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Dear Joseph, It’s a sad but little known fact that schools today do little to teach our kids about the risks of drug abuse. Over the past five years, there have been massive government cuts slashing school-based drug and alcohol prevention programs. And, at the same time that programs for kids in schools and communities have disappeared, more people in the U.S. now die from prescription drug overdoses than in car crashes. While there are more demands on parents and teachers than ever, prescription pain medications are responsible for more overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined. Families need you to make The Partnership’s work possible. And we need to be here for all families. Help us reach parents and educators with effective tools to help #endmedicineabuse. We dedicate ourselves to protecting the health of children. We know that no family should lose a child to addiction. But we can’t do it without you. Make a tax-deductible donation right now. Together, we can and will reverse the epidemic of teen medicine abuse. Thank you, and Happy Holidays, Steve Pasierb, President and CEO The Partnership at Drugfree.org

New Avatar-Based, Online Role-Play Tool Helps U.S. Parents "Start the Talk" With Youth About Underage Drinking
First-time drinking doubles in the month of December and remains high into January



Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (PRNewsFoto/SAMHSA)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) introduces Start the Talk, its new videogame-like tool that helps parents practice tough conversations about underage drinking in a risk-free virtual environment. Start the Talk comes at a crucial time as the rate of youth using alcohol for the first time doubles in the month of December and remains high into January.1

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131219/PH36391LOGO)

Start the Talk is the newest component of Talk. They Hear You., SAMHSA's underage drinking prevention campaign that launched last May. The campaign equips parents and caregivers with the information, tools, and confidence they need to start talking to youth early—as early as 9 years old—about the dangers of alcohol.

Start the Talk is an evidence-based behavioral tool that uses life-like avatars to engage in interactive conversations. The simulation is based on research in social cognition, learning theory, and neuroscience. Each virtual role-play conversation is structured as a 10- to 15-minute interactive, videogame-like experience. Users enter a risk-free practice environment, assume a parental role, and engage in a conversation with an intelligent, fully animated, emotionally responsive avatar that models human behavior and adapts its responses and behaviors to the user's conversation decisions.

"The holiday season is a time of year when families come together," said Frances M. Harding, Director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. "Now is the perfect time for parents and caregivers to connect with their children and talk about the dangers of drinking alcohol. Short, frequent discussions can make all the difference. Start the Talk provides a safe place to practice these conversations and build confidence."

"Ongoing, open, and calm conversations between children and their parents and caregivers are important to preventing underage alcohol use," added Harding. "Even when children seem like they aren't listening, they really do hear us."

Studies have shown that parents have a significant influence on young people's decisions about alcohol consumption,2 especially when they create supportive and nurturing environments in which their children can make their own decisions.3 This is why talking to children early and often can have a significant impact on how a child thinks about alcohol. Equipping parents with a tool such as Start the Talk can foster these discussions.

Realizing that many parents and caregivers are "on the go," SAMHSA plans to launch a mobile application version of Start the Talk in spring 2014. In addition, SAMHSA will soon redesign Start the Talk in 3D and allow users to choose from a new selection of diverse avatars.

Parents and caregivers are asked to try Start the Talk and share it with friends and family. SAMHSA also urges the prevention community to share Start the Talk and the Talk. They Hear You. campaign resources on their websites, through social media channels, and in newsletters.

Talk. They Hear You. is SAMHSA's national public service announcement campaign that empowers parents to talk to young children as early as 9 years old about the dangers of underage drinking.

Visit www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov to try Start the Talk and for more tips and information.

For more information about SAMHSA, visit www.samhsa.gov.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

James Bond at risk of early death from alcohol, study says

By Elizabeth Landau, CNN
updated 9:03 PM EST, Thu December 12, 2013

James Bond may want to reconsider his drinking habits, a new study says.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Study looked at 14 James Bond novels
About 2.5 million deaths worldwide are attributable to alcohol use
Researchers project Bond could die at age 56 because of alcohol use


(CNN) -- Alcohol. Bond's alcohol.

The British spy James Bond may routinely get himself out of dangerous situations with skill and charm, but his body may be suffering all the while because of his drinking habits. British researchers predict he could die from alcohol-related causes, such as liver damage, by age 56.

Scientists wanted to examine just how much alcohol the famous fictional secret agent consumes, and what effect that could have on his health. They published a study, led by Graham Johnson of the emergency department of Royal Derby Hospital, in the British Medical Journal's Christmas edition, which features a variety of offbeat research papers.

Researchers found Bond's weekly alcohol consumption totaled 92 units a week, which is more than four times what doctors recommend. A real person would not be able to carry out such complicated tasks and function as well as Bond does while maintaining such habits, they conclude.

A unit of alcohol is defined as 10 milliliters or 8 grams of pure ethanol in the United Kingdom. For some perspective on that, a bottle of wine is nine units, and a pint of beer is three, according to this study.

The finding of 92 units a week could actually be the low end of the truth, as studies have shown that "people generally underestimate their alcohol consumption by about 30%," the study said, noting other research has demonstrated that health surveys don't account for about half of all alcohol sold.

In other words, Bond may be drinking much more than the large quantities portrayed in the books.

"We advise an immediate referral for further assessment and treatment," the study authors wrote, as well as "a reduction in alcohol to safe levels."

10 hotels featured in James Bond movies

Two study authors analyzed all 14 original James Bond books by Ian Fleming, focusing on the number of days on which alcohol-related events were described. But each of them only read half the books, representing a shortcoming of the study, which was conducted in "the study authors' homes, in a comfy chair."

They found that in "From Russia with Love," on the third day of the story, Bond drank about 50 units of alcohol -- the highest daily consumption in the collection of stories.


Photos: Decades of James Bond

It also appears that the spy's alcohol intake dropped around the middle of his career, but then picked back up gradually toward the end.

"This consistent but variable lifetime drinking pattern has been reported in patients with alcoholic liver disease," study authors wrote.

Note that researchers did not analyze the Bond films, only the books, so the precise level of alcoholism that Bond portrays on the big screen is an open question.

James Bond 50th anniversary coverage

About 2.5 million deaths worldwide are attributable to alcohol use, the study said. The cause of alcohol-related death is most often injury, liver cirrhosis, poisoning and malignancy.

A real person who drank as much as Bond, more than 60 grams of alcohol per day, would be in the highest risk group for malignancies, depression, hypertension and cirrhosis and could also suffer sexual dysfunction.

Early death would be likely for the spy as a result of such rampant alcohol consumption, researchers said.

Fleming, the author who created the Bond character, and frequently drank and smoked tobacco, died at age 56 of heart disease. "We suspect that Bond's life expectancy would be similar," the researchers wrote.

Alcoholism may even be responsible for Bond's famous catchphrase "vodka martini -- shaken, not stirred." This may have health-related implications, too.

Study authors posit that if Bond's alcohol consumption in the books is so chronic and excessive, he may be suffering from an alcohol-induced tremor. Chronic exposure to alcohol can damage a part of the brain called the cerebellum, which can lead to a tremor.

This suggests -- and of course, this is only speculation -- that perhaps Bond can't actually stir his drinks.

James Bond submarine car sells for $920,000

Is Bond the man with the golden liver?

"In Casino Royale he drinks over 39 units before engaging in a high-speed car chase, losing control, and spending 14 days in hospital," study authors wrote. "We hope that this was a salutatory lesson."

And yet, Bond kept drinking in subsequent novels.

There's plenty of opportunity for another installment: "From Rehab With Love."

December 24 v 11 v 12 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Deliver those who are drawn toward death,

And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.

 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”

Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?

He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?

And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

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

Whether you want to believe it or not that is exactly where everybody is headed who is still caught up in active addiction , slaughter and death.My duty as a Christian an avid twelve stepper is do exactly what the proverb tells us to do.We must do everything in our power to assist and spread the message of recovery and hope.Once I started in the rooms I got a sponsor but In my case I would like to call him my Moses.There is a book in the bible called Exodus .The book is about a man named Moses ,when He was a baby his mom put him in a basket and threw him in the river. Lucky for him he did not drown but was found by the Pharaohs wife talk about luck .He was given everything but deep down inside he knew he did not belong with these people. One day he saw one of the Egyptian people beating up on a Israelite so something inside of him snapped and he killed the Egyptian. He became afraid and thought he would be caught so he ran away and was homeless for many years eventually returning to Egypt after a spiritual awakening to lead the real people he belonged to out of slavery and out of Egypt. I share this story with you in hopes you will see the similarities. The man Moses went threw hell as a child grew up to be a murderer ran from himself until his spirit was awakened and He became a mighty man in leading his people out of slavery. Our brothers and sisters are still in slavery (addiction) and we like Moses once spiritually awakened must lead as many out of slavery as we can .Some will stay behind and that is their right and choice.Moses was frustrated with the people because they at first came out easily but once life started getting difficult they wanted to go back,but Moses would not let them give up he pushed and pushed until they found the Promised land. Be a Moses (sponsor) lead someone out !

December 23 v 29 v 30 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
 Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of mixed wine.

STEP  1 : We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and dysfunctional- behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.

What can I add to that . The proverb just described alcoholism and addiction spot on. The answer Step one , and keep moving forward and don't stop ! With a sincere Step one a lot of hard work and a lot of prayer the self induced symptoms described in the Proverb will go away .

December 21, 2013

Help Support the Advancement of the Addiction Profession!

Hi Joseph, If you or your loved one struggled with addiction or substance abuse, what would you do? If you’re like most in our community, you go to a qualified addiction professional. Why? Because you know you’ll receive the absolute top-notch care and be treated like a real person, by a dedicated, compassionate health professional. Addiction professionals play a vital role in the lives of those suffering with addictions or substance use disorders. The NAADAC Education and Research Foundation (NERF) continuously strives to strengthen the health and vitality of individuals, families and communities through the advancement of the addiction profession and is funded primarily by contributions from individuals supporting our work. Through contributions from people like you, NAADAC is able to: Provide professional development for addiction professionals through in-person and online trainings, webinars, credentialing, workshops, publications, and conferences; Advocate for better wages, compensation, and benefits for addiction professionals, loan forgiveness, and the continued specialization of the addiction profession; and Collaborate with state affiliates, federal agencies, and other groups to address the emerging issues regarding the Affordable Care Act, the new parity regulations, and requirements specific to electronic records. Your gift supports our commitment and dedication to addiction professionals and the people they help and allows NAADAC to continue its important role in sustaining quality health care services and protecting the well-being of the public. Donating is easy! You can make your tax-deductible donation online, by phoning our office at 888.548.0497, or by sending a check made out to “NAADAC Education and Research Foundation” to NAADAC at 1001 N. Fairfax St., Ste 201, Alexandria VA 22314. Please consider making as generous a gift as you can! As addiction care advances, NAADAC is committed to keeping addiction professionals at the cutting edge – for you, for your loved ones, for every person in the community. Please help to make this possible with your contribution. Your donation will make a world of difference. I promise you. Thank you so much for your help. Sincerely, Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, NCAC II, CCDC III, SAP Executive Director NAADAC, the Association of Addiction Professionals