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/.

January 13 v 13 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

People who despise advice are asking for trouble;

those who respect a command will succeed.

STEP :3. I will make a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God.

Looking at addiction from a different perspective can sometimes help the most stubborn of people.Picture a man in the middle of a lake it is obvious he is drowning . It is only a matter of time before he sinks into the eternal abyss forever . Along comes the members of his family all of them carrying a life preserver. As each family member throws in their life preservers the drowning man refuses to grab on and be pulled to safety and this goes on until the man can no longer stay above water he drowns then dies. That was me in the middle of the lake. My problem was somehow I convinced myself that my love ones were trying to tell me what to do and control my life. That my friends was foolish pride that kept me in the lake longer than I should have been.We have to realize in life that sometimes we have to let someone in to help. No one is trying to control you especially the ones that love us most. You see the Proverb and it is true ! Don't look at a helping hand or as a command , tell yourself it is a life preserver and if I don't grab I will drown. Step is telling us to stop pushing the life preserver away grab it and hold on tight and don't let go. Peace ,safety and joy are just up ahead on shore. God and family are all you got in this world and the next.

Register by Jan. 22 to receive the early registration rate. Space for Exhibitors is limited so register now. How is aXis different? Unlike most addiction recovery conferences that focus on continuing education credits for all professionals, aXis is designed as an intensive 3-day strategic planning event - an  Executive Boot Camp. You and your team will experience:  Team-Based Approach Peer-to-Peer and Collaborative Learning Performance-Based Roundtable Discussion Dual Public and Private Sector Focus to Foster Collaboration  Flexible Grouping Strategies Mentoring Opportunities from Industry Leaders  Networking with industry experts and colleagues aXis brings together individuals from diverse organizations to engage in a stimulating exchange of ideas. This is accomplished with round-table peer interaction, mentoring, and insights from industry experts. Learn More  What will be the focus of aXis 2014?  To survive and thrive in today's competitive healthcare landscape, your organization needs multi-talented senior executives and management who have a firm grasp of the big picture. aXis is designed to assist companies and programs strengthen their leadership team and explore how to integrate critical business functions in a unified strategy that drives ethical excellence and growth. aXis brings together individuals from diverse organizations to engage in a stimulating exchange of ideas. You and your peers will leave this intensive learning experience with new perspectives on the changing healthcare environment, leadership, business operations, and your role in shaping corporate and industry direction in the addiction field. aXis prepares executives for new levels of leadership in their careers and within their organizations. C4 invites you to take your next step here.     www.axissummit.com  Quick Links About aXis Agenda aXis Facilitators Prospectus Sponsorships  Golf Tournament Hotel Reservations aXis is Presented by:   in Partnership with Who Should Attend aXis? Owners Board Members Senior Executives Medical Directors Clinical Supervisors Consultants Mid-Level Managers Marketing/Sales Management Information Technology Staff Intake Management Call Center Management  Private Practitioners C4 Conferences aXis is owned and operated by C4 Recovery Solutions, Inc., a non-profit organization. The mission of C4 is to improve the accessibility and quality of addiction treatment, and to promote long-term recovery solutions. C4 uses four C's - Collaboration, Convening, Conferencing, and Consultation to achieve its goals. Please visit our other conferences.  Cape Cod Conference on Addictive Disorders (CCSAD)   West Coast Conference on Addictive Disorders (WCSAD)   Clinical Overview of the Recovery Experience (CORE)  Waldorf Astoria Naples    This inviting beach property sets the standard for treating guests and families to endless activities, incredible nearby sights, and an unmatched level of service and attention. Rediscover this unique Florida resort, and indulge in a truly special getaway. Discover this peaceful sanctuary set along 23 acres along the Gulf of Mexico, with breathtaking views of the Gulf and surrounding natural mangrove estuary.  The Waldorf Astoria Naples received the 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award. This honor is awarded to establishments that achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. Learn More

Colorado Addiction Treatment Centers Brace for More Teens Referred for Marijuana Use
By Join Together Staff | January 7, 2014 | 4 Comments | Filed in Addiction,Community Related, Drugs, Treatment & Youth

Addiction treatment centers in Colorado are bracing for an increase in teens referred for marijuana use, ABC News reports. The state began legal sales of recreational marijuana for adults last week.

While only people 21 and older are allowed to purchase marijuana, some experts are concerned the law will allow the drug to more easily fall into the hands of teens.

Dr. Christian Thurstone, who heads the teen rehabilitation center Adolescent STEP: Substance Abuse Treatment Education & Prevention Program, said 95 percent of patient referrals to the program are for marijuana use. In preparation for the new law, Dr. Thurstone has doubled his staff.

He told ABC News that marijuana can be harmful for some teens, particularly those suffering from mental illness. He said that after Colorado legalized medical marijuana in 2009, teens began to use much higher potency products. “Our kids are presenting more severe addictions; it takes them longer to get a clean urine drug screen,” he said. Higher-potency marijuana can increase the risk of psychotic episodes in some teens, Thurstone added.

“Anecdotally, yes, we’re seeing kids in treatment here who have paranoia and seeing things and hearing things that aren’t there,” he said. “Adolescent exposure to marijuana [raises] risk of permanent psychosis in adulthood.”

Ben Court, an addictions expert at the University of Colorado Hospital Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation, has also seen an increase in patients addicted to marijuana since the state approved medical marijuana. He says the younger people are when they start consistently using marijuana, the more likely they are to become addicted. “Most people are going to smoke weed and it’s not going to be an issue. By 18 to 24, your odds are less than 1 in 10 that you’re going to be addicted,” he said. “If you start under 18, it’s 1 in 6.”