Living Free Every Day®

Today's Scripture

"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it." - 2 Corinthians 13:5 MSG
Thoughts for Today
Yesterday we considered the importance of taking a regular inventory of our lives. A good place to start is by examining our relationship with God. As you begin to do this, ask yourself some hard questions like these:

• Do I know God better today than I did last month or last year?
• Am I asking God about his plan for my life—or just forging on ahead, doing my own thing?
• Am I too busy for God?
• Am I persisting in some behavior that I know is displeasing to him?

Consider this …
You can trust Jesus to forgive your failures and give you the strength to get your life back on track. The changes might be small or large. The important thing is to always be moving in the right direction … toward God and his plan for your life.
Prayer
Father, I desire to grow in my walk with you, to know you better, to accomplish your plan for my life. As I celebrate the birth of your Son and all that he means to me, help me see the areas in my life that need change—and then to do something about it. In Jesus' name …

---

These thoughts were drawn from …
Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in support groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for anyone struggling with a life-controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

 

 

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

Kratom Popularity on the Rise in South Florida

By Join Together Staff | December 3, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related & Drugs

Kratom, used as a medicinal plant in some countries in Southeast Asia, is increasingly popular as a drug of abuse in South Florida, the Sun Sentinel reports. The drug is available online, and at tobacco and head shops, the newspaper notes. Some people use it recreationally, while others use it for pain relief, or as a treatment for depression and other ailments. It is also used by some people as a substitute for heroin, prescription painkillers or opium.

“It’s very easy to get,” said Nancy Steiner, founder of The Sanctuary, a transitional living facility for people in recovery from chemical dependency in Delray Beach, Florida. “It’s not just a problem for the recovery community, but it’s in high schools and colleges. It’s a mass problem.”

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), kratom is mainly being abused orally as a tea, but some people chew kratom leaves. Kratom has been described as producing both stimulant and sedative effects. Acute side effects include nausea, itching, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, increased urination and loss of appetite. Kratom consumption can lead to addiction, according to the DEA.

The agency notes that while kratom is not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act, there is no legitimate medical use for kratom in the U.S.

Kentucky Finds Heroin on the Rise as Prescription Drug Abuse Declines

By Join Together Staff | November 30, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Community Related, Drugs & Prescription Drugs

As Kentucky begins to see results from its crackdown on prescription drug abuse, officials report a rise in heroin use.

Earlier this year, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed into law a bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse. The law requires that all pain clinics be licensed, specifies requirements for ownership and employment, and obliges Kentucky’s licensure board to develop regulations for pain clinics. It gives law enforcement easier access to the state’s prescription drug monitoring database. Doctors must examine patients, take full medical histories, and check electronic prescription records before writing prescriptions for opioids.

“There’s always some type of drug to step up when another gets taken out,” said Dan Smoot, Law Enforcement Director of Operation UNITE, which combats substance abuse in Kentucky. “We didn’t know it was going to be heroin. We knew something was going to replace pills.”

Law enforcement officials say heroin is imported from Mexico and Central America, according to the Associated Press. It is cheaper and more easily available than prescription opioids, such as oxycodone. Van Ingram, Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, told the AP that a single oxycodone pill can cost between $80 and $100, compared with $15 to $20 for a bag of heroin.

The rise in heroin use as a result of prescription drug abuse is part of a national trend.

U.S. Military Working on Combination Anti-Heroin/HIV Vaccine

By Celia Vimont | November 30, 2012 | 9 Comments | Filed in Addiction, Drugs & Treatment


A scientist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research is developing a vaccine designed to treat heroin addiction while at the same time prevent HIV infection. This project is one of a number of research initiatives around the world that are working toward new vaccines to fight addiction.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently pledged $5 million toward Dr. Gary Matyas’ work on the new dual vaccine. The goal of the vaccine is to fight heroin abuse and the high risk of HIV infection among heroin users who inject the drug.

“Heroin users have a high incidence of HIV, especially in regions of the former Soviet Union, South America and parts of Europe,” Dr. Matyas said. “If you can reduce heroin use, you can reduce the spread of HIV. That’s why we’re focusing on both heroin and HIV in one vaccine.”

The two parts of the vaccine are being developed separately, and will be combined when they have both been shown to be effective in small animals. The vaccine could be ready to be tested in nonhuman primates in several years.

The heroin component of the vaccine is in a more advanced stage, he explained. Researchers are taking small molecules that mimic heroin, and attaching them to the active component in the human tetanus vaccine. They are using a potent adjuvant formulation—a substance that enhances the immune system response. “This produces a very strong antibody response,” Dr. Matyas notes. “The antibody binds to heroin and prevents it from crossing the blood-brain barrier and producing a pleasurable effect.”

The HIV component of the vaccine is based on one that was tested in Thailand. A clinical trial of that vaccine, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2009, was the first HIV vaccine study to show any efficacy, Dr. Matyas said. The study found the vaccine effectiveness rate was 31.2 percent. The U.S. Military HIV Research Program, part of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, is working to enhance the response rate.

Once the vaccine is commercially available, it will require booster shots in addition to the initial injection, according to Dr. Matyas.

Most current addiction vaccines are focused on nicotine. Although several nicotine vaccine trials have had disappointing results, researchers continue to test nicotine vaccines. A benefit of a vaccine is that it would be given once a month, which would be easier to stick with than daily nicotine patches or gum. Researchers are studying cocaine vaccines as well.

Last year researchers in California, using a mouse model, announced they have found three new formulations that could be used in a vaccine to treat addiction to methamphetamine.

CALL TO ACTION !

Now is the time Gentlemen! The mighty spirit of the LORD is sounding the alarm! One hundred thousand sons and daughters of the Almighty FATHER are being slaughtered every year by the powerful demonic force of addiction.Families devastated ,young children dieing before their time. Marriages trampled ,houses being robbed innocent blood spilled!How long will we as soldiers of the cross lie dormant. Your Congregations are full of souls crying out to the Almighty FATHER for deliverance ,hope ,and help.These are the times in which we find ourselves. My mission is to unite ,educate and break the back of this demonic force. As a fellow solider of CHRIST , GOD has equipped me with the tools and resources you will need for this great on going struggle. Contact recoveryconnections@gmail.com with whatever your needs may be.GOD has brought you the broken and wounded , and you now have a guide to assist you so you can assist them.My never ending prayer is to give sight back to the blind , to set the captives free and preach good tidings to the poor.We will live in a addiction free world someday , but until then lets armor up and fight the good fight ! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

By Joseph Dickerson November 30, 2012

Number of NFL Players Testing Positive for Amphetamines Has Increased

By Join Together Staff | November 29, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Prescription Drugs

The number of NFL players who are testing positive for amphetamines such as Adderall has increased, according to the Associated Press. More than 10 players suspended for failing drug tests since the start of last season have blamed Adderall.

NFL Senior Vice President Adolpho Birch told the AP the number of positive tests for amphetamines has increased. The league does not identify what substance a player tested positive for when he is penalized, the article notes. This means players can blame Adderall even if they tested positive for steroids or another stimulant.

Birch said that because many college students use Adderall as a study aid, players are used to relying on the pills as a stimulant. “It’s not a secret that it’s a societal trend,” he noted. “I think we’re starting to see some of the effects of that trend.”

Football players who are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can apply for an exemption that allows them to use Adderall. Several players who tested positive for the drug said they had a prescription, but did not receive an exemption.

Adderall “would absolutely give you a competitive advantage. Fatigue, focus, concentration, maybe aggression,” said Dr. Michael Joyner, a sports physiologist and anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “And if they were using it during training, the ability to train harder, longer, the ability to have fewer bad days.”

Canada Allows Six Generic Drug Makers to Produce Oxycodone

By Join Together Staff | November 28, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Government & Prescription Drugs

The Canadian government has given approval to six generic drug companies to manufacture oxycodone products. The Canadian health minister had been under pressure to forbid the generic version of OxyContin because of concerns about widespread abuse of the painkiller, CBC reports.

Canadian Health Minister Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the drug is safe and effective when used as prescribed, the article notes. Last week, she announced drug manufacturers and pharmacists will be required to report spikes in sales, or changes in distribution patterns, in an effort to curb prescription drug abuse. The government also is requiring drug companies that manufacture oxycodone products to provide better education for healthcare professionals and the public about the potential risks of the drug.

The Associated Press reports Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock sent a letter to Aglukkaq asking the Canadian government to reconsider its decision, which he said will make oxycodone easier to abuse.

Bullock pointed out features that OxyContin’s manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, had included to make the drug harder to abuse will not be included in generic versions.

“Studies have shown that the tamper-resistant changes OxyContin manufacturers have made to the drug have resulted in less abuse among addicts,” Bullock wrote. “I have concerns that allowing easier-to-abuse oxycodone in Canada could undo some of the work that both Canadian and U.S. government and community leaders have accomplished in combating this epidemic.”

The AP notes officials in Canada’s provinces and aboriginal communities are also concerned about abuse, particularly in rural areas.

Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit” Workshop Dec. 18 in Doylestown

CALENDAR LISTING:

“Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit” Workshop Dec. 18 in Doylestown



Free monthly workshop series for individuals and families with a current or pastdrug/alcohol addiction issue. Next session meets Tues., Dec. 18, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., 252 W. Swamp Rd., Unit 12, Doylestown, Pa. Topics include using yoga and meditation to battle drug addiction; how addiction differs from other diseases; and a group participation period on a day in the life of a heroin addict. Refreshments. To register, call 215-345-6644 or email JSchwartz@councilsepa.org.

Christmas with the Angels: Sunday, Dec. 9

Join the fun on Sunday, December 9, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm as COA celebrates Christmas!  Watch Santa ride in on his motorcycle, enjoy piping hot chocolate, freshly brewed coffee, tea, desserts and an ice cream sundae bar (all free!), make some Christmas cards, wrap your gifts (also free!).....between 1:30 and 2:30 pm, Santa will be taking pictures with children and from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, Santa will be posing with pets. Pictures with Santa are just $5 each for a 5" x 7" frameable masterpiece.  Last year's COA Christmas was so much fun....to watch it on video, click here.   For more details about this event, or to volunteer to help with it, contact CityofAngelsNJ@hotmail.com.   Help for the Holidays   The holiday season can be stressful -  especially for people with addictions and their  families. City of Angels can help. We offer many services for addiction sufferers and those who love them, all at no charge.    For more details, click here or email CityofAngelsNJ@hotmail.com.    New Videos Thanksgiving Dinner 2012 A lot has been happening at COA! If you missed the Thanksgiving Dinner on November 18, you can click here to watch the video.    Also, Princeton Community Television recently interviewed Tom Allen about the drug epidemic in New Jersey; a non-practicing attorney, Tom was previously Associate Executive Director of City of Angels NJ and is now CEO of Summit Behavioral Health. He's also in recovery himself. Click here to watch his conversation with PrincetonTV's Natasha Sherman.      Tidbits   COA hosts support group meetings for both addiction sufferers and their families every day of the week at the Dwier Center (392 Church Street, Groveville, NJ). This includes 12-step meetings, a Tuesday night Moms Meeting, Sunday night Spirituality Meeting and the popular Sunday morning Family Support Group. To check out our online calendar, click here.     For directions to the Dwier Center, click here.      The COA website now offers an Addiction News Feed with the latest studies, reports, new and other info on addiction. It's updated in real time with top 30 articles. To read the feed, click here.  New videos are up on the COA YouTube channel. To watch, click here.      Join COA's Pinterest community! To visit the boards, click here.          Keep current on COA activites - join the COA group on Facebook!  COA news is posted first on Facebook, and this page often has photos not available elsewhere. Click here to visit.   City of Angels NJ, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides many services to addicts and their families including interventions, recovery support, Family Program, counseling services and more. All of our services are provided at no charge.

Commentary: Research on Recovery Residences is Critical

By TRI_Amy A. Mericle PhD_Jennifer Miles BA_John Cacciola PhD | November 27, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related, Recovery & Research


For many in recovery, hard-fought gains are often jeopardized by precarious living arrangements or untenable housing. Recovery residences, like recovery homes, sober living houses, and Oxford HousesTM represent an important component in the continuum of care for substance use disorders. Unfortunately, recovery residences, particularly recovery homes, are understudied in scientific literature and are often regarded with skepticism by community members. Without published research, licensed professionals, policymakers and potential funders will continue to question the legitimacy of recovery residences and peer-based recovery.

With funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, scientists at the Treatment Research Institute seek to fill this critical gap in the literature by studying recovery homes in Philadelphia. The city is ideal to study recovery homes because it has a high concentration: more than 250 privately funded recovery homes, 18 homes that receive funding from Philadelphia’s Office of Addiction Services (OAS), and several others that receive funding through SAMHSA’s Access to Recovery program.

Although data collection has been underway for only a few months, several important themes have emerged:

1. Recovery home operators are willing to participate in research. Despite the unpredictable nature of their busy schedules, site contacts have been extremely accommodating and have graciously welcomed research staff into their homes. They understand the necessity of research data in promoting the legitimacy of recovery homes and peer-based recovery.

2. Although site contacts have been welcoming and supportive of this research, we have encountered barriers because there is no central registry of recovery homes, and the recovery home landscape in Philadelphia changes frequently with homes closing and opening, or changing names, ownership or target population.

3. Despite not being considered formal “treatment providers,” recovery homes operate in a highly structured and therapeutically oriented manner. These homes have a number of rules and expectations for residents, and provide basic as well as a variety of recovery-oriented services, all at a modest cost to residents. All of the homes interviewed performed drug testing, and over half mandated involvement in AA/NA and/or substance abuse treatment. Residents had curfews, were expected to do chores and typically lived in shared sleeping quarters.

4. Although site contacts were stoic in discussing the challenges they face, many cited stigma from the community as a hindrance to home operation. To counter this stigma, many of the homes participated in community engagement activities, (e.g., litter abatement), which they felt fostered good neighbor practices and positively affected the attitudes of surrounding neighbors. Financial hardship was also cited as an impediment, but most operators found ways to overcome these obstacles, and remained hopeful in continuing to run their homes.

5. Finally, recovery home operators do what they do to help others in recovery, which often comes from a very personal place. Although they had varying levels of education and came from diverse professional backgrounds, nearly all were in recovery themselves. Often having come through the home they now operate, site contacts mentioned a sense of dedication to the program, stating “[t]his place saved my life.”

The findings from this study are preliminary, but we hope this work will raise awareness about the potentially critical role of recovery homes in meeting the needs of those in recovery and lead to future research. It is important to learn how these residences promote recovery and where they fit in the continuum of care for substance use disorders, and to identify factors that contribute to their sustainability. Data on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness may allow us to say more about the essential services and value these homes provide to supporting those in recovery.

Amy A. Mericle, PhD, Jennifer Miles, BA, & John Cacciola, PhD

The writers are researchers in the Center on the Continuum of Care at the Philadelphia-based Treatment Research Institute (TRI), an independent, non-profit research and development organization dedicated to developing evidence-based solutions to the problems of substance use affecting families, schools, businesses, courts and healthcare.

Detox Center Can Be As Good As Emergency Room for Some Drunk Patients

By Join Together Staff | November 26, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Research & Treatment


Some inebriated people picked up by emergency medical service ambulance crews can be treated effectively at a detoxification center, instead of an emergency room (ER), according to a new study. Increasing the use of such centers could reduce costs and lessen crowding of emergency rooms, the researchers note.

“Widespread use of this type of protocol has the potential to provide significant financial savings for the U.S. health care system,” lead author David Ross said in a news release. “This population is very frequently transported to the ER by EMS or police, consuming a disproportionate share of resources and contributing to ER overcrowding. A detoxification center is a good alternative to the ER for certain intoxicated patients who just need an appropriately staffed facility to ‘dry out.’ Our research suggests that EMS personnel can identify patients who are safe for this alternative destination.”

The researchers estimate that in 2004, ER visits by people whose only medical issue was inebriation cost about $900 million, Reuters reports.

Ross and colleagues created a checklist with 29 yes-or-no questions for ambulance crews. These questions included whether the patient is cooperating with the ambulance worker’s exam, and if the patient is willing to go to the detox center. If the ambulance worker checked “no” on any question, the patient was sent to the ER.

The researchers evaluated the outcome of 718 inebriated patients transported by ambulance workers who used the checklist.

The workers brought 138 to detox centers, and the rest went to the local ER. The detox center had a 24-hour nurse and technicians, who could consult by phone with a physician’s assistant and a psychiatrist. They found four patients at the detox center were taken to the ER because of minor complications, but no serious complications were reported.

The findings are published in Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Commentary: Facebook: “Liking” the Benefits of Health Behavior Interventions

By Dr. Nathan Cobb | November 20, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Addiction, Healthcare & Tobacco


This month Facebook announced that it had reached one billion active users. Not one billion accounts or registrants, but one billion individuals using the website every month. Of these approximately 200 million are in the U.S. and Canada – a staggering number. Each one of the users is connected to hundreds of their friends, actively exchanging information, sharing photos and news and even playing games together.

Two studies published at the same time in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggest that Facebook can do more. It can be used to deliver evidence-based health behavior interventions. Particularly interesting was the study by Sheanna Bull and colleagues where they used Facebook with youth to increase condom use and potentially prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Not only did their randomized control trial show that it’s possible to build an effective intervention within Facebook, but they also showed that a well-designed intervention will spread from friend to friend more efficiently than something that lacks interest or utility.

Taken together, these facts suggest that we may be on the cusp of a tremendous change in how we deliver health behavior interventions. An intervention that can reach people where they live and work, but can also involve and spread through their own social network, would have tremendous impact. An accompanying editorial that I wrote with Dr. Amanda Graham lays out some of this potential. But equally important, here at Legacy we have similar work underway, including a randomized control trial funded by the National Cancer Institute to evaluate how a Facebook app may spread through a quitter’s network and involve their friends.

We think that health behavior change interventions in the future will be inherently social, leveraging the Internet to involve your friends, family and co-workers, but also exposing you to people you have never met. What role Facebook will ultimately play is unknown, but as of today, the future is incredibly exciting.


Dr. Nathan Cobb

Nathan Cobb, MD, is a Research Investigator at the Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Legacy®, a practicing physician, and expert in the field of behavioral informatics. His prior work as a smoking cessation counselor and computer programmer for health risk assessments were a springboard for the development of QuitNet, one of the first Internet based behavior change interventions. Dr. Cobb’s current work leverages social networks to effect behavior change through social support and social influence. This includes both retrospective exploration of a 10 year database of interactions of participants in the QuitNet network, as well as novel interventions using social utilities such as Facebook and alternative delivery mechanisms such as text messaging.

Study Links Marijuana Psychosis With Genetic Variation

By Join Together Staff | November 21, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Drugs & Research

A new study suggests a specific genetic variation may increase the risk of developing marijuana-related psychosis. Researchers found people with the variation were twice as likely to develop a psychotic disorder when using marijuana. The risk increased up to sevenfold if they used marijuana daily, Health Day reports.

The findings could help lead to new treatments for marijuana-induced psychosis, the researchers say.

In the journal Biological Psychiatry, they note evidence is increasing that marijuana use during the teenage years may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. Their study of more than 700 people found marijuana-related psychosis was linked with a variation in the AKT1 gene. The gene is involved in the regulation of the brain chemical dopamine, which plays an important role in mental health, the article notes.

“Our findings help to explain why one cannabis user develops psychosis while his friends continue smoking without problems,” the researchers from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry note in a news release.

A study published last year suggested marijuana may accelerate the onset of psychotic disorders in some young users. Researchers conducted a review of the literature examining the effects of marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs on the onset of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. They found patients with psychotic disorders who smoked marijuana at an early age developed symptoms almost three years sooner than those who did not. The link was strongest among those who started smoking at ages 12 to 15 or younger.

Alphahouse Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

About AlphaHouse

Alpha House, Inc. provides help and hope for substance abusers through a variety of programs that use a “whole person” approach to help addicts and alcoholics change their lifestyle. We have been changing lives since 1970, long before medical models realized the need. We have proactively responded to decades of change and continue to be a innovative leader in treating substance abuse.

Our firm but loving therapeutic community provides inpatient and outpatient services that combine therapy with education, work, peer interaction, family involvement and community service.

At Alpha House, we believe that highly motivated addicts and alcoholics can change their lives and we are dedicated to teaching them how.

 

http://www.alphahouseinc.org

Tree of Hope Listing Dec 12 2012

Dear editor,


When the stately evergreen is raised in the lobby of the Bucks County Courthouse, it will be more than a symbol of the holiday season. Decorated with personalized ornaments bearing the names or initials of people who have directly or indirectly experienced addiction to drugs or alcohol, the the annual Tree of Hope represents the possibility of recovery.


The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and PRO-ACT will hold the Tree of Hope dedication ceremony on Dec. 12 starting at 6:30 p.m.


Please find attached:
Tree of Hope 2012.doc — press release
Tree of Hope Listing Dec 12 2012.doc — calendar listing
I hope you can find room for one or both in your publication. If you have an online calendar, I will post the information there. Proceeds from ornament sales benefit recovery support services.Call 215-345-6644 or visit www.councilsepa.org .Click events and select Tree of hope.


Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Cathie Cush
C2 Communications
Copywriting * Public Relations
cathiecush@comcast.net
Ph: 215.579.2076
Fx: 215.579.2169

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The Hansen Foundation providing supportive sober living in south jersey

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Copyright © 2012 The Hansen Foundation, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a friend or contact of The Hansen Foundation Our mailing address is: The Hansen Foundation 523 S. Leipzig Ave. PO Box 1020 Cologne, NJ 08213 Add us to your address book

Help someone this Thanksgiving

Joseph, Thanksgiving is a time for celebration. But for many families touched by substance abuse, it can be a time for anxiety and confusion. As a Parent Support Specialist, I talk to parents in crisis every single day. Around the holidays it's especially painful, as worried parents strive to mend their families: a mom trying to get her son into treatment before Christmas; a dad desperate because his daughter might not show up at all because of drug addiction. This week, as you gather with family and friends, please think about the families whose Thanksgiving might not be so happy. Help make sure we can help every family who reaches out to us by donating $25 or more to support The Partnership. So many parents I talk to don't know what to expect this holiday season. They call our Parent Toll-free Helpline because they're searching for answers, because they have nowhere else to turn. Giving them support is why I come to work every day to pick up every call, and why on Thanksgiving, I'll take an extra moment to look around the table at the people I love and know how lucky we are. In honor of someone you love, help make sure every family has a happy and healthy holiday by chipping in $25 or more to support the Partnership:  http://my.drugfree.org/contribute-to-The-Partnership Together we can make sure no call for help goes unanswered. Thank you, Denise Denise Ocasio Parent Support Specialist The Partnership at Drugfree.org P.S. You can also donate by texting DRUGFREE to 50555 and reply YES to make a one-time $10 donation to The Partnership at Drugfree.org

Prevention North Carolina

Why is PREVENTION the answer?


Because Prevention WORKS!

The prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs has been a priority in North Carolina, and the country, for decades. The North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) has stated that

“Substance use and abuse is both a health problem in itself and a health risk contributing to other health problems” In its recent report (2009) the NCIOM goes on to say that Prevention should be the cornerstone of North Carolina’s efforts to reduce inappropriate use, misuse, and dependence on alcohol and other drugs, and to prevent the incidence and severity of stress, depression, or other anxiety disorders.

In turn, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that if effective prevention programs were implemented nationwide, substance abuse initiation would decline by 1.5 million youth. Youth who do initiate use will delay that initiation by an average of two years. For subsequent years, this would have estimated a return of:
5.6 percent fewer youth ages 13–15 would have engaged in drinking;
10.2 percent fewer youth would have used marijuana;
30.2 percent fewer youth would have used cocaine;
8.0 percent fewer youth would have smoked regularly.

SAMHSA goes on to report that these reductions in use would also contribute to a reduction in cost to our cities, counties, states, and the country. For example, the average effective school-based substance abuse prevention program costs $220 per pupil including materials and teacher training, and these programs could save an estimated $18 per $1 invested if implemented nationwide. The report goes on to argue that if full implementation of effective prevention programming would occur nationwide it could have a cost benefit of:
Saving state and local governments $1.3 billion, including $1.05 billion in educational costs within 2 years;
Reducing social costs of substance-abuse-related medical care, other resources, and lost productivity over a lifetime by an estimated $33.7 billion;
Preserving the quality of life over a lifetime valued at $65 billion.

As you may recognize from the information listed here, Substance Abuse Prevention is not just about “feel good” programs that tug at the heart strings of individuals, families, and the community; instead it is combination of care and concern for our youth with a combination of science to assure our achievement of our target. To put it into one phrase, the state of

North Carolina strives to provide all Prevention Professionals with the best trainings and tools for “effective prevention programs” and strategies because we know that helping just one high-risk youth graduate from high school, avoid heavy drug use, and not engage in crime would create a healthier youth AND save our state between $1.7 and $2.3 million dollars.

NC Institute of Medicine. (2009). Prevention for the Health of North Carolina: A Prevention Action Plan. More information can be found at: www.nciom.org/projects/prevention/Prev_Interim_Report-09.pdf



U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (2008). Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Centers: A Cost Benefit Analysis



Cohen, M. (1998). The monetary value of saving a high-risk youth. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 14, 5-33.
Contact Info
Website http://www.preventionistheanswer.org

NIH Announces It Will Not Create Single Institute Devoted to Addiction

By Join Together Staff | November 19, 2012 | 3 Comments | Filed in Addiction& Government


The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced it will not pursue the proposed creation of a single institute devoted to substance use, abuse and addictions. The proposal would have dissolved the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and replaced it with a single body, according to the Nature News Blog.

NIH Director Francis Collins said in a statement that instead of dissolving the two institutes, he will seek their “functional integration,” along with related research in the NIH’s other institutes. NIDA has an annual budget of $1 billion, while NIAAA’s budget is $459 million, the article notes.

Citing budget uncertainties, Collins noted, “The time, energy, and resources required for a major structural reorganization are not warranted, especially given that functional integration promises to achieve equivalent scientific and public health objectives.”

In June, Collins told his committee of external advisers that leaders in the alcoholic beverage industry were concerned about the new single institute. According to the article, the industry’s opposition suggested it was not comfortable with a single body that would more closely align the public’s perception of alcohol consumption and abuse with drug addiction.