August 29, 2013NAADAC Annual Conference

August 29, 2013NAADAC Annual Conference In Focus: Emerging Drugs of AbuseDrugs of abuse are constantly evolving as they gain popularity and spread across the nation at a rapid pace. Want to learn more? Come to plenary presentation: Uppers, Downers, All Arounders on October 14th at the NAADAC Annual Conference in Atlanta. Darryl S. Inaba, PharmD, CADC III, the Director of Clinical and Behavioral Health Service, Addictions Recovery Center, Medford Oregon and Director of Research and Education at CNS Productions, will address the different drugs of abuse that have been appearing on American streets in increasing numbers, the on-going challenge they provide to addiction treatment providers and the toxic effects of these drugs.Dr. Inaba will focus on the wide variety of new synthetic and natural chemicals that are rising in popularity, including synthetic cannabinoids, "bath salts," prescription opiates, Kratom and "shake and bake" methamphetamine.Over 30 units of Continuing Education available![ More Information ][ Full Conference Schedule  ] Rooms are selling out!  Don’t miss the hotel booking deadline on September 16, 2013 for a reduced room rate of $149 and free internet. Full details online – click on view room rates. NAADAC Launching a New Resource in OctoberWant to keep up to date on the news and trends of the profession, but don’t have time to do the independent research? NAADAC has you covered. NAADAC will launchAddiction and Recovery eNews, a weekly in-house resource that will compile innovations, research and trends impacting on the addiction-focused profession. Watch for the first issue in early October.NAADAC is modernizing to better serve the addiction profession. Now is the time to become a member of NAADAC![ Join NAADAC ] NCC AP Travels to MicronesiaIn July, Kathryn Benson, Chairperson for the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP), traveled to the Federated States of Micronesia to work with the Pacific Jurisdiction Certification Council. This trip continued the NCC AP’s goal of global connection with addiction professionals, in an effort to share, learn and enhance credentialing and treatment processes around the world.The NCC AP specializes in credentialing products and technical assistance with countries seeking guidance in their effort to ensure both quality treatment professionals and quality client care. After a week of working with highly experienced professionals who represented all seven islands, the NCC AP was provided with the opportunity to converse with and explore their needs and NCC AP’s ability to create with them a certification exam unique to their culture and treatment practices. We were honored to be invited to their addiction treatment home and look forward to working with them in the future![ Learn More about Certification ] Free Webinar:Understanding Cannabis Use and Related DisordersTuesday, September 10, 20133-4pm EST (2 CST/1 MST/12 PST)Hosted by NAADAC Institute Webinar SeriesCannabis, also referred to as “marijuana,” “weed,” or “pot,” “reefer” or “grass,” has a long history of use around the world, today in the United States being no exception. With the exception of alcohol, it is currently the nation’s most widely used psychoactive drug among adults and juveniles alike. This webinar will discuss clinically relevant specifics of marijuana use for individuals of various ages and related health concerns. The presenter will also discuss treatment options and considerations, as well as co-occurring mental health disorders that are commonly encountered with cannabis use disorders.[ More Information andRegistration ] NAADAC Career Center – New Updates This Week!The NAADAC Career Center provides a variety of employment listings at no charge for addiction-focused professionals. If you are looking to find a new career, the NAADAC Career Center can help.Check out the latest job postings:Outpatient Counselor for Project Turnabout in Granite Falls, MinnesotaDirector of Behavioral Health Services for Legacy Health in Portland, OregonSubstance Abuse Therapist II (Bilingual - English/Spanish) for the Arlington County Department of Human Services in Arlington County, VirginiaInpatient and Outpatient Primary Therapist(s) at Seabrook House in Seabrook, New Jersey.[ Browse Career Center ] Provide Feedback on the National Behavioral Health Quality FrameworkFeedback Deadline: Tuesday, September 17, 2013SAMHSA's National Behavioral Health Quality Framework is a set of core and supplemental measures, to help:Inform an agency's or system's funding and quality improvement decisions.Monitor the behavioral health of the Nation.Provide a way to examine and prioritize quality prevention, treatment, and recovery measures at the payer, provider/practitioner, and patient/population levels.The Framework is aligned with key components of the HHS National Strategy for Quality, supporting the three broad aims of better care, healthy people/healthy communities, and affordable care. These aims include the dissemination of proven interventions and accessible care - a concept that captures affordable care along with other elements of care accessibility, including the impact of health disparities.Given the rapid developments occurring in the quality of behavioral health data, these measures will be re-assessed on an annual basis and updated as appropriate. The expectation is that any entity with the capacity to collect behavioral health data will review these measures and use those of relevance.

Help our family

As the editior of Recovery Connections my purpose for the blog is too help others find freedom from addiction. Our family is now in need of some financial assistance. Our son Alex will be graduating from boot camp .He like most young adults struggled as we struggled with him to get to this milestone in his life.He will be an official member of the United States Army National Guard.It would be a dream come true for all of us to attend his gradution at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. We reside in Pennsylvania and the most affordable way for us to travel would be to drive.Fuel cost would be around 500 dollars lodging 200 dollars and food for three around 200.Any amount would be a great help and blessing. If you want to help click on the paypal link on the blog.Thank you in advance for your diligent support of Recovery Connections and helping our families dream become a reality. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Is workplace drug testing an unwarranted invasion of privacy? | The Fix

Is workplace drug testing an unwarranted invasion of privacy? | The Fix

Expanding Your Recovery

CALENDAR LISTING:  “Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit” Workshop Sept. 17 in Doylestown Free monthly workshop series for individuals and families with a current or pastdrug/alcohol addiction issue. Next session meets Tuesday, Sept. 17, 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 215-345-6644, ext. 3120 or emailJMcDermott@councilsepa.org. 

    August 25 Psalms 107:2-3 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north, and from the south.The missionaries were prepared to share the Word of God with the natives of the small isle off the North Africa coast. They were well stocked with crosses and Bibles, and they had become well versed in the native tongue. Nothing, however, prepared them for the shock when they deplaned and were greeted by a band of natives singing out, "God bless you; Jesus loves you!" The reality of God has spread to the four corners of our globe. Voices sing out His praises continually, and it is often true that our poorer brothers and sisters have the clearest and loudest voices. We can learn a great deal from those people who live day to day in the shadow of poverty, who truly understand how fortunate they are to be alive. Let every woman, man and child sing forth in praise to God. He has been good to us all. Prayer: I have been transformed by a love far beyond my understanding. Thank You, Lord, for taking my life and making it something holy and special. Make my life a glory to Your name. Amen.Own Your Own Copy of this Devotional  goto crosswalk.com and dont forget your tickets goto CLPRM. ORG

Sober Homes Declared unfit

Unregulated “Sober Homes” Often Provide Poor Living Conditions

By Join Together Staff | July 10, 2013 | 4 Comments| Filed inAddiction, Alcohol, Community Related, Drugs & RecoveryA system of largely unregulated group homes provides poor living conditions to people throughout the country who are grappling with substance abuse, homelessness and a return to life after prison, according to Salon.com.These “sober homes” do not provide treatment on-site, but many require residents to attend outpatient therapy. In New York City, these facilities are paid for largely through welfare, disability payments and Medicaid. They are not licensed or overseen by any city or state agencies. Some advocates say the houses institute rules that violate patient rights and tenant laws.Well-run sober homes can help people in recovery, says Dr. Leonard A. Jason, Director of the Center for Community Research at DePaul University in Chicago. They can help residents develop a sense of responsibility, and provide them with skills and confidence to live productively. “If it’s a really well-run sober living home, that house could be a place of real health,” he notes. “It can be done right, but it can just as easily be done very wrong.” Jason recently wrote apolicy statement, “The Role of Recovery Residences in Promoting Long-term Addiction Recovery.”Complaints about sober homes have surfaced in communities including Los Angeles, Long Island, and Boston.In New York City, people come to sober homes from hospitals, social services agencies, prison, and the street. New York Attorney Matthew Main of MFY Legal Services, which has brought suits on behalf of sober home residents, says the system addresses a need, but can also be harmful to the people it claims to help. “This system is like a conveyor belt that grabs the most vulnerable people from our communities,” he said. “It takes people who don’t have anywhere else to turn, stuffs them into these dilapidated apartments, and has them stay there to attend a treatment program only for as long as it’s necessary to recover. And then spits them out.”