Tuesday, November 13, 2012

HARMONY FOUNDATION COLORADO


About
Nonprofit Residential Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center
MissionTo Provide the Foundation for Sustained Recovery from the Diseases of Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Company OverviewHarmony is a residential drug & alcohol treatment center in Estes Park, CO, about 1.5 hours from Denver. We offer comprehensive recovery services to individuals and their families.
DescriptionHarmony Foundation is a residential drug and alcohol treatment center nestled in the Colorado Rocky Mountains near Estes Park, Colorado. We provide treatment for chemical dependency using the bio-psycho-social 12-step model: Body, Mind & Spirit. Our 30-day program is gender separate and individualized to meet clients' needs. Harmony provides a foundation for lifelong recovery for approximately 650 men and women each year.
General InformationHarmony is a residential drug & alcohol treatment center in Estes Park, CO, about 1.5 hours from Denver. We offer comprehensive recovery services to individuals and their families.




Founded1969AwardsHarmony is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). Our Alumni Services are part of the Treatment Professionals in Alumni Services (TPAS) association.ProductsHarmony offers an affordable 30 day residential program, family program, and aftercare services. Insurance Accepted.

Harmony has treated approximately 25,000 men and women for addiction since 1969.





1600 Fish Hatchery Road
Estes Park, Colorado 80517



Phone (866) 686-7867
Email info@harmonyfoundationinc.com
Website http://www.harmonyfoundationinc.com

A Few Doctors Linked to Many Prescription Drug Deaths in Southern California




By Join Together Staff | November 12, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Community Related, Healthcare & Prescription Drugs

A small number of doctors are linked to a large percentage of prescription drug-related deaths in Southern California, according to an investigation by the Los Angeles Times.

The newspaper found that in almost half of the 3,733 deaths from prescription drugs in four Southern California counties, those who died had a doctor’s prescription for at least one drug that caused or contributed to the death. In many cases, deaths were caused by use of multiple drugs, sometimes prescribed by more than one doctor. In some cases, prescription drugs were mixed with alcohol or illicit drugs.

The investigation found 71 doctors, or 0.1 percent of all practicing physicians in the four counties, wrote prescriptions for drugs that caused or contributed to 298 deaths. Each of those doctors prescribed drugs to three or more patients who died, the newspaper found. Four of the doctors had 10 or more patients who died from prescription drug overdoses.

Most of the 71 doctors linked with three or more fatal overdoses were pain specialists, general practitioners or psychiatrists. They tended to work alone, without the scrutiny of peers. Four have been convicted of drug offenses in connection with the prescriptions they wrote; a fifth is awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder in the overdose deaths of three patients, the article notes.

The other doctors have not faced criminal prosecution related to their practice of medicine. Most have clean records with the Medical Board of California, which licenses and oversees doctors.

Experts said the findings should lead to closer scrutiny of physicians’ prescribing practices. R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said, “Do I think this has the potential to change the game in the way it’s being looked at and being addressed, both at the state and federal level? Yes, I do.”

Monday, November 12, 2012

PRO-ACT Family Addiction Education Program helps families address drug and alcohol addiction



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Noni West, strategic marketing coordinator Cathie Cush

PRO-ACT C2 Communications

215-345-6644, ext. 3111 215-579-2076

nwest@councilsepa.org CathieCush@comcast.net



Beverly J. Haberle, executive director

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.

215-345-6644

bhaberle@councilsepa.org

PRO-ACT Family Addiction Education Program helps families address drug and alcohol addiction

Next free sessions start week of Dec. 4 at various locations in five counties

Each month PRO-ACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization–Achieving Community Together) hosts a free Family Addiction Education Program to help individuals and families recognize and address an addiction problem in a spouse, parent, child or other loved one. Led by trained volunteers who have been in the same situation, these information and support programs begin the first week of each month and run one evening a week for three consecutive weeks. Each session lasts two hours.



Programs are offered at several locations throughout the five-county southeast Pennsylvania region:

· Tuesdays—From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Media and Northeast Philadelphia.

· Wednesdays—From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Pottstown; from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in North Philadelphia; and from 7 p.m.to 9 p.m. in West Chester.

· Thursdays—From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Northern Liberties; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Bristol and Colmar



Sessions are free and confidential—first names only. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 800-221-6333, weekdays 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., or visit www.proact.org and click the Family Addiction Education Program link.




Alcohol Can Distort Men’s Feelings of Empathy and Understanding of Irony




By Join Together Staff | November 9, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inAlcohol, Mental Health & Research

A new study suggests drinking too much alcohol can interfere with men’s feelings of empathy and understanding of irony. Chronic heavy drinking may damage parts of the brain involved in deciphering emotions and processing humor, the researchers say.

The study included 22 men in their third week of an alcohol treatment program, and 22 men who were not alcoholics. The men were asked to read a series of stories that ended with a straightforward sentence or an ironic one. They were then asked to complete a questionnaire aimed at determining the characters’ emotional state and whether they were speaking ironically, the researchers report in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Men in the alcohol treatment program identified ironic sentences correctly 63 percent of the time, compared with 90 percent for men without a drinking problem. The results suggest that people with drinking problems can misinterpret what they see and hear, NBC News reports.

“This result confirms that alcoholic subjects tend to underestimate negative emotions; it also suggests that the same situation might be read in a totally different way by an alcoholic individual and another person,” lead researcher Simona Amenta said in a news release.

She added, “While a lot has been said on emotion recognition in faces, body postures and gestures, only a few studies have explored the recognition of emotion in verbal language. We believe this topic should be investigated more, especially since problems in social interaction are considered a relevant outcome, but also one possible cause, of alcohol dependence.”

Saturday, November 10, 2012

For our Recovery friends in the United Kingdom






Mark Dempster Counselling
Founder and Counsellor
MDC provides individual and group counselling, primarily specialising in addictions. At our Harley Street Practice we are running affordable group counselling in addictions to drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling - and other group therapies. We also provide training and consultancy services to drug and alcohol treatment services.


About Mark
I am founder and counsellor at Mark Dempster Counselling: www.markdempstercounselling.com

I am author of a book about my journey through addictions to drugs and alcohol and the road to recovery (due to be published Sept 2012).

Please get in touch if you are interested in my work at Mark Demspter Counselling or my book.


Mobile Phones

+44 7971 467305

Other Phones

+44 20 3239 7061 Work

Address
7 Harley Street
W1B 8BJ London, United Kingdom
Screen Name
mdcounselling (Twitter)
Website
http://www.markdempstercounselling.com
Email
mark.dempster.77@facebook.com

LIVINGRINS DAY OF THANKS

Truly a Day for Sharing & Appreciation -
and to help brighten the holidays for
families of veterans
GRATITUDE DAY
Thursday, November 22
10-11AM
Hansell Hall, Bensalem
While the nation revisits its humble beginnings with the annual Thanksgiving Day, the meaning of the holiday rings most true for those who have almost lost it all and managed to earn it back.

Gratitude Day is Livengrin's traditional forum for people in recovery from alcohol or drugs to express their feelings about what it's like to have taken back management of their lives. Hundreds come from all over the region to meet old friends and counselors, and line up at the "open mic" to share a few minutes of their story. It is truly the most meaningful and heart-rending morning of our year.

You can share or just listen and reflect. The free event (no RSVP necessary) is on Thursday, November 22, in Hansell Hall on the Bensalem campus. (Please - no smoking, no pets on campus!)
Livengrin teams with veterans' group for Food Drive
Bring a non-perishable food item to Livengrin when you attend Gratitude Day, November 22. (You can also drop off a donation at any Livengrin location anytime before December 12 - inquire at the Reception or Admissions windows.) These donations from alumni, friends and employees brighten the holiday outlook for more than 350 veterans' families.

Our partner in this effort is Veterans Affairs of Bucks County, who will add our contributions to many others to help make the December holidays a bit more merry - especially during the recent economic crunch - for vets and their families.  Add something to the food box - it's a small thing we can all do to show our support.