By Join Together Staff | May 4, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inGovernment, Prescription Drugs & Prevention
Americans turned in 276 tons of unwanted or expired medications during the fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day last week, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced. Drugs were collected at 5,659 sites around the country on April 28.
The agency has removed more than 1.5 million pounds, or 774 tons, of medication from circulation since the first take-back event in 2010, according to the Associated Press.
The DEA has been sponsoring Prescription Drug Take-Back days since September 2010, and has removed over 1.5 million pounds or 774 tons of medication from circulation. Last week’s event collected a record-breaking amount of medication, the DEA announced in anews release.
The agency is preparing the final rules and procedures for the rollout of the Safe and Secure Drug Disposal Act. This will allow people to dispose of their drugs in a safe manner every day, not only during Take-Back events. The DEA hopes to have these regulations in place by the end of the year.
“While a uniform system for prescription drug disposal is being finalized, we will continue to sponsor these important take-back opportunities as a service to our communities,” said DEAAdministrator Michele M. Leonhart.
Dear Recovery Connections,
We just opened our third sober living in Riverside county Ca. all 3 are for women and children and my house in Hemet Ca. Is not going to good :( I have only had 3 women for the last month and a 1/2 getting ready to close the doors over there. Please help get the word out. www.sssoberlivinginc.com Thanks
Sylvia Hernandez
Sylvia's Serenity Sober Living Homes Inc.
myserenity1909@aol.com
951-824-0580
Saturday, September 1, 2012
10:00am until 9:00pm
Snipes Farm & Golf 890 west bridge st. morisville PA 19067
WE MOVED SOBERSTOCK TO SNIPES FARM .we were looking for a place with more of a woodstock feel. all local bands . a barbaque. a few vendors . WE WILL HAVE AN OPEN MIKE. TIKETS 15.00 each At the gate.NEW DATE 9-1-12 . labor day weekend .BOND FIRE AFTER DUSK.BRING A BLANKET. BRING A FREIND. SOBER FUN IN THE WOODS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE LOCAL BANDS. PLEASE LET ALL YOUR FREINDS KNOW ABOUT SOBERSTOCK. ALL ARE WECOME! TO BENIFIT HOW TO SAVE A LIFE FOUNDATION. CALL US Doug 267-718-4702 .SOBERFEST IS A CELEBRATION OF RECOVERY.IF YOU CAN NOT ATTEND SOBERSTOCK YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION. PLEASE HELP US TO PUT PEOPLE INTO DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHABS. thank you.
APRIL 14, 2012
Each May, National Drug Court Month commemorates the tremendous local and national impact of Drug Courts and other treatment courts. This year, NADCP is honored to present the inaugural All Rise America! National Motorcycle Relay for Recovery: a first of its kind cross-country motorcycle relay celebrating the inspiring stories of transformation brought to bear every day in America’s Drug Courts.
Drug Courts refer more people to treatment than any other system in America; treating over 120,000 individuals each year and leading the vast majority of them into life-long recovery. Each of them is a reminder that every American deserves a shot at freedom from addiction.
Retired DWI Court Judge Michael Kavanaugh
What: All Rise America! will consist of Drug Court graduates, Drug Court professionals, veterans, and other concerned citizens carrying the All Rise Gavel over 3,000 miles, stopping at National Drug Court Month events to honor individuals who have overcome their addictions and the people that make it possible. At each stop, the gavel will be passed to a new group of riders as a symbol of the collective impact of Drug Courts and a reminder that when one person rises out of addiction and finds recovery, we All Rise.
When: The Relay kicks off in Santa Ana, CA on May 1, 2012 and will end in Washington, DC on May 24, 2012.
Where: All Rise America! will stop at 24 Adult Drug Court, DWI Court, Family Drug Court, Juvenile Drug Court, Tribal Healing to Wellness Court and Veterans Treatment Court events.
MAY 1, 2012
All Rise America! It’s National Drug Court Month and NADCP’s All Rise America! National Motorcycle Relay for Recovery is officially underway. Over the next 24 days, Drug Court graduates, Drug Court professionals, veterans, and other concerned citizens will carry the All Rise Gavel over 3,000 miles coast-to-coast, stopping at 25 Adult Drug Court, DWI Court, Family Drug Court, Juvenile Drug Court, Tribal Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court events to honor individuals who have overcome their addictions and the dedicated justice and treatment professionals who help make it possible. At each stop, riders will pass the gavel to a new group of riders as a symbol of the collective impact of Drug Courts and a reminder that when one person rises out of addiction and finds recovery, we All Rise.
The All Rise America! Support Vehicle makes a stop by the Pacific Ocean before beginning the 3,000 mile journey across the country.
NADCP CEO West Huddleston and Judge Wendy Lindley pass the All Rise Gavel to Mike Jones, a combat veteran who served nine tours in Iraq and is now participating in Veterans Treatment Court.
All Rise America! began this morning with a graduation at the Orange County Combat Veterans Treatment Court. The success of Drug Courts has led to the establishment of special court dockets for veterans suffering from substance abuse and/ or mental illness. Judge Wendy Lindley’s Combat Veterans Treatment Court was one of the first in the nation and is designed specifically for veterans who have served in combat and whose troubles with the law can be linked to their war experiences. There are 97 Veterans Treatment Courts in the United States and hundreds more are being planned.
“It is an honor to be in a courtroom with people committed to keeping veterans out of prison and connected to the benefits and services they have earned,” said NADCP CEO West Huddleston before handing the official All Rise Gavel to Judge Lindley, officially commencing All Rise America! Judge Lindley then passed the gavel to Mike Jones, the relay’s first official gavel bearer. Mike is a combat veteran who served nine tours in Iraq. On his final tour he lost his leg but it has not kept him from his passion for riding motorcycles. When Judge Lindley asked for volunteers to be the official All Rise America! Gavel Bearer Mike was the first to volunteer. He is a father, a student, and a proud participant in the Orange County Combat Veterans Treatment Court.
The ceremony in Santa Ana was held to honor Juan, a graduate of the program who know owns his own business. He spoke about the tough lessons learned in a program that can sometimes feel very little like court. “When I first got here I looked around and was amazed this was even a court,” he said. “I had never seen anything like it.” Juan thanked Judge Lindley for her support throughout his time in Veterans Treatment Court and was presented with a special coin by one of the court’s fifteen volunteer veteran mentors.
Following honest, funny and heartfelt remarks from legendary composer Paul Williams, the court adjourned. We profiled Paul in our previous post, check it out to learn how the Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe winner came to support Drug Courts.
A group of riders including a couple of Sober Riders from San Diego joined veterans and friends of the court for the ride to Los Angeles for a special Gavel Hand-Off ceremony. We are currently cruising down the 405. Stay tuned.
By West Huddleston | May 1, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Addiction,Community Related, Legal & Recovery
A triumphant graduate completes Drug Court in Pinelles County, Florida.
All Rise America! National Motorcycle Relay for Recovery Gets Underway in California
All Rise America! Today marks the beginning of National Drug Court Month, an annual celebration of the most successful criminal justiceapproach in our nation’s history. By month’s end, thousands of addicted individuals who would otherwise be incarcerated will have completed drug court, ready to embark on a new life of recovery, stability and service. Amid the community events and graduations that will occur in hundreds of towns and cities throughout May, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) is pleased to announce the launch of All Rise America! The National Motorcycle Relay for Recovery: a first-of-its-kind, cross-country motorcycle relay celebrating the inspiring stories of transformation brought to bear every day in America’s drug courts.
During All Rise America!, Drug Court graduates, Drug Court professionals, veterans and other concerned citizens will carry the “All Rise Gavel” for over 3,000 miles coast to coast. They will stop at 25 adult drug court, DWI court, family drug court, juvenile drug court, tribal drug court and veterans treatment court events to honor individuals who have overcome their addictions and the dedicated justice and treatment professionals who help make it possible. At each stop, the gavel will be passed to a new group of riders as a symbol of the collective impact of Drug Courts and a reminder that when one person rises out of addiction and finds recovery, we All Rise.
NADCP CEO West Huddleston holds the "All Rise Gavel" on the Pacific coast.
Drug Courts refer more people to treatment than any other system in America; treating over 120,000 individuals each year and leading the vast majority of them into a life-long recovery. Each of them is a reminder that every American deserves a shot at freedom from addiction. All Rise America! will tell their stories. From small towns to big cities, over mountains and across Midwestern plains, we will expose America to the fact that people can and do recover from addiction. Nationally, over 75 percent of drug court graduates are never arrested again, and drug courts save up to $13,000 for every individual they serve.
There is no better testament to the success of drug courts than the events held today in California to kick-off All Rise America! In Orange County, California, a young combat Marine who entered the criminal justice system a shell of the soldier who fought in Iraq, graduated the Orange County Combat Veterans Treatment Court to the applause of a community of justice and treatment leaders who fought as hard for him as he did for us.
Following the ceremony, we fired up the motorcycles and cruised up to Los Angeles, another participant in the Orange County Combat Veterans Treatment Court leading the way and carrying the All Rise Gavel. In LA, we were met by a massive crowd of drug court graduates, drug court professionals, bikers, veterans, media and citizen supporters. The event was held to pass the gavel to a new group of riders. During the ceremony we heard from a Mark, who told the crowd that he had attempted treatment over 50 times before finding recovery in the LAX Drug Court.
“My addiction to drugs and alcohol threatened to rob me of everything, including my freedom,” he said. “Drug Court gave me a deeper freedom; freedom from my unrelenting addiction. What better way to honor the profound impact Drug Court had on my life and the lives of my friends and family than to get on our bikes and ride for All Rise America! For me this is more than a cause to raise awareness, this is a cause for celebration!”
Whether you are familiar with Drug Courts or new to the concept,All Rise America! will teach you about the incredible capacity for human beings to change, and give you hope that there is a part of our criminal justice system that not only works to reduce substance abuse and crime, but saves lives. But All Rise America! is also a call to action. It demonstrates that our justice system can compel people to change, but only if we All Rise and demand reform that is more sensible, cost-effective and humane.
As you read this, we are riding through the night to the Arizona border with miles to go before we sleep. You can follow all of our progress over the next 24 days and the inspiring stories we come across on the All Rise America! Blog.
West Huddleston, CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals
