January 17 v 23 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

It is painful to be the parent of a fool;

there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

STEP : 9 I will make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

For those of you who don't have children especially those of you still in active addiction will never truly understand the verse from the Proverb until you have children of your own. The hell I put my folks through will never be completely understood . I have spent time with Moms and Dads who have become victim to addiction. The havoc we reek on them is indescribable. Many addicts are the root cause of mom and dads premature passing . Many of the Moms and Dads I have spoke with complain of ulcers , headaches , high blood pressure and the list of ailments goes on and on . There is a verse from the bible that states hope deferred makes the heart sick . I have also spent time with my brothers and sisters at Mom and Dads grave site. Screaming at the top of there lungs because they never got to say sorry and now its too late. Unfortunately its the ones we love the most that we hurt the most. Moms and Dads are all we have ,and they are the only ones in this world we can count on ! Sober up ,Say Sorry and work things out before its too late , make Mom and Dads dream come true for you and them .

Heavy Drinking Speeds Decline in Men’s Memory and Thinking Skills: Study

By Join Together Staff | January 16, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol& Research

Men who drink heavily in middle age experience a faster, steeper decrease in memory and thinking skills 10 years later, compared with men who drink less or don’t drink, a new study concludes.

Men who consumed at least 2.5 drinks a day performed worse on memory tests almost six years faster than other men, USA Todayreports. Their thinking skills declined almost two years faster than men who didn’t drink or who drank less. The researchers did not find any major differences in memory or thinking skills among men who didn’t drink, who quit drinking during the study, or had up to two drinks daily.

The researchers did not find any clear results for drinking’s effect on women’s memory or thinking skills, the article notes. The research included more than 5,000 men and 2,000 women, whose average age at the beginning of the study was 45. When they started the study, they told researchers how much they drank. A decade later, they began taking tests of memory and thinking skills.

The findings are published in the journal Neurology.

“Much of the research evidence about drinking and a relationship to memory and executive function is based on older populations,” study author Séverine Sabia, PhD, of the University College London, said in a news release. “Our study focused on middle-aged participants and suggests that heavy drinking is associated with faster decline in all areas of cognitive function in men.”

Kathy Sutherland-Bruaw
Founder/Executive Director at Inside Out


Hi Joseph, I am not very good at keeping up with so many things! Apologies again! Yes, Inside Out is a completely peer run organization that I founded in 2008. We are a peer wellness center-we offer hope to those who suffer from addiction and are reaching for recovery. Those of us in recovery realize that this is a lifelong process and we do not judge. We offer services now 7 days a week and people can walk in-no appointment necessary. We realize that many will come in during a crisis and people don't make or keep appointments in crisis mode. We offer individual peer support-which is an evidence based practice, groups, a free clothing bank, job development assistance, community referrals, and also we welcome children and families. We have a "kids corner" where children can play with toys and watch videos while their parents receive services. We are a recovery family and we have that feeling in the center-all are welcome and all are treated with respect. We also offer the Seeking Safety trauma curriculum in group format which is gender specific on a weekly basis. We received a PCORI grant to offer this in collaboration with The LifeLink and UNM Center for Rural and Community Behavioral Health. We believe that recovery is possible and we keep what we have by sharing it! Thanks for asking Joseph! You can see more at www.recoveryinsideout.org

January 16 v 23 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB
Pride goes before destruction,
and haughtiness before a fall.

STEP 1 : We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.

Haughty - disdainfully proud; snobbish; arrogant.


For those of you who are still caught in active addiction you don't realize it but your blind too your situation. My life was all about me and only me for too long. There were many fights with my loved ones because they could see what I could not.I was so focused on me and my addiction that in my eyes my life was normal. I used too tell my parents relax , I got this under control , I am professional. I say that now in a joking manner too my parents now and they both state oh no here we go again . The funny thing was I had nothing under control in my life .I had two definite s death or jail but that didn't scare me , well it should have who wants too spend time behind bars when there is so many wonderful things in the world and who wants too die before there appointed time .Notice the Proverb mentions fall and that is what happened too me .Rock bottom is where my blindness lead me and it is at rock bottom where I found a set of steps that I could take to get back on my feet again. There is much good in the world but if you keep focusing on yourself you will miss the greatest stuff in life.Open your eyes and open your ears to the ones who love you they want whats best for you .

 








                       
    

Overdoses from Heroin and Prescription Drugs Reach New Levels at Jersey Shore

By Join Together Staff | January 15, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related, Drugs & Prescription Drugs

Deaths from heroin and prescription drugs more than doubled last year at the Jersey Shore, a locale well known as a vacation destination. Three people in Ocean County, New Jersey have already died in 2014 from drug overdoses, according to NBC News. Local police said a brand of heroin sold under the name “Bud Light” may be tainted.

Ocean County, which includes a number of beach towns, is home to the reality series “The Jersey Shore.” The county has the highest number of heroin-related emergency room admissions in the state. In 2011, Ocean County had 11 percent of all heroin-related ER admissions. The following year, 11.4 percent of heroin-related admissions were in the county, although it has less than 7 percent of the state’s population.

Deaths related to heroin and prescription drugs jumped from 53 in 2012, to 112 last year. The majority of the deaths were related to heroin, the article notes. A total of 1,188 people died from overdoses throughout New Jersey in 2013.

“It is a suburban epidemic facing us throughout New Jersey,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. “A lot of suburban counties are affected at dangerous levels.” He said young people are starting with prescription drugs, and moving to heroin. “This is no longer just an inner city issue,” added Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office. He added people are snorting heroin, which is purer and cheaper than in the past.

Prosecutors in Ocean County have distributed warning cards to funeral homes, advising families to dispose of unused prescription medications left behind by the deceased.

Earlier this year, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law a measure that encourages people to report drug overdoses. The law allows people to call 911 to report a drug overdose, without the fear of getting arrested for drug possession themselves.

January 15 v 22 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Plans fail for lack of counsel,

but with many advisers they succeed.

STEP 5 ; I will admit to God, to myself, and to another human being, the exact nature of my wrongs.

Some of the people in your life are not just trying to lecture you they are giving you advice on how to improve your life. This is where pride keeps you trapped through stubbornness . The more and more we listen the more we learn and knowledge is power. Stubborn was my middle name for many years , I would not listen too one word anyone had to say. The plans I had made for my life failed miserably for lack of counsel .Step five mentions we share our mistakes and failures with another person not only does it help getting rid of our junk but step 5 teaches that not everyone is out to get us. For those of you new to recovery you must surround yourself with people who have lengthy good clean time shut-up and listen for once in your life. It is obvious thanks too the Proverb the more people you have too help the more you will succeed.