they know The Addict's Mom is  here and they are not alone we desperately need help with the following social media skills: Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Google Plus Youtube If you can help a little or a lot please email Barbara@theaddictsmom.com.

Visit The Addict's Mom at: http://addictsmom.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Binge-Eating Drug, with High Potential for Abuse, Being Aggressively Marketed: Experts

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

February 25th, 2015/

The drug Vyvanse, which is being aggressively marketed as a treatment for binge eating, is classified by the federal government as having a high potential for abuse, The New York Times reports.

The drug is a type of amphetamine. Retired tennis player Monica Seles, a paid spokeswoman for the company that makes Vyvanse, has been on a media tour to promote the drug. Shire, which makes Vyvanse, received approval late last month to market the drug for binge-eating disorder.

Vyvanse was already approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Federal officials have cited the company for inappropriately marketing Vyvanse and other ADHD drugs.

Amphetamines suppress appetite. For decades, they were widely abused as a treatment for obesity, some drug safety experts point out.

“Once a pharmaceutical company gets permission to advertise for it, it can often become quite widely prescribed, and even tend to be overprescribed, and that’s a worry,” said Dr. B. Timothy Walsh, professor of psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University. He said that Vyvanse shows promise, but other treatments such as talk therapy have been more widely studied.

Some experts said a Shire website, BingeEatingDisorder.com, does not mention Vyvanse but explains how patients can talk to their doctor about binge-eating disorder. The site also tells patients “don’t give up” if their doctor does not address their concerns. Some experts in prescription drug abuse said they are troubled by the website, because it appears to coach patients in how to receive a diagnosis for binge-eating disorder. It also explains how to shop for a new doctor if they are not successful, the article notes.

'Out of Reach' - Documentary of Medicine Abuse Through the Eyes of a Teen | The Medicine Abuse Project

'Out of Reach' - Documentary of Medicine Abuse Through the Eyes of a Teen | The Medicine Abuse Project

Use of Stronger Painkillers on the Rise: Study - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Use of Stronger Painkillers on the Rise: Study - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Fast-Spreading HIV Outbreak in Indiana Linked to Injection of Painkiller

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

February 26th, 2015/

Health officials in Indiana say a fast-spreading outbreak of HIV in Indiana is largely due to injection drug abuse of the prescription painkiller Opana. The powerful drug is more potent, per milligram, than OxyContin.

State health officials said Wednesday they have confirmed 26 cases, and have four additional suspected cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, injection drug users represent 8 percent of new HIV infections annually.

Indiana State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams says most of the residents who tested positive for HIV contracted the virus recently, and may spread it to others, USA Todayreports.

“Because prescription drug abuse is at the heart of this outbreak, we are not only working to identify, contact and test individuals who may have been exposed, but also to connect community members to resources for substance abuse treatment and recovery,” Adams said in a statement.

In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new, crush-resistant formulation of Opana ER, an opioid containing oxymorphone. In 2013, the FDA denied a request from the maker of Opana to block generic forms of the drug.

The drug’s manufacturer, Endo Health Solutions, argued its newer tamper-resistant formula was more difficult to abuse than the original version of the drug, and asked that the agency not approve generic forms of the earlier version. The FDA decided that since the original Opana had not been withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness, generic forms of the painkiller could continue to be approved and marketed.

The FDA also said the newer Opana ER could still be abused, and might be more easily injected than the original formulation.

February 25 CHAP 97 v 11 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALMS

Light shines on the Godly ,and joy on those whose hearts are right .(GODS BIG BOOK)

STEP 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

It maybe only two sentences above but they are the key too living a joy filled life. Addiction is a sin called idolatry ! When we become addicted to a substance we become enslaved by it. It is our master and we will do what ever it commands us to do .Our lives are no longer ours and our hearts become filled with darkness (fear shame guilt regret anger depression ) . Society labels us diseased (junkie addict insane mentally ill) which is the furthest from the truth . God has all the answers but because we cant see it we choose not to believe so we stay enslaved and full of darkness. The key to freedom and joy is fix your heart and your head will follow . To fix and remove the darkness of your heart you must pray like you never prayed before believe with all your heart that you are being heard by your creator and loving Father in heaven and start using the Steps .God and The Steps are the only way to get out of the darkness. The steps are essential they remove Pride and the removal of pride brings humility and humility brings surrender and surrender brings confession and confession leads to Jesus and Jesus brings  peace joy forgiveness and light. Society says your diseased ,God says you gotta broken heart ! Society says lock em up and medicate them ! God says I love with an unending love  cast your addictions cares fears and worries on me and I will give you peace.

John 14 : 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (GODS BIG BOOK) 

By Joseph Dickerson

Sat. Feb 28: Life ReScripted with Bob and Vicki Life ReScripted is a (FREE!) experiential workshop that uncovers and clears unresolved issues that can undermine recovery. There are strong and compelling reasons why these issues persist.  A rescripting identifies and transforms the root cause of our self-sabotaging choices & behavior. About the facilitators: Bob and Vicki met in a 12 step meeting in the late 90's and soon started a monthly gathering with others to augment their recovery. Life ReScripted was continually modified in those early gatherings and became their most effective tool. They found they were able to do deeper work in this safer environment which resulted in less struggle and lasting change. Word spread and they were invited to facilitate at 12 step and other retreats and began hosting weekends and training others to form their own circles. Their goal is for Life ReScripted to be accessible as 12 Step programs worldwide. Training is available for those interested in helping facilitate and/or starting their own circles. Congratulations to Bob on 24 years of sobriety! Requirements to attend this workshop: at least 3 months of sobriety, a support system and a commitment to be responsible and accountable for your actions and behavior within the group.  Visitors/observers are very welcome and will feel very at home - no one has to participate unless they would like to.  Workshop will be held on Saturday, February 28th, 2:00 to 5:00 pm at the Dwier Center: 392 Church St Groveville, NJ. Life Rescripted will then be held at same time on the last Saturday of each month.  For questions or comments, contact: cityofangelsnj@hotmail.com Wed. March 4th, 6 pm: 12 Step Yoga!   "The Issues Live in Our Tissues!" Y12SR combines the practical tools of the 12 Step program with the ancient wisdom of yoga. Combining the two creates a model that truly addresses addiction and/or co-dependency as the physical, mental & spiritual dis-eases that they are. Y12SR is a 12 Step-based discussion and yoga practice open to anyone and everyone dealing with their own addiction behavior or affected by the addictive behavior or others. This is an open & inclusive group - all A's are welcome, as are folks both experienced & completely new to yoga. Wear comfortable clothing. Meetings are by donation. 1st Wednesday of each month at 6pm. For more info, contact Mark at MMelillo40@gmail.com or visit y12sr.com. Sat. March 7, 10 am: NCADDNJ Advocacy Training For people in recovery from addiction, their loved ones, and professionals who wish to speak out to promote recovery, be a part of a grassroots movement, and encourage healthy public policies enabling others to find and sustain recovery. This training will help you: - Tell your recovery story to reduce stigma of people in recovery - Understand the importance of messaging - See the bigger picture of the national recovery advocacy movement - Advocate without breaking 12 step traditions - Focus on how to speak with media and elected officials Space in this FREE full-day training is limited, so register ASAP. Email your name & preferred contact info subject line "training registration" to mharrison@ncaddnj.org or by phone 609 310 4040. Lunch will be provided. April 6 - 12: Recovery Coach Training Want to help a loved one? Or just work more effectively with addiction sufferers? The COA-CCAR Recovery Coach Academy can help! This 30-hour training will teach you how to remove obstacles to recovery... to motivate, guide and facilitate long-term addiction recovery. Since 2008, more than 5,000 people across the U.S. have taken this training and 100 people have taken it at COA.  To learn more, see program schedule, or to register, click: Recovery Coach Training Details. Don't delay - early registration rates are in effect for a limited time only! If you would like to work with a COA-trained Recovery Coach, click: COA Trained Recovery Coaches Program Date: Mon., April 6 - Sun., April 12, 2015 Location: Raymond Dwier Center - 392 Church Street, Groveville, New Jersey   Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing GRASP support group meets on the Second Thursday of Each Month from 7:00pm until 9:00pm, at The Raymond Dwier Center, 392 Church Street, Hamilton Twp., NJ.  If you are planning to attend for the first time, please call to pre-register: Laurie Latham 609-575-5477 or Sue Fares 609-203-2950. On COARR  Let's Talk About Recovery! With 10 original shows, COARR plays Recovery Talk 24/7/365....past shows are available online atwww.coaradio.com/pastshows.html and in each show's online archive.  Tune in thru the smartphone app (free in the iphone/droid stores) or on www.coaradio.com to hear what's playing now..... New show on COARR: Step by Step is a Pennsylvania-based network of recovery homes where recoverees gain support from one another. This show explores what it's like to live in a sober home. If you missed the show, it's now online: click here to listen. It's a great introduction to what sober living & recovery homes are all about! Listen to past COARR shows any time:  For "Women & Addiction" with Terri Thomas, click here.  For "Wellness in Recovery" with life coach Nancy Tilelli, click here.  For "Journey Thru the 12 Steps with the Life Recovery Bible," click here.  For "Share Your Scars" with Vicki, click here. For "Wings Over Water: Creativity in Recovery" with recovery musician Kathy Moser, click here. For "Laughter & Recovery" with stand up comic Wil B. Kleen, click here.  For "Relationships in Recovery" with Alexa, click here.  For "Saving Lives" with COA Director of Interventions Tom Redneck Clark, click here.
Volunteer Opportunities At City of Angels, we were the first-ever "all volunteer community organization", as we established and still maintain a no charge policy for our support services.  We are always looking for caring volunteers. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please click the link below: Volunteer Today