October 8 Chp 10 v 17 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALMS

Lord , you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.(Gods Big Book NLT)

STEP 2 - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Are you there yet ? Do you still think in your own perspective ? Are you still denying God ?

If you answered no , yes , and yes then you gotta a problem with pride ! If that's the case then you will remain addicted l;lost and helpless. Good news though , God knows what you hope for and dream about . Once you believe you have to trust and that is gonna be tough especially if your still struggling with active addiction. If you cant give trust then have blind faith and believe God can and will help you get sober. Faith comes by hearing Gods word found in His Big book . Purchase a Tyndale Life Recovery Bible and read a Psalm a day then talk to God and meditate . Like a boxer you have to go into training physical , spiritual , and mental if you want lifetime sobriety . God is in your corner ,Its time to get to work.

1 Timothy 4 :8 For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (Gods Big Book NLV)

By Joseph Dickerson

Heroin Deaths Rise Sharply in Many States: Study

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

October 7th, 2014/

The death rate from heroin overdoses doubled from 2010 to 2012, according to a new studyfrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Years of over-prescribing of painkillers led to the increase in heroin deaths, the CDC said.

Deaths from heroin rose from 1 to 2.1 deaths per 100,000 people during that period. Deaths from prescription opioid painkillers declined, from 6 to 5.6 deaths per 100,000, Reutersreports. “The rapid rise in heroin overdose deaths follows nearly two decades of increasing drug overdose deaths in the United States, primarily driven by (prescription painkiller) drug overdoses,” the CDC researchers wrote.

They found 75 percent of heroin users in treatment programs who started using heroin after 2000 said they first abused prescription opioids. They switched to heroin because it was easier to get, less expensive and more potent than painkillers. In contrast, more than 80 percent of people who began using heroin in the 1960s said they didn’t start abusing another drug first.

The largest increase in heroin overdose deaths occurred in the Northeast, followed by the South.

“Reducing inappropriate opioid prescribing remains a crucial public health strategy to address both prescription opioid and heroin overdoses,” CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, said in a news release. “Addressing prescription opioid abuse by changing prescribing is likely to prevent heroin use in the long term.”

The CDC is calling for improving access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction and increased use of the opioid overdose antidote naloxone.

Many Who Abuse Prescription Opioids Don’t Know How to Respond to Overdose

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

October 7th, 2014/

Many young adults who abuse prescription opioids are not prepared to deal with an overdose, a new study finds. They tend to think prescription medications are less dangerous than heroin, the researchers say.

“What we found is that when it comes to how to handle an overdose, prescription opioid users who weren’t using drugs for official medical reasons were less savvy than, say, more traditional heroin-using populations,” study author David Frank of the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City told HealthDay. “In fact, they tend to have a pretty severe lack of knowledge and a lot of confusion about it, despite the fact that most have experienced overdoses within their drug-using network.”

Young people who abuse opioids think of themselves as being very different from people who use heroin, Frank said. He conducted in-depth interviews with 46 young adult New Yorkers, ages 18 to 32, who abused prescription painkillers. Almost three-quarters of the participants were white, and half had at least some college education.

The participants tended to see prescription painkillers as relatively harmless medication that was less addictive than heroin, and less likely to cause an overdose. Yet almost all the study participants said they knew someone who had overdosed on painkillers, or had overdosed themselves. The majority did not know about overdose prevention or response options, including the opioid overdose antidote naloxone.

In most cases, participants said when faced with an overdose, they used potentially ineffective methods such as slapping the person or placing them in a cold shower to revive them. Among those who had heard of naloxone, many thought it was expensive or difficult to obtain. In New York state, naloxone is distributed freely, along with training, at most official harm reduction or needle-exchange programs, the researchers noted. Many participants said these programs place too much emphasis on heroin use.

The study appears in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

Substance Abuse a Growing Problem Among the Elderly

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

October 7th, 2014/

A growing number of older adults are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, experts tellThe New York Times. Alcohol abuse is the biggest problem among older adults, but the rate of illicit drug use among adults ages 50 to 64 is also on the rise.

“As we get older, it takes longer for our bodies to metabolize alcohol and drugs,” D. John Dyben, the Director of Older Adult Treatment Services for the Hanley Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, told the newspaper. “Someone might say, ‘I could have two or three glasses of wine and I was fine, and now that I’m in my late 60s, it’s becoming a problem.’ That’s because the body can’t handle it.”

Many older adults who drink are retired, the article notes. They may have lost a spouse, as well as their career, and feel they have no purpose. They may be lonely and depressed.

It can be difficult for doctors to differentiate between signs of chemical dependence, such as memory loss and disorientation, and normal signs of aging. Doctors often are not trained to discuss substance abuse with their older patients, or they don’t have the time to conduct a thorough screening.

“There’s this lore, this belief, that as people get older they become less treatable,” said Paul Sacco, Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, who researches aging and addiction. “But there’s a large body of literature saying that the outcomes are as good with older adults. They’re not hopeless. This may be just the time to get them treatment.”

A report issued by the Institute of Medicine in 2012 concluded substance abuse is a growing problem among older Americans, and the nation’s health care system is not prepared to adequately address the need. Up to one-fifth of Americans over age 65 have substance abuse or mental health conditions, according to the report.

Ecstasy Most Popular Illicit Drug on Black Market Websites

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

October 7th, 2014/

A year after the black market website Silk Road was shuttered by the FBI, many new sites selling illegal drugs have appeared. Ecstasy (MDMA) is the most widely sold illicit drug on these sites, according to a survey.

Almost twice as much MDMA is being sold online as marijuana, the second-most popular illicit drug. LSD, cocaine and amphetamines were the other top-five drugs sold on these sites, according to The Washington Post.

Dozens of black market sites have emerged in the past year, the article notes. Silk Road and three similar sites had about 18,000 drug items listed for sale last fall. In April 2014, there were 10 such sites, listing 32,000 drug items. By this August, there were 18 sites listing 47,000 drug items, according to the Digital Citizens Alliance.

Daryl Lau, a programmer, analyzed drug sales on these sites, concentrating on the nine illegal drugs the National Institute on Drug Abuse says are most commonly used: cocaine, heroin, opium, amphetamines, MDMA, ketamine, mescaline, LSD and marijuana. These drugs account for about 28 percent of all drugs listed on one of the new websites, Silk Road 2.0. Much of the remainder are prescription drugs, or synthetic drugs such as “2C” or “NBOMe.”

The black market websites allow users to rate their purchases. Because MDMA bought on the street is often laced with potentially dangerous ingredients, users may prefer to buy it online from a vendor who receives a high rating from other users, according to the newspaper.

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.                                                   and           Pennsylvania Recovery Organization --      Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT)  Recovery in Our Communities October 7, 2014      Like us on Facebook                                   www.councilsepa.org                       Follow us on Twitter   Information and Recovery Support Line 24/7: 800-221-6333 Treatment without prevention  is simply unsustainable. Bill Gates OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PREVENTION MONTH Prevent Substance Use Before It Begins!   In 2011, President Obama issued the first-ever Presidential Proclamation designating October as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.  The tradition continues in 2014 as parents, youth, schools and community leaders across the country join this month-long observance of the role that prevention plays in promoting safe and healthy communities.  As the Proclamation states:  "Preventing substance abuse before it begins is the most effective way to eliminate the damage caused by drugs and the abuse of alcohol."  Take appropriate action to promote prevention activities in your community.   To learn more about prevention, visit The Council's website  or call our Prevention Department at 215-230-8218. #14 DAYS ON THE WAGON - CBS Leads Nationwide Movement Recognizing People In Recovery and Those Still Struggling CBS is leading a movement to spend two weeks free of alcohol and recreational drugs in recognition of the millions of people who are struggling with addiction, as well as the millions of people living in long term recovery.  Watch the  CBS Challenge Video, and use #14days to share your experiences.  The official start date was yesterday, but there is still plenty of time to "jump on the wagon."   AT THE CENTERS "Minute For Moms" at SBRCC, 286 Veterans Hwy, D-6, Bristol Support group for Moms and "Moms to be" discussing parenting, healthy relationships and support networks.  2nd Wed. of every month.  Next meeting is 10/8 @ 6pm. Call 215-788-3738 or email Karen for more information.   "Beating The Blues" at PRCC, 1701 W. Lehigh Ave. Philadelphia.  A free 8-session program on how to handle stress and anxiety, while viewing life in a more positive way.  Mondays, 12:30-2:00 PM, commencing October 20th. Sign up now.  Call 215-223-7700 to register or ask questions. "Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit" at CBRCC, Bailiwick Unit 12 252 W Swamp Rd, Doylestown.  Learn from peers sharing their own recovery journey and free pizza!  Call 215-345-6644 or email Rick for more information. Some Upcoming Events Oct. 15th: Meet The Council Open House, 8 - 9 am at 252 West Swamp Road, Bailiwick Office Campus, Unit 12, Doylestown, PA 18901 Oct. 28th:  Overdose Education Advisory Board, 5-7pm at 252 W. Swamp Rd., Bailiwick Office Campus, Unit 12, Doylestown, PA 18901.  Email David Fialkofor more information. Employment Opportunities: Please click here

DONATE Donations help us to reduce the impact of addiction for more individuals and families. The Council is a 501(c)(3) organization.