Three-Fourths of Americans See Link Between Narcotic Painkillers and Addiction: Poll
/By Join Together Staff
June 24th, 2014/
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A new poll finds 78 percent of Americans say they believe there is a link between drug addiction and narcotic painkillers, NPR reports.

The findings come from a nationwide poll conducted by NPR and Truven Health Analytics. The poll found 54 percent of all respondents said they had previously taken narcotic painkillers.

Slightly more than one-third of people who had taken narcotic painkillers had concerns about them, compared with 30 percent of those who had not taken the drugs. Addiction was respondents’ top concern about narcotic painkillers, followed by side effects.

About one-quarter of respondents said they had refused or questioned a prescription for an opioid, about the same rate as in a similar poll conducted in 2011, the article notes.

Fifty-four percent of those polled said potent painkillers such as Zohydro, a pure form of hydrocodone, should be available.

Some states want to ban Zohydro. Earlier this year more than 40 addiction treatment, health care and consumer groups urged the Food and Drug Administration to reverse its decision to approve Zohydro. The drug is designed to be released over time, and can be crushed and snorted by people seeking a strong, quick high. The opioid drug OxyContin has been reformulated to make it harder to crush or dissolve, but Zohydro does not include similar tamper-resistant features.

Growing Number of Drugged Drivers Test Positive for Prescription Drugs
/By Join Together Staff
June 24th, 2014/
1

A growing number of drugged drivers are testing positive for prescription drugs, a new study suggests. More drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for prescription medications than for any other drug type.

The study, published in Public Health Reports, also found the share of drugged drivers in fatal motor vehicle crashes who tested positive for marijuana reached 36.9 percent in 2010.

Drivers ages 50 and up account for an increasing share of drugged drivers, and for the highest proportion of prescription drug users, the study found. The findings come from an analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center also found an increasing number of drivers are using more than one drug at once, according to U.S. News & World Report. “In 1993, about one in eight drivers were using multiple drugs concurrently. By 2010, it was closer to one in five. That’s a large increase in drug usage,” study author Fernando Wilson said in a news release.

“These trends are likely to continue into the future given the aging U.S. population, an increasing reliance on prescription medications by medical providers, and increasing initiatives to legalize marijuana,” Wilson said. “However, it is unclear whether current state policies are completely up to the challenge of addressing the growing issue of drugged driving.”

About half of drugged drivers were also under the influence of alcohol, the study found. Approximately 70 percent of drivers who tested positive for cocaine had also been consuming alcohol, and almost 55 percent of drivers who tested positive for marijuana also had alcohol in their systems.

The researchers suggested a range of strategies, including reducing prescription drug use by drivers through counseling by medical professionals, and increasing affordable access to mass transit.

THE COUNCIL OF SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA, INC.



The Council of Southeast PA, Inc. to host a town hall meeting featuring MADD’s “Power of Parents” presentation. Bucks County Doylestown, PA—June 30th, 2014 — Of all the dangers your teen faces, underage drinking is among the worst. Whether teens are experimenting with beer, wine, or other liquor, alcohol presents a serious—and potentially deadly—threat. Research shows that brain development continues well into a person’s twenties. Alcohol can affect this development, and contribute to a range of problems. You are invited to be part of the conversation, come find out how you can start talking before they start drinking.



Location of Meeting – Please RSVP David Fialko via e-mail DFialko@councilsepa.org Phone 215-230-8218 x 3162

Monday June 30th

Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Location: The Council of Southeast PA, Inc.

252 West Swamp Rd suite 33

Doylestown PA, 18901



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, call 800-221-6333, toll-free, 24-hours a day. For more information, visit www.councilsepa.org.



About SAMHSA

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.



About Town Hall MeetingsEvery 2 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sponsors national Town Hall Meetings to educate communities about underage drinking and to mobilize them around its prevention. Prevention is working! Help continue the downward trend in underage drinking by hosting or attending a meeting in your area.

June 24 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn't know.”

For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.

He who guards your soul knows you knew.

He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

Step 5 Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs 

Will we ever get it right ! It can be very discouraging too have it all together and then start too slip back into the old way of doing things . Sometimes the fall is gradual but most times you go over and there is no holding on .The Proverb is the oldest excuse in the book and we know better ! The scary thing is that all we do comes with accountability and responsibility ,we will have too give an account after this life to the Maker of you , me , and everything . No I do not have any advice on how to avoid or stop yourself from going down the old road of doing things . I can suggest reworking the steps one through 12 over again . The road too recovery is long and difficult and it will be discouraging and exhausting at times , but we must press forward and we cannot live the way we once did . Once you escape from hell those that you left behind including a small part of yourself will do everything they can to pull you back in .

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

HELLO EVERYONE:

Attached are some flyers for programing through PRO-ACT/ Central Bucks Recovery Resource Center (CBRRC). As always these programs are free and available to all. If you need further information or would like to register to attend any of our programs, please feel free to contact me any time!



Please notice these specialty programs:



Start your week off right! Morning Devotions Mondays 10-11am, Feel the Difference!!

NEW Starting July 7th – Mondays 7:30 – 8:30pm. Health & Wellness - Renew Your Mind - Rebuild Your Body & Recover Your Spirit! Finding the sacred part of your recovery through Health & Wellness!!

Our Great Program! Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit June 6th 7 – 8:30. Presentation by two great speakers and group discussion period. Free Pizza to Share With Other Recovering people!!



HAVE A GREAT DAY!! 

An Educated Addict’s Mom is an Empowered Addict’s Mom.

Are you an addict’s mom who needs help with codependency?

Debbie Sherrick, a codependency coach who is offering a free class to our TAM members.

About Debbie Sherrick:

Debbie Sherrick is a Holistic Codependency Coach. Motivated by my own personal journey to healing myself from the Inside Out, I love sharing my story of coming out of the shame, low self-esteem and the pain of codependency. I am a certified Holistic Health Counselor and Codependency Life Coach teaching people how to unite mind, body and spirit for a successful healthy life style to achieve more self-love and empowerment in their relationships and personal life. My passion is to educate and encourage others to become healthy emotionally, physically and to develop a deep spiritual connection in taking control of their own lives in these areas.

Information on Empower Hour Codependency Class:

On Tuesday, June 24, 2014 from 8PM to 9PM EST Debbie Sherrick will be offering a free class “Exposing Shame and Not Good Enough: A Core Belief for Codependents” on the Empower Hour Show on Google+.

Debbie say’s “Feelings can come and go for all of us, but one that shows up so often in codependency recovery is the feeling of Shame....just not measuring up or feeling quite not good enough. It's what makes us feel guilty, bad, unlovable, weak, a people pleaser, sad, and place blame on themselves for many things. It's why saying NO and boundary setting are so hard for codependents.”

"The event is FREE but you must register to attend at www.empowerhourshow.com/live

Much love to all addict’s moms and their families....Barbara Theodosiou founder of The Addict’s Mom.


Visit The Addict's Mom at: http://addictsmom.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network