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Thursday, January 17, 2013
New York Police Department to Use Decoy Pill Bottles to Track Painkiller Thieves
The New York Police Department has announced it will put
decoy pill bottles with tracking devices on pharmacy shelves, in an
effort to track stolen painkillers. The fake bottles will appear to
contain oxycodone, The New York Times reports.
The bottles will not actually contain painkillers, but will have a
GPS device. “We would anticipate the burglar and robber will take
numerous bottles, and among them will be the bait bottle,” said the
department’s chief spokesman, Paul J. Browne.
The fake bottles rattle when they are shaken, as if they contained
pills. They sit on a special base. When the bottle is lifted from the
base, it starts to send out a tracking signal.
The department hopes to have the program in place by March, and is asking all of the city’s 1,800 pharmacies to participate.
Purdue Pharma, which makes OxyContin, developed the bottles. They are
already being used in some pharmacies around the country. Around the
nation, pharmacies have been robbed
by armed criminals looking for narcotics, anti-anxiety drugs and other
controlled medications. Some are addicted to the drugs themselves, while
others sell the pills.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Today's Scripture
"Let us have real warm affection for one another as between brothers …" - Romans 12:10
Thoughts for Today
Yesterday we looked at the importance of developing the quality of empathy in order to more effectively help a loved one struggling with a problem. Another essential quality is warmth.
Genuine warmth is communicated more by our actions than by what we actually say. Speaking the right words will most likely be totally ineffective if our body language reflects condemnation or impatience or if we seem distracted or unfocused.
A caring tone of voice, eye contact, non-possessive touch, pleasant facial expressions, friendly gestures and a relaxed stance impart a sense of warmth and caring. A warm voice and a caring touch can bring peace and calmness to a brokenhearted person. Warmth communicates openness and lessens defensiveness.
Consider this …
When planning to meet with a hurting friend, set aside time when you can focus and not feel rushed. Pray for him or her before you meet. Ask God to make you sensitive to the need. This preparation will help you show the warmth of caring. You won't just be saying words—your heart attitude will be reflected in body language that will help create an environment for encouragement and healing.
Prayer
Father, help me help my friend. May my heart be filled with your compassion and may my body language reflect the warmth of caring. In all ways, help me to demonstrate real warm affection. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Understanding the Times and Knowing What to Do by Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee. This book offers biblical strategies for ministry to our family and friends. Contemporary issues and needs faced by society are addressed with biblical principles that are timeless. Ideal for small group leaders and Sunday school teachers who want a better understanding of ministry in an addictive culture.
Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More
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.
Lance Armstrong Offers Apology for Using Performance-Enhancing Drugs
Champion cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted to using
performance-enhancing drugs during his career, and apologized for doing
so during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Associated Press reports.
The interview is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday on Winfrey’s network.
The winner of seven Tour de France victories, Armstrong strongly
denied he used performance-enhancing drugs for many years. His admission
came shortly after he apologized to the staff at Livestrong, the cancer
charity he founded and was forced to surrender, the article notes. He
created the charity after surviving testicular cancer that spread to his
lungs and brain.
Armstrong was stripped of his Tour de France titles, and was forced
to leave his charity in 2012 after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency issued a
report that accused him of a long-running doping scheme, according to
the AP. He was also banned from competing in elite triathlon and running
events. Currently, his lifetime ban cannot be reduced to less than
eight years, according to World Anti-Doping Code rules.
Using Bath Salts: Playing Russian Roulette With Your Brain, Expert Says
Using the designer drugs known as “bath salts” is like
playing Russian roulette with your brain, according to an expert at the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Michael H. Baumann, PhD,
Chief of the Designer Drug Research Unit at NIDA’s Intramural Research
Program, recently published a study that explains how bath salts cause
dangerous effects in the brain.
“People using bath salts can’t be sure about what psychoactive
chemicals are present in them, and studies have shown that ingredients
on the label often are not present in the products,” he says.
The active ingredients in bath salts that have been identified thus
far are structurally similar to cathinone, which is a naturally
occurring stimulant found in the khat plant, explains Dr. Baumann. In a
rodent study recently published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology,
he and his colleagues reported that synthetic cathinones disrupt the
transport of the brain chemical dopamine, thereby causing large spikes
in the amount of dopamine outside of nerve cells. Dopamine is implicated
in the pleasurable effects of drugs, as well as their potential for
abuse. “When a drug causes increases in dopamine, people will want to
take that drug repeatedly,” he says. The study found a bath salt
ingredient, MDPV, is 10 to 50 times more potent than cocaine in its
ability to increase dopamine in the brain.
Emergency rooms around the country have reported cases of people
taking bath salts who become psychotic, violent and delirious. These
patients also may have a very high body temperature. Some people have
died from bath salts use.
Data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers
indicate that calls due to bath salts dropped from January to November
2012, though Dr. Baumann notes the data for the year are not yet
complete. “If it is indeed the case that bath salts calls are declining,
perhaps it is because of all the publicity about these substances being
quite dangerous,” he says.
Michael H. Baumann, PhD
Dr. Baumann also notes government action may be playing an important
role in the decrease in bath salts calls. In the fall of 2011, the Drug
Enforcement Administration announced a temporary ban
on three synthetic stimulants sold as bath salts—mephedrone, methylone
and MDPV. The ban made it illegal to possess and sell these chemicals or
the products that contain them. In July 2012, President Obama signed legislation that permanently bans a number of synthetic drugs including mephedrone and MDPV.
A troubling trend is the availability of newer, similar compounds
that chemists are devising to replace the banned substances, Dr. Baumann
observes. “This cat-and-mouse game is likely to continue,” he says. It
is possible some of these newer compounds may no longer be called bath
salts, and are thus not showing up in the poison control data.
Much is still not known about bath salts, such as how they interact
with alcohol and other illicit drugs. Scientists also don’t know what
happens when several different cathinone products are mixed, or the
long-term effect of bath salts use.
“Bath salts are dangerous,” Dr. Baumann says. “We don’t know a lot
about how they affect the body, and there is no quality control in their
manufacture or packaging. There’s just no way of knowing what
byproducts or toxic impurities are in these products.”
For the latest information about bath salts, visit the NIDA website.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
New Ice Cubes Change Color to Track Alcohol Use
A graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology has invented ice cubes that can warn drinkers when they’ve
consumed too much alcohol, ABC News reports.
Dhairya Dand came up with the idea after he suffered an
alcohol-induced blackout. The incident inspired him to invent ice cubes
that change colors in response to the amount of alcohol a person
consumes. An instrument called an accelerometer tracks how often the
glass is raised to someone’s lips, while a timer helps estimate how
intoxicated the person is, according to the news report.
A light encased in the waterproof ice cube will flash green to signal
a first drink. When the ice cube flashes yellow, it indicates a
person’s alcohol level is rising. A red flashing ice cube is a warning
to stop drinking. The ice cube can send a text message to someone to let
them know the person needs assistance.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Serve One Another
Today's Scripture
"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." - 1 Peter 4:10 NLT
Thoughts for Today
God has given each of us gifts—and he wants us to use those gifts to serve one another. Galatians 5:13 admonishes us to "serve one another in love."
We each have a responsibility to develop our gifts and use them to serve others. We are to serve one another in the family of God in love … and reach out with that same loving service to those outside the church, demonstrating the love of Christ to them.
Consider this …
Sometimes we might not appreciate the gifts God has given us. We might look at someone else and think I wish I could do what they do … I wish I had that talent or organizational ability or their way with people. It is important that each of us recognizes and appreciates—and uses—the special gifts God has given us. Only then can we fully accomplish his purpose for our lives.
Some of us might just ignore a gift, letting it lie dormant. Or we may use it in other ways, but not to serve others. Let us ask him to help us develop a servant's heart.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the gifts you have given me. Help me not to neglect them or get sidetracked in the way I use them. Teach me to use them to serve others in your love. Give me a servant's heart. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Understanding Depression: Overcoming Despair through Christ by Donald G. Miles, Ed.D. This study deals with depression, a condition common throughout the world, and is suggested for use in support groups and Christian counseling.
Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More
"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." - 1 Peter 4:10 NLT
Thoughts for Today
God has given each of us gifts—and he wants us to use those gifts to serve one another. Galatians 5:13 admonishes us to "serve one another in love."
We each have a responsibility to develop our gifts and use them to serve others. We are to serve one another in the family of God in love … and reach out with that same loving service to those outside the church, demonstrating the love of Christ to them.
Consider this …
Sometimes we might not appreciate the gifts God has given us. We might look at someone else and think I wish I could do what they do … I wish I had that talent or organizational ability or their way with people. It is important that each of us recognizes and appreciates—and uses—the special gifts God has given us. Only then can we fully accomplish his purpose for our lives.
Some of us might just ignore a gift, letting it lie dormant. Or we may use it in other ways, but not to serve others. Let us ask him to help us develop a servant's heart.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the gifts you have given me. Help me not to neglect them or get sidetracked in the way I use them. Teach me to use them to serve others in your love. Give me a servant's heart. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Understanding Depression: Overcoming Despair through Christ by Donald G. Miles, Ed.D. This study deals with depression, a condition common throughout the world, and is suggested for use in support groups and Christian counseling.
- Understanding what depression is and how it affects relationships
- Understanding the relationship between depression and spiritual warfare
- Ways to fight depression with scripture, prayer and mutual support
- Understanding the special prayer needs of depressed persons
- How to pray for healing and what to expect
- Serves as a powerful evangelistic tool by providing a way to minister to people's felt needs and then lead them to Christ
Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More
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.
New Tools Identify Substance Use Treatment Needs in Criminal Justice System
People in prisons and jails are four times more likely to
have a substance use disorder than the general public, yet services for
this population are sorely lacking, according to experts at George Mason
University. They have developed several screening tools designed to
improve substance use treatment in the criminal justice system.
Both treatment and justice agencies would benefit from screening for
criminal justice risk, as well as substance use disorders, according to
Faye Taxman, PhD, of the university’s Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence!
(ACE!) program in Fairfax, Virginia. “More than 30 percent of offenders
could benefit from residential treatment, but less than 5 percent in
prison, jail or community corrections have access to such services,” she
says.
Taxman spoke recently about substance abuse treatment and the
criminal justice system at the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
annual meeting.
The Risk-Needs-Responsibility (RNR) Simulation Tools
developed by the ACE! team focus on both individuals as well as systems
as a whole. One tool developed by Taxman and her colleagues looks at a
person’s history of involvement in the system—age of first arrest,
number of times a person was arrested, incarcerated, on probation and
rearrested—to assess how likely it is that the person will return to the
system. Taxman notes this risk assessment is clinically relevant, since
it signifies the intensity and structure of services needed.
“People who score moderate to high-risk also tend to have more
behavioral health problems and patterns,” Taxman says. “They tend to
have more risky behaviors and more entrenched substance abuse and mental
health problems.” The tool allows practitioners to recommend
appropriate substance use treatment programs for individual prisoners,
based on their specific needs.
The ACE! team also has recently launched an online tool for
clinicians working with the criminal justice system to assess whether
their substance abuse treatment program meets the need of prisoners.
“The RNR tools help clinicians evaluate their own programs, and shows
them how to strengthen them,” notes Taxman. Currently, the available
services for offenders in the community are often not consistent with
the risks and needs of offenders, she says. The tool takes into account
the level of substance use disorders and mental health needs of the
population. There is a minimal cost to store data in the RNR tool,
depending on the size of the organization.
The RNR model asks how restrictive the setting is (such as prison or a
halfway house), how often drug testing is done, what treatment consists
of, whether other issues are addressed (such as anger management,
domestic violence or employment services), what the rewards and
punishments are for treatment successes and failures, the level of staff
training and how closely the treatment manual is followed.
Faye Taxman, PhD
Taxman says when criminal justice agencies know what the risks and
needs of their populations are, they are better able to identify
available programs that are appropriate for their clients. The RNR
Simulation Tool has a strategic planning capability to help systems
identify gaps in services based on offender needs. The tool allows users
to enter the characteristics of the offender population, and estimate
how many would need each level of treatment. If the user enters
information about what programs are available, the tool will identify
where there is adequate programming available, and where gaps exist.
“Clinicians in the substance abuse field often don’t want to talk to
patients about their criminal justice involvement, as though it’s not
relevant to their medical problems,” Taxman observes. “But we’ve found
it’s very relevant to providing the best care for them. If substance use
agencies screened for criminal risk, they could better serve the
population overall and reduce risk of recidivism and relapse.”
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Public Hospital ERs in New York City to Restrict Some Painkillers
New York City public hospitals will restrict prescriptions
of some powerful painkillers in their emergency rooms, Mayor Michael
Bloomberg announced Thursday. The new policy is designed to cut down on
prescription drug abuse.
Most patients in public hospitals will no longer be able to obtain
more than three days’ worth of narcotic painkillers such as Vicodin and
Percocet, and will not be able to get OxyContin, Fentanyl or methadone
at all. Patients will not be able to refill prescriptions that have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, The New York Times reports.
The rate of opioid painkiller-related emergency department visits
nearly tripled in New York City between 2004 and 2010, according to a news release from the Mayor’s office.
“Changing practice by front line providers is key to changing the
course of this epidemic,” said Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs. “While
prosecutors and the law enforcement community rightly focus on those who
illegally prescribe, dispense or procure painkillers, health leaders
need to focus on encouraging well-meaning doctors and pharmacists to
prescribe and dispense these medications safely and judiciously. Our
work will proceed on all fronts to curtail the harms that come from
painkiller misuse.”
Mayor Bloomberg said more than 250,000 New Yorkers over age 12 are abusing prescription painkillers.
Some critics of the new plan say it takes away the flexibility of
doctors in the public health system to respond to the needs of poor and
uninsured patients. “Here is my problem with legislative medicine,” Dr.
Alex Rosenau, President-Elect of the American College of Emergency
Physicians told the newspaper. “It prevents me from being a professional
and using my judgment.” While some patients may fake pain to get a
prescription, he said, others may have legitimate complaints of pain
that require more than three days’ worth of painkillers.
Injected Opana Linked to Rare Blood-Clotting Disorder
Health officials in Tennessee are reporting cases of a rare
blood-clotting disorder in people who injected the painkiller Opana ER
(extended release), after crushing the pills. Fifteen cases of the
disorder were linked to intravenous drug abuse, and 14 were linked
specifically to Opana ER.
The disorder, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), is usually seen in about one in 100,000 people, HealthDay
reports. It causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels around
the body. If untreated, the disorder can be fatal. None of the Tennessee
patients died. Seven were treated for sepsis, which is potentially
fatal.
Opana ER is meant to be taken orally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
that some people seeking euphoria-inducing effects crush the tablets to
snort them or dissolve them for injection. A new formulation of the
drug, designed to make it more difficult to crush or dissolve the
tablets, was released in February 2012.
Dr. Leonard Paulozzi, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC, told
HealthDay that snorting or injecting Opana allows the drug to enter the
bloodstream more quickly. “Apparently, the amount of euphoria associated
with the drug is associated with how fast the drug level rises in your
bloodstream,” he said.
It is not known why the Opana ER might lead to the blood-clotting
disorder, said Dr. David Kirschke, Deputy State Epidemiologist for the
Tennessee Department of Health. The CDC is advising doctors who
prescribe Opana, and pharmacists who fill prescriptions for it, to tell
patients about the risks of the drug when it is used other than as
prescribed.
In October, the Food and Drug Administration warned about the risk of developing TTP from injecting Opana ER.
PRO-ACT Family Addiction Education Program helps families address drug and alcohol addiction
Next free sessions start week of Feb. 5 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.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Choosing Substance Abuse Treatment Over Prison Could Save Billions: Study
Sending substance-abusing state prisoners to
community-based treatment programs instead of prisons could reduce crime
and save billions of dollars, a new study concludes. The savings would
result from immediate reductions in the cost of incarceration, and by
subsequent reductions in the number of crimes committed by successfully
treated offenders, which leads to fewer re-arrests and
re-incarcerations, according to the researchers.
Almost half of all state prisoners abuse drugs or are drug-dependent,
but only 10 percent received medically based drug treatment while they
are incarcerated, according to Newswise.
Inmates who are untreated or not adequately treated are more likely to
start using drugs when they are released from prison, and commit crimes
at a higher rate than those who do not abuse drugs, the article notes.
The researchers built a simulation model of 1.14 million state
prisoners, representing the 2004 U.S. state prison population. The model
estimated the benefits of substance abuse treatment over individuals’
lifetimes, and calculated the crime and criminal justice costs related
to policing, trial and sentencing, and incarceration.
The model tracked individuals’ substance abuse, criminal activity,
employment and health care use until death or until they reached age 60,
whichever came first. They estimated the costs of sending 10 percent or
40 percent of drug-abusing inmates to community-based substance abuse
treatment instead of prison.
In the journal Crime & Delinquency,
the researchers found that if just 10 percent of eligible offenders
were treated in community-based programs instead of going to prison, the
criminal justice system would save $4.8 billion, compared with current
practices. If 40 percent of eligible offenders received treatment, the
savings would total $12.9 billion.
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Thursday, January 10, 2013
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Florida NAADAC Conference:
AAPNY Conference: Meeting the Challenge through Education of the Addiction Professional
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25% Off Bookstore NAADAC has many books, training manuals and independent study courses from which to choose, all 25% off! Hurry, sale ends January 15, 2013! Click here to browse store. |
Supreme Court Hears Case About Forced Blood Alcohol Test for Drunk Driving
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case Wednesday on the
question of whether police must obtain a warrant before forcing
suspected drunk drivers to submit to a blood alcohol test. State supreme
courts are divided on whether these forced tests violate the Fourth
Amendment, which protects again unreasonable searches and seizures,
according to The Christian Science Monitor.
The case centers on Tyler McNeely,
who was pulled over for speeding by a Missouri highway patrolman, and
was taken to a hospital. About 25 minutes after McNeely was pulled over,
a technician measured his blood-alcohol content at 0.154 percent,
nearly twice the legal limit.
The Missouri police in the case argued they should not have to wait
for approval to give a blood test, because alcohol dissipates quickly in
the bloodstream. Last year, the Missouri Supreme Court rejected that
argument. It ruled the blood test violated the Fourth Amendment. The
court found there were no special circumstances to justify obtaining the
blood test so quickly. State high courts in Iowa and Utah also have
made similar rulings.
The Supreme Courts of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Oregon have all ruled
in favor of warrantless blood tests, the article notes. The Obama
Administration and attorneys general from 32 states are asking the U.S.
Supreme Court to declare that warrantless blood tests are not in
violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Love One Another JANUARY 9 ,2013
Today's Scripture
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35 NIV
Thoughts for Today
The Scriptures offer a multitude of "one another" commands concerning relationships among believers … encourage one another, be devoted to one another, honor one another, live in harmony with one another, accept one another, instruct one another, serve one another, forgive one another … and on and on. "Love one another" is at the core of all of them.
In today's scripture, Jesus tells us to love one another as he has loved us. Of course, Jesus' love is greater than we can even imagine … but he is telling us to follow his example. Jesus loves us unconditionally. He wants us to love others unconditionally—not based on personality or looks or behavior or even our feelings. Unconditionally.
Jesus loved with his actions. He humbled himself, coming to earth as a baby and growing and living among us. Suffering the indignities and torture of the cross. His actions demonstrate the depth of his love in ways words could not begin to explain.
Consider this …
We tend to view love as a feeling, but sometimes the action must come first. Is there someone in your family … your church … your workplace … who just rubs you the wrong way? You know you should love this person, but it would be so much easier if their attitude would change.
Jesus wants us to love unconditionally. To demonstrate love through action—even when we don't "feel" like it.
Ask him to help you see this person through his eyes. Ask him to help you love this person even if he or she doesn't "deserve" it. And then step out in faith and love through your actions. As we in the family of God demonstrate our love for each other, even as Jesus demonstrated his love for us, others will "know we are his disciples." Our love for one another can help draw them to the perfect love of Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, help me to love others in the way you love me. Help me to love unconditionally. Help me to demonstrate my love with action—even when I don't feel like it. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for demonstrating your love in such marvelous ways. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Understanding Depression: Overcoming Despair through Christ by Donald G. Miles, Ed.D. This study deals with depression, a condition common throughout the world, and is suggested for use in support groups and Christian counseling.
Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35 NIV
Thoughts for Today
The Scriptures offer a multitude of "one another" commands concerning relationships among believers … encourage one another, be devoted to one another, honor one another, live in harmony with one another, accept one another, instruct one another, serve one another, forgive one another … and on and on. "Love one another" is at the core of all of them.
In today's scripture, Jesus tells us to love one another as he has loved us. Of course, Jesus' love is greater than we can even imagine … but he is telling us to follow his example. Jesus loves us unconditionally. He wants us to love others unconditionally—not based on personality or looks or behavior or even our feelings. Unconditionally.
Jesus loved with his actions. He humbled himself, coming to earth as a baby and growing and living among us. Suffering the indignities and torture of the cross. His actions demonstrate the depth of his love in ways words could not begin to explain.
Consider this …
We tend to view love as a feeling, but sometimes the action must come first. Is there someone in your family … your church … your workplace … who just rubs you the wrong way? You know you should love this person, but it would be so much easier if their attitude would change.
Jesus wants us to love unconditionally. To demonstrate love through action—even when we don't "feel" like it.
Ask him to help you see this person through his eyes. Ask him to help you love this person even if he or she doesn't "deserve" it. And then step out in faith and love through your actions. As we in the family of God demonstrate our love for each other, even as Jesus demonstrated his love for us, others will "know we are his disciples." Our love for one another can help draw them to the perfect love of Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, help me to love others in the way you love me. Help me to love unconditionally. Help me to demonstrate my love with action—even when I don't feel like it. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for demonstrating your love in such marvelous ways. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Understanding Depression: Overcoming Despair through Christ by Donald G. Miles, Ed.D. This study deals with depression, a condition common throughout the world, and is suggested for use in support groups and Christian counseling.
- Understanding what depression is and how it affects relationships
- Understanding the relationship between depression and spiritual warfare
- Ways to fight depression with scripture, prayer and mutual support
- Understanding the special prayer needs of depressed persons
- How to pray for healing and what to expect
- Serves as a powerful evangelistic tool by providing a way to minister to people's felt needs and then lead them to Christ
Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More
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.
Commentary: Learning As We Go: Critical Assessment of Addiction Research and Practice
A recent Join Together article, entitled “Half of Addiction Counselors Say It’s OK for Some Patients to Drink Occasionally,”
drew attention to the fact that some substance abuse counselors believe
moderate drinking is an option for individuals with substance use
disorders. As a researcher and an advocate in our field, I reacted with
mixed feelings to this news.
While I applaud new research by anyone into any area of our
profession, I am also aware that not all research is created equal. Does
a survey of professionals’ opinions reflect research or the content of
counselor education for our professionals? Both? Neither? An approach
that allows an individual to continue to drink is a risk about which
many of us remain most skeptical.
For decades the belief in the United States has been that abstinence
is the only real solution for such individuals. This was largely due to
the influence of Alcoholics Anonymous and similar philosophies. Over the
years, our profession has grown and the attention to evidence-based
practice has come into clear focus. That said, we have tried to consider
what seems to work in other parts of the world as well.
I have clear memories of the debate over the inclusion in our exams
of harm-reduction strategies and Therapeutic Community model treatment
programs. In the end, subject matter experts agreed that IC&RC exams
should reflect all treatment modalities, not just our personal
preferences, so the exams were infused with a broader range of treatment
strategies and were weighted according to our research into what was
being used the most and under what circumstances.
One place we looked for guidance was the United Kingdom, whose
approach was heavily weighted toward harm reduction, seeing abstinence
as a last resort. So what is harm reduction? It includes everything from
“controlled” drinking to methadone maintenance programs and needle
exchanges. I can make a case both for and against each of these under
the right circumstances and so can most readers here, I suspect.
Interestingly, in the UK, there is currently a backlash building
against methadone – with some professionals referring to it as “harm
maintenance” programs. It seems that abstinence is starting to catch on
as they debate the real definition of recovery and consider the vast
numbers of clients who live for decades on methadone and claim
“recovery.” Proponents of abstinence-based treatment in the UK commonly
refer to “real” or “whole” or “true” recovery.
Another gray area concerns medication-assisted treatment. Again,
there is a case to be made in either direction. If medication is
involved in detox, the need is clear. If medication is involved in a
transition period, it can be helpful, as well. But substituting
medication for a holistic approach to the individual –that includes
counseling and education– is a one-size-fits-all approach that opens the
door to the exact same criticism some have directed at total abstinence
for all.
In the case of medication-assisted treatment, we, as professionals,
must consider the source of our education about this strategy. Many of
the research and educational efforts around “MAT” are funded by the
pharmaceutical companies that make the drugs. It makes sense that they
want us to know about what they have developed. On the other hand,
“research evaluation 101” tells us to always look at who funds a study
and “follow the money” before we give too much weight to the research
conclusions.
So my goal is to sound a note of caution against pushing too hard,
too quickly for any new approach to treating a very fragile client
population. We study. We learn. We jump the gun. Let’s be mindful of
that last one.
Phyllis Abel Gardner, PhD
President of IC&RC
President of IC&RC
Study Shows Racial Disparities in Completion of Substance Abuse Treatment
Black and Hispanic patients who enter publicly funded
alcohol and drug treatment programs are less likely to complete
treatment, compared with white patients, a new study finds. The
disparities are likely related to greater unemployment rates and housing
instability for black and Hispanic patients, according to the
researchers.
The study found about half of all black and Hispanic patients who
entered publicly funded alcohol treatment programs do not complete
treatment, compared with 62 percent of white patients. Similar
disparities were found for drug treatment programs, ScienceDaily reports. The researchers analyzed data from more than one million discharges from substance abuse treatment programs.
The researchers write in Health Affairs
that funding for integrated services and increased Medicaid coverage
under the Affordable Care Act could help improve minorities’ access to
treatment programs.
“Our findings show troubling racial disparities in the completion of
alcohol and drug abuse programs, and they point specifically to
socioeconomic barriers that make it difficult for minority groups to
access and sustain treatment,” researcher Brendan Saloner, PhD, of the
University of Pennsylvania, said in a news release.
“For example, in both alcohol and drug treatment groups, black and
Hispanic patients were more likely than white patients to be homeless.
But, disparities among the groups were found to be lower in residential
treatment settings, indicating that access to residential treatment
could be particularly valuable for these patients.”
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