Heroin to be Prescribed to Small Group in Vancouver

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

December 3rd, 2014/

Doctors at a medical clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia will prescribe heroin to a group of 120 adults severely addicted to heroin, according to The Atlantic. Canada’s Health Secretary opposes the policy.

The decision was made following a study of prescription heroin that included 26 participants, the article notes.

Vancouver is home to North America’s only government-sanctioned facility that medically supervises the injection of illegal drugs. People addicted to drugs can bring and use them at the facility, called InSite, without risking arrest. Some people line up two or three times a day to use one of the facility’s injection booths. They are given clean needles to reduce the spread of infections such as HIV and hepatitis C, and are supervised by a nurse as they inject themselves.

Despite the availability of clean needles, several dozen people have overdosed on heroin at InSite in recent months, usually through using drugs purchased on the street. In one two-day period in October, there were 31 overdoses.

In 2011, the medical journal The Lancet published a study that found InSite reduced fatal overdoses by 35 percent in a neighborhood that has one of Canada’s highest rates of drug addiction. InSite, funded by taxpayers, says that for every tax dollar spent, four are saved, by preventing more expensive medical care in the future.

The Canadian federal government does not support the facility. In 2011, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled in favor of keeping InSite open, against the wishes of the federal government. The court said the facility provides people with drug addiction access to the same healthcare as other Canadian citizens.

Program Addresses Addiction Issues in Nursing Home Patients

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

December 3rd, 2014/

A nursing home in the Bronx, New York, is addressing addiction issues in its elderly patients, the Associated Press reports. Staff members screen patients for addiction when they come in for rehab after a hospital stay, and offer treatment to those who need it.

The issue of addiction in the elderly is growing as the number of baby boomers increases, the article notes. One study has predicted that the number of Americans over 50 with abuse problems is expected to reach 5.7 million by 2020.

The Jewish Home Lifecare nursing home has set aside eight beds for addiction treatment, and expects that number to grow to 480 patients a year. The program is designed to reach elderly people addicted to drugs or alcohol who might not otherwise seek help. The nursing home combines physical, occupational and psychological therapy with counseling for patients dealing with addiction.

Because Medicaid will not pay for addiction care once medical care ends, the program pays careful attention to patients’ discharge plan. The plan may include putting a support team in place, arranging transportation to 12-step meetings, or instructing a visiting nurse to look for signs of relapse, such as liquor bottles in the recycling bin.

Elderly patients are at risk of overusing pain medications. Many are struggling with retirement or the death of a spouse. Dementia can mask or worsen the effects of alcohol or drugs.

“If you look at the demographics of our country, the baby boomers are getting older and a lot of them were involved in drugs and alcohol back in the ’60s and ’70s,” said James Emery, Deputy Director of the ElderCare program at the Odyssey House addiction recovery agency in New York. “Even those who were not, a lot of them have been prescribed a lot of narcotics for pain they might have from a back injury or something going on with their knee and they become addicted.”

This Thursday December 4th 2014 the Addict’s Mom will host an online live video meeting on In the Roomswww.intherooms.com at 7:00pm EST. Topic: Developing Resiliency to Confront the Challenges of Life Special Guest: Sherry Schlenke Sherry Schlenke holds an M.Ed. in the field of Special Education, specializing in teaching reading, writing, and study skills to children with learning and attention disorders. Through her education, field training, and in the classroom, Sherry has become an expert in the life challenges common to children who are characterized as being “at-risk”. These children need to develop protective skills, or coping mechanisms, to become resilient, and thus able to lessen their chances of experi-encing negative life outcomes. Resiliency is the ability to cultivate strengths, known as protective factors, in order to positively meet the challenges of life. Re-siliency can be present in individuals and in families; resiliency gives us the ability to “bounce back” from life challenges. Resiliency protects mental health, protects physical health, and allows us to function in life despite our feelings of anger, grief, sadness, depression, or anxiety. In her personal life, Sherry discovered that her son was suffering from a Substance Use Disorder (SUD); he was a heroin addict, despite the fact that he was not con-sidered to be “at-risk”. She realized that, despite her years of experience, she needed to seek professional help in developing her own coping skills to become more resilient. Sherry also wanted her husband and daughter to become resilient in order to contend with the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that accompany extreme stress. The latest research indicates that we need to be very pro-active in developing pro-tective skills or coping mechanisms that will help us overcome the difficulties of daily life. Struggling with an addict requires that the family possesses a tremen-dous amount of resiliency as the crises inevitably escalate to more and more seri-ous, even life-threatening levels. Also, those who utilize protective skills are better prepared for the next crisis. Fostering resiliency in ourselves and in our family is imperative to resist becoming victims of the deadly disease of addiction. In this session, we will discuss the ways to become more resilient. If we implement the strategies, we will experience an improvement in our physical, mental and emo-tional selves. Sherry has a private teaching practice. She tutors students after school, and she helps moms who are schooling their children at home. Sherry can be reached at: queenangelfish@bellsouth.net Visit The Addict's Mom at: http://addictsmom.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Recovery in Our Communities November 18, 2014  www.councilsepa.org Information and Recovery Support Line 24/7: 800-221-6333 We Take Care of Our Own On Tuesday, December 2, charities, families, schools and many other organizations around the country and the world come together to celebrate generosity and to give back.  This year The Council and PRO-ACT are launching our first ever peer-to-peer giving fundraising initiative and we are turning to you, as past and present supporters of recovery, to help us make this campaign a success. This effort to generate support for recovery will allow us to continue to provide prevention, advocacy and recovery support to individuals and families wishing to access recovery or stop the inter-generational transmission of addiction in our community.   Research tells us that if an individual with a diagnosis of a substance use disorder (addiction) is supported and able to remain abstinent for 5 years, there is an 86% probability of life long recovery.  A remarkable statistic when compared with other chronic illnesses!  Over the past year The Council's Recovery Support/Recovery Management programs provided services to 2100 individuals to help them access and sustain life long recovery.  Our Prevention early intervention programs provided services to 217 families to help them stop the inter-generational transmission of this disease to their children and 45 pregnant and postpartum women were served through our MOMS program helping to preserve the next generation.  With your support we can do more! Your investment in recovery embodies the spirit of the adage "we take care of our own" and with your help, we can continue to play a significant role to ensure the continuation and success of these vital services.  In this newsletter you will find many ways to support recovery in this season of giving. Please join us. With gratitude,  Beverly J. Haberle, M.H.S., L.P.C., C.A.C. Executive Director The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. Project Director, PRO-ACT Scrip Holiday Gift Cards!    This holiday season The Council would like to make your holiday gift card shopping a little easier. We're pleased to be participating in the Scrip Fundraising Program that works while you shop!  By purchasing your gift cards through The Council a percentage of all gift cards sold will go directly to The Council at NO additional cost to you! They're the same gift cards that you buy at the store. Many popular retailers participate in the scrip program including Bed Bath & Beyond, Gap, iTunes, The Home Depot, Starbucks, and many, many more.  Let us be your one-stop-shop for all of your holiday gift cards!  For more information on our Scrip program click here. Print and complete the Scrip Order Form to order your gift cards today!  Orders are due by Dec. 9, 2014 and cards will be available Dec. 17.      On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, #GivingTuesdayBucks gives you the chance to contribute to the great work being done to make Bucks County a healthier, stronger, and better community for all.  Please join this celebration of generosity by donating to The Council on Dec. 2. Your donation will directly support our MOMS Program to help the pregnant and recently pregnant (within one year) substance user or addict stop using and find recovery. The number one goal of the MOMS program is a healthy mother and child. Your generous donation will allow MOMS to support their clients with basic needs that they do not have the financial resources to have.  This may include baby formula, baby food, diapers, a winter jacket for their baby, a car seat or stroller.   "Since having a MOMS case manager I have grown a great deal, learned a significant amount, been motivated for positive change and I truly appreciate all the help I have received.  I enjoy, appreciate and greatly value all that MOMS has done for me."  - service recipient  Click here to donate now.   Since 1990, The Council has been extending invitations to the community to decorate the "Tree of Hope" with personalized ornaments bearing the names of those who have lost their lives to addiction or to celebrate and honor a life gained in recovery. Each ornament placed on the 18-foot evergreen is a representation of the hope of recovery from addiction.  Join us Wednesday, December 17, 2014, 6:30 pm at Bucks County Court House Lobby, Doylestown, PA. Click here for more info.  Support The Council with eScrip!  EScrip is a convenient way to contribute to The Council just by registering your credit/debit/rewards card! Participating merchants will make contributions to The Council based on purchases made by you, just by using the cards you have registered. It's that easy! Visit www.escrip.com  for more information. Please consider registering your cards for "The Council SEPA."  Click here to sign up!    AT OUR CENTERS Recovery Enhancement Classes at PRCC, 1701 W Lehigh Ave, Philadelphia, 19132. 10 week course running Thursdays Nov. 20 - Feb. 12 from 5 - 7 pm.  Various topics.  Call 215-223-7700 to register. Space is limited.    Overdose Education & Prevention Advisory Board Meeting - at The Council, Dec. 9, 2014, 5:00 - 6:00 pm, 252 W Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown. Contact David at 215-230-8218 x3162 or email for more information.  Gateway to Work every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 am at SBRCC, 1286, Veterans Highway, Unit D-6, Bristol; 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 1:00 pm at CBRCC, 252 W Swamp Road, Doylestown. Get help with resume building, barriers to employment and motivation. Contact Rick at 215-345-6644 or email for more information. Click here for November calendars.    WAYS TO GET INVOLVED WITH PRO-ACT Recovery Mentor Training - open to all volunteers!  Nov. 20 from 9 am - 4 pm SBRCC, 1286 Veterans Hwy, Suite D6, Bristol, contact Karen at 215-788-3738 x100; Nov. 24 & 25 at PRTC from9 am - 4 pm, 444 N 3rd St., Suite 307, Philadelphia 19123, contact John at 215-923-1661.  Committee Meetings Recovery Walks 2015 Planning Committee, at PRTC, December 1, 6 - 7:30 pm Volunteer for The Council/PRO-ACT !! Contact one of our Volunteer Coordinators: Central Bucks:  Email or call Rick at 215-345-6644 Southern Bucks:  Email or call Karen at 215-788-3738 x100 Philadelphia: Email or call She-Ria at 215-233-7700 or Email John or call 215-923-1661  Chester, Delaware and Montco: Email or call John at 215-923-1661 PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! Committees: Email  or call John at 215-923-1661 Employment Opportunities: 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.

Hep C Drug Marks 97% Cure Rate in Transplant Patients 

The Fix

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A study-in-progress reported on in the New England Journal of Medicine has recorded an incredible 97% cure rate by AbbVie’s new hepatitis C treatment regimen.

The breakthrough by AbbVie is significant as it helps a high-risk group that’s extremely vulnerable to the negative effects of the virus, the breakthrough by AbbVie is significant. In a mid-stage study of 34 patients, 33 were cured of the virus after 24 weeks of treatment. AbbVie’s experimental cocktail is a mix of ombitasvir, ritonavir, dasabuvir, ABT-450, and ribavirin, an antiviral drug used to supplement hepatitis C treatments. By discovering such an effective cocktail, the AbbVie researchers are following the course set by successful HIV maintenance regimens. 

Liver transplant patients are particularly in need of new hepatitis C treatments with better cure rates and fewer side effects. According to the researchers, after patients receive donated liver, even if they have been cleared of the virus previously, their HCV infection tends to reappear in an even more virulent fashion. 

Since more than 40% of the people on the U.S. liver transplant waiting list have hepatitis C, the potential financial benefits of such an effective regimen are obvious. AbbVie’s 2015 hepatitis C revenue is now estimated at $2.1 billion, if the drug is approved. Alex Arfaei, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a recent note to clients that, “We believe hep-C is the most important driver for AbbVie in 2015.” 

Released at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases conference in Boston, the AbbVie data also revealed cure rates as high as 100% in patients with genotype 4, a prevalent form of the virus in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Even more importantly for infected Americans, the results showed cure rates of over 90% for patients who were co-infected with HIV.

AbbVie expects its first hepatitis C treatment to be approved by the FDA as early as the end of 2014. Gilead’s ultra-expensive single pill solutions, like Harvoni and Sovaldi, have been tested in transplant patients as well, showing cure rates as high as 98% after 24 weeks of treatment. Analysts have said AbbVie’s regimen, which involves multiple pills, some taken twice a day, may deter patients. 

Barry Bernstein, Vice President of Infectious Disease Development at AbbVie, disagreed with such projections. Despite the apparent Gilead success, Bernstein believes transplant patients and co-infected patients need a greater sense of certainty. “This is a highly-motivated patient population," Bernstein said. "With relatively short course therapies, there is limited, if any, impact.”

Help Advance the Addiction Profession!

Hi Joseph,

If you or your loved one struggled with addiction or substance abuse, what would you do? If you’re like most in our community, you go to a qualified addiction professional. Why? Because you know you’ll receive the absolute top-notch care and be treated like a real person by a dedicated, compassionate health professional.

Addiction professionals play a vital role in the lives of those suffering with addictions or substance use disorders. The NAADAC Education and Research Foundation (NERF) continuously strives to strengthen the health and vitality of individuals, families and communities through the advancement of the addiction profession and is funded primarily by contributions from individuals supporting our work. Through contributions from people like you, NAADAC is able to:

Provide professional development for addiction professionals through in-person and online trainings, webinars, credentialing, workshops, publications, and conferences;

Work towards for better wages, compensation, and benefits for addiction professionals, loan forgiveness, and the continued specialization of the addiction profession; and

Collaborate with state affiliates, federal agencies, and other groups to address the emerging issues regarding the Affordable Care Act, the new parity regulations, and requirements specific to electronic records.

Your gift supports our commitment and dedication to addiction professionals and the people they help, and allows NAADAC to continue its important role in sustaining quality health care services and protecting the well-being of the public.

Donating is easy! You can make your tax-deductible donation online, by phoning our office at 888.548.0497, or by sending a check made out to “NAADAC Education and Research Foundation” to NAADAC at 1001 N. Fairfax St., Ste 201, Alexandria VA 22314. Please consider making as generous a gift as you can!

As addiction care advances, NAADAC is committed to keeping addiction professionals at the cutting edge – for you, for your loved ones, for every person in the community. Please help to make this possible with your contribution.

Your donation will make a world of difference. I promise you.

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, NCAC II, CCDC III, SAP

Executive Director

NAADAC, the Association of Addiction Professionals