You may know me because I have written a book called Recovery 2.0 and I host a show on InTheRooms.com everyTuesday at 7pm.

You are an In The Rooms member and I am writing you today in the hopes of getting you to exercise some of your power.

Tomorrow the 4th Recovery 2.0 #MoveBeyond Addiction Online Conference begins.

I would like you to sign up for it.

It is completely F.REE.

I produce this online conference to get great information and inspiration to anyone whose life has been touched by the dis-ease of addiction. I literally produced this event with you in mind. Literally.

There are 330,000 of us in this community. Can you imagine if all of us signed up for this conference?

Just CLICK HERE to Sign up now!

What would that mean? The next day, I would be releasing a national press release speaking about the power of unity in the recovery community.

You see, to many of the policymakers in this country, you have been a criminal and should be punished. Don’t believe me? The emphasis in our country when it comes to addiction is on punishment and imprisonment. We have the largest prison population of the world, the great number of these people are non-violent drug offenders.

When our society fully embraces treatment as THE option for non-violent drug offenders, we will be in a much better place and can actually call ourselves a more merciful, compassionate society.

So, on the one hand, I’m asking you to join our online conference and watch videos over the course of the next week that are filled with great information that I believe you are going to love and be moved by.

On the other hand, I’m asking you to step up as a member of a community of people who, once united, will be able to help shift policy in this country so that addicts everywhere have a chance to recover and live an extraordinary life.

So sign up right now - just CLICK HERE!

It only takes a minute and please share on your Facebook page and in twitter feeds that you have joined the #MoveBeyond movement by signing up for the Recovery 2.0 Conference.

Sending My Love and Gratitude,

Tommy Rosen

PS - Sign up for The Recovery 2.0 Online Conference for free today. It starts tomorrow. 

Please feel f.ree to forward this link to any friends who may be interested: tommyroseno.ontraport.com/t?orid=847&opid=2

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

Best of the Week: February 7–13

COMING UP IN THE FIX// The New Canadian Cannabis Oligarchy * AA on TV *What I Learned from My Relapses * Saving Mabel Normand * Pro Voices * Alumni Recovery * 10 Things I Wish I Knew at the Beginning of My Recovery * Making Amends to the Dead * Ask an Expert: My Son Won't Stop Using, What Can I Do? *PLUS: Other incisive articles

	FAIR TREATMENT// Sexism in the Drug War We examine the reasons behind the rise of the fastest growing prison population in the US. By Tessie Castillo
	TREATMENT ADVICE// I Don't Believe in Denial How an experienced addiction psychiatrist helps patients navigate the bumpy road to recovery. By Edward M Paul
	Q&A// Ending the Drug War: An Interview with Johann Hari The author of Chasing the Scream talks the results of the drug war with us. By Zachary Siegel
	MOSTLY CLEAN// Are You Really Sober If You're On Meds? Are antidepressants okay? How about Suboxone? Both are mood altering slow release drugs. What about Ativan for an anxiety disorder? By Jowita Bydlowska
	RED FLAGS// 10 Signs You're A Sex Addict Is sex starting to become a real problem for you? Take a look at our list for some warning signs you might want to look out for. By Brian Whitney

 

BEST OF THE QUICK FIX David Carr, 1956-2015 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Will Cause Sex Addiction Outbreak Bears Forced to Drink Alcohol to Entertain Diners at Russian Restaurant

Drunk Driving Is Declining, But Drugged Driving Is on the Rise Pediatricians Offer Limited Support for Treating Children with Medical Marijuana 'American Sniper' Killer Was Drunk and High on Day of Shooting

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

Mostly Sober This week, Jowita Bydlowska pondered whether you could really be considered sober while on antidepressants or other drugs. Readers felt there was no difference as long as you are living free of trouble:

Who cares? For real. The point is to improve quality of life. Does it really matter whether we can call ourselves sober by someone else's (or our own, for that matter) definition? If you are doing well, what difference does it make? -Pennwise

Sobriety Does Not Have to be Main Goal of Alcoholism Treatments, FDA Says

/By Join Together Staff

February 12th, 2015/

Drugs to treat alcoholism would not have to lead to sobriety in order to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under a proposal by the agency. Instead, drug companies could gain approval for treatments if they prove patients using them no longer drink heavily. 

The FDA released draft guidelines this week for drug companies interested in developing alcoholism treatments. “The abstinence-based endpoints have often been considered an unattainable threshold in the clinical trial setting, and may be considered a hindrance to clinical development for drugs to treat alcoholism,” FDA spokesman Eric Pahon told Bloomberg Business. “While total abstinence from alcohol is desirable, reducing heavy drinking to within ‘low-risk’ daily limits presents an alternative goal in drug development so more treatments may be developed.” 

The proposal is open for comment by industry, researchers and addiction and recovery groups for 60 days, the article notes. 

In 2013, researchers found the drug gabapentin, used to treat epilepsy and some types of pain, can help people with alcoholism quit drinking. The 12-week study of 150 alcohol-dependent participants found gabapentin decreased the number of days people drank heavily, and at least tripled the percentage of people who were able to stop drinking altogether, compared with those receiving a placebo. The drug also reduced alcohol craving and improved mood and sleep quality. 

The researchers noted currently available treatments for alcohol dependence have limitations. Disulfiram (Antabuse) and naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol), are relatively ineffective against anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and other withdrawal symptoms, they said. The researchers noted acamprosate (Campral), a newer drug approved for alcoholism treatment, has not been shown to improve mood or sleep. 

Women for Sobriety, Inc. Expanding Opportunities for Recovery: An Introduction to 3 Secular, Abstinence-Based Pathways:  WFS ~ SMART Recovery ~ LifeRing Hello WFS Friends!     WFS Board Member, Laura Makey, participated in a webinar back in August.  The target audiences were program leaders and industry practitioners; however, all are welcome to listen and learn about WFS, SMART Recovery, and LifeRing Recovery.  Below is information about the webinar and here is the link to watch the video:  http://vimeo.com/105018141 .  Laura’s contribution to the webinar starts at 41 minutes into the session.  I listened to the entire 1 ½ hours and enjoyed it tremendously!  WFS is so grateful to have been given this opportunity to participate.  Our deepest appreciation to Laura for representing our organization – awesome job! I want to encourage EVERYONE to take the time to listen to this webinar and learn about these fantastic recovery programs.  –Becky Fenner, WFS Director Office of National Drug Control Policy - Recovery Oriented Systems of Care Expanding Opportunities for Recovery: An Introduction to Three Secular, Abstinence-Based Pathways Tuesday, August 19, 2014      As part of the ONDCP - ROSC Learning Community webinar series, the Northeast and Caribbean ATTC (Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network) has sponsored this special webinar and made it available to a wider audience (funded by Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration).      Research supports the eyewitness testimony that mutual aid meetings and other social supports help people achieve and sustain recovery.  This webinar will introduce you to three of the leading non-spiritual recovery pathways that can be followed independently or in combination with 12-Step or other mutual aid approaches:  LifeRing, SMART Recovery, and Women for Sobriety.  Each has a unique approach and recognizes—like the 12-Step programs—that its pathway may not be optimal for all seeking to overcome a substance use disorder.  Each also recognizes the importance of ensuring that those seeking recovery have a variety of mutual aid pathways from which to choose.  Each also recognizes that taking part in more than one mutual aid program can be beneficial to many individuals.      SESSION GOAL:  Inform ROSC Learning Community members about these three mutual aid pathways and foster measures to increase awareness of the diverse mutual aid pathways among those in, seeking, or leaving treatment, providers and public officials, and the general public.      FOOD FOR THOUGHT:  “The birth of each recovery mutual aid group is rooted in a particular historical context that shapes its character and culture.  Recovery support groups must “work” at personal/family levels in order to provide sense-making metaphors that can serve as catalysts for change, but they must also work at broader cultural levels.” - White, W.L.. (2010) The Future of AA, NA and Other Recovery Mutual Aid Organizations. Counselor. 11(2), 10-19. PRESENTERS: • Mahala Kephart, LifeRing Recovery • Shari Allwood, SMART Recovery • Laura Makey, Women for Sobriety Email:  newlife@nni.com   *   Tel: 215-536-8026   *   Fax:  215-538-9026

http://www.womenforsobriety.org   *   http://www.wfscatalog.org

	Heroin's back. If you’ve seen the news lately, you may have noticed that heroin is back in a big way.   Communities across the country – regardless of geographic location or economic status – are experiencing an alarming uptick in deaths related to heroin overdose. So why is this happening? Why are so many teens becoming addicted to heroin in this day and age, when it seems nearly everyone knows the dangers of this drug? It’s beginning with something you might have at home right now.Nearly half of young people who inject heroin start by abusing prescription drugs.  To help you understand how the transition happens and what you should be aware of to keep your family and community safe, we’ve developed an interactive infographic. Follow the journey of a teen; hear stories from families who have been down this road; and find the tools you need to take action – whether you’re a parent, health care provider, educator or community member.     Resources like this are available free of charge because of generous donors. Please consider making a donation now so we can continue to help families every day. We appreciate your support. Need help with a family member’s substance abuse problem? Call our toll-free helpline at 1-855-DRUGFREE and talk to a specialist today.
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I LOVE BEING IN RECOVERY!!