Colorado Addiction Treatment Centers Brace for More Teens Referred for Marijuana Use
By Join Together Staff | January 7, 2014 | 4 Comments | Filed in Addiction,Community Related, Drugs, Treatment & Youth

Addiction treatment centers in Colorado are bracing for an increase in teens referred for marijuana use, ABC News reports. The state began legal sales of recreational marijuana for adults last week.

While only people 21 and older are allowed to purchase marijuana, some experts are concerned the law will allow the drug to more easily fall into the hands of teens.

Dr. Christian Thurstone, who heads the teen rehabilitation center Adolescent STEP: Substance Abuse Treatment Education & Prevention Program, said 95 percent of patient referrals to the program are for marijuana use. In preparation for the new law, Dr. Thurstone has doubled his staff.

He told ABC News that marijuana can be harmful for some teens, particularly those suffering from mental illness. He said that after Colorado legalized medical marijuana in 2009, teens began to use much higher potency products. “Our kids are presenting more severe addictions; it takes them longer to get a clean urine drug screen,” he said. Higher-potency marijuana can increase the risk of psychotic episodes in some teens, Thurstone added.

“Anecdotally, yes, we’re seeing kids in treatment here who have paranoia and seeing things and hearing things that aren’t there,” he said. “Adolescent exposure to marijuana [raises] risk of permanent psychosis in adulthood.”

Ben Court, an addictions expert at the University of Colorado Hospital Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation, has also seen an increase in patients addicted to marijuana since the state approved medical marijuana. He says the younger people are when they start consistently using marijuana, the more likely they are to become addicted. “Most people are going to smoke weed and it’s not going to be an issue. By 18 to 24, your odds are less than 1 in 10 that you’re going to be addicted,” he said. “If you start under 18, it’s 1 in 6.”

January 12 v 19 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Truthful words stand the test of time,

but lies are soon exposed.

STEP 5 : I will admit to God, to myself, and to another human being, the exact nature of my wrongs.

You can never go wrong with telling the truth. Along with lieing comes fear guilt shame and worry. at least for me that is what I carried for many years. Every time I tried too get away with something there was a gnawing in my gut and the constant racing thoughts of will I get caught ,did anybody see me.Constant lieing made me physically and spiritually sick . Chemical substances cannot take away the those constant feelings of fear worry anxiety and guilt.These emotions are relentless and they will eventually eat you alive. Step five is hell and one of the most difficult steps to take but the reward of freedom you will receive is well worth walking through the flames. The Proverb once again is spot on in living a sober and healthy life. Step five is the key that will open the prison door of the cell in which you have lived far too long.

Ambien Zombies, Murder, and Other Disturbing Behavior

Ambien Zombies, Murder, and Other Disturbing Behavior
The number one prescription sleep aid is becoming better known for triggering bizarre behavior than it is for treating insomnia.


By Allison McCabe

01/10/14
On March 29, 2009, Robert Stewart, 45, stormed into the Pinelake Health and Rehab nursing home in Carthage, North Carolina and opened fire, killing eight people and wounding two. Stewart’s apparent target was his estranged wife, who worked as a nurse in the home. She hid in a bathroom and was unharmed. Stewart was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder; if convicted, he could face the death penalty. Even though there was evidence that Stewart’s actions were premeditated (he allegedly had a target), Stewart’s defense team successfully argued that since he was under the influence of Ambien, a sleep aid, at the time of the shooting, he was not in control of his actions. Instead of the charges sought by the prosecutors, Stewart was convicted on eight counts of second-degree murder. He received 142 – 179 years in prison.

Ambien, a member of the class of medications known as hypnotics, was approved by the FDA in 1992. It was designed for short term use to combat insomnia and was a welcome change from the prevailing sleep aid at the time, Halcion, which had been implicated in psychosis, suicide, and addiction and had been banned in half a dozen countries. Ambien works by activating the neurotransmitter GABA and binding it to the GABA receptors in the same location as the benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium. The extra GABA activity triggered by the drug inhibits the neuron activity that is associated with insomnia. In other words, it slows down the brain. Ambien is extremely effective at initiating sleep, usually working within 20 minutes. It does not, however, have an effect on sustaining sleep unless it is taken in the controlled release form.


Ironically, you are more likely to be successful using the Ambien defense if you injure or kill someone than if you just crash into a parked car or a tree.

After its approval, Ambien quickly rose to dominance in the sleep aid market. Travelers swore by it to combat jet lag, and women, who suffer more insomnia than men, bought it in droves. Sanofi, Ambien’s French manufacturer, made $2 billion in sales at its peak. In 2007 the generic version of Ambien was released, Zolpidem, and at less than $2 per pill, it still remains one of the most prescribed drugs in America, outselling popular painkillers like Percocet and prescription strength ibuprofen.

Although the Ambien prescribing information warned, in small print, that medications in the hypnotic class had occasional side effects including sleep walking, “abnormal thinking,” and “strange behavior,” these behaviors were listed as extremely rare, and any anecdotal evidence of “sleep driving,” “sleep eating,” or “sleep shopping”—all behaviors now associated with Ambien blackouts—were characterized as unusual quirks, or attributed to mixing the medication with alcohol. It wasn’t until Patrick Kennedy’s 2006 middle-of-the-night car accident and subsequent explanation to arriving officers that he was running late for a vote that the bizarre side effects of Ambien began to receive national attention. Kennedy claimed that he had taken the sleep aid and had no recollection of the events that night.

Shortly after the Kennedy incident, Ambien users sued Sanofi because of bizarre sleep-eating behaviors while on the drugs. According to Chana Lask, attorney for the class action suit, people were eating things like buttered cigarettes and eggs, complete with the shells, while under the influence of Ambien. Lask called people in this state “Ambien zombies.” As a result of the lawsuit, and of increasing reports coming in about “sleep driving,” the FDA ordered all hypnotics to issue stronger warnings on their labels.
In addition to giving consumers extra information so they could take the medication more carefully, the warning labels also gave legitimacy to the Ambien (or Zombie) defense. In March of 2011, Lindsey Schweigert took one Ambien before getting into bed at 6pm. Hours later, she woke up in custody with no idea how she’d gotten there. In the following weeks, Schweigert pieced together the events of that night. She’d gotten out of bed, drawn a bath, and left the house with her dog. She started driving to a local restaurant but crashed into another car soon after leaving her house. Police described her as swaying and glassy-eyed. She failed a sobriety test and was charged with DWI and running a stoplight.

Schweigert had a job that required a security clearance. She had never been in trouble with the law before and was terrified of losing her job and having a criminal record. Prosecutors initially wanted to impose a six month jail sentence in addition to other punishments, but Schweigert’s lawyer argued that Lindsey’s bizarre behavior on the night in question was a result of a medication which warned right on the label that “After taking AMBIEN, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night…Reported activities include: driving a car (“sleep-driving”), making and eating food, talking on the phone, having sex, sleep-walking.” In fact, the lawyer argued, Schweigert should have been taken to a hospital, not to jail. Prosecutors dropped the charges and allowed Lindsey to plead to the lesser charge of careless driving, which meant that she could keep her security clearance. Her license was suspended for a year, however, and she had to pay upwards of $9,000 in legal fees.

As a result of the Schweigert verdict, an attorney successfully used the Ambien defense to overturn a 2006 DWI conviction for a New Jersey woman by arguing that the drug's labeling had changed six months after his client’s arrest. The court agreed, saying that it would be an "injustice to hold her responsible for the undisclosed side effects of a popular and readily available medication that she was lawfully prescribed and properly administered."

January 10 v 25 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,

but the righteous stand firm forever.

STEP 12 :Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to practice these principles in all our affairs. 

The Proverb is clear and the storm is our lives. Just like the weather your life will have sunny days and some rainy. When the big storms come and they will ,do you want to be standing alone in addiction That is what eventually happens due to our selfish and destructive ways. How many of our brothers and sisters have been swept away too soon. God promises that if you stand with Him , He will stand with you and shield from the storm. Lets put that in perspective a storm , lets think back to hurricane Sandy and the destruction it left behind. I know most of you remember the images on the TV. Addiction is a lot like that it destroys everything in its path including your life. So why would you want to stand alone if you turn to God He will bring you His divine protection and get thru the storm . That is the message ,step one surrender,step two let go let God , step twelve pass it on. The Proverb is the promise !

Affordable Care Act from the Mental Health Association

Good Afternoon!
We have finally been able to reschedule the training on the Affordable Care Act from the Mental Health Association of Southeast Pennsylvania (MHASP) Navigators. It will be held on January 16th from 12:30 to 3:30pm at The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.
If you want a basic primer on the Act the first part of the training is for you. There will be a Powerpoint overview from 12:30 to 1:30ish. Then the floor is open for questions and people can be registered for insurance coverage if they wish.
Please pass along the attached flyer to anyone you feel would benefit from this information! Please be sure to let me know if you are coming so we can arrange for materials and some form of refreshments.
Thank you,
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! and Twitter https://twitter.com/TheCouncilSEPA
Jessica Schwartz

Volunteer Coordinator & Prevention Specialist

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.

252 West Swamp Road, Unit 33

Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901

Phone: (215) 230-8218 ext. 3158

Fax: (215) 230-8205

(800) 221-6333 - 24 Hour Information Line

jschwartz@councilsepa.org

www.councilsepa.org Like us on FACEBOOK! Follow us on TWITTER!      INTERVENTIONIST TRAINING  (21 PCB Credits) Three-Day Program February 3 through 5, 2014 Class size limited--Registration Deadline: January 24 Location: The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania 252 West Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown, PA 18901, 215-345-6644 This training prepares individuals to assist families in the process of intervention for loved ones with a substance use disorder.  Participants will be trained in the model adhered to by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence's (NCADD) National Intervention Network (NIN). Extensive experiential learning includes participation in a full-scale mock intervention. Featured Trainer Beverly J. Haberle, MHS, LPC, CAADC   Ms. Haberle is a founder and chairperson of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence's (NCADD) National Intervention Network and is a Certified National Intervention Network Trainer and a Johnson Institute Trained Interventionist. She has assisted numerous families and individuals with interventions and trains extensively on the intervention process locally, regionally, and nationally.  Ms. Haberle has served for 32 years as the Executive Director of The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. and, for the past 14 years, she has also served as the Project Director for the Pennsylvania Recovery Organization--Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT).  She has been an advocate on behalf of those addicted to alcohol and other drugs, as well as their families and the community at large, for more than 36 years.            REGISTER TODAY! Class size limited Register today for the opportunity to train with one of the country's most well-respected experts and advocates for recovery from substance use disorders. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Questions? Contact us at 215-345-6644 or send an email here  Dates and Times Monday Through Wednesday, February 3-5, 2014  9:00 am to 5:00 pm  Continental Breakfast included; No lunch provided Program Fee: $550 Registration and payment must be received by January 24, 2014  Program Sponsorship and Accreditation: The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., is a PCB-approved provider (#031) and affiliate of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, serving the southeast region of Pennsylvania.

Your are cordially invited to a "Meet the Overdose Prevention & Education Task Force Meeting" Importance: High

Your are cordially invited to a "Meet the Overdose Prevention & Education Task Force Meeting"
Importance: High
Please note this important date on your calendar: Wednesday January 22nd - 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm (see location listed below)

ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND !

Please forward this open invite to your contacts!

As you all know, the rate of opiate prescription medication and heroin abuse has skyrocketed in Bucks County over the last several years. This September alone, 63 people in Bensalem, PA have overdosed on opioid drugs like heroin and prescription pain killers. This is an issue that puts the health of our community, families and youth in jeopardy. A new report released by The Trust for America’s Health found Pennsylvania has the 14th highest rate of drug overdose deaths. The report found the Commonwealth had 15.3 overdose deaths per 100,000 residents in 2010. Most of those deaths involved the use of prescription drugs.



You are invited to come out and find out what is being done in both Bucks County as well as state wide and how to be part of not only the conversation but learn how you can be part of the solution. We will be meeting monthly at various locations throughout Bucks County for convenience of the communities. By attending, you are not required to attend future monthly meetings although you are always welcome. If you are interested in becoming a member, membership only means that you will receive monthly e-mails regarding issues related to overdoses and opioid drug use. The Task Force is also forming sub-committee’s based on areas of interest and professional experience. We welcome everyone to participate; community members, law enforcement, recovery services, medical providers, pharmacists, persons in recovery, etc.

Task Forces goals include but are not limited to:

· Educate others on the topic and save lives.

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

· Promote awareness and encourage further action.

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



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

January’s open meeting will be hosted by:

Livengrin Oxford Valley

195 Bristol-Oxford Valley Rd.,

Langhorne, PA 19047

Meeting time: 6:00 pm to 7:30pm

Food and beverages will be provided
February’s open Meeting will be hosted by:

Council Rock Coalition for Healthy Youth

Chancellor Center Date, and time to be announced.

Click this link for more information-Link to Overdose Advisory Board / Task Force
Sincerely,

David Fialko, BS

Prevention Specialist

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.

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

Office: 215-230-8218 x 3162

January 9 v 6 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.

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

If you had told me this thirteen years ago I would have punched you in the face.Looking back now after many years of prayer and step work not only were my ways simple they were dangerous to self and others.You have to get over yourself when we do that this life we live is to be spent living and loving others.When we do that then we truly begin to live.

January 8v17 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB
 

“I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.

STEP 2 : Came to believe that God, a Power greater than ourselves, could restore us to sanity and stability.


Growing up I went to Catholic school so I was given the foundation for faith in God and Gods history was drilled into my head everyday.What I was not taught was the power that excists in a relationship with God and His son Jesus.How can something or some God I cant see or hear help me and why would he want to. My life thirteen years ago put me into a desperate position .All my personal relationships destroyed multiple bench warrants no place too live my only source of nutrition was chemical substances. I hated myself and everything I stood for.Whats the point is what my thought was ,living sucks and I am too much of a coward too off myself so what choice did I have. My sister would always tell me I am praying for you as would my mom and many others. At the most desperate point of my life ,I began to talk to God. It was no plain talk it was anger and pain as I called out to Him for help.I questioned His existence and blamed Him for the mess of my life.In the middle of my rants I asked for His help.Days and weeks had passed with no change , he did not hear me so screw it and back to being screwed up me . One year had passed and then it happened , the nagging to get wasted was not there . I missed my family ,I wanted to go home . It was so strange something had come over me and at first it didn't click my heartfelt angry arguments I had with God and my pleas for help. God opened my eyes set me free to rewrite the story. God does love you He is real and never stop praying for your day will come as did mine.

Minnesota to Test Welfare Recipients for Drugs

The Land of 10,000 Lakes becomes the latest state to throw its poorest citizens into the icy waters of uncertainty.



...unless you're on welfare. Photo via Shutterstock


By Shawn Dwyer

12/31/13
Share on facebook Share on twitter | More Sharing ServicesShare

Corruption "Rampant" in Drug Testing Industry
South Carolina’s Jobless May Face Forced Drug Testing
Bill to Drug-Test Welfare Applicants Sinks in Indiana
Civil Liberties Victory Stops Welfare Drug Tests
NY Seeks to Block Welfare "Sin Spending"

Chalk up another one. On Wednesday, January 1st, Minnesota will become the latest state to randomly test recipients of welfare for drugs, despite overwhelming evidence that taking such measures to prevent drug users from receiving public assistance has very limited success, at best.

Added as an amendment during a 2012 legislation session with limited debate, the new law will require the state Department of Human Services to force recipients convicted of past felony drug offenses to identify themselves in order for them to be randomly tested – though the definition of “random” will vary from county to county. Since the law was based on the commonly held notion that many welfare recipients also do drugs, opponents have stepped up their criticisms in recent days. "I don't think anyone is under the illusion that this is about saving taxpayers money," said Heidi Welsch, director of family support and assistance for Olmsted County. "This is punitive."

Minnesota joins nine other states, including Kansas, that will test welfare recipients for drugs. Even a cursory look at the states already employing such measures has revealed that results for the programs have been lackluster, and ultimately cost more money than they save while failing to weed out drug abusers that may be enrolled in the welfare system.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, N.J. — An old drug with a new name is presenting new dangers to today's teenagers, New Jersey officials say.

Molly, slang for "molecular," was once was known as Ecstasy, the popular club drug of the late '90s and early 2000s that elevated users to sustained euphoria and hallucination. Miley Cyrus sings about "dancing with Molly" in We Can't Stop. Other artists such as Nicki Minaj, Rick Moss, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg and Kanye West also have made references to Molly in their music.

STORY: Overdoses attributed to Molly increase
STORY: Miley's a fan of Molly, weed

The big problem: Molly has morphed from being a pure form of MDMA — Ecstasy's vital ingredient — to a catch-all name for a methamphetamines mixed with any of roughly 300 other synthetic chemicals, including paint thinner and gasoline, said Dr. M. Michael Jones, chairman of the department of emergency medicine at CentraState Medical Center here.

Unlike heroin, Molly has not claimed many lives in New Jersey. But emergency room visits across the country have surged in recent years.

Molly is perceived as a threat for its severe effects on the body and an apparent popularity with teenagers.

"This is going to change everybody," Douglas S. Collier, drug-initiative coordinator for the state Attorney General's office, told two groups of teenagers at a summit at CentraState. "You're going to be challenged, not only now, but when you go to college, when you go to school, when you go to parties."

Molly's resurgence drew widespread attention over the summer, when two people attending an electronic music festival in New York reportedly died of MDMA overdoses. MDMA's euphoric effects, which last three to six hours, include enhanced sensation, empathy and increased energy, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

But coming down from such a great high can result in dehydration, nausea, chills and sweating.

The institute notes that MDMA can interfere with the body's ability to regulate its temperature and that on "rare but unpredictable occasions" can lead to hypothermia, which can lead to failure of the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system.


Molly capsules can have way more than MDMA mixed inside, officials say.(Photo: iStock)

But Molly often in more than MDMA. Just about any amphetamine can be combined with another synthetic chemical — caffeine, ephedrine or cocaine, for example — and packaged in a capsule referred to as Molly, Jones said.

"They might think they're ingesting MDMA, but they are not," he said.

That has led to overdose victims suffering body temperatures of more than 100 degrees, brain death and coma, Jones said.

In 2012 one man died related to Molly in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System. The center's director, Steven Marcus, told USA Today that the victim entered the hospital with a temperature of 109 degrees.

Across the United States, Molly-related emergency room visits for people younger than 21 increased 128% between 2005 and 2011, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Among those, 33% of the admissions involved alcohol.

"When combined with alcohol, it's danger, danger, danger," Collier said. "It's horrible what you'll go through."

Jones cautioned that hospital admission data does not directly translate to the drug's adverse affects. One of the reasons Ecstasy morphed into Molly, he said, was to evade detection in common drug tests.

"Are we up 5, 10%? Maybe," Jones said of the emergency department. "But we are only the bad outcomes."

Law enforcement has seen some activity along the Jersey Shore, but not enough to raise to the alarming levels of opiates, said Charles Webster, spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. He referred to a drug bust in August in which the authorities came away with 4.7 kilograms of Molly but nothing major since.

"We do see it. We do make arrests," Webster said.

Jones said Molly should be regarded with just as much alarm, because in terms of danger, it's "right up there with the rest."

January 7 v24 v 25 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB


So listen to me, my sons,
and pay attention to my words.
Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her.
Don’t wander down her wayward path.


STEP 3 : Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as revealed in the Bible.


This morning after reading the Proverb it left me with a tough choice. The Proverb was all about Promiscuity geared towards the woman but in this day and age it should be geared for both men and women. It brings to light a good point and stirs up thoughts of all the toxic relationships I got involved in. Because of fear I was codependent and on top of that I was a rescuer. The problem with that was even though my life was a mess in my twisted thinking I spent ninety percent of my time trying to fix others instead of myself and the last thing they wanted was to be fixed or saved.  Instead of fixing them I helped them and myself remain in addiction. It was a vicious cycle that went round and round! Many years in this state left me empty, depressed, desperate, and hopeless. Only by Gods grace was I able to escape the clutches of my last destructive relationship and truly for once in my life I became alone with myself. Discovering and working the steps with no outside interference gave me the opportunity to develop a relationship with God and myself. I discovered me, and after a tough couple years I can honestly say I love me and I am grateful for the hell I put myself thru. It made me the man I am today! When you get to step three it has to be for you and no one else, you cannot truly love others until you first love yourself.

The value of "Affluenza," Addiction and Parental Neglect As Get Out of Jail Defenses

The drunk-driving teen who killed 4 walked, blaming it on "affluenza," a so-called "disease" that makes the rich unable to understand the consequences of their actions. Where does that leave addicts and the rest of us?

moneyed blood Shutterstock

By Maia Szalavitz

01/06/14

Share on facebook Share on twitter | More Sharing ServicesShare

• Binging Students Feel "Richer and Whiter"
• Arizona Dad Forces Booze on Teen Sons
• A Brief History of Drunk Driving
• A Smartphone App to Catch Drunk Drivers
• England's Rich Women Boozing the Most

What’s a disease and what’s an excuse for bad behavior? These two questions are at the heart of virtually all debate over addiction and drug policy—and the Texas “affluenza” case may help shed new light on them.
After stealing beer, getting drunk enough to reach three times the legal limit, injuring nine people—and killing four in a gruesome crash—16-year-old Ethan Couch was sentenced to just 10 years of probation and treatment. No prison time. He will spend just a year at a California program for troubled teens (which charges $450,000 annually). Not surprisingly, the sentence has provoked widespread outrage.
But it wasn’t a “my disease of alcoholism/addiction made me do it” defense that got the Texas teen off so lightly. Instead, his attorney argued that the boy had “affluenza,” which the defense psychologist described as a disease of the rich that makes them unable to understand the consequences of their behavior. Unlike substance use disorders, however, affluenza is nowhere to be found in the DSM.
In court, the psychologist testified that Couch, “never learned that sometimes you don’t get your way. He had the cars and he had the money. He had freedoms that no young man would be able to handle.” He gave the example of how the boy had been allowed to drive at 13—and had received no punishment at 15 when police caught him in a car with an unconscious and undressed 14-year-old girl.
In other words, because Couch never learned that there are consequences to his actions, he should learn again that there are none—and that money can always buy an easier, softer way. In case it wasn’t already obvious that Couch received special treatment because of his privilege, reporters soon uncovered a case of a poor black teen who committed a much less severe crime and was given 10 years in juvenile prison by the same judge.
Unequal treatment in the justice system is an old story, of course. The difference here is the blatant use of privilege itself to justify more privilege and the idea that wealth itself can produce antisocial behavior. But by unpacking what would lead to a more just outcome in such cases, we can help clarify better ways of understanding the effects of early childhood experience and addiction on criminal responsibility.
While “affluenza” is obviously not a real disease, emotional neglect of children can occur in any class and can absolutely have lifelong effects on behavior. Failing to discipline a child is one form of emotional neglect. This may be more common for both the poor and the rich because in both cases, circumstances often mean that (for very different reasons) parents and children spend little time together.
In Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential—and Endangered, which I co-wrote with child psychiatrist Bruce Perry, we described the case of another rich Texas teen who committed a horrifying crime and wanted an expert witness to use mental illness to help justify his antisocial behavior.
“Ryan” (a pseudonym) raped and publicly sexually humiliated a developmentally disabled girl at a party to celebrate his admission to an Ivy League college. Like Couch, he’d previously avoided discipline for numerous antisocial acts. His parents contacted Dr. Perry in hopes of enlisting him as a defense expert.  
Perry did find that the boy had a history of serious neglect. It turned out that his parents only spent an hour a day with him and that he’d had 18 nannies before finishing preschool, each one fired when his mother discovered that the baby preferred the nanny to herself. Such disrupted attachment has been associated clinically with antisocial behavior and seemed to be appropriate here, given that, from the child’s perspective, he’d basically lost every “mother” he had as soon as he connected with her.
Nonetheless, Perry did not agree to testify or to call the related bad behavior a disease. Instead, citing the majority of cases where children - rich or poor - who suffered similar neglect have managed to avoid committing heinous crimes, he found that Ryan was responsible for his own choices. Still, my co-author had little doubt that the emotional neglect he suffered, and the cultural context in which it happened, significantly skewed his moral compass, which is why we included the case in our book.
THE BACKGROUND FACTORS: WHICH ONES SHOULD BE MITIGATING?
Like other types of childhood trauma, neglect increases risk for alcoholism and other addictions, which can even further impair decision making. It’s unlikely that either of these two crimes would have occurred absent the disinhibiting effects of alcohol. Even so, alcohol misuse was also clearly not the only source of the problem in either case. Poor parenting is also implicated, as is social status.
Elevated social status—in both human and nonhuman primates—is linked with both reduced punishment for aggression and, according to a spate of recent research into the behavior and attitudes of those with wealth and power, to increased propensity towards cheating and reduced empathy.
While it is easy to argue that wealth and privileged attitudes should not be a sentence-mitigating factor in these kinds of cases—and possibly could be seen as aggravating—it’s far more difficult to dismiss emotional neglect and addictions as relevant factors.
That doesn’t mean literally letting people get away with murder. Mitigation should determine the level of intent and not preclude punishment. The problem here is that debates over whether addicts should receive “treatment not punishment” often elide both victimless crimes such as drug possession and those like Couch’s in which intoxication results in harm to uninvolved bystanders.
(Is intent important here? Couch presumably had no desire to hurt his victims, while "Ryan" wanted to use his as a way to demonstrate his social power. However, Couch wasn’t simply reckless while intoxicated and lacking agency: he chose to steal the beer that got him drunk, and unlike a poor teen with an alcohol problem, presumably had numerous other ways of obtaining the substance.)
Most of us accept that crimes such as Couch’s and Ryan’s require justice for the victims, in a way that crimes that only harm oneself do not. Society, we believe, should punish those who, even unintentionally, harm others while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs or while in the state of being addicted, in part because these alterations of consciousness only impair, not eliminate, the ability to make decisions.
Addicts do not shoot up in front of the police; drunk drivers try to evade detection. These facts show that moral agency is present, if not functioning well.
My own view is that addiction should be treated in order to reduce the odds of recidivism – and that treatment isn’t a substitute for paying one’s debt to society and to those who are harmed by criminal behavior.
Most addicts actually do not commit violent crimes, and some even commit no crimes other than those related to the legal status of their substance of choice. It’s clear, therefore, that addiction itself doesn’t necessarily cause antisocial behavior. Unfortunately, since many of the same factors that lead to addiction— child abuse, neglect, family violence, other trauma—can also create antisocial behavior, those actions are often conveniently blamed on the drugs.
Disentangling the various aggravating and mitigating factors is hard—and humans clearly have both an evolutionary and a cultural bias towards excusing the rich, even as the data suggests that the early childhood experiences of the poor, and the lack of alternatives available to them, are far more likely to be harmful and to constrain true free choice.
Like it or not, disentangling these realities is the job of the criminal justice system. That system would work a lot better if we carefully considered three factors: our bias towards punishing the poor more harshly; the question of how drugs, addiction and childhood experience alter decision-making capacity; and what mix of legal consequences produces the best outcomes.
The “affluenza” case may be a clear travesty of justice, and yet one can easily imagine an overly harsh sentence that would be just as absurd. If we want to prevent similar crimes —or deal with them appropriately if they do occur—disentangling intoxication, addiction, early childhood influences, intent and developmental capacity is critical.
We won’t succeed with made up disorders like “affluenza”—or by making addiction an all-purpose excuse.
Maia Szalavitz is a columnist at The Fix. She is also a health reporter at Time magazine online, and co-author, with Bruce Perry, of Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential—and Endangered (Morrow, 2010), and author of Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids (Riverhead, 2006).

Good Afternoon and Happy New Year!!

Please help to spread the word about 2 upcoming showings of the “Anonymous People” movie in Bucks County. Fliers attached are for showings at:

1. Tuesday, Jan. 28th at Pennridge HS in Perkasie

2. Wednesday, Feb. 19th at BCCC in Newtown

Forward these fliers to your contacts in the recovery community. They should hit the link in the flier to view the movie trailer.

Thanks for your help! This film is a powerful and important documentary. Many still have not seen it, so let’s change that.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! and Twitter https://twitter.com/TheCouncilSEPA

Jessica Schwartz

Volunteer Coordinator & Prevention Specialist

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.

252 West Swamp Road, Unit 33

Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901

Phone: (215) 230-8218 ext. 3158

Fax: (215) 230-8205

(800) 221-6333 - 24 Hour Information Line

jschwartz@councilsepa.org

January 6 v 32 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

STEP 5 : Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Anger causes blindness which leads to foolishness .Unresolved anger produces blindness and bitterness which becomes resentment and hate these four will keep you trapped in addiction . I spent my entire life as a young man blinded by anger and rage.Addiction was my excuse ! Failure after failure only made me more mad and I was unable to get anything right.People in my life who truly loved me and wanted to help me wound up being my target. At some point we must realize the mess of our lives is no one else s fault but our own.The Proverb is telling us that when situations arise in our lives we cannot continue to react as we once did . We must take a time out before going on the attack !We can overcome our addictions if we can control and deal with our anger in a sensible way. Anger thankfully is no longer ruling my life , I am not saying I don't occasionally fly off the handle but when I do step five is put into play and the anger subsides and the blindness goes away.

Free Community Seminars

Presented by 

Livengrin's Family Services Department

Continue learning and being part of recovery by attending free monthly seminars held at: Livengrin Counseling Center -- Oxford Valley 195 Bristol-Oxford Valley Road Langhorne, PA 19047 ~ 215-638-5266 *Each Seminar is 6-8 pm*   Monday, January 13, 2014: Importance of Self-Care,  by Dana Cohen, MA, M.Ed   Monday, February 10, 2014: Stages of Chemical Dependency,  by Susan O'Donnell, LPN, MHS   Monday, March 10, 2014: Dealing with Grief & Loss,  by Yvonne Kaye, PhD, MSC     Seating is limited -- these sessions often fill up so please register as soon as possible.    To register for the sessions or for more information,  call Dana Cohen, Family Therapist -- 215.638.5200 x162    Ample free parking is available!

STAY CONNECTED:

 January 3 v21v22v23v24v25v26 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

    My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
    Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul.
    They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way,
    and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear;
    you will lie down and sleep soundly.You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
    or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security.
    He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

   

    STEP 3 :  Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as revealed in the  

    Bible.

     Man that is one heck of a guarantee. A sincere step three to God will refresh your soul bring you   protection  and permanent security . What are you waiting for are you not tired of being sick and tired .I know I was , the fear was crippling ! We are not guaranteed tomorrow so please get over yourself have faith believe the promise in the Proverb and make that step and don't look back.

  

Don't panic. You can do this.

If you suspect or know your child is using drugs or alcohol, it is important to take action right away. You have already taken an important step by visiting this website to learn more. So don't give up. We're here to help. Let's get started.

Teen Drug and Alcohol Intervention: A step-by-step guide for parents who suspect or know their teens are drinking or using drugs.

Get the Newsletter

Sign Up

Send to a Friend

Share

Intervene Blog

Connect With Other Parents

We Need Your Support

Donate Today

Feeling Overwhelmed or Have a Question About Your Child’s Drug or Alcohol Use?
Call our Parents Toll-Free Helpline: 1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373)

Scientific Partner: Treatment Research Institute

• AlcoholScreener.org
• Drugfree.org
• About

© 2014 Partnership for a Drug-Free AmericaPurdue Pharma L.P. National Contributing Sponsor

Through the use of video, interactive segments, scenario-based role-playing experiences, and practical advice from drug intervention experts, Time To Act offers help with identifying the signs of substance abuse, taking action to help your teen live a drug-free lifestyle, and in preparing a teen drug intervention.

Whether you suspect your child is using drugs or alcohol – or if you know for certain – our site provides tools and tips designed to help you recognize the signs of teen drug use, open lines of communication with your teen, and arrange a teen drug intervention. The goal of Time to Act is to help parents gain insights into why teens begin to use drugs or alcohol, as well as to debunk the common myths and misperceptions that parents and teens may have about the use of drugs and alcohol.

It Takes a Community -- Active Parent (UT)

“Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit” Workshop Jan. 21 in

CONTACT:

Jessica Schwartz, volunteer coordinator & prevention specialist Cathie Cush

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. C2 Communications

215-230-8218 x3158 215-579-2076

jmcdermott@councilsepa.org CathieCush@comcast.net

Beverly J. Haberle, executive director

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.

215-345-6644

bhaberle@ councilsepa.org

CALENDAR LISTING:

“Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit” Workshop Jan. 21 in Doylestown

Free monthly workshop series for individuals and families with a current or pastdrug/alcohol addiction issue. Next session meets Tuesday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., 252 W. Swamp Rd., Unit 12, Doylestown, Pa. Featuring presentations by speakers in recovery, plus a group discussion period. Refreshments. To register, call 215-230-8218, ext. 3158 or email JSchwartz@councilsepa.org.

The Council wishes to thank Magellan Health Services, volunteers and program participants for their generous monetary and in-kind donations.