Study Links Misuse of Prescription Drugs and Violence Among Dating Partners
By Join Together Staff | January 14, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Mental Health, Prescription Drugs, Research, Young Adults & Youth

A new study suggests a connection between misuse of prescription drugs and incidents of dating violence. Researchers at the University of Michigan Injury Center found misusing prescription sedatives and opioids was more common prior to dating violence, while alcohol use or a combination of alcohol and marijuana use were more common prior to non-dating violence, HealthCanal reports.

“Without the alcohol or prescription drugs involved, they simply might walk away from a potentially violent situation,” lead researcher Quyen Epstein-Ngo said in a news release. “The alcohol and other substance use may be the tipping points.”

The researchers looked at use of prescription sedatives and opioids immediately preceding violent dating conflicts, on the day of the conflict, among high-risk urban youth. The study included 575 participants, ages 14 to 24, over a one-year period. Women were more likely to be involved in dating violence.

Of the 1,262 incidents reported in the study, substance use occurred immediately before 44 percent of conflicts. About half of dating violence incidents involved drug use.

“Our findings indicate that interventions that address violence among youth should address substance use and psychological factors, as well as be tailored by type of violence—dating versus non-dating—and by gender,” Epstein-Ngo said.

The results are published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Doctors Can Uncover Drug or Alcohol Use With Just One Question: Study
By Join Together Staff | January 14, 2014 | 4 Comments | Filed in Alcohol,Drugs, Healthcare & Treatment


Primary care doctors can discover whether patients are abusing drugs or alcohol by asking a single question, a new study finds.

Asking patients how many times in the past year they consumed five or more drinks in a day (for men), and four or more (for women) is just as effective as administering a longer screening questionnaire in uncovering alcohol dependence, according to Dr. Richard Saitz of the Boston University School of Public Health. Doctors can reveal drug dependence by asking, “How many times in the past year have you used an illegal drug or used a prescription medication for nonmedical reasons?” he said.

“We found that single questions may be useful in both screening and preliminary assessment” of substance-use severity, Dr. Saitz said in anews release. “Instead of extensive interviews or long questionnaires, which are a barrier to screening in primary care settings, this approach may make it much easier to identify and appropriately address unhealthy substance use.”

The study analyzed responses from 286 patients, Science Dailyreports. The single alcohol question detected 88 percent of patients with alcohol dependence. The drug question detected 97 percent of patients with drug dependence, the article notes. The results were similar to those found with longer screening tests.

Current drug and alcohol screening tools generally range from three to more than 80 questions, with multiple response options, Dr. Saitz noted in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. If screening indicates a patient may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, the doctor may refer the patient to a specialist, programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, drug treatment, or other follow-up treatment. Patients at lower risk may benefit from brief counseling, according to Dr. Saitz.

FREE Job Readiness/Career Exploration, Job Placement & GED Preparation for Youth

To assist out-of-school youth, ages 17 to 21, in Bucks County enter the emerging workforce and achieve their future goals -- secure a better paying job, advance their career, earn a better wage, build life skills and gain self sufficiency – the Bucks County Youth Center at the CareerLink is offering FREE training, workshops and GED preparation to qualified young adults.



The Bucks County Youth Center at the CareerLink provides FREE job search assistance, coaching, transition planning, resume preparation and certification preparation for the National Retail Federation and ServSafe exam to youth who have graduated high school and are looking for employment and youth who have dropped out of school [ages 17 – 21] in the Bucks County area who are seeking full time employment.

The Bucks County Youth Center at the CareerLink is conveniently located near public transportation. Morning and afternoon hours are available.

These programs are offered in collaboration with the Buck County Workforce Investment Board. The BC-WIB is a business-led board that provides the leadership and resources necessary to encourage a flourishing workforce and companywide economic well-being. The organization stems from the Workforce Investment Act and other grant-funded programs and its mission is to provide the leadership necessary to develop, direct and promote a comprehensive network of resources and services for area businesses as well as adults and youth looking for employment.

“This group has been targeted because of its history of high unemployment,” stated Ron Spangler, Youth Operations Manager. “Our goal is to coach, train and place out-of-school youth into entry level high-growth, high-demand occupations,” he explained.

Call Brian Cummings at 215-781-1083 ext. 2210 to schedule an appointment or attend an orientation session.Contact Info: Brian Cummings

Youth Operations Manager

215-781-1083 ext. 2210

January 14 v 13 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,

but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

STEP 4 : . I will take a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself.

GRIEF - keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.

to suffer dissappointment misfortune, or other trouble;

Is not grief the root of all addiction. I looked up and posted the meaning of the word so we can see just how devastating grief can be. After all the hard work I have done getting free from self and various addictions it is my personal opinion that my addictions were the byproduct of my broken heart. Like the Proverb says laughter is a mask like my addictions were. No matter how much we pretend and self medicate grief it will not leave unless we deal with it. Step four is the key that will kick grief out of your head and heart.I have a few brothers who are still using because of a horrible tragedy ,they blame themselves ! Sometimes difficult things will happen but that is life. Society's way of dealing with grief is to label it depression and then prescribe drugs to numb it . Which in turn gives all of us the impression that medication is the answer but no matter how many pills you take grief will not release its grip. Step four forces grief out of its hiding place deep within our hearts. Then it must be dealt with , accepted and worked on over and over until it loses its power to keep you trapped in sadness and sorrow. FIX YOUR HEART AND THE HEAD WILL FOLLOW !

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If you are one of the many people who completed the "What Is Recovery?" survey several months ago, please be alert now for a follow-up email or phone call from the Research Project.          Only those who agreed to be recontacted will hear from MyLifeNow@phi.org with the subject line "Online survey." The email will have the unique personal link to your copy of the survey--you'll need this link. If you receive a phone call, the project representative will say they are calling "on behalf of a national health survey." (The project's Ethics Board allows this follow-up email or phone call to be sent only once, so it's important that you follow up as previously agreed. It might be helpful to check your spam box occasionally.)         The Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) partnered in 2012 in conducting this national Survey on "What Is Recovery?," the largest and most diverse study of its kind. A goal is to develop a way of measuring recovery based on how it is experienced by those who actually live it. Preliminary results on such topics as respondents' pathways to and duration of recovery, substance of choice, demographics, and quality of life are available on the Study website here.         The results of this research project can reduce the stigma that confronts people in recovery and often hinders their ability to achieve their goals. About The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. is a private nonprofit prevention, education, advocacy, and intervention organization, providing a wide range of services to families, schools, businesses, individuals, and the community. Founded in 1975, The Council serves the Southeast region of Pennsylvania and is a member of a nationwide network of National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Affiliates. The Council has offices and Recovery Community Centers in Doylestown, New Britain, Bristol, and Philadelphia. For help with alcohol, tobacco or other substances, or for information on the disease of alcoholism and addiction, call800-221-6333, toll-free, 24-hours a day. For more information, please click here.

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

Next free sessions start week of Feb. 4 at various locations in five counties

When someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the disease affects the entire family. 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.to9 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 visithttp://councilsepa.org/programs/pro-act/family-education-program/.