Six Americans Die From Alcohol Poisoning Daily: CDC Report

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

January 7th, 2015/

Six Americans die from alcohol poisoning each day, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The death rate from alcohol poisoning is highest among men ages 45 to 54.

“Most previous studies have looked at college kids and young people, but the problem is bigger than that,” Dr. Robert Brewer, who heads the alcohol program at the CDC, told The New York Times. “It was surprising that the number of deaths was so concentrated among middle-age adults.”

An average of 2,221 people died of alcohol poisoning each year between 2010 and 2012, the report found. The CDC noted researchers changed how they track alcohol poisoning data in recent years, making it impossible to determine whether the death rate had risen.

Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person drinks large quantities of alcohol in a short period. “Very high levels of alcohol in the body can shut down critical areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and body temperature, resulting in death,” the report noted.

Binge drinking (having four or more drinks for women or five or more drinks for men in a short period of time) can lead to death from alcohol poisoning. About 38 million adults say they binge drink an average of four times a month.

Counties With No Alcohol Sales Have More Meth Lab Seizures: Study

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

January 7th, 2015/

Counties that ban alcohol sales have more meth lab seizures per capita, compared with counties where liquor sales are legal, a new study suggests.

The University of Louisville researchers say local alcohol bans increase the costs of obtaining alcohol. This reduces the relative price of illicit drugs, The Wall Street Journalreports. The findings were reported this weekend at the American Economic Association annual meeting.

The researchers analyzed data from 2004 to 2010 in Kentucky, where rules concerning alcohol sales vary by locality, and where meth lab seizures are relatively common. They found counties that ban alcohol sales have two more lab seizures per 100,000 residents annually, compared with counties that allow alcohol sales. This suggests meth production is more common in areas where alcohol sales are outlawed, they said.

The state could reduce the number of meth lab seizures by 17 to 30 percent per year if all counties allowed alcohol sales, the researchers concluded.

Stresses of Retirement May be Linked with Substance Abuse, Study Suggests

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

January 7th, 2015/

Stress associated with retirement, caused by factors such as loneliness and financial pressures, may be associated with an increased risk of substance abuse, a new study suggests.

These stresses often coincide with painful events in later life, such as the death of loved ones and deteriorating health, which can also increase the risk of substance abuse,MedicalXpress reports.

The Tel Aviv University researchers said older adults often lack the skills needed to deal with the sudden vacuum produced by retirement, as well as the death of loved ones and their own health problems. Retirement can lead to depression, purposelessness and financial pressures, which can raise the risk of drug and alcohol problems, they said.

The findings appear in the Journal of Work, Aging and Retirement.

“We found that the conditions under which people retired—whether they were pushed into it or it was something expected, which they planned for—had great bearing on alcohol and drug habits,” said lead researcher Professor Peter A. Bamberger. “The worst combination we found was among people who took early retirement from jobs they loved because they were terrified their companies were going under. Among all groups studied, this one exhibited the highest incidence of substance abuse.”

He added, “Even if an individual plans for retirement, he/she might not fully grasp the changes that must be made to his/her lifestyle. As a result, many people experience serious financial straits. Feeling unstable, lonely, and depressed, it isn’t surprising perhaps—but it is unfortunate—that many retirees look to alcohol or drugs for comfort.”

TAM is happy to present Dr. Breinne Schlenke as our guest speaker on "In The Rooms" on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 7pm ET. Dr. Schlenke will be addressing the topic of co-occuring disorders, with mental illness and substance abuse. Curriculum Vitae Breinne Schlenke, Psy.D.... Education: 8/2008  Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, Nova Southeastern University, Center for Psychological Studies, Fort Lauderdale, FL, APA Accredited Program, Concentration in Serious Mental Illness5/2006 M.S., Clinical Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, Nova Southeastern University, Center for Psychological Studies, Fort Lauderdale, FL, APA Accredited Program 6/2001  B.A., Cum Laude, Major in Psychology, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA Dr. Schlenke is a Licensed Psychologist at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in St. Petersburg, Florida. She will be transferring to the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center in W. Palm Beach, Fl. in late January of 2015. Dr. Schlenke’s areas of expertise are serious mental illness, recovery and recovery oriented mental health and substance abuse treatment, and psychiatric rehabilitation. Her responsibilities include providing clinicians and staff with supervision, consultation, education, and training in all mental health programs within the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service, including the Substance Abuse Treatment Program. Dr. Schlenke teaches recovery tools, conflict resolution skills, problem solving skills, communication skills, boundaries, and ethics to social workers, nurses, clinicians, Veterans and their family members. She serves as the liaison to the Pinellas County Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness, and is responsible for planning and implementation of NAMI programming at Bay Pines VAHCS. She provides a variety of psychological services to Veterans across the lifespan diagnosed with psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, substance use disorders, and pers care. Florida Psychologist, 62, (1) Dr. Schlenke is a guest speaker at local, state, and national conferences. Visit The Addict's Mom at: http://addictsmom.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_networkonality disorders, as well as co-morbid physical illnesses. She has experience providing individual and group psychotherapy and psychological assessments in both outpatient clinics and inpatient psychiatry units. Dr. Schlenke is published: Schlenke, B. (2011). Recovery and recovery oriented

 

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.                                                   and           Pennsylvania Recovery Organization --      Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT)  Recovery in Our Communities January 6, 2015  www.councilsepa.org Information and Recovery Support Line 24/7: 800-221-6333   Supporting Youth Recovery: An Innovative New Certificate Program   Ar e you a young person in long-term recovery who is looking to enter the behavioral health workforce to help support young people and their families?  Are you a family member of a young person who has experienced addiction challenges and recovery?  Do you have lived experience with addiction and recovery and want to learn more about how to provide recovery support services to youth, adolescents, transition-aged youth and their families?  Then we are looking for you!    The Council is excited to offer an innovative certificate program to prepare individuals to provide peer-based recovery support services to youth, adolescents, young adults, and their families.  The Peer Paraprofessional Certificate in Supporting Youth Recovery goesbeyond the current requirements for the Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) Credential in Pennsylvania by providing students with enhanced and specialized training to work with youth, adolescents, young adults and their families. To obtain the certificate, students must complete 90 hours of classroom instruction on topics related to provision of Recovery Support Services to youth, adolescents, young adults, and their families. The program also requires students to complete 100 hours of field placement at a local agency that provides services to youth, adolescents, young adults, and their families.    To be considered for the certificate program, students must complete an application and interview process, and be willing to commit to the entire program. If accepted through the competitive application process, students will be awarded full scholarship for the certificate program. Financial support for this program is provided by a Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA) grant from Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training for Paraprofessionals. Click here to complete application. Classes in Doylestown, Philadelphia and Rosemont, PA will be forming as applications are accepted and scheduling will be discussed during the interview process.  For questions contact Brooke Feldman, Project Coordinator atbfeldman@councilsepa.org or 215-345-6644 x3109.  Click here for more info. Frequently Asked Questions 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 AT OUR CENTERS DBHIDS First Fridays Series at PRCC, 1701 W Lehigh Ave., Philadelphia 19132. Friday, January 9, 2015 from 12-3pm. This month's topic is Faith In Recovery. A diverse panel of faith leaders and advocates discuss positive wellness strategies, resources, crossing cultures and faiths, and busting stigma- followed by networking, resource sharing, and questions and answers. The event will be moderated by Mary Harper, DBHIDS Faith & Spiritual Affairs. Click here for more info.  Planning to Sustain Recovery - every Tuesday 7 - 8:30 pm and every Thursday 10 - 11:30 am at CBRCC, 252 W Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown.  Educational support group to help individuals in all stages of recovery plan goals and action steps to sustain recovery. To registeremail or call Jeanne at 215-345-6644.   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 January calendars!    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.

Click Here for your January 2015 His Mansion Newsletter.

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