Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Restraining Order Allows Two Florida CVS Pharmacies to Keep Selling Controlled Drugs

A federal judge has granted CVS a temporary restraining order, which will allow the company to continue to sell controlled prescription drugs at two pharmacies in Florida. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raided the pharmacies last weekend andsuspended their licenses to dispense controlled substances.
Reuters reports Judge Amy Berman Jackson, of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., said it was likely CVS will be able to show that the DEA did not establish the “imminent danger to public health” that is needed to suspend pharmacies’ registrations.
According to a DEA statement, the two pharmacies were “filling prescriptions far in excess of the legitimate needs of its customers.” While the average pharmacy in the United States in 2011 ordered approximately 69,000 oxycodone dosage units, these two pharmacies, located about 5.5 miles apart, together ordered more than three million dosage units during the same year, according to the DEA. The agency said the pharmacies knew, or should have known, that a large number of the prescriptions for controlled substances that it filled were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose, or were issued outside the usual course of professional practice.
CVS said it would suffer irreparable harm if it were forced to stop filling prescriptions at the pharmacies. The judge noted the company has already agreed to stop selling oxycodone and other Schedule II drugs at these pharmacies while the case is under review. The DEA suspension would have prevented the pharmacies from filling prescriptions for any controlled substance, including painkillers, stimulants and tranquilizers.
A CVS spokesperson said the company had taken steps, with the DEA’s knowledge, to stop filling prescriptions from physicians thought to be prescribing controlled narcotics improperly.

Eminem Thanks His Kids for Keeping Him in Recovery


Eminem says that although he sees an addiction counselor every week, what really keeps him clean and sober is his love for his children, saying, "I love them so much and they've helped me through so many things.”
The 37 year old rapper is now 2 years in recovery from a length battle with prescription drugs. During the depths of his addiction he admits he was taking, “anything that anybody was giving to me" including the methadone pills that he admits almost killed him.
Eminem, who opens up about his battle with addiction once again on his just released album, ‘recovery’ says that he couldn’t find what he needed at a drug rehab. He explains, "I felt like Bugs Bunny in rehab. When Bugs Bunny walks into rehab, people are going to turn and look. People at rehab were stealing my hats and pens and notebooks and asking for autographs. I couldn't concentrate on my problem."
It took a near death experience in 2007 for Eminem to finally realize that he needed to make some major changes in his life. Telling his story he says, “I had overdosed in 2007, like right around Christmas in 2007... I pretty much almost died. You know, I pulled through and went home and relapsed less than a month later and I literally shot back up to the amount of pills I was taking, shot right back up to where I overdosed... Kind of I scared myself, like, Yo! I need to, I need help. Like I can't beat this on my own.”


Read more: Eminem Thanks His Kids for Keeping Him in Recovery 

Willie Nelson Arrested for Marijuana Possession


On the road again Willie Nelson may be in trouble again after border patrol agents found 6 ounces of marijuana on his tour bus Friday morning.
At a border patrol check point in Sierra Blanca Texas, an agent smelled marijuana wafting from Nelson’s tour bus, and when he entered to investigate, the agent found approximately 6 ounces of marijuana.
Sierra Blanca Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene and arrested the 77 year old singer, and 3 others, on marijuana possession charges. The singer is now free on $2500 bail after being held briefly.
Nelson, who makes no secret of his love for marijuana, has been arrested on possession charges in the past.


Read more: Willie Nelson Arrested for Marijuana Possession 

Snoop Dog Accused of Marketing Booze to Kids


Alcohol industry watchdog, The Marin Group, says Snoop Dog is using his influence with youth to help sell Blast, a juice flavored alcopop with a whopping 12% alcohol by volume, to underage consumers.
In a statement, Marin CEO Lee Levingston derided the product, saying, "While the federal government was shutting down dangerous caffeinated alcohol, Pabst Brewing Company was cooking up 'Blast,' a super sweet, fruit-flavored, supersized alcopop containing as much alcohol as four and a half cans of beer. Joose, Four Loko, Tilt, and now Blast are racing to the bottom to harm youth.
The Marin Group would like to see California lawmakers ban the drink, which they call dangerous and similar to now federally banned drinks like Four Loko. Blast, which is scheduled for release next month, is sold in 23 ounce cans, each containing as much alcohol as 4 and a half standard cans of beer. The cans feature a bubblegum-wrapper design and sweet juice flavors that mask the taste of alcohol.
Among those that hope that Blast never makes it to retail shelves are New York City Councilman Robert Jackson and John Challis of Daytop Treatment Services. Challis argues that the product could easily be confused as a non alcoholic beverage, saying, "You look at this product, and you think it's a fruit drink” and Jackson has already called for an NYC ban on the sale of Blast, with an aide of his arguing, "Blast, along with similar drinks, is specifically targeted to younger people. In the short term, a drink like this masks and shrouds the effects of alcohol. That's dangerous for our young people."
Snoop Dog has yet to comment on the criticism of his endorsement.


Read more: Snoop Dog Accused of Marketing Booze to Kids 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

CLEARING A CRIMINAL RECORD IN PA

Pardon







A pardon relieves an individual of the consequences, generally in the nature of legal disabilities, resulting from conviction for a crime. Approximately 85 percent of the clemency applications the Board receives are for pardons, the balance for commutation of sentences. A pardon constitutes total forgiveness by the state, makes the crime as if it never happened and allows a job applicant to deny he was ever convicted of the crime without worry of any sanction. It is recommended though, that such a denial be explained to be based on the existence of a pardon from the Governor.




Eligibility






There are no minimum eligibility requirements, however, the applicant should be able to demonstrate a reasonable period of time having elapsed since the crime (sufficient to show rehabilitation) and successful completion of all court-imposed requirements such as probation, parole, and payment of all fines and costs.










How to Apply for a Pardon


The Board of Pardons application cannot be obtained online and an online


version from another source will not be accepted. At the present time, the


only means of obtaining a Board of Pardons application is through the mail


directly from the Board of Pardons Office.


To obtain an application send a money order, certified check, cashier's check,


institution check or law firm check in the amount of $8.00,


made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


Personal checks and cash are not accepted. This fee is non-refundable.


Enclose a letter requesting an application along with a self-addressed business


size envelope with $.65 postage.






Mail these items to the following address: Board of Pardons
333 Market Street
15th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126






Upon receipt of the $8.00 fee, you will be mailed an application for clemency,


along with a complete set of instructions.


Incarcerated Applicant Instructions.doc


Non-Incarcerated Applicant Instructions.doc

Monday, February 6, 2012

PCB PRESENTS!!


EVENT SPONSOR:

Space is limited...register today! 

ITINERARY
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    REGISTRATION

     Choose from the following options:

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    Faces And Voices Newsletter

    Recovery Community Organization Toolkit
    We're pleased to release a new toolkit on organizing a recovery community organization. If you're starting up a group or thinking about next steps, you can find out about the core strategies that are being used to develop strong local and statewide groups. An online Resources section has many sample materials from groups around the country. Learn more...

    Recommendations on SAMHSA's Working Definition of Recovery
    Faces & Voices of Recovery is recommending that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration modify its Working Definition of Recovery from Mental Disorders and Substance Use Disorders. Read our recommendationshere.

    2011 Recovery Month Awards
    Applications are due by Tuesday, January 31, 2012 for the Recovery Month Event Award Program. Find out more and complete the application today. You can watch a video from Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Effort's Notable Conversations About Recovery here and PRO-ACT's Recovery Walks! here. Mark your calendar for the September 15, 2012 National Rally for Recovery! hub event in Detroit, Michigan.

    Resources
    Sober Living with Cooking is a seven minute video about how one person his channeling his energy into a healthy way of living in his recovery from sobriety television. Check it out!

    Opportunities for Persons in Addiction Recovery within Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care webinar series from the Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center continue. February 8, 2012 from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon CST,"Debunking the Myth: Our lived experience alone is enough," Click here to register. February 15, 2012 from 10:00am - 12:00 noon CST, "Ready, Set, Go: Expanding Employment Opportunities for People in Recovery within the Behavioral Health Field," Click here to register.

    Lowering Criminal Record Barriers: Certificates of Relief/Good Conduct and record sealingYour New York State Rap Sheet: A guide to getting, understanding, and correcting your criminal record; and Criminal Records and Employment: Protecting yourself from discrimination are three great resources from the Legal Action Center for New York residents and a great template for developing state-specific information in other states.

    In My Own Words A compilation of essays by individuals supported by Medication-Assisted Treatment in long-term recovery . . . from the Addiction Technology Transfer Network.

    New Online Recertification Application‏


    NEW ONLINE RECERTIFICATION APPLICATION
    PCB is pleased to announce the new Online Recertification Application.  Professionals who are recertifying after January 1, 2012 may now fill out the entire recertification application online, make payment and submit it to PCB.  We hope that you find this process convienent and easy as we strive to streamline processes for all professionals.

    Please click here to view the new online recertification process.

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    Sunday, February 5, 2012

    TODAY INC.


    Our Mission Statement
    Our mission is to provide comprehensive behavioral health services (Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, Continuing Care) for youth, young adults, families, and communities.
    Our Vision Statement
    TODAY, Inc. will:
    • Be known for its ability to provide cost-effective, individualized, innovative and comprehensive continuum of care to those affected by the disease of chemical dependency.
    • Have a reputation for responding to the ever-changing needs of its consumers.
    • Be known for its caring and nurturing environment in which those affected by chemical dependency may see recovery and adopt a new way of life.
    Our Value Statements
    • We believe that chemical dependency is a treatable disease
    • We believe that chemical dependency is a systemic disease and we are committed to treating all those affected
    • We believe in offering a complete continuum of care in order to provide effective and individualized treatment
    • We are committed to providing a credentialed, skilled and effective staff
    • We are committed to continually improving the quality and integrity of our services
    • We believe in ongoing, personalized, agency-wide staff development
    • We believe that the well-being of the people that we treat is our primary concern
    • We are committed to providing an environment that is conducive to growth, dignity and recovery
    • We are committed to providing care which is based on the 12-Step approach to recovery
    Our History
    In 1970, a small group of concerned Bucks County community leaders explored the possibility of establishing a comprehensive, residential rehabilitation program for adolescent substance abusers. Their backgrounds in the fields of law enforcement, drug enforcement, legal counsel, corrections and special education made these individuals (John D. Case, William H. Eastburn, William D. Ford, John L. Hopson and Earl W. McWilliams, PhD.) aware of the need for such a program. The initial funding of $5,000 was made available through a grant from the Bucks County Bar Association.
    After months of planning, research and discussion, TODAY, Inc. was  born. Intended to be an alternative to incarceration, the organization would be a private, free-standing, non-profit agency. One which would be accessible to all, regardless of economic, ethnic or religious backgrounds.
    Since its opening on March 1, 1971, TODAY, Inc. has provided a highly successful, comprehensive, continuum of behavioral health services. Our formal treatment services have helped over 20,000 young people and their families.
    Under the TODAY, Inc. umbrella, a broad array of evidence-based prevention services have also been implemented in the treatment of substance use and co-occuring disorders. With their focus on identifying risk and protective factors, these programs have helped to educate and support communities throughout the greater Delaware Valley region.

    *** If you are interested in reviewing our most recent Annual Report, please feel to contact our administration at 215-968-4713 or you may visit our site and request to speak with some on

    Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Center - Little Creek Recovery


    Mission Statement:

    Little Creek Lodge is committed to building a strong foundation and integrating internalized recovery, through therapeutic and 12 step models; with a focus on the spiritual paradigm. Our message is delivered in a clean, safe, confidential environment that addresses the needs of each client on an individual and group level, by caring compassionate, experienced professional staff.

    Philosophy:

    In this day and age the stigma connected with this disease still deters many from seeking treatment. Little Creek is built on a 12 Step philosophy in conjunction with reality-based therapies. The program is designed to engage a resident's ongoing barriers whether spiritual, mental or social. Our primary objective is to guide residents into managing daily recovery, and overcome denial of diagnosis and controlled use of substances. Learning how to ask for help can be difficult, but necessary to develop emotional coping skills strong enough to meet the daily challenges of life without drugs or alcohol. Through guidance, individual and group therapy, wilderness expeditions and daily 12-step meetings, our residents engage in a mental, physical and spiritual experience which is essential to long term recovery. Residents may enroll in local universities to enhance their experience. We seek to instill a renewed belief on self-worth and spiritual center that lies at the heart of all 12-step programs.

    Purpose:

    Our purpose is to help build a strong foundation in recovery with a focus on the spiritual paradigm shift that is the greatest mitigating factor in long-term sobriety. Through strong 12-step work, we believe that clients can turn the corner and start to see their addictions as a disease rather than a weakness. At Little Creek Lodge our target population is 18 to 25 years of age, adult males only. We have experience with the particular needs of this population as well as the specific dynamic of their lives that can make the acquisition of the foundation of recovery seemingly unattainable in common treatment milieus.

    At Little Creek Lodge we see the dilemma in a more realistic way. We know that recovery is not about being powerless, it is about empowerment; the act of finding an external/internal source of positive deed and thought and integrating into the consciousness of the client. “Surrender” is likewise a word often misconstrued and misused in the recovery environment. At Little Creek Lodge we work toward rebuilding the lives of the client to move forward and become a productive member of society.Call us for help 877-689-2644

    Thought For The Day!

    Wide is the road to destruction and many are on it , Narrow is the way to righteousness ,and few find it.Take a moment and think about where your life is headed you can turn it around at any moment but its up to you to make that decision we are not promised tommrow so think hard about this one.REMEMBER JESUS LOVES YOU

    Saturday, February 4, 2012

    GALASSO-VIGORITO: Shake off the negative and step up the positive


    HISTORY OF THE RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN





    Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985. Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer. When he decided to join the US Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out of it. "I'm only one person", he told her, "but I want to make a difference." 
    The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico, investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch.  Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found. He had been tortured to death.
    In honor of Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena's memory, the red ribbon.
    The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children and families. The National Family Partnership (NFP) and its network of individuals and organizations continue to deliver his message of hope to millions of people every year, through the National Red Ribbon Campaign.

    PILL DRAGON



    In cooperation with PRIDE and the Kentucky Army National Guard, UNITE works with local coalitions and law enforcement agencies to provide this free service to citizens. See schedule below.
    The Pill Dragon, on permanent loan from the National Guard, made its debut on August 6, 2010. The incinerators will help families, rural law enforcement agencies, pharmacies, hospitals, veterinary clinics, nursing homes, Hospice centers and others dispose of medications in an environmentally friendly fashion.
    Through November 17, 2011, UNITE’s Pill Dragon has destroyed 761,034 pills.
    To view photos from some of the Pill Dragon events Click Here.
    Powered by diesel fuel, the dragon burns at up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit to safely and efficiently reduce medications to ash for disposal.
    Pill flush artFor years the generally accepted method for disposing of old or left over medications was to flush it down the toilet. This practice, however, has been strongly discouraged for the past decade because of concerns about the potential health and environmental effects of antibiotics, hormones, painkillers, depressants and stimulants making their way into our water system and soil.
    MONITOR prescription drugs in your home.
    SECURE prescriptions in a locked storage area.
    DISPOSE of unneeded prescription drugs.
    • Download 2-page “Medication Disposal Safety Tips” from the Veteran’s Administration. Click here Pdf icon.
    • Download 2-page “How to Dispose of Unused Medicines” from the Food and Drug Administration. Click here Pdf icon.
    Another troubling fact is that more than 90 percent of teens that try prescription drugs the first time turn to the family medicine cabinet or from a friend’s family member. The most recent Monitoring the Future study found that seven of the top 10 drugs being abused by high school seniors are legal prescription and over-the-counter medications.
    Teens believe that because drugs are prescribed they are safe, but that is true only when taken according to directions and only by the person to whom the drugs were prescribed. Aside from the fact that taking or giving away medicine that is not prescribed to you is illegal, even at small doses the potential exists for serious health effects – including death.
    Having extra medicine at your house places you at greater risk of being the victim of a burglary or theft.
     

    Feeding Schedule

    To schedule the Pill Dragon for a “Clean Your Medicine Cabinet Out Day” or similar pill take-back program in your community call 1-866-678-6483.