Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Prevention North Carolina
Why is PREVENTION the answer?
Because Prevention WORKS!
The prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs has been a priority in North Carolina, and the country, for decades. The North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) has stated that
“Substance use and abuse is both a health problem in itself and a health risk contributing to other health problems” In its recent report (2009) the NCIOM goes on to say that Prevention should be the cornerstone of North Carolina’s efforts to reduce inappropriate use, misuse, and dependence on alcohol and other drugs, and to prevent the incidence and severity of stress, depression, or other anxiety disorders.
In turn, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that if effective prevention programs were implemented nationwide, substance abuse initiation would decline by 1.5 million youth. Youth who do initiate use will delay that initiation by an average of two years. For subsequent years, this would have estimated a return of:
5.6 percent fewer youth ages 13–15 would have engaged in drinking;
10.2 percent fewer youth would have used marijuana;
30.2 percent fewer youth would have used cocaine;
8.0 percent fewer youth would have smoked regularly.
SAMHSA goes on to report that these reductions in use would also contribute to a reduction in cost to our cities, counties, states, and the country. For example, the average effective school-based substance abuse prevention program costs $220 per pupil including materials and teacher training, and these programs could save an estimated $18 per $1 invested if implemented nationwide. The report goes on to argue that if full implementation of effective prevention programming would occur nationwide it could have a cost benefit of:
Saving state and local governments $1.3 billion, including $1.05 billion in educational costs within 2 years;
Reducing social costs of substance-abuse-related medical care, other resources, and lost productivity over a lifetime by an estimated $33.7 billion;
Preserving the quality of life over a lifetime valued at $65 billion.
As you may recognize from the information listed here, Substance Abuse Prevention is not just about “feel good” programs that tug at the heart strings of individuals, families, and the community; instead it is combination of care and concern for our youth with a combination of science to assure our achievement of our target. To put it into one phrase, the state of
North Carolina strives to provide all Prevention Professionals with the best trainings and tools for “effective prevention programs” and strategies because we know that helping just one high-risk youth graduate from high school, avoid heavy drug use, and not engage in crime would create a healthier youth AND save our state between $1.7 and $2.3 million dollars.
NC Institute of Medicine. (2009). Prevention for the Health of North Carolina: A Prevention Action Plan. More information can be found at: www.nciom.org/projects/prevention/Prev_Interim_Report-09.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (2008). Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Centers: A Cost Benefit Analysis
Cohen, M. (1998). The monetary value of saving a high-risk youth. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 14, 5-33.
Contact Info
Website http://www.preventionistheanswer.org
NIH Announces It Will Not Create Single Institute Devoted to Addiction
By Join Together Staff | November 19, 2012 | 3 Comments | Filed in Addiction& Government
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced it will not pursue the proposed creation of a single institute devoted to substance use, abuse and addictions. The proposal would have dissolved the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and replaced it with a single body, according to the Nature News Blog.
NIH Director Francis Collins said in a statement that instead of dissolving the two institutes, he will seek their “functional integration,” along with related research in the NIH’s other institutes. NIDA has an annual budget of $1 billion, while NIAAA’s budget is $459 million, the article notes.
Citing budget uncertainties, Collins noted, “The time, energy, and resources required for a major structural reorganization are not warranted, especially given that functional integration promises to achieve equivalent scientific and public health objectives.”
In June, Collins told his committee of external advisers that leaders in the alcoholic beverage industry were concerned about the new single institute. According to the article, the industry’s opposition suggested it was not comfortable with a single body that would more closely align the public’s perception of alcohol consumption and abuse with drug addiction.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Seattle Police Department Produces Guide to New Marijuana Law
By Join Together Staff | November 16, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inCommunity Related, Drugs & Legislation
In response to the newly approved recreational marijuana law approved by Washington state voters last week, the Seattle Police Department has produced a flippant guide that explains the new law, according to NBC News.
On November 6, voters in Washington and Colorado approved measures to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use, becoming the first U.S. states to do so. The measures allow personal possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for anyone at least 21 years old. They also permit marijuana to be sold and taxed at state-licensed stores.
The Seattle guide takes a lighthearted approach to answering questions about how the Washington law will be applied. “We deliberately designed (the guide) in a way that people would enjoy it,” Seattle Police Department (SPD) spokesman Sergeant Sean Whitcomb told NBC News.
One example from the guide:
Q: What happens if I get pulled over and I’m sober, but an officer or his K9 buddy smells the ounce of Super Skunk I’ve got in my trunk?
A: Under state law, officers have to develop probable cause to search a closed or locked container. Each case stands on its own, but the smell of pot alone will not be reason to search a vehicle.
The guide notes that while the new law, known as I-502, has decriminalized marijuana possession in Washington, it does not change federal law, which classifies marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic. “All Seattle Police officers have taken an oath to uphold not only state law, but federal law as well. However, SPD officers will follow state law, and will no longer make arrests for marijuana possession as defined under I-502,” the guide states.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Milestone Foundation Maine
About
Mission It is the mission of Milestone to provide the best quality of services to empower individuals with substance abuse problems to attain stability, dignity, recovery and an enhanced quality of life.
Company OverviewFor over forty years, Milestone Foundation has been providing emergency shelter, detoxification, and extended care to chronic substance abusers.
The Milestone Foundation is one of the oldest substance abuse treatment programs in Maine.
General Information
Milestone Foundation has two locations to help serve our community:
Portland Facility - Shelter & Detoxification Program
65 India St. Portland, Maine 04101
Old Orchard Beach Facility - Extended Care Program
28 Portland Ave. Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064
65 India St.
Portland, Maine 04101
Phone Portland Office:
(207) 775-4790 Old Orchard Beach Office: (207) 934-5231Email kellyt@milestonefoundation.org
Website http://www.MilestoneFoundation.org
Real Recovery North Carolina
About
Real Recovery is a sober living program for young men ages 18-28 located in Asheville, NC. For more information, please visit www.soberasheville.com.
MissionOur Mission Statement
Every young man willing seeking 12 step recovery should get the opportunity to achieve their full potential mentally, physically, and spiritually. That no young man should ever be ashamed of their affliction and the steps necessary to obtain recovery. That with hard work in life and recovery, comes the opportunity to enjoy premier snowboarding, longboarding, fly fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting, and the beautiful and fun-filled life that sober living in Western North Carolina's premier recovery home affords
DescriptionNorth Carolina's premiere Recovery Home and treatment aftercare program.A sober living program serving males age 18-28 with primary diagnosis of chemical dependence/ poly-substance abuse. Located in Asheville, North Carolina a young and eclectic town with southern charm and a vibrant local economy. Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains an extremely popular outdoor vacation destination. With a large local music scene and outstanding 12 step recovery community.
Basic Info
Founded November 2009
Location 399 Old Leicester Rd, Asheville, North Carolina 28804
Awards Recognized by leading treatment centers nationwide as a premier aftercare program and sober living home for young men seeking 12 step recovery.
Contact Info
Phone
(828) 989-1967Email kevin@real-recovery.net
Website http://www.soberasheville.com
Gaudenzia
Mission Gaudenzia helps people affected by chemical dependency, mental illness and related conditions to achieve a better quality of life-allowing them to live as productive and accountable individuals. This is accomplished through comprehensive treatment and prevention methods guided by a philosophy of mutual concern and responsibility. Gaudenzia also conducts research and educates the community on the causes, treatment and prevention of addictions, mental illness and related conditions.
*********************
~ Gaudenzia Philosophy ~
*********************
We are here because there is no refuge,
finally, for ourselves.
Until people confront themselves in the eyes and hearts of others, they are running.
Until they suffer others to share their secrets,
they have no safety from them.
Afraid to be known, they can know neither themselves nor any other; they will be alone.
Where else but in our common ground
can we find such a mirror?
Here, together, people can at last appear clearly
to themselves - not as the giant of their dreams,
nor the dwarfs of their fears - but as individuals,
part of a whole, with a share in its purpose.
In this ground we can each take root and grow, not alone anymore as in death, but alive to ourselves and to others.
Company OverviewFounded in Philadelphia, Gaudenzia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people help themselves. We provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment & recovery services.
DescriptionTreatment Works. Recovery Happens.
Contact Info
Phone (610) 239-9600
Website http://www.gaudenzia.org
*********************
~ Gaudenzia Philosophy ~
*********************
We are here because there is no refuge,
finally, for ourselves.
Until people confront themselves in the eyes and hearts of others, they are running.
Until they suffer others to share their secrets,
they have no safety from them.
Afraid to be known, they can know neither themselves nor any other; they will be alone.
Where else but in our common ground
can we find such a mirror?
Here, together, people can at last appear clearly
to themselves - not as the giant of their dreams,
nor the dwarfs of their fears - but as individuals,
part of a whole, with a share in its purpose.
In this ground we can each take root and grow, not alone anymore as in death, but alive to ourselves and to others.
Company OverviewFounded in Philadelphia, Gaudenzia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people help themselves. We provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment & recovery services.
DescriptionTreatment Works. Recovery Happens.
Contact Info
Phone (610) 239-9600
Website http://www.gaudenzia.org
Alcohol Taxes Can Reduce Young People’s Drinking
By Celia Vimont | November 16, 2012 | 4 Comments | Filed in Alcohol,Government, Legislation, Marketing And Media, Young Adults & Youth
Raising alcohol excise taxes can help deter young people from drinking, according to a leading expert on preventing drinking in youth.
“These taxes prevent and reduce drinking and death among young people, as well as among heavy drinkers,” says David H. Jernigan, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who has conducted research on the effect of the taxes.
He notes that Maryland, which increased its sales taxes on liquor in 2011 from 6 percent to 9 percent, is a good example of how community coalitions can work together to translate research into action. The passage of the state alcohol sales tax increase was the first rise in spirits taxes since 1955, and the first increase in the beer and wine tax since 1972.
“When alcohol is cheaper at the corner store than milk, orange juice or sometimes even water, it sends young people the wrong message,” Jernigan says. “It makes alcohol look like an ordinary commodity when it is not.” He notes that prices on alcohol used to be much higher than those on other beverages. The most important factor in the price drop has been the inability of alcohol taxes to keep up with inflation.
In a report prepared as part of the campaign to advocate for the Maryland excise tax, CAMY estimated that a dime a drink increase in Maryland’s alcohol excise taxes would reduce alcohol consumption by 4.8 percent, raise $214.4 million in new revenue for the state and result in a savings of an additional $249 million in costs incurred in the state as a result of alcohol consumption. CAMY said that such an increase would prevent almost 15,000 cases of alcohol dependence annually. “The impact could be even larger among youth, since they are less likely to be addicted to alcohol than older drinkers, and also have less disposable income—both factors that make them more sensitive to increases in the cost of alcohol,” the report states.
The Maryland sales tax on alcohol is expected to raise about $75 million this year, about $10 million less than projected when the law was passed. An estimated $14 million collected through the alcohol tax will be used to expand community-based, long-term care for the elderly and those with disabilities. Most of the money is being directed to health-related programs. In addition to the $14 million to expand services for the elderly and disabled, the funds will be used for programs for people with developmental disabilities, and community health services, including a program that covers outpatient primary care, substance abuse and pharmacy benefits.
The coalition promoting the Maryland excise tax increase led the campaign with the public health case for the tax, Jernigan says, including two CAMY reports summarizing research on alcohol taxes. “Our message was, ‘Regardless of what we do with this money, the tax will save lives because that is what these taxes do.’” The coalition immediately got copies of the report out to the media to engage their interest.
In one study cited, which was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2010, researchers reviewed 72 papers and reports, nearly all of which found an inverse relationship between the tax or price of alcohol and measures of excessive drinking or alcohol-related health outcomes. The results “constitute strong evidence that raising alcohol excise taxes is an effective strategy for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms,” the researchers conclude.
The coalition did polling to assess and demonstrate public support for the tax. “More than half the population supports alcohol excise taxes consistently, and if you earmark the revenue for specific things, that percentage rises to the mid-60s to low 70s,” Jernigan says.
The next step was to write a resolution to support the idea of increasing Maryland’s alcohol tax, and find organizations to sign it. The coalition then made it an election-year issue by asking candidates running for statewide office in 2010 to support the resolution, and was able to obtain backing from one-third of the candidates.
Finally, the coalition began educating policymakers about why alcohol taxes are good for public health. Jernigan cautioned that anyone who receives public funding, whether local, state or federal, cannot use those funds to be involved in direct lobbying, even about public health issues.
Once an alcohol excise tax has been passed, supporters must continue to inform the public about the effect of the tax, according to Jernigan. “The public needs to know how much has been raised, where the money is going and what impact it has. It usually takes three to four years to measure that.”
Jernigan is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on technical tools that are designed to assist states and communities in implementing recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services, a nongovernmental group appointed by the CDC director. One of the recommendations is to raise alcohol excise taxes.
FedEx and UPS Targets of Criminal Investigation Related to Online Pharmacies
By Join Together Staff | November 16, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Legal& Prescription Drugs
Shipping companies FedEx and UPS say they are targets of a federal investigation related to their dealings with online pharmacies, ABC News reports. The probe is part of an international effort to reduce prescription drug abuse.
On Thursday, a federal jury convicted three men of operating illegal pharmacies that used the two shipping companies to deliver drugs without proper prescriptions, according to the news report.
FedEx spokesman Patrick Fitzgerald said the Drug Enforcement Administration has refused to provide the company with a list of online pharmacies under investigation. Without such information, it is not possible to know which companies are operating illegally, he told ABC News. “We have no interest in violating the privacy of our customers by opening and inspecting their packages in an attempt to determine the legality of the contents,” he said.
In 2011, Google agreed to pay $500 million to avoid being prosecuted for aiding illegal online pharmaceutical sales. In the settlement, the company acknowledged it had improperly and knowingly assisted online pharmacy advertisers, allegedly based in Canada, to run ads for illegal pharmacy sales that targeted American customers.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Letter from an addict
Shelly 6:11am Oct 21
Hi My name is Shelly
I am just the MOM...I thought maybe I would give you a different view on the
Life of an addict..MY VIEW....
I was 15 when I had my first and only child,not yet an adult,but back then
You couldn't have told me that..
Single and living in a shack with an alcoholic father,but I was HAPPY .I was
Happy because I had no supervision,,
What a life huh?Partying my days and nights
Away with no recollections the next morning,not caring that I now had
A child to tend to,because ,why should I worry,I had my dad.Even though my
Dad was a drunk,he always seemed to
Be there for us,and now,, for this child of mine.With dads help ,I was able
To continue the way I wanted to LIVE...
Mescaline,Acid,Mushrooms,Thc,and the occasional
MR.RUSH.I wasn't out there stealing and hurting people,going through
Medicine cabinets, in and out of jail,, I MY FRIEND
WAS HAVING FUN!!!! I cared about nothing but where the next hit of acid
Was coming from,
Because I wanted to LAUGH..I never bothered to find out what this stuff was
Why would I...I knew it was fun,and fun we had,yes we did..
This continued from 13 to 25,and of course we cant forget the booze...I was
Drinking in bars at 14..Back then it was like nobody cared.
We were making memories...Where was my son?HMMMMMM,I am sure my dad was
Taking care of him in between beers.
My son moved on when I was 27,He decided that he wanted to live with his dad
I moved around so much ,I could understand why
He wanted stability..Pretty hard to make friends when mom
Is so f........ up she doesn't know you exist,(although there was all of the
Fun times we had)..So here I was
Alone at 27 finally,nobody but ME...I got a job,and a 1 bedroom apartment
(WHICH I STILL MISS BY THE WAY)
And I met people,One of them introduced me to cocaine,That first time ,
Ohhhh I still remember that first time.Within minutes I was wanting more..
I don't know how long I kept it at the simple little 1/2 gram,but I kept it
That way for maybe ohh a few weeks..then it wasn't enough..I wanted more
It called my name.And I got it,I graduated to 8 balls.
Now how was I going to pay for this?I know Ill sell it,I would sell 3 keep a
1/2 ,,yes this was working for me ,,and I could now feed my addiction.Never
Caring that things just werent right in my world.I was super human,,stay up
All night doing lines,and going to work the next day..Easy life,When it got
To hard to stay awake,I would just do more lines.I could handle this way of
Living.it was the best ,or so I thought...it just wasn't enough I needed
More,and then more on top of that.
I came home to visit my dad and told him what I was doing ,he asked me to
Stop..
But I couldn't,it called my name every waking moment,it called to me...It
Took me about 2 years to really realize I was hooked..I needed to get out of
This mess I was in,So I ran back home ,way UP north,to where I knew I was
Safe,I have been clean now for 22 years.that is just a little bit about my
F........... up life,
In the meantime,I didn't even stop to think about what my son was doing.It
Was years before I really knew the truth about how bad it really was for him
I never believed my son would get into way more than I ever could have
Dreamed of.I first heard about the cocaine he was shooting,when he was 27,of
Course I didn't want to believe this.I am just now finding out that he was
Shooting starter fluid along with the cocaine.my god,how bad is it out
There?when did he graduate to the thing that I never could have imagined
HEROIN???I watched as he lost everything,a job ,a car ,a home,and most of
All his life,no he didn't die,but he may as well have been dead..He was
Scrambling,working hard to find that next hit.When did it all get this bad?
And why couldn't I fix it?I wanted my son back.over the years I have done a
Lot of stupid things,turning him in ,making his life hell,but I didn't know
The answers,I only know for the next 10 years,I enabled my son to keep going
.I thought I was helping him to get better,but in fact ,I was making things
worse for him.In the past 2 years,i have taken a step back,and I am working
on me.I am allowing my son to work on himself.Even if he relapses,this is
his choice,not mine..I cant live under the constant stress anymore.I am
living the few years left here for ME.taking care of ME.I guess I really
wanted you all to know what goes on in a moms head and heart,when they are
watching their child spin out of control..It hurts ,,there are days I would
have rather been dead.I cant go backwards,,I must move on,with or without
him in my life.as a mom ,of an addict,I have lost grandchildren that I will
never know..how fair is that to me?I didn't ask for this.so ,why should I
have to suffer?I want you all to imagine ,for one minute,,what if this was
Your child??how would you feel? I want to help save my son,but I cant..this
isnt fair..
When did life become all about drugs..when did family become unimportant
well,I wish
you all the best of luck in your sobriety.I pray for each and everyone of
you to make your life count.
Thanks for being here,and thank you Silver,for everything that you do for so
many...
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Friday, November 16, 2012
Lets Support This One
CLPRM Scholarship Benefit Concert
Woodside Church AND Christian Life Prison and Recovery Ministries PRESENTS…
A Benefit Concert for the CLPRM Scholarship Fund
Featuring DAVE PETTIGREW
With special guest Kris Ballerini
Buy tickets NOW for this very special event!
Also Featuring Special Guest Kris Ballerini
When: Saturday, November 17, 2012 @ 7pm (Doors open at 6:30)
Where: Woodside Church, 1667 Edgewood Rd., Yardley, PA
Tickets: $25
For info and tickets order now or email: daveptix@verizon.net
What is the CLPRM Scholarship Fund?
The CLPRM Scholarship Fund helps place men and women struggling with addictions into Christ-centered recovery houses or programs, and funds the first month of treatment. It is our hope that this type of environment will gives recipients a fresh start, guides them to overcome addiction and brings them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This scholarship is open to anyone struggling with addictions, including those recently released from prison.
To apply, click here for an application.
About Dave Pettigrew
Dave Pettigrew has become a good friend of CLPRM and a fan favorite. We’re so grateful he’s part of this exciting event.
Call him “the poet for the common man’s search for Christianity.” Dave Pettigrew proves worthy of the title through his collection of thought-provoking music for life.
His multiple releases, The Walk, Every Minute Miracles, Somebody I’m Supposed To Be, Solo Volume 1 & the Christmas EP, show that he is a consistent and lyrically wide-reaching breath of fresh air in Christian music as he pursues his ongoing ministry mission through song to bring the “rubber meets the road” realities of everyday life into focus with God.
His latest single “There Is Hope” has been played nationally on stations like KLOVE and Sirius XM’s “The Message” and was featured in over 3,000 churches across the nation for the 10th anniversary of September 11th.
Read more about Dave…
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Texas Governor Wants Drug Tests for Welfare, Unemployment Applicants
By Join Together Staff | November 14, 2012 | 3 Comments | Filed in Community Related, Drugs & Legislation
Texas Governor Rick Perry this week called for drug tests for residents seeking welfare or unemployment benefits, the Associated Press reports.
Perry and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst want to expand a bill that will come before the state legislature next year that would mandate drug testing for “high-risk” welfare applicants, and would ban them from using public funds to purchase alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets. Perry and Dewhurst want the rules to also include those applying for unemployment benefits.
“Texas taxpayers will not subsidize or tolerate illegal drug abuse. Every dollar that goes to someone who uses it inappropriately is a dollar that can’t go to a Texan who needs it for housing, child care or medicine,” Governor Perry said in a news release. “Being on drugs makes it much harder to begin the journey to independence, which only assures individuals remain stuck in the terrible cycle of drug abuse and poverty.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas opposes the measure. Executive Director Terri Burke said in a news release, “How sad that our state’s highest elected officials have embraced this mean-spirited measure that would punish innocent children for their parents’ conduct. This proposal is a costly, ineffective, inhumane and punitive effort by state government based on stereotypes about our state’s neediest Texans.”
A Florida law that required welfare applicants to undergo drug testing was halted last year after the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida sued the state to stop it. About 2.5 percent of the 4,000 adults tested before the program was stopped tested positive for drugs. Almost 2,500 people refused to take the drug test.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Laws to Crack Down on Serving Intoxicated People in Bars Largely Ignored
By Celia Vimont | November 13, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Alcohol &Government
Laws prohibiting bars and restaurants from serving intoxicated people can be an effective way to reduce alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and violence, but the provisions in most states are poorly drafted and rarely enforced, according to two experts on alcohol policy.
James Mosher, JD, and Elizabeth Dahl, JD, of Alcohol Policy Consultations, say the enforcement of well-designed service of intoxicated persons (SIP) laws would provide significant public health and safety benefits. Mosher spoke at the recent American Public Health Association annual meeting.
Only Florida and Nevada do not have SIP laws, and Wyoming’s law applies only to drive-through sales, according to Dahl. Other states have some form of SIP law, although the specific provisions vary widely.
“Law enforcement largely ignores these laws,” Mosher notes. “One reason for this is they are usually so poorly drafted that there’s little likelihood of conviction.” A 2007 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that states have limited resources to enforce the laws, and the provisions of the laws tend to make collection of proof overly burdensome. The report also found that cultural norms that tolerate excessive drinking or that support the idea that bars are appropriate places for patrons to become intoxicated present a challenge for effective SIP enforcement.
New Mexico is one of the few states with an effective SIP law, Dahl says. In that state, if a patron is stopped after leaving a bar or restaurant with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .14 or higher, a rebuttable presumption is established that the patron was intoxicated when served at the establishment. The bar or restaurant can rebut the presumption with evidence that the server could not reasonably know about the patron’s intoxicated state. After three violations in one year, the establishment can lose its license. According to Dahl, New Mexico implemented a targeted program to enforce its SIP law and combined it with DUI checkpoints and dedicated DUI enforcement. As a result, the state experienced a substantial reduction in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.
This contrasts sharply with the laws in other states. “In many states, you can’t use the BAC of a patron to infer they became intoxicated in the bar—you need to prove that through direct observation of a witness, which makes it harder to prove,” Mosher says. “You have to send undercover officers into bars and have them sit and watch to see if a violation occurs.”
SIP laws that do not require actual knowledge of intoxication are easier to enforce, Mosher says. “Some states use a ‘reasonable person’ standard – would a reasonable person in like circumstances know that the patron was intoxicated? This constitutes the legal definition of negligence and is an appropriate approach for drafting SIP laws.” According to Mosher, SIP laws are more likely to reduce patron intoxication if the penalties focus on suspending and revoking the licenses of repeat offenders rather than relying on criminal penalties. Administrative sanctions are typically easier than criminal sanctions to impose.
The authors suggest that an effective way to reduce Driving Under the Influence (DUI) incidents is to focus on the relatively small percentage of drinking establishments that repeatedly serve intoxicated patrons. Law enforcement often knows which ones these are because of the repeated calls for service that typically occur. After every DUI arrest or crash, the offender should be asked where they were drinking as a routine part of the investigation. The data can be compiled to identify potential problem establishments. Law enforcement can meet with the owner and manager, alert them to the problem, and suggest Responsible Beverage Service programs that focus both on management policies and staff training. If problems persist, a targeted law enforcement effort can be initiated. This approach can greatly reduce the costs of SIP law enforcement and focus limited resources on the establishments most likely to be SIP law violators.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
HARMONY FOUNDATION COLORADO
About
Nonprofit Residential Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center
MissionTo Provide the Foundation for Sustained Recovery from the Diseases of Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Company OverviewHarmony is a residential drug & alcohol treatment center in Estes Park, CO, about 1.5 hours from Denver. We offer comprehensive recovery services to individuals and their families.
DescriptionHarmony Foundation is a residential drug and alcohol treatment center nestled in the Colorado Rocky Mountains near Estes Park, Colorado. We provide treatment for chemical dependency using the bio-psycho-social 12-step model: Body, Mind & Spirit. Our 30-day program is gender separate and individualized to meet clients' needs. Harmony provides a foundation for lifelong recovery for approximately 650 men and women each year.
General InformationHarmony is a residential drug & alcohol treatment center in Estes Park, CO, about 1.5 hours from Denver. We offer comprehensive recovery services to individuals and their families.
Founded1969AwardsHarmony is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). Our Alumni Services are part of the Treatment Professionals in Alumni Services (TPAS) association.ProductsHarmony offers an affordable 30 day residential program, family program, and aftercare services. Insurance Accepted.
Harmony has treated approximately 25,000 men and women for addiction since 1969.
1600 Fish Hatchery Road
Estes Park, Colorado 80517
Phone
(866) 686-7867Email info@harmonyfoundationinc.com
Website http://www.harmonyfoundationinc.com
A Few Doctors Linked to Many Prescription Drug Deaths in Southern California
By Join Together Staff | November 12, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Community Related, Healthcare & Prescription Drugs
A small number of doctors are linked to a large percentage of prescription drug-related deaths in Southern California, according to an investigation by the Los Angeles Times.
The newspaper found that in almost half of the 3,733 deaths from prescription drugs in four Southern California counties, those who died had a doctor’s prescription for at least one drug that caused or contributed to the death. In many cases, deaths were caused by use of multiple drugs, sometimes prescribed by more than one doctor. In some cases, prescription drugs were mixed with alcohol or illicit drugs.
The investigation found 71 doctors, or 0.1 percent of all practicing physicians in the four counties, wrote prescriptions for drugs that caused or contributed to 298 deaths. Each of those doctors prescribed drugs to three or more patients who died, the newspaper found. Four of the doctors had 10 or more patients who died from prescription drug overdoses.
Most of the 71 doctors linked with three or more fatal overdoses were pain specialists, general practitioners or psychiatrists. They tended to work alone, without the scrutiny of peers. Four have been convicted of drug offenses in connection with the prescriptions they wrote; a fifth is awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder in the overdose deaths of three patients, the article notes.
The other doctors have not faced criminal prosecution related to their practice of medicine. Most have clean records with the Medical Board of California, which licenses and oversees doctors.
Experts said the findings should lead to closer scrutiny of physicians’ prescribing practices. R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said, “Do I think this has the potential to change the game in the way it’s being looked at and being addressed, both at the state and federal level? Yes, I do.”
Monday, November 12, 2012
PRO-ACT Family Addiction Education Program helps families address drug and alcohol addiction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Noni West, strategic marketing coordinator Cathie Cush
PRO-ACT C2 Communications
215-345-6644, ext. 3111 215-579-2076nwest@councilsepa.org CathieCush@comcast.net
Beverly J. Haberle, executive director
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.
215-345-6644bhaberle@councilsepa.org
PRO-ACT Family Addiction Education Program helps families address drug and alcohol addiction
Next free sessions start week of Dec. 4 at various locations in five counties
Each month PRO-ACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization–Achieving Community Together) hosts a free Family Addiction Education Program to help individuals and families recognize and address an addiction problem in a spouse, parent, child or other loved one. Led by trained volunteers who have been in the same situation, these information and support programs begin the first week of each month and run one evening a week for three consecutive weeks. Each session lasts two hours.
Programs are offered at several locations throughout the five-county southeast Pennsylvania region:
· Tuesdays—From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Media and Northeast Philadelphia.
· Wednesdays—From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Pottstown; from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in North Philadelphia; and from 7 p.m.to 9 p.m. in West Chester.
· Thursdays—From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Northern Liberties; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Bristol and Colmar
Sessions are free and confidential—first names only. Pre-registration is required. To register, call
800-221-6333, weekdays 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., or visit www.proact.org and click the Family Addiction Education Program link.Alcohol Can Distort Men’s Feelings of Empathy and Understanding of Irony
By Join Together Staff | November 9, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inAlcohol, Mental Health & Research
A new study suggests drinking too much alcohol can interfere with men’s feelings of empathy and understanding of irony. Chronic heavy drinking may damage parts of the brain involved in deciphering emotions and processing humor, the researchers say.
The study included 22 men in their third week of an alcohol treatment program, and 22 men who were not alcoholics. The men were asked to read a series of stories that ended with a straightforward sentence or an ironic one. They were then asked to complete a questionnaire aimed at determining the characters’ emotional state and whether they were speaking ironically, the researchers report in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Men in the alcohol treatment program identified ironic sentences correctly 63 percent of the time, compared with 90 percent for men without a drinking problem. The results suggest that people with drinking problems can misinterpret what they see and hear, NBC News reports.
“This result confirms that alcoholic subjects tend to underestimate negative emotions; it also suggests that the same situation might be read in a totally different way by an alcoholic individual and another person,” lead researcher Simona Amenta said in a news release.
She added, “While a lot has been said on emotion recognition in faces, body postures and gestures, only a few studies have explored the recognition of emotion in verbal language. We believe this topic should be investigated more, especially since problems in social interaction are considered a relevant outcome, but also one possible cause, of alcohol dependence.”
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