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Excellence requires ample support. There are myriad examples of this
truism in life. In belated honor of Mother's Day, and as a reminder
that we should be thankful for the supports in our lives, here is a
portion of Kevin Durant's MVP speech where he gives thanks. Watch for
Kevin's testimony to his mother at the 3-minute mark--it's worth the
wait. 
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Donations help us to reduce the impact of addiction for more individuals and families. The Council is a 501(c)(3) organization.
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Thursday, May 15, 2014
Daily Quote
"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all
the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." - "A
Course In
Miracles"
Today's Online Meetings
AA Meeting - 8:00 pm CST: "Face to Face"
Guest Speaker - 1:00 pm CST: "The Big Book and Mike J"
Copyright 2011 Community of Recovering People LLC
Privacy Policy
College Takes Innovative Approach to Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse
By Celia Vimont | May 14, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Prescription Drugs, Prevention, Young Adults & Youth
Miami University is using an innovative approach to preventing prescription drug abuse among its students. Before prescribing medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the university student counseling service requires students to participate in a workshop about time management, and another session about taking medication safely.
The school has developed similar prevention strategies for treating anxiety, sleep disorders and pain, according to Joshua Hersh, MD, Staff Psychiatrist at Miami University Student Counseling, located in Oxford, Ohio. “We are trying to minimize abuse by maximizing care,” said Dr. Hersh, who spoke about the university’s approach at the recent American Psychiatric Association annual meeting.
Abuse of stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin is a major concern on college campuses around the country. A study conducted at the University of Maryland in 2010 found among students prescribed a medication, 35.8 percent diverted a medication at least once in their lifetime. The most commonly diverted medication classes were prescription ADHD medication, with a 61.7 percent diversion rate, and prescription painkillers, with a 35.1 percent diversion rate. Sharing was the most common method of diversion, with 33.6 percent of students sharing their medication(s) and 9.3 percent selling in their lifetime.
Nonmedical use of stimulant drugs has been linked to heart and blood vessel problems, as well as drug abuse or dependence. Dr. Hersh notes that combining alcohol and stimulants is particularly dangerous. “When they are combined, people get far more intoxicated than they normally would,” he said. “They are more likely to overdose or to drive while intoxicated.”
Students at Miami University who seek medication for ADHD must first go through an initial phone screen. They then attend a “brain booster” workshop, which lasts for 90 minutes. At the workshop, they receive a planner to help them organize their time, and are instructed in how to use it. They receive tips about time management, such as using their cell phone to keep track of appointments. Students are told how to improve their sleep, hygiene, minimize distractions, and improve their study skills and reduce procrastination.
“We tell them to treat college like a job,” Dr. Hersh said. “One of the main reasons people abuse stimulants is poor time management. They find they need to cram for an exam, and use stimulants to help them stay up all night. When we teach students time management skills, their attention and focus improves, and they are less likely to misuse stimulants.”
Several weeks after attending the workshop, students fill out a goal completion worksheet to demonstrate how well they have adopted the skills and behaviors they learned. If they decide to go ahead with an evaluation for ADHD, they attend another hour-long workshop, which is required even for students who have been prescribed ADHD medication in the past. They learn how to keep their medications safe in a college setting, and avoid misusing or diverting them. Only after they have attended both workshops can they see Dr. Hersh. “We slow down the process to screen out the people who just want a quick fix,” he explained.
Students seeking treatment for anxiety disorders attend an anxiety management workshop, sometimes along with individual therapy. “They are introduced to guided imagery, relaxation techniques and other behavioral techniques to control anxiety before they are evaluated for medication,” said Dr. Hersh.
If the doctor determines the student would benefit from medication, the student is first prescribed a non-addictive medication. If these medications aren’t effective, the student may be prescribed benzodiazepines, but the amount is limited, usually to 10 pills per month. The student is monitored frequently for signs of misuse and diversion.
For sleep disorders, students learn behavioral techniques, such as using a noise machine, before medication is prescribed. If medication is needed, students are first given non-controlled substances such as trazodone or melatonin. If the student is prescribed a controlled substance such as zolpidem (Ambien), they are given a limited amount. If needed, they are referred to a sleep disorders clinic for evaluation of conditions such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
Students being treated for pain are first given non-controlled medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). If opiates are needed for severe, acute pain, students are given a limited supply, and are monitored for signs of misuse and diversion through urine screening.
By giving students tools to help manage their condition, evaluating them and following them closely, and prescribing potentially addictive medications only as a last resort, Dr. Hersh believes colleges across the country can have a big impact on reducing prescription drug abuse on campus.
By Celia Vimont | May 14, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Prescription Drugs, Prevention, Young Adults & Youth
Miami University is using an innovative approach to preventing prescription drug abuse among its students. Before prescribing medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the university student counseling service requires students to participate in a workshop about time management, and another session about taking medication safely.
The school has developed similar prevention strategies for treating anxiety, sleep disorders and pain, according to Joshua Hersh, MD, Staff Psychiatrist at Miami University Student Counseling, located in Oxford, Ohio. “We are trying to minimize abuse by maximizing care,” said Dr. Hersh, who spoke about the university’s approach at the recent American Psychiatric Association annual meeting.
Abuse of stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin is a major concern on college campuses around the country. A study conducted at the University of Maryland in 2010 found among students prescribed a medication, 35.8 percent diverted a medication at least once in their lifetime. The most commonly diverted medication classes were prescription ADHD medication, with a 61.7 percent diversion rate, and prescription painkillers, with a 35.1 percent diversion rate. Sharing was the most common method of diversion, with 33.6 percent of students sharing their medication(s) and 9.3 percent selling in their lifetime.
Nonmedical use of stimulant drugs has been linked to heart and blood vessel problems, as well as drug abuse or dependence. Dr. Hersh notes that combining alcohol and stimulants is particularly dangerous. “When they are combined, people get far more intoxicated than they normally would,” he said. “They are more likely to overdose or to drive while intoxicated.”
Students at Miami University who seek medication for ADHD must first go through an initial phone screen. They then attend a “brain booster” workshop, which lasts for 90 minutes. At the workshop, they receive a planner to help them organize their time, and are instructed in how to use it. They receive tips about time management, such as using their cell phone to keep track of appointments. Students are told how to improve their sleep, hygiene, minimize distractions, and improve their study skills and reduce procrastination.
“We tell them to treat college like a job,” Dr. Hersh said. “One of the main reasons people abuse stimulants is poor time management. They find they need to cram for an exam, and use stimulants to help them stay up all night. When we teach students time management skills, their attention and focus improves, and they are less likely to misuse stimulants.”
Several weeks after attending the workshop, students fill out a goal completion worksheet to demonstrate how well they have adopted the skills and behaviors they learned. If they decide to go ahead with an evaluation for ADHD, they attend another hour-long workshop, which is required even for students who have been prescribed ADHD medication in the past. They learn how to keep their medications safe in a college setting, and avoid misusing or diverting them. Only after they have attended both workshops can they see Dr. Hersh. “We slow down the process to screen out the people who just want a quick fix,” he explained.
Students seeking treatment for anxiety disorders attend an anxiety management workshop, sometimes along with individual therapy. “They are introduced to guided imagery, relaxation techniques and other behavioral techniques to control anxiety before they are evaluated for medication,” said Dr. Hersh.
If the doctor determines the student would benefit from medication, the student is first prescribed a non-addictive medication. If these medications aren’t effective, the student may be prescribed benzodiazepines, but the amount is limited, usually to 10 pills per month. The student is monitored frequently for signs of misuse and diversion.
For sleep disorders, students learn behavioral techniques, such as using a noise machine, before medication is prescribed. If medication is needed, students are first given non-controlled substances such as trazodone or melatonin. If the student is prescribed a controlled substance such as zolpidem (Ambien), they are given a limited amount. If needed, they are referred to a sleep disorders clinic for evaluation of conditions such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
Students being treated for pain are first given non-controlled medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). If opiates are needed for severe, acute pain, students are given a limited supply, and are monitored for signs of misuse and diversion through urine screening.
By giving students tools to help manage their condition, evaluating them and following them closely, and prescribing potentially addictive medications only as a last resort, Dr. Hersh believes colleges across the country can have a big impact on reducing prescription drug abuse on campus.
Medications to Help People Stop Drinking Rarely Prescribed
By Join Together Staff | May 14, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Research & Treatment
A new study finds two medications that can help people quit drinking are rarely used. The drugs, naltrexone and acamprosate, could be helping many thousands of people, the researchers say.
The drugs reduce alcohol cravings. They have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating alcoholism for more than a decade, The New York Times reports. Many doctors are not aware of the drugs’ usefulness, or question their effectiveness, the article notes.
The researchers reviewed data on about 23,000 people in 122 studies. They concluded that in order to prevent one person from returning to drinking, the number needed to take acamprosate was 12, and the number needed to take naltrexone was 20. In contrast, large studies of widely-used drugs such as cholesterol-lowering statins have found that 25 to more than 100 people need treatment to prevent one heart event.
The study evaluated the effectiveness of acamprosate and naltrexone in combination with behavior interventions. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“These drugs are really underused quite a bit, and our findings show that they can help thousands and thousands of people,” said lead author Dr. Daniel E. Jonas of the University of North Carolina. “They’re not blockbuster. They’re not going to work for everybody. But they can make a difference for a lot of people.”
Fewer than one-third of people with alcohol use disorders receive any treatment, and less than 10 percent receive medications to help reduce alcohol consumption, according to a University of North Carolina press release.
“There are many studies that have tried to show whether certain medications can help with alcohol use disorders, but it is a lot of information to digest and many providers do not know what works or doesn’t work,” Dr. Jonas said. ”When you synthesize all the evidence, it shows pretty clearly that some medications do work.”
By Join Together Staff | May 14, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Research & Treatment
A new study finds two medications that can help people quit drinking are rarely used. The drugs, naltrexone and acamprosate, could be helping many thousands of people, the researchers say.
The drugs reduce alcohol cravings. They have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating alcoholism for more than a decade, The New York Times reports. Many doctors are not aware of the drugs’ usefulness, or question their effectiveness, the article notes.
The researchers reviewed data on about 23,000 people in 122 studies. They concluded that in order to prevent one person from returning to drinking, the number needed to take acamprosate was 12, and the number needed to take naltrexone was 20. In contrast, large studies of widely-used drugs such as cholesterol-lowering statins have found that 25 to more than 100 people need treatment to prevent one heart event.
The study evaluated the effectiveness of acamprosate and naltrexone in combination with behavior interventions. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“These drugs are really underused quite a bit, and our findings show that they can help thousands and thousands of people,” said lead author Dr. Daniel E. Jonas of the University of North Carolina. “They’re not blockbuster. They’re not going to work for everybody. But they can make a difference for a lot of people.”
Fewer than one-third of people with alcohol use disorders receive any treatment, and less than 10 percent receive medications to help reduce alcohol consumption, according to a University of North Carolina press release.
“There are many studies that have tried to show whether certain medications can help with alcohol use disorders, but it is a lot of information to digest and many providers do not know what works or doesn’t work,” Dr. Jonas said. ”When you synthesize all the evidence, it shows pretty clearly that some medications do work.”
Clinton Foundation Works to Bring Down Cost of Naloxone
By Join Together Staff | May 14, 2014 | 1 Comment | Filed in Advocacy, Drugs, Prescription Drugs & Treatment
The Clinton Foundation wants to decrease the cost of the opioid overdose antidote naloxone. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a handheld device that delivers a single dose of naloxone.
“Let’s assume that the FDA approval means there really will be easier, understandable, much more user-friendly ways of getting the medications into the bodies of people who need it before they die,” Former President Bill Clinton said Tuesday at a town hall meeting about reducing prescription drug abuse. He spoke at Johns Hopkins University, CBS Baltimore reports.
Last week, Hillary Clinton told the National Council for Behavioral Health Conference the Clinton Foundation “is making naloxone a priority,” according to The Hill. Some states have passed laws allowing first responders to carry the antidote.
Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is becoming more widely available nationwide. It has been used for many years by paramedics and doctors in emergency rooms. It is administered by nasal spray. The medication blocks the ability of heroin or opioid painkillers to attach to brain cells. The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy says it is encouraging police departments to carry Narcan.
In March, Attorney General Eric Holder said the government is encouraging emergency personnel to carry naloxone.
Last year, the Clinton Foundation announced it would work with the New York Police Department and other partners to address prescription drug abuse, with a focus on college students.
By Join Together Staff | May 14, 2014 | 1 Comment | Filed in Advocacy, Drugs, Prescription Drugs & Treatment
The Clinton Foundation wants to decrease the cost of the opioid overdose antidote naloxone. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a handheld device that delivers a single dose of naloxone.
“Let’s assume that the FDA approval means there really will be easier, understandable, much more user-friendly ways of getting the medications into the bodies of people who need it before they die,” Former President Bill Clinton said Tuesday at a town hall meeting about reducing prescription drug abuse. He spoke at Johns Hopkins University, CBS Baltimore reports.
Last week, Hillary Clinton told the National Council for Behavioral Health Conference the Clinton Foundation “is making naloxone a priority,” according to The Hill. Some states have passed laws allowing first responders to carry the antidote.
Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is becoming more widely available nationwide. It has been used for many years by paramedics and doctors in emergency rooms. It is administered by nasal spray. The medication blocks the ability of heroin or opioid painkillers to attach to brain cells. The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy says it is encouraging police departments to carry Narcan.
In March, Attorney General Eric Holder said the government is encouraging emergency personnel to carry naloxone.
Last year, the Clinton Foundation announced it would work with the New York Police Department and other partners to address prescription drug abuse, with a focus on college students.
Drugged Driving More Common Than Drunk Driving Among College Males
By Join Together Staff | May 14, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Drugs, Young Adults & Youth
Male college students are much more likely to drive after smoking marijuana than to drive after drinking, a new study finds.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, found 44 percent of college men said they drove after smoking marijuana in the previous month, compared with 12 percent who said they drove after drinking.
“We definitely need to think about how to help students understand that marijuana is risky to use before you drive,” lead author Jennifer Whitehill told HealthDay. “These are young, inexperienced drivers, and marijuana does increase crash risk.”
The study found 9 percent of college women said they have driven after smoking marijuana, but 35 percent said they rode with a drugged driver. The study, which appears in JAMA Pediatrics, found for every 1 percent increase in the number of friends who use marijuana, there is a 2 percent increase in the risk of riding with a driver who has been smoking marijuana.
The study included 315 students from two large state universities. Among males, 30 percent said they had used marijuana in the previous month, and 67 percent said they drank alcohol. Among females, 13 percent said they used marijuana in the previous month, and 64 percent said they drank alcohol.
In an editorial accompanying the study, Mark Asbridge of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, said there does not seem to be the same stigma for drugged driving that is associated with drunk driving. “We’ve got to think about the kind of techniques that were effective for drinking and driving and how they might be applied here,” he said. He called for strict laws against driving under the influence, strong law enforcement efforts, and a public education campaign.
By Join Together Staff | May 14, 2014 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Drugs, Young Adults & Youth
Male college students are much more likely to drive after smoking marijuana than to drive after drinking, a new study finds.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, found 44 percent of college men said they drove after smoking marijuana in the previous month, compared with 12 percent who said they drove after drinking.
“We definitely need to think about how to help students understand that marijuana is risky to use before you drive,” lead author Jennifer Whitehill told HealthDay. “These are young, inexperienced drivers, and marijuana does increase crash risk.”
The study found 9 percent of college women said they have driven after smoking marijuana, but 35 percent said they rode with a drugged driver. The study, which appears in JAMA Pediatrics, found for every 1 percent increase in the number of friends who use marijuana, there is a 2 percent increase in the risk of riding with a driver who has been smoking marijuana.
The study included 315 students from two large state universities. Among males, 30 percent said they had used marijuana in the previous month, and 67 percent said they drank alcohol. Among females, 13 percent said they used marijuana in the previous month, and 64 percent said they drank alcohol.
In an editorial accompanying the study, Mark Asbridge of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, said there does not seem to be the same stigma for drugged driving that is associated with drunk driving. “We’ve got to think about the kind of techniques that were effective for drinking and driving and how they might be applied here,” he said. He called for strict laws against driving under the influence, strong law enforcement efforts, and a public education campaign.
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