Tuesday, February 26, 2013
THE A TEAM
About
We are an informally structured grassroots organization concerned about drug dependence and related deaths in our Westmoreland County Communities.
DescriptionWe are the voices of families, loved ones and former addicts who have lost our children, siblings and friends to this rampant disease. We have found each other because no one else was listening and our voices together are louder than our individual pleas for help. We are not often the known ‘experts’ in the field of addictions, but we have a deeper intimate understanding of the effects of addiction than anyone should ever have to know. We have cried in the dark and screamed in the daylight and those we thought should listen and help have not seemed to hear. But now, with a stronger voice, a coalition is forming of those who hear and intend to act.
Created February 11, 2013
Awards Each day that an addict celebrates the freedsom from substance abuse!
Products A life in recovery!
Contact Info
Phone 724-570-2111
FDA Approves Two Generic Versions of Suboxone
By Join Together Staff | February 25, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Government,Legal, Prescription Drugs & Treatment
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the maker of the opioid addiction treatment Suboxone that it has approved two generic versions of the drug, according to Reuters. The company, Reckitt Benckiser, had asked the agency to block the generic products because of concerns over pediatric poisonings.
Reckitt asked the FDA to refuse applications from generic drug makers unless they adopted stricter packaging standards. The FDA decided there was not enough evidence to support the need for stricter packaging, Reuters notes.
The agency said it received comments that Reckitt’s request was an anti-competitive practice, and will refer the company to the Federal Trade Commission.
The company voluntarily withdrew the sale of Suboxone tablets in the United States, and instead is selling individually sealed film strips, which melt under the tongue. Reckitt said tablets posed a risk of poisoning for children who accidentally got hold of them.
In a statement, Reckitt noted it “is disappointed with the decision but will continue to work with the FDA on safety enhancements.” The company said it will carry on with the decision to discontinue the sale of tablets of Suboxone in the United States.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Commentary: New Skills to Prevent Drug Abuse Presented at 2013 CADCA Forum
Community and youth leaders from across the country learned new strategies to prevent substance abuse at CADCA's Forum.
As a longtime Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) team
member, it was my 15th year of 6:30 am staff meetings and grueling
conference schedules. And yet, the amazing people that attended CADCA’s 23rd National Leadership Forum
renewed my spirit and gave me even greater energy to help coalitions
transform their communities and improve public health and safety.
From 43 states and as far away as Moscow and the island of Palau,
2,600 community and state leaders converged at the Gaylord National
Hotel and Convention Center just outside of Washington, D.C. for four
days in February for the Forum. Participants formed new partnerships and
learned new strategies in the art and science of effective coalition
building.
The CADCA Forum – the premier training conference for community
prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers – kicked off
Monday, February 4 with longtime federal partner the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 9th Prevention Day.
The Forum featured more than 90 workshops aimed at helping CADCA’s
network of 5,000 coalitions develop comprehensive evidence-based
strategies to prevent the use of illicit drugs like marijuana, as well
as underage and binge drinking, youth tobacco use, and the abuse of
prescription and over-the-counter medicines in order to achieve
community-level change.
Participants also had the opportunity to participate in “power
sessions” with key leaders from federal agencies, such as SAMHSA, the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and
the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), where they heard the
latest research and policy updates.
“By preventing drug use, abuse and addiction, we are saving lives.
The fact that we help young people live up to their potential and make
communities safer and healthier is powerful,” CADCA’s Chairman and CEO,
Gen. Arthur Dean told the packed ballroom at the opening plenary.
The Forum traditionally welcomes the ONDCP Director as a keynote and
this year was no different. Director Gil Kerlikowske told participants
that, “We need you—and prevention professionals across the country—to
continue your work to prevent drug use and its related consequences. At
the end of the day, prevention is the most powerful alternative to
legalization or a ‘war on drugs’ in America.”
As critical as it is that we hear from our federal leaders, the event
strives to bring in speakers that can give attendees inspiration and
new tools. Keynote speaker Dorie Clark (@DorieClark),
a branding expert and regular contributor to Forbes and the Harvard
Business Review, gave us all a tutorial on messaging through social
media.
The Forum is always in the Washington, D.C. area, providing an
opportunity to coalesce as a national movement and connect with key
policymakers all at one time. The audience heard directly from a record
number of Members of Congress, including Senators Charles Grassley
(R-IA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Reps. Karen Bass (D-37th/CA); Elijah
Cummings (D-7th/MD); Michael Fitzpatrick (R-8th/PA); William Keating
(D-10th/MA); Bill Johnson (R-6th/OH); Harold Rogers (R-5th/KY); and
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-40th/CA).
Attendees also heard from former Congresswoman and new CADCA Board
Member Mary Bono Mack, who received our 2013 National Leadership Award.
“I am very honored to receive this award from CADCA. Their good work
does a lot to raise the awareness of the epidemic of drug use and
ultimately to save lives of countless people around our country. I look
forward to our continued work together,” Bono Mack said.
During “Capitol Hill Day,” over a thousand participants took to the
Hill to educate their U.S. Representatives and Senators about the
effectiveness of community coalitions and the importance of substance
abuse prevention. CADCA’s Public Policy Consultant Sue Thau, who has
been with the organization since its inception 20 years ago, rallied the
crowd noting “Funding for prevention is down 47.3 percent over the past
seven years, and if we are to avoid a train wreck of drug use and
underage drinking, we cannot afford to cut anymore.”
Asking the attendees to engage in some old-fashioned “pounding the
pavement” for prevention, Thau reminded the audience, “You have very
powerful stories of how you have kept kids and communities on track with
your work.”
Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), who met with 20 people from three
coalitions in Michigan, noted on his Facebook page: “This week marked
the 2013 National Leadership Forum of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions
of America (CADCA). A number of Michigan-based coalitions came down to
DC to share ideas on how to best reduce youth drug and alcohol use in
their communities. The most impressive thing about this forum? Meeting
the enthusiastic youth leaders who are creating positive change among
their peers across Michigan.”
There was not a moment to rest at the event. Besides the traditional
workshops, it featured numerous tobacco-free living strategy training
sessions, early-morning first-timers’ and members’ breakfasts, a Monday
night reception and Ideas Fair, special offerings in the Exhibit Hall
throughout the week, and CADCA set aside time for state and territory
meetings to help states strategize for Hill visits and state-level
challenges. Ninety coalitions formally graduate from their year-long
National Coalition Academy, a training initiative of CADCA’s national
Coalition Institute. A special session hosted by CADCA offered more
insights on the new Smart Approaches to Marijuana organization, being
spearheaded by former Rep. Patrick Kennedy.
Bringing additional energy to the conference were over 250 youth who
were part of CADCA’s National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI).
Lauren Foisy, from the Bucks Promise for Youth and Communities in
Bucks County, PA, first attended the CADCA Forum when she was a
fifth-grader. This time around the 18-year-old NYLI participant said it
equipped her with helpful skills and ideas that she plans on putting
into practice when she returns to her community.
“With the training I have received at CADCA, I feel like I have the
tools to take back home and build something effective,” Foisy said.
Forum attendees will be able to view video recordings and training session PowerPoints on the Forum website in the coming weeks. Photos are available on CADCA’s Facebook page.
CADCA now turns its attention to “Big Ideas for Social Change” in the
Lone Star State, as Austin, TX is the site for the 11th annual CADCA
Mid-Year Training Institute on July 22-25.
Mary Elizabeth Elliott
VP of Communications, Membership and IT
CADCA
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Southampton Man Faces Involuntary Manslaughter Charge in Teen Drug Overdose Death
Luke Edward Bonhage, 22, is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with the death of a teen.
At Luke Edward Bonhage’s preliminary hearing Thursday in Richboro,
Assistant District Attorney Chris Rees withdrew felony charges of drug
delivery resulting in death, criminal trespassing and a misdemeanor
charge of possession of a controlled substance.
However, the 22-year-old Upper Southampton man waived his right to a full preliminary hearing and is now set to face a new misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter when his case is heard at county court in Doylestown.
Before the drug delivery resulting in death charge was withdrawn, Bonhage was the first person in Bucks County be charged with that offense, according to the prosecution.
Bonhage is charged in connection to the death of a 19-year-old woman who was found unresponsive on the couch in his parent’s home on Dennis Road in December 2011. It is believed by authorities that she suffered an adverse reaction to prescription drugs Bonhage gave her, according to a report from PhillyBurbs.com
The PhillyBurbs report detailed the following chain of events in regards to the day of the incident:
The drug delivery resulting in death legislation was introduced by State Representative Bernie O’Neill, whose district covers parts of Buckingham, New Hope, Upper Southampton, Warminster, Warwick, and signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett in July of last year.
Prior to the new law, prosecutors had to prove malice when charging a drug dealer in connection with the death of a victim who expired after taking a substance they were given or sold.
With the new law, all prosecutors have to do is prove that the drug dealer provided the substance that killed the victim.
After the hearing let out, Robert Mancini, Bonhage's hired defense attorney, and ADA Rees would not comment on the amendments to the charges.
It is unclear whether the change in charges was due to a plea deal.
Bonhage is currently out of prison on $20,000 unsecured bail for the charges connected with the woman’s death, and $5,000 related to his DUI charges.
Related Topics:
Luke Edward Bonhage, Police, Upper Southampton Police Department, and bernie o'neill
However, the 22-year-old Upper Southampton man waived his right to a full preliminary hearing and is now set to face a new misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter when his case is heard at county court in Doylestown.
Before the drug delivery resulting in death charge was withdrawn, Bonhage was the first person in Bucks County be charged with that offense, according to the prosecution.
Bonhage is charged in connection to the death of a 19-year-old woman who was found unresponsive on the couch in his parent’s home on Dennis Road in December 2011. It is believed by authorities that she suffered an adverse reaction to prescription drugs Bonhage gave her, according to a report from PhillyBurbs.com
The PhillyBurbs report detailed the following chain of events in regards to the day of the incident:
Text messages between Bonhage and the 19-year-old victim show the duo went to a lot on Jaymor Road, where Bonhage’s car was impounded, due to a DUI arrest earlier in the day, and jumped a fence. Once in the lot, the 22-year-old retrieved prescription drugs from his car.An autopsy conducted by the Bucks County coroner ruled the woman’s death was caused by a drug overdose.
The victim and Bonhage spent a portion of the night of December 4, 2011 smoking marijuana and snorting crushed prescription pills. The victim began to have a bad reaction and was carried to the couch where she was found dead the next morning.
The drug delivery resulting in death legislation was introduced by State Representative Bernie O’Neill, whose district covers parts of Buckingham, New Hope, Upper Southampton, Warminster, Warwick, and signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett in July of last year.
Prior to the new law, prosecutors had to prove malice when charging a drug dealer in connection with the death of a victim who expired after taking a substance they were given or sold.
With the new law, all prosecutors have to do is prove that the drug dealer provided the substance that killed the victim.
After the hearing let out, Robert Mancini, Bonhage's hired defense attorney, and ADA Rees would not comment on the amendments to the charges.
It is unclear whether the change in charges was due to a plea deal.
Bonhage is currently out of prison on $20,000 unsecured bail for the charges connected with the woman’s death, and $5,000 related to his DUI charges.
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