BREAKING THE YOKE!

“Breaking the Yoke” Substance Abuse Ministry
Questions or Want to Volunteer?
Contact: Robert or Aleda Young x1730
Visit or Write: Victory Christian Fellowship
100 Wilton Boulevard, New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: (302) 324-5400 or toll-free (800) 383-4223
E-mail:breakingtheyokesubstanceabuse@gwwm.com





You, Too, Can Be Free!
Thousands have already received miracles through our “Breaking the Yoke” Substance-Abuse Ministry at Victory Christian Fellowship. If you or your loved ones desire freedom from drug and/or alcohol dependency, come to receive:
Freedom from drug and alcohol dependence through biblical principles and God’s healing power
Encouragement and prayer
Christ-centered recovery support and fellowship


With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26b

This ministry is for:
Those who are dependent on drugs and/or alcohol
Family members who desire to stand in the gap and pray for their loved ones’ deliverance from addictive behaviors.

Trained, caring staff and volunteers are available to assist you now.

If the “Breaking the Yoke” Substance-Abuse Ministry can help you or someone you know, contact us today.

This ministry never charges fees for our services, and all appointments are kept in strict confidence.

Has This Ministry Helped You?
Please let us know if the Abraham’s Attic Ministry has helped you in any way. We want to celebrate God’s victory in your life and give Him all the glory. Call, E-mail, or write us today.

Questions or Want to Volunteer?
Contact: Robert or Aleda Young x1730
Visit or Write: Victory Christian Fellowship
100 Wilton Boulevard, New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: (302) 324-5400 or toll-free (800) 383-4223
E-mail:breakingtheyokesubstanceabuse@gwwm.com

Northern Delaware Intergroup

Call us 24 / 7 / 365

To contact a live person, please call Intergroup 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (302) 655-5113.


AA Online Resources

AA Worldwide

Voices of AA - Experience, Strength, and Hope Stories

Area 12 Website

Central Delaware Intergroup

Southern Delaware Intergroup




Meeting Resources
AA Preamble (.doc) (.pdf) 12 Steps (.doc) (.pdf) 12 Traditions (.doc) (.pdf)
How it Works (.doc) (.pdf) Wilmington Preamble (.doc) (.pdf) The Promises (.doc) (.pdf)
12 Concepts of Service (.doc) (.pdf)

The Big Book On-Line

Northern Delaware Intergroup Meetings

Northern Delaware Intergroup meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM at St. Marks Lutheran Church, 501 Duncan Road (off Philadelphia Pike, Bellefonte), Wilmington, DE 19809. All members of Alcoholics Anonymous are welcome.


Attention: The Northern Delaware Intergroup office will be closed on Satrudays unitl further notice. For current office hours, click on the Contact Us link

.

Recovery Connections: CityTeam Chester /A MUST SEE! PLEASE HELP!

Recovery Connections: CityTeam Chester /A MUST SEE! PLEASE HELP!

Recovery Connections: All-Star Tasting

Recovery Connections: All-Star Tasting: All-Star Tasting Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Astor Center 399 Lafayette Street, New York, NY VIP Reception 5:30 pm; All-Star Tasting, Auctions ...

All-Star Tasting

All-Star Tasting

Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Astor Center
399 Lafayette Street, New York, NY
VIP Reception 5:30 pm; All-Star Tasting, Auctions & Entertainment 6:00 pm
Business Casual Attire

The Partnership at Drugfree.org presents an All-Star Tasting, featuring stellar athletes and great chefs set against the landmark backdrop of Astor Center to raise funds so that all young people can live their lives free of drug and alcohol abuse. Enjoy an evening of culinary delights beginning with the All-Star Tasting, followed by entertainment, dessert and auctions of unique and exclusive packages featuring dining experiences, travel, entertaining, leisure, and of course, sports.

Information and tickets are available here.

5th Annual Golf “Fore” Recovery

5th Annual Golf “Fore” Recovery

Friday, June 8, 2012
Red Rock Country Club – Arroyo Golf Course
2250 Red Springs Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89135
7:30am Shotgun Start
Golf Attire

On Friday, June 8, 2012, the Foundation for Recovery will host the 5th Annual Golf “Fore” Recovery at the Arroyo Course in Red Rock Country Club in Las Vegas. All funds raised will benefit the Foundation’s efforts to prevent substance abuse and help those who suffer from the disease of addiction to find long-term recovery.

The Foundation for Recovery is the Nevada Alliance Partner for The Partnership at Drugfree.org. The Foundation for Recovery promotes the positive impact of addiction recovery in the community and the lives of individuals and families affected by the disease of addiction. Their programs, services and partnerships open pathways for recovery by removing social barriers and creating opportunities for all.

For more information, or to register for the tournament, please visit the event website.

Jeremy’s Run

Jeremy’s Run

Monday, May 28, 2012
The Fair Hill Shopping Center
18100 Town Center Drive, Olney, MD 20832
Registration 6:45 am – 7:45 am; Race & Walk begin at 8:00 am

Visit the event website

Jeremy’s Run, now in its fourth year, is a race to benefit The Partnership at Drugfree.org. The event is in memory of Jeremy Daniel Glass, who at the age of 20 died of complications due to drug addiction. The race is dedicated to his memory and to the memory of all who have perished from this tragic illness. Participants can choose between a 10K race, a 5K walk/run or a 4 one-mile “fun run”. Race day activities include free t-shirts, a raffle, a DJ, food, free massages, a kid’s zone and a wellness fair!

Sonoma Napa Echelon Gran Fondo

Sonoma Napa Echelon Gran Fondo

Saturday, May 12, 2012
Sonoma Plaza Park
1 The Plaza, Sonoma, CA 95476
9:00 am Ride Begins

Andy Blasquez is cycling to help others, who like him, have been touched by addiction. The father of two will be participating in the upcoming May 12th Sonoma Napa Echelon Gran Fondo, a European-style cycling event for the benefit of The Partnership at Drugfree.org! He will be riding 75 miles to join us in our efforts to ensure that all young people will be able to live their lives free of drug and alcohol abuse.

Help support Andy. Ride with him on his team (he has space!), sponsor him or simply mark your calendar to attend the festival and support his efforts.

For more information, or to donate or register for the event, please visit : the event website.

BRIDGE TO LIFE JOHNSTOWN PA.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY !

Bridge To Life, with the help of many others from the Johnstown community, launched Celebrate Recovery in 2008. Celebrate Recovery is a new community ministry for people looking to overcome their hurts, habits and hang-ups and truly experience victory freely offered by our Lord Jesus.

The meetings are held each Friday evening from 6PM to 9:30PM at Bridge To Life, 101 Nice Ave. (Corner of Goucher Street &Nice Ave., between Berkley Hills Golf Course and WJAC television studio). Phone number: 814-255-LIFE (5433).

Tell Me More.....



Do you feel overwhelmed by your Hurts, Habits and Hang-ups? Are you looking for real hope and meaning in your life? Welcome to Celebrate Recovery.

By visiting our web site you have taken an important step on your road to recovery. No matter who you are or where you've been, we believe that true recovery is available only through the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

Celebrate Recovery is not just for people dealing with alcohol and other drug problems. Many people also struggle with pornography, gambling, finances, sexual issues, abuse issues, and relational issues. These struggles create ungodly and unhealthy methods for handling life. Celebrate Recovery will help you to make the healing choices that will help you become the person God created you to be.



If you have hurts that haunt your heart, hang-ups that cause you pain or habits that have messed up your life, Celebrate Recovery is the place for you. Feel free to browse any of the pages we've designed to give you information about Celebrate Recovery... links to all pages are at the bottom of every page. Or, to begin your journey, CLICK HERE - our page on HURTS will be a great place to begin.




You tube Videos for you to check out:



"You don’t have to hide" (2 minutes) - CLICK HERE



Intro Welcome Video for Celebrate Recovery Program (2 minutes) - CLICK HERE



"Newcomers" video (8 minutes) - CLICK HERE



NOTE: If you've had any 12-step experience, please pray about being a part of the leadership team for this ministry. Those without such experience are needed to serve in other areas. CLICK HERE to read about OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE.




Celebrate Recovery

Main Page Hurts Habits Hang-ups History Purpose

Typical Meeting

Schedule FAQ Who We Are "Those" People



Know Someone

Who Needs

Celebrate Recovery? Experience Hope!

Recovery Principles 12 Steps Serenity Prayer

Small Group

Guidelines

Step Study

Groups

Opportunities

To Serve

Bridge To Life

Home


Email: crjohnstown@atlanticbb.net Phone: 814-255-LIFE (5433)
Bridge To Life 101 Nice Ave. Johnstown, PA 15905

The Science of Addiction & Recovery

The Science of Addiction & Recovery


Amityville, NY Training: May 5, 2012

Download the New York Training flyer here!

Registration Deadline is 5pm, April 28th!
Register Now!
About the Training
About the Trainer
Training Follow-up
Registration Fee
Important Dates
Training Schedule
Training Location and Transportation
Other Important Information
About the Training

The Science of Addiction and Recovery is a 6 six-hour “train the trainer” training for people in long-term recovery, their families, friends and allies.

6 Professional Development Hours are available for this training!

Join us for this training to:
Learn about the science of addiction and recovery
Practice teaching others what you have learned
Sharpen your skills as a recovery communicator, then take home new tools that you can use with your family, friends and community

You will receive three hours of education on the science of addiction and recovery in very easy to understand language and three hours of training on how to deliver the information to others.

An important part of this event is learning how to deliver this training in your community. We encourage you to come in pairs so that you have a buddy to conduct trainings with in the future. If you are not able to sign up with a buddy we will be happy to match you up with someone during the training. There is a space available on the registration form to tell us who you would like to pair up with.
Science of Addiction and Recovery Trainer:


Florence (Flo) Hilliard
Training Follow-up

In addition to the full day training, there will be several resources available to participants in order to follow up on what you learned and to help you deliver this training in your community. Participants will receive access to a private website featuring:
Frequently Asked Questions
Links to additional resources and support materials
Upcoming training dates
Discussion board to communicate with the trainer, Flo Hilliard, and other participants
Presentation registration form to allow you to let us know about when you are using the training in your community and how those trainings went.
Video presentation
Registration Fee

(Includes coffee, lunch, snacks, and all materials including a training video)
$25.00 - LIRA Members Only
$30.00 - Supporter level donors and above (if you gave $50 or above to Faces & Voices in the last year)
$35.00 - General Registration

Register today!

Scholarships are available to cover the registration fee. To apply for a scholarship, please concact Jerry Gillen and provide him with a 3-4 sentence description of the reasons that you wish to attend the training and how you will use what you experience to further addiction recovery advocacy in your community. Once approved you will be given a discount code for the registration page.
Important Dates


April 28, 2012- Registration deadline
May 5, 2012- Training
Training Schedule for Saturday, May 5th
9:00 am- 9:30 am
Registration Opens
Coffee provided


9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Science of Addiction and Recovery training


12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Break for lunch


1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
"Train the Trainer" portion
Training Location and Transportation

Seafield Training Center
31 John Street
Amityville, NY 11701

Click here for a map of the location and directions.
Other Important Information

Capacity: The are only 40 spaces available, so register today!

Dress: Dress is casual.

This training is sponsored by:
Friends of Recovery - New York
Long Island Recovery Association (LIRA)
Seafield Center

This training is made possible with the support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the members of Faces & Voices of Recovery.

Young People in Recovery from Addiction

Faces & Voices of Recovery Community Listening Forum
Young People in Recovery from Addiction
May 19, 2012, 9:30am - 12:30pm CST
Hartford, Connecticut


Faces & Voices of Recovery is partnering with Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery and Connecticut Turning to Youth & Families to host a Community Listening Forum on issues facing young people 35-years old and under, their family members, friends and allies. Join us to make our voices heard, raise issues of concern and develop support for action to make it possible for more young people to find recovery.

What: Community Listening Forum on Young People in Recovery from Addiction
When: May 19, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Check-in begins at 8:30a.m.
Where: St. Francis Hospital's Gengras Auditorium, 1000 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06105

Young people in recovery face a variety of issues. Some of the areas we will be addressing include:

* Connecting young people to recovery supports across the continuum of care, including before, during and after treatment
* Recovery school programs in high schools and colleges
* The role of family members, peers and community resources in supporting and enriching recovery for young people
* The impact of addiction and recovery on parents
* Developing recovery-oriented social networks and opportunity

The forum will be in an open dialogue/town hall meeting format. Approximately twenty people will speak for five minutes each about the experiences of young people in or seeking recovery. They will share their lived experiences to help educate the public and policymakers about barriers to recovery and strategies to sustain long-term recovery. Speakers will address a Listening Panel composed of policymakers; State, municipal, and federal agency officials; and community leaders.

This format allows traditional “experts” to listen to and learn from the real experts – people in recovery, their family members, friends and allies. After the testimonies from speakers, the Listening Panel members will respond by addressing themes and issues raised by the speakers. Faces & Voices will transcribe the forum and prepare a report based on the information gathered. Members of the media are also invited to attend the forum.

We invite you to participate. We are looking for attendees and speakers from all walks of life who are:





* Young people in recovery
* Parents and family members of young people in or needing recovery
* Educators
* Recovery support service providers
* Primary care providers
* Experts in addiction, mental health, and co-occurring recovery
* Policymakers
* Representatives from other service systems (e.g., juvenile justice, child welfare, social services, etc.)

If you have any questions, or would like more information about speaking or attending, please call Eric McDaniel at 202-737-0690 or email him at emcdaniel@facesandvoicesofrecovery.org. We look forward to hearing from you. Join us!




Event LocationSt. Francis Hospital's Gengras Auditorium
1000 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105

America Honors Recovery

Join Us!
America Honors Recovery

Carnegie Institute for Science
1530 P Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

June 27, 2012
6-8 pm





America Honors Recovery is the addiction recovery community’s annual awards event to recognize the over 20 million Americans in recovery and recovery community organizations. Congratulations to this year's honorees!

Sponsored by Faces & Voices of Recovery and the Hazelden Foundation’s Center for Public Advocacy, the event highlights the extraordinary contributions of the country's most influential recovery community leaders to the growing movement to promote the reality of recovery from addiction.

America Honors Recovery salutes the legacies of two dynamic recovery trailblazers who dedicated their lives to removing barriers for individuals and families affected by addiction - Johnson Institute founder, Dr. Vernon E. Johnson, and recovery advocate, Joel Hernandez.

In 2011, Faces & Voices established a special award in the name of its founding board chair, Lisa Mojer-Torres.

America Honors Recovery will salute 2012's most influential recovery community leaders and organizations as well as the legacies of Joel Hernandez, Vernon Johnson and Lisa Mojer-Torres during an evening reception on June 27, 2012 in Washington, DC. We hope you'll join us.
About Joel Hernandez, Vernon Johnson and Lisa Mojer-Torres
Become a Sponsor
Past Joel Hernandez awardees
Past Vernon Johnson awardees

Help Us Put a Face on Recovery

Help us change public perceptions about recovery from addiction by contributing to our effort. Let's show the nation that recovery is a reality for over 20 million Americans!

For questions, please email or call (202)737-0690.

More About America Honors Recovery

In 2004, The Johnson Institute founded America Honors Recovery, an annual awards program to recognize people who are in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol or other drugs and have given back to their communities so that future generations can experience the reality of recovery. Four years later, Faces & Voices of Recovery started the Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community annual awards program to recognize one local, state or regional recovery community organization for its success in assessing the specific needs of their community and carrying out a vision and mission of mobilizing resources within and outside the recovery community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

In 2009 The Johnson Institute transferred key programs including America Honors Recovery to Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy to keep the Johnson Institute's 43-year legacy alive. In 2010 Faces & Voices and Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy came together to recognize one outstanding recovery community organization with the Joel Hernandez award and three outstanding individuals with the Vernon Johnson award.


Faces & Voices of Recovery and Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy have joined together to host America Honors Recovery honoring the legacies of Joel Hernandez, Vernon Johnson and Lisa Mojer-Torres. All contributions to the America Honors Recovery awards event will go to Faces & Voices of Recovery.

Drinking hand sanitizer sends Calif. teens to hospital drunk, doctors warn

ByRyan JaslowTopicsNews ,Kids and family



(CBS News) Would you drink hand sanitizer? The idea may sound repulsive to most people, but California doctors are warning parents of what may be a fast-growing dangerous trend after six local teenagers were hospitalized in separate incidents with alcohol poisoning from drinking the soapy stuff.

Popular "cinnamon challenge" has potential to be deadly
Dangerous "games" that may harm kids and teens


The Los Angeles Times reported some of the teenagers used salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer using instructions found online. If a liquid hand sanitizer contains 62 percent ethyl alcohol, that means a "drink" can be as high as 120 proof, whereas a shot of hard liquor such as whiskey or vodka is typically 80 proof.



"All it takes is just a few swallows and you have a drunk teenager," Dr. Cyrus Rangan, director of the toxicology bureau for the county public health department and a medical toxicology consultant for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times. "There is no question that it is dangerous."

Teens who presented to the emergency room had symptoms such as slurred speech and a burning sensation in the stomach. Some teens were so drunk they needed to be monitored in the emergency room.

Rangan said although there have been only a handful of cases, the practice could become a nationwide problem since hand sanitizers are cheap and easily available, and teens can easily look up how to extract alcohol from a bottle. KTLA in Los Angeles reports there were no such cases last year, and the recent spate of cases in recent weeks is surprising.


"It is kind of scary that they go to that extent to get a shot of essentially hard liquor," Rangan said.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Department of Health told HealthPop there was no official city-wide warning or statement at this time.

Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said he has taken care of some teens out who had ingested hand sanitizers at school as a "dare," only to come to the ER drunk with dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

"They denied drinking any 'alcohol', had no smell of alcohol on their breath, but when their blood alcohol was quite elevated, they later admitted to drinking the hand sanitizer," Glatter told HealthPop.

Glatter said it's essential that warning labels be placed on hand sanitizers to educate parents and the public of potential risks.

"Officials in institutions where these products are available - including hospitals, schools, offices, heath clubs, and day care centers - have a duty to inform people about the alcohol content in these products, and subsequent dangers if ingested," he told HealthPop.

Doctors told the L.A. Times that parents should purchase foam hand sanitizers since they're harder to extract alcohol from compared with gel-based products, and they should monitor hand sanitizer bottles around the house as if they are liquor or medicine bottles.

"Over the years, they have ingested all sorts of things," Helen Arbogast, injury prevention coordinator in the trauma program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, told the Times. "Cough syrup had reached a very sexy point where young people were using it.... We want to be sure this doesn't take on the same trend."

The industry trade organization, the American Cleaning Institute, responded to the recent reports.


"One case of product misuse - intentional or otherwise - is always one too many," Nancy Bock, vice president of education at the American Cleaning Institute said in an emailed statement. "But let's not lose sight of the fact that millions of people are not abusing these products and do responsibly use them as needed."

Prescription Drug Addiction 'Could Happen to Anyone'

A family shares their story of the effects of addiction, and Detective Sgt. Sean McKenna offers advice on what to do when it comes to prescription drug abuse.

By Bryan Littel
Email the author
3:00
Connie and Andy Tighe were like many other parents a decade ago, unaware of the escalating problem of prescription drug abuse.

That all changed when their son, Kevin, started showing the telltale signs of painkiller addiction, which led to what Connie Tighe described as “a rollercoaster of treatment and relapse,” eventually ending in Kevin’s untimely death a little more than two years ago at the age of 29.

And when their nephew also died after becoming addicted to prescription drugs, the Tighes said it was time to speak.

“I wasn’t aware of prescription pill abuse,” Connie Tighe said during a presentation at West Deptford High School Tuesday night. “It really wasn’t on our radar screen.”

As photos of Kevin—from his youth soccer team, or hanging out with family, or as a stony-faced football player in his No. 55 jersey—played out behind her, Connie Tighe unfolded her son’s story of addiction, which eventually escalated to him to the deadly combination of OxyContin and Xanax.

The painkiller abuse likely started after Kevin, a 1999 West Deptford High School graduate, battled through multiple knee and hand injuries as a teenager, Connie Tighe said, when he was prescribed powerful drugs like Percocet or Vicodin after surgeries.

Those prescriptions created a scenario where addiction became more likely, Connie Tighe said, and it would take time before they could see anything was wrong—in fact, not until Kevin’s college grades slipped and he shifted between Rutgers-Camden and Rowan did it really become apparent.

“He was good at hiding his pill abuse from us,” Connie Tighe said.

Outpatient rehab didn’t work—Kevin was too good at manipulating the system, Connie Tighe said—and a shot at inpatient rehab fell apart, leading to frustration and heartbreak.

“The entire family becomes victim to addiction,” she said.

And though the Tighes—a tight-knit family, involved in their children’s lives, with a strong support network—might not seem a likely family to be hit with drug abuse, West Deptford Detective Sgt. Sean McKenna said there’s no blueprint when it comes to prescription drug abuse.

“This doesn’t just happen to people with broken families,” McKenna said. “This could happen to anyone.”

Prescription drugs are particularly insidious, McKenna said, given their easy availability. While a teenager might have to hop in a car and drive 15 minutes to Camden to score street drugs, prescription painkillers could be sitting in a medicine cabinet a few rooms away.

“They don’t even have to get on the highway,” he said.

Worse, McKenna said, is the relative ease in getting prescribed something like oxycodone with just a simple doctor’s visit. Doctors wrote out 200 million pain medication prescriptions in 2010, according to the National Institutes of Health, and McKenna quoted statistics that indicated about 70 percent of doctor’s visits result in some kind of prescription.

“You’re going to walk out with some painkillers,” he said. “It’s becoming a problem.”

It’s gotten to the point where teens are experimenting with painkillers or other medications instead of traditional gateway drugs, like marijuana, McKenna said.

“Prescription drugs are right there now,” he said.

While painkiller abuse is common, McKenna said, other prescription drugs—Valium, Klonopin, Xanax—also end up being used recreationally, and around 40 percent of teens think abusing prescription drugs is safer than street drugs.

“This is the silent killer in our society,” he said.

And given the high price of those painkillers on the street, where OxyContin sells for $20 or $40 per pill, what starts out as a prescription drug addiction could turn into a heroin habit in a hurry, McKenna said.

Parents need to be aware of the signs of prescription drug abuse—changes in behavior or friend groups, loss of interest in activities, major grade slips—and act early to try to head off problems before they get out of conrol, McKenna said.

Since prescription drugs are frequently in a medicine cabinet with easy access, steps need to be taken when it comes to medication—McKenna suggested parental oversight when it comes to using any powerful prescription drugs, and the Tighes said it could be worth considering locking up any potentially addictive drugs.

When it comes to intervention, West Deptford High School principal Brian Gismondi and student assistance counselor April Sanford said parents consistently use the school as a resource for addressing concerns about potential drug abuse, usually going through administrators or guidance counselors.

“We move forward with them from there—offer them support, reach out, if they want,” Sanford said. “It’s been really impressive.”

The high school offers a range of services, from individual and group counseling for students and families, to drug and alcohol intervention programs to crisis intervention.

And the random drug testing program at the high school can detect prescription drug abuse, Gismondi said. Students who test positive at any one of those tests have to go through substance abuse counseling and have a clean test after that, under current guidelines at the high school.Related Topics: Kevin Tighe, West Deptford police, and prescription drug abuse

Commentary: Teen Alcohol Use — Parents Have More Influence Than They Think

By Jan Withers | April 20, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol,Parenting, Young Adults & Youth


Underage drinking is in part a youth problem, but it’s also an adult issue. Over half of all high school age drinkers get their alcohol from an adult, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Plus, half of those adults providing alcohol are parents or other family members.

Although adults can be part of the underage drinking problem, they can also be part of the solution. About three-quarters of teens say parents are the biggest influence on their decision on whether or not to drink.

Most parents want to do the right thing, but don’t know how. Part of that can be knowledge – one out of every five teens binge drink, but only one out of every 100 parents think their teen binge drinks. Sometimes parents take an authoritarian style of parenting that causes them to lose their ability to influence their teen through reason. While others take a hands-off approach, or allow their teen to drink under their supervision, which makes it even more likely that their teen will drink more when away from their parents.

Fortunately, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has teamed up with Dr. Robert Turrisi of Pennsylvania State University to create thePower of Parents handbook. Based on Dr. Turrisi’s research, this handbook gives proven tips on how to talk with your teens about alcohol in a productive, positive way. Parents who read the handbook and have the intentional conversation with their teens about alcohol can reduce underage drinking behaviors by as much as 30 percent. We encourage you to start the conversation this Saturday, April 21st, PowerTalk 21 day — the national day for parents to start talking with their kids about alcohol.

Here are some tips from Dr. Turrisi’s research:

1. Communicate before a problem starts. It’s important to have discussions before incidents happen – prior to any blaming, anger, or punishment.

2. Discuss rules and consequences. Explaining how and why you expect your teen to behave, should allow for rational discussion of a sometimes emotional issue. Still, it’s important to impart that you don’t want your teen drinking. Discuss and agree on consequences of broken rules.

3. Show you care. Sometimes a gentle touch can help show affection for your teen during this tough conversation. Telling your teen you love them and want them to be healthy and safe is the reason why it’s important to talk about the dangers of underage drinking together.

4. Pay attention. Even when life is stressful, it’s important to make time to listen to your teen, know where your teen is and what your teen is doing.

5. Share family activities, including events such as dinner, to build a bond with your teen.

6. Give and get respect. When your teen talks to you, it’s important to listen and reply respectfully, and to insist your teen do likewise.

7. Enforce consequences consistently. If your teen breaks the rules, stay calm and enforce the consequences you’ve agreed upon.

You can learn more or download the handbook atwww.madd.org/powerofparents.

Jan Withers, MADD National President

DEA DIVERSION CONTROL PROGRAM!

NATIONAL TAKE-BACK INITIATIVE
April 28, 2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM


The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.


Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.


“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”


“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.
Collection Site Locator:


Find a collection site near you. Check back frequently as collection sites are continuously being added.
Law Enforcement Agencies Only:


For law enforcement agencies that wish to host a collection site please call the POC in your area.
Take-Back Day Partnership Toolbox:


Here you will find a list of files that you can download to use for your own purposes.
General Public Inquiries:


Inquiries can be made at 1-800-882-9539.
News Releases
DEA’s Third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event Collects 188.5 Tons (November 3, 2011)
Another Huge Turnout At DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event (May 06, 2011)
Additional Resources
DEA would like to express our appreciation to the following.
Drug Disposal Information
FDA – How to Dispose of Unused Medicines
FDA – Disposal of Unused Medicines

ANNUAL MEETING

The RADARS System annual meeting encourages prescription drug abuse experts, representatives  from the pharmaceutical industry, medical professionals, and federal regulatory agencies to discuss  current trends in prescription drug abuse research and to develop strategies to ensure the safe and  proper use of prescription medications.  Meeting Summaries: 2011: Abuse Deterrent Formulations of Prescription Drugs 2010: Risk Management of Scheduled Drugs: Evaluation of REMS for Opioids 2009: Risk Management of Scheduled Drugs: Where Are We Now? Where Are We Headed? 2008: From Signals to Interventions 2007: New Developments in Prescription Drug Abuse Research RADARS System Annual Meeting Save the Date - April 24, 2012 Bethesda, MD

Walgreens to Pay $7.9 Million to Resolve Allegations Over Illegal Prescription Transfer

By Join Together Staff | April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inGovernment, Legal, Marketing And Media & Prescription Drugs





The Justice Department announced that Walgreens has agreed to pay the government $7.9 million to resolve allegations the company gave people enrolled in government-run health programs $25 gift cards if they moved their prescriptions over to the pharmacy chain.


Providing such inducements to beneficiaries of government health programs violates federal law, CNN reports. Although Walgreens’ ads generally noted that such offers did not apply to people insured through Medicare, Medicaid and similar programs, the government said the company often ignored these exemptions.


“This case represents the government’s strong commitment to pursuing improper practices in the retail pharmacy industry that have the effect of manipulating patient decisions,” Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General with the U.S. Justice Department, said in a news release.


The Department of Justice noted the claims settled by the agreement are allegations, and there has been no determination of liability.


In early April, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) searched six Walgreens stores and a distribution center in Florida in a crackdown on improper sales of prescription painkillers. Earlier this year, the DEA ordered two CVS pharmacies in Florida to stop selling controlled drugs. The agency was concerned CVS had failed to closely monitor sales of oxycodone.


The DEA has tried to tighten control on major national pharmacies to help prevent painkillers such as oxycodone from getting on the black market. The agency is investigating whether Walgreens allowed suspiciously large sales of prescription opioids, which might indicate the pills are being diverted..

Rockers In Recovery Music Festival

Dear RIR Friends, THE RIR MUSIC FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 2-4,2012  Venue  Location: CB Smith Park - Pembroke Pines,Florida   It's a Recovery Palooza , minus the drugs and alcohol, but add meetings and fellowship! RIR Music Fest  is a campout for ALL people in recovery or supporters of recovery. Tickets Go On Sale May 1, 2012   Early Bird Ticket Sales   Save $10.00 Per Ticket!!   Order by July 1, 2012     $60.00 - Three Day Ticket- after July 1, 2012 - $70.00 $40.00 - Two Day Ticket- after July 1, 2012 - $50.00   Order Tickets Here No Tickets Will Be Sold At Gate  If You Wish To Campout At The RIR Music Fest   *Separate Camping Reservations are Needed: Camping at CB Smith Park: This 299-acre site is one of Broward County Parks and Recreation's most diverse parks, as well as one of its most popular.  The park offers a large campground, a tennis complex, a family golfing center, and many other amenities.       View Map      View Prices Please contact C.B. Smith Park 900 N. Flamingo Rd. Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 Phone: 954-357-5170 or click here.             3 Days of Sober and Clean Fun  Mark Stein, Liberty Devitto ,Christine Ohlman,Ricky Byrd, Kasim Sulton, and Richie Supa RIR Music Festival Schedule   9am- 10pm Friday November 2, 2012: Recovery Speaker -  Full Range  Jimmy Stowe & the Stowaways Johnny B. and The Road Dogs     Sooner or Later RIR JAM   9am- 10pm Saturday November 3, 2012: Recovery Speaker -   Keep Coming Back Thrown Alive Black Finger The Chillbillies Selfish Steam RIR Band - Mark Stein(Vanilla Fudge), Liberty Devitto(Billy Joel) , Christine Ohlman(Saturday Night Live Band), Ricky Byrd(Joan Jett and the Blackhearts), Kasim Sulton(Todd Rundgren and Utopia), Richie Supa (Aerosmith and Richie Sambora) and special guests.  9am - 12pm- Sunday November 4, 2012:   Recovery Speaker -  Richie Supa Ricky Byrd Kasim Sulton Count Down Closing Ceremonies   We will be adding more bands to the lineup over the next month.      Rockers In Recovery (RIR) In The News         Sponsors and Vendors:  If your interested in becoming a sponsor or a vendor call954-826-4920 or Email  john@rockersinrecovery.com  no later then July 1st ,2012.

12 STEPPING TO RECOVERY DAILY THOUGHT!! 4-20-12

Step 2
We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
In the natural progression of addiction, life degenerates.  In one way or another, many of us wake up one day to realize that we are living like an animal.  How true this is depends on the nature of our addiction.  Some of us may be living like an animal in terms of our physical surroundings.  Others of us may be a slave to our animal passions-powerful emotions that dehumanize us and others.  The fact that we are able to recognize our life as degenerate or insane proves that there is hope for a better way of life.  We are reminded of times when life was good, and we longed to have the goodness restored.  When we turn to God, who is powerful enough to help us build something better, we will discover that His power can restore us to sanity.




Courteous of Tyndale Life Recovery Bible

FRAT Presented By Livingrin!

The First Responders Addiction Treatment Program reaching out to police, firefighters, emergency personnel and combat veterans.

Alcoholism or other dependencies complicate the stress and physical and emotional trauma of dealing with life-threatening situations. Addiction is no stranger to "those who go in first."

A dependency might actually destroy a person's health, family life and career. On top of that, an individual also has to bear the unfair stigma that the addicted person "doesn't have enough will power," or "made the wrong choices." But we know (as does all of the medical community) that addiction is a disease with a medical and behavioral basis, requiring care, understanding and professional treatment.


Post-traumatic stress disorder is a major challenge for vets and responders. Prescribed pain medication can easily lead to dependency. There are so many factors, influences, and potential negative results. And addiction can also lead to suicide as an "option." (Police officers are found to be twice as likely as the general population to take this desperate course.)

Treatment works.Get help NOW for yourself, loved one, or somebody on the job.Meet the experienced program managers.



FRAT is based at Livengrin Foundation, founded in 1966 as a nonprofit treatment center in Bensalem, PA (outside Philadelphia). Livengrin provides a complete range of services for alcoholism and drug dependency, at a wooded rehab campus and six outpatient locations throughout the region. More than 100,000 people have come through its doors to begin a journey to recovery. Visit Livengrin

12 STEPPING TO RECOVERY DAILY THOUGHT!! 4/18/12

STEP 2
We came to believe a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity!
   Acknowledgement of your short comings and taking responsibility for the mess you made is the beginning of humility. GOD designed us with a free will not to run around and fulfill all our evil desires he gave us free will because he loves us and he is not an ogre or dictator forcing what he wants out of of us.If you force someone one to love you is that true love, no its not. My point God sits patiently by waiting for each one of us to go to him in humility admitting our helplessness and pains and sorrows. Living life away and apart from our Almighty Father can and will be hopeless cold lonely and exhausting. Sounds likes addiction! Call him daddy ask for him to forgive you and that you have missed him, share your heart with HIM. He has been at your side this whole time waiting and sharing everything you have been through hoping  for you to return, He is ready if you are.  
               

A Personal Experience With Bath Salts by Eliza Player

A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH BATH SALTS BY ELIZA PLAYER

Written by Eliza Player on Tuesday, 03 April 2012. Posted in Voices in Recovery



When I started this focus on bath salts, almost all the information I had came directly from news stories, or other second hand sources. I began asking around for personal stories. I did not talk to anyone who had actually done the drug, but I did get a lot of personal experience from a friend whose son had taken the drug several times.

My friend’s son was no newcomer to the drug life, and he would take whatever he could get his hands on. His drug of choice was heroin, and he often mixed the opiate with cocaine or meth. My friend has seen her son under the influence of various substances, and she has witnessed his erratic behavior for years. But, she hates bath salts worse than any of them.

When her son first discovered bath salts, he decided to give them a try. (As many of us would have also done while still immersed in active addiction.) Almost immediately he was twitching and sweating, while he became increasingly paranoid. He became fixated on finding something in his bedroom to the point he was unable to control himself and the fixation. He tore his room apart, removing all the dresser drawers and searching all the drawers over and over again. He ended up splitting open the mattress and box spring, digging around inside looking for this item. His room was completely destroyed. He did not sleep for the next three nights.

Another time, her son became obsessed with electrical cords of all types: extension cords, USB cords, phonecords, phone chargers, and even the cords plugging the television into the wall. He went frantically around the house, pulling out all the cords he could find. They were on a big pile in the living room floor when my friend asked her son what he was doing. He told her he did not know.

On another incident, she recalls him crawling out of his skin. He paced around the house, peeking out the windows every five minutes, convinced the cops were looking for him. He picked his face until it was one big scab. The paranoia of the cops got more and more intense, so my friend decided to take him to a hotel, thinking he would be more comfortable there. The entire ride, he looked out the window, convinced the cops were following them. When they got to the hotel, the paranoia just got worse. He stayed up all night, searching the room for the “bugs” the cops had planted. When my friend woke in the morning, all the appliances had been pulled away from the walls; all the items in the kitchenette were pulled out and laid on the floor. There was not a piece of the room that had been left untouched.

The most severe incident her son had with bath salts occurred while he was living on the streets. He had very little money, so he bought bath salts. She thinks that he had become so susceptible to the drugs effects, and he immediately went into a psychotic episode. He stood out as the only white person in a gang-infested Latino area, eyes wide and crazed. He remembers mothers pulling their kids into the house when they saw him. He thought the cops had him surrounded, trying to Taser him, so he called 911. When help arrived, they took him to the hospital. It took a week to get him stabilized. The nurse told my friend her son was one of the lucky ones. The nurse had seen patients permanently damaged by bath salts; to the point they would never be able to live on their own again.

My friend asked her son why he would do it again when he had already suffered so much each time he took them. He told her he did not want to take them, and he had sworn he would never do them again. But something always changed to make him think it would be okay…just one more time. I have heard this story over and over again.

He is in treatment right now. We are all praying for him.

My friend also wanted to reiterate that bath salts and spice are not the same thing. I will actually delve into Spice a little tomorrow, explaining the difference in these synthetic drugs. These drugs are often lumped together in news stories, and even in some legislation. It is important for people to understand that these drugs are not the same. Spice is synthetic marijuana. Bath salts are more like synthetic meth, and they can easily cause hallucinations and psychosis. The danger of thinking the two are the same comes when one kid sees a friend on Spice, and then purchase bath salts, thinking it is the same. It is very, very different.