Alcohol is Third Leading Cause of Global Disease and Injury, Study Finds

By Join Together Staff | March 5, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol

Alcohol is the third leading cause of disease and injury worldwide, even though the majority of adults do not drink, a new study concludes. Just over 40 percent of the world’s adult population consumes alcohol, said researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada.

They noted alcohol causes liver cirrhosis and leads to traffic accidents, and has also been linked to several types of cancer, including female breast cancer. “Alcohol consumption has been found to cause more than 200 different diseases and injuries,” lead author Kevin Shield noted in a news release. Only high blood pressure and tobacco smoking caused more disease and injury, the study found.

The researchers discovered wide regional variations in drinking patterns, MedicalXpress reports. For instance, drinkers in Europe and parts of sub-Saharan Africa consume the most alcohol, on average. People in southern sub-Saharan Africa frequently drink large quantities, drink until they become intoxicated, engage in prolonged binges, and drink mainly outside of meals.

Drinking is lightest in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, the study found. North Americans drink more than 50 percent above the worldwide average, and binge drink more than people in Europe.

Almost 30 percent of alcohol consumed in 2005 was “unrecorded,” meaning it was not meant for consumption, was home-brewed, or illegally produced. “The amount of unrecorded alcohol consumed is a particular problem, as its consumption is not impacted by public health alcohol policies, such as taxation, which can moderate consumption,” co-author Dr. Jürgen Rehm said.

The study appears in the journal Addiction.

PRO-ACT Family Addiction Education Program helps families address drug and alcohol addiction

Next free sessions start week of April 2 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.

 

Enjoy a Sober St. Patrick's Day  from The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.    252 West Swamp Road, Unit 12 Doylestown, PA 18901 215-345-6644 www.councilsepa.org

Celebrating the Irish Can Be Fun!                 There are about 35 million U.S. residents with Irish ancestry and roughly 145,000 U.S. residents who were born in Ireland. Most of us who want to celebrate all that's great about being Irish do it on St. Patrick's Day. But many people use the day as an excuse to get drunk, whether on green beer or other alcohol.                  Unfortunately, getting drunk is not one of the great things about the Irish. Many of our ancestors buried under the beautiful Celtic crosses in Ireland "drank themselves to death." So here are some tips for celebrating a fun and joyful day of honoring the Irish while staying sober:   Wear some green clothing--any shade. Get a leprechaun hat.  Spray your hair green; paint a shamrock on your cheek; wear a "Kiss Me I'm Irish" button. Start your day with the magical cereal, Lucky Charms! Add green food coloring to your milk! Cook some Corned Beef and Cabbage; or traditional green and white Colcannon. Make some pasta with green food coloring in the water and add some Alfredo sauce on top with chopped parsley. Make your own shamrock shakes--or you know where to get them!. Get together with a group of sober friends and watch an Irish movie (Once; The Commitments; Borstal Boy; The Magdalene Sisters; Angela's Ashes; Waking Ned Divine; Michael Collins). Put your feet up and celebrate Ireland's rich storytelling history by reading about some Irish myths and legends (Cu Chulainn, Finn MacCool, Oisin, Tir na nOg). Attend a St. Patrick's Day parade with friends and family family and hear some Irish music. Know that the next morning you will greet the sun with a smile and perhaps whistle Irish music you heard the previous day. If you want to attend an event where there is drinking, bring a sober friend.         If you believe, like many, that drinking alcohol is genetically in your Irish bloodline, you can break the chain by seeking recovery for yourself, your family, and your children's children. Recovery is not only possible; today recovery is real. For information or help, call The Council's 24-hour Information, Intervention, Recovery Support Line: 1-800-221-6333    For a free celebration of St. Patrick's Day come and join us at   PRO-ACT's Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center 1286 Veterans Highway, D-6, Bristol, PA    Sunday, March 17, 1:00 to 3:00 pm Food, entertainment, activities--face painting, crafts, Irish trivia, caricatures and more. . . Free of charge and Free of alcohol!   Please call 215-788-3738, ext 107  just so we have a head count www.councilsepa.org

Federal Judges Work With Prosecutors to Create Drug Courts

By Join Together Staff | March 4, 2013 | 2 Comments | Filed in Drugs, Government, Legal & Treatment

Following decades of success for drug courts at the state level, federal judges around the nation are collaborating with prosecutors to create the special treatment programs for defendants who are addicted to drugs, The New York Times reports.

These defendants normally would face significant time in prison, the article notes. The judges hope to work around drug laws that are often seen as too harsh and inflexible. The Justice Department is permitting U.S. attorneys to reduce or even dismiss charges in some drug cases.

Defendants in drug court must accept responsibility for their crime, and agree to receive drug treatment and other social services. They must attend regular meetings with judges, who monitor their progress. If they successfully participate in the program, they receive a reduced sentence, or even no jail time. Failure to successfully complete the program results in them being sent to prison. Defendants facing more serious charges are not eligible for drug court.

Legal experts say drug courts are a less costly and more effective option than prison for many low-level repeat offenders. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, every dollar spent on drug courts yields more than two dollars in savings in the criminal justice system alone.

Federal judges have instituted drug court programs in California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington. So far, about 400 defendants have been involved in federal drug court programs.

The United States Sentencing Commission has established guidelines for sentencing since 1984, after studies found federal judges were giving different sentences for similar crimes. Judges feel the guidelines interfere with their judicial independence, according to the article. “When you impose a sentence that you believe is unjust, it is a very difficult thing to do,” Stefan R. Underhill, a federal judge in Connecticut, told the newspaper. “It feels wrong.”

Conquering Grounds Café
Saturday Night March 9, 2013

At Christian Life Center, 3100 Galloway Rd Bensalem, Pa 19020
In The Edge Building
Doors open at 6:30 Event starts at 7pm
Appearing
Latin Worship Band " Sandro El Siete"
plus Special Guest Holy Hip-Hop Psalmist "Virtuous"
This is a FREE event and open to everyone. There will be hot and cold beverages and goodies to eat, all free of charge. Come out and join us for a great night of music and fellowship.
Bob Sofronski, Chairman/Director
Christian Life Prison and Recovery Ministries, Inc.
PO BOX 1624
Southampton, PA 18966
215-833-2512
Fax # 267-988-4629
www.CLPRM.org

www.recoverywalks.org

Recovery Walks! 2013 Is on September 21

THE PHILLIES vs. ATLANTA BRAVES

Friday Evening, September 6, 2013!



National Recovery Night at the Baseball Game
6:00 pm Gathering - 7:05 pm Game Time
Citizens Bank Park
North Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia

Enjoy a fun Phillies night of baseball with about 500 other fans in recovery! Watch the Philliestake on the Atlanta Braves at home without everyone around you drinking beer! For the 8th consecutive year, PRO-ACT will participate in this annual baseball game, developed to gain national visibility for recovery in celebration of SAMHSA's National Recovery Month of September. Attendees in these sections are requested not to consume or purchase alcohol. Parking is $15--get a group together and car pool--or take SEPTA.


To Order Tickets and Pay Online

Tickets are $20 each, $4 of which funds PRO-ACT services

It's easy and secure!

Just click HERE

Organize your friends and team members and enjoy a night out!

First come, first served--don't wait too long

And Look Who's Throwing Out the First Pitch

Jackie Ferrer of Recovery Walks! 2012

Jackie won this Prize by being Captain of Team Ricky Ferrer

who walked last year and raised the most donations for PRO-ACT


They walked in honor of Jackie's brother, Ricky





www.councilsepa.org