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Saturday, November 17, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
Lets Support This One
CLPRM Scholarship Benefit Concert
Woodside Church AND Christian Life Prison and Recovery Ministries PRESENTS…
A Benefit Concert for the CLPRM Scholarship Fund
Featuring DAVE PETTIGREW
With special guest Kris Ballerini
Buy tickets NOW for this very special event!
Also Featuring Special Guest Kris Ballerini
When: Saturday, November 17, 2012 @ 7pm (Doors open at 6:30)
Where: Woodside Church, 1667 Edgewood Rd., Yardley, PA
Tickets: $25
For info and tickets order now or email: daveptix@verizon.net
What is the CLPRM Scholarship Fund?
The CLPRM Scholarship Fund helps place men and women struggling with addictions into Christ-centered recovery houses or programs, and funds the first month of treatment. It is our hope that this type of environment will gives recipients a fresh start, guides them to overcome addiction and brings them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This scholarship is open to anyone struggling with addictions, including those recently released from prison.
To apply, click here for an application.
About Dave Pettigrew
Dave Pettigrew has become a good friend of CLPRM and a fan favorite. We’re so grateful he’s part of this exciting event.
Call him “the poet for the common man’s search for Christianity.” Dave Pettigrew proves worthy of the title through his collection of thought-provoking music for life.
His multiple releases, The Walk, Every Minute Miracles, Somebody I’m Supposed To Be, Solo Volume 1 & the Christmas EP, show that he is a consistent and lyrically wide-reaching breath of fresh air in Christian music as he pursues his ongoing ministry mission through song to bring the “rubber meets the road” realities of everyday life into focus with God.
His latest single “There Is Hope” has been played nationally on stations like KLOVE and Sirius XM’s “The Message” and was featured in over 3,000 churches across the nation for the 10th anniversary of September 11th.
Read more about Dave…
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Texas Governor Wants Drug Tests for Welfare, Unemployment Applicants
By Join Together Staff | November 14, 2012 | 3 Comments | Filed in Community Related, Drugs & Legislation
Texas Governor Rick Perry this week called for drug tests for residents seeking welfare or unemployment benefits, the Associated Press reports.
Perry and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst want to expand a bill that will come before the state legislature next year that would mandate drug testing for “high-risk” welfare applicants, and would ban them from using public funds to purchase alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets. Perry and Dewhurst want the rules to also include those applying for unemployment benefits.
“Texas taxpayers will not subsidize or tolerate illegal drug abuse. Every dollar that goes to someone who uses it inappropriately is a dollar that can’t go to a Texan who needs it for housing, child care or medicine,” Governor Perry said in a news release. “Being on drugs makes it much harder to begin the journey to independence, which only assures individuals remain stuck in the terrible cycle of drug abuse and poverty.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas opposes the measure. Executive Director Terri Burke said in a news release, “How sad that our state’s highest elected officials have embraced this mean-spirited measure that would punish innocent children for their parents’ conduct. This proposal is a costly, ineffective, inhumane and punitive effort by state government based on stereotypes about our state’s neediest Texans.”
A Florida law that required welfare applicants to undergo drug testing was halted last year after the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida sued the state to stop it. About 2.5 percent of the 4,000 adults tested before the program was stopped tested positive for drugs. Almost 2,500 people refused to take the drug test.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Laws to Crack Down on Serving Intoxicated People in Bars Largely Ignored
By Celia Vimont | November 13, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Alcohol &Government
Laws prohibiting bars and restaurants from serving intoxicated people can be an effective way to reduce alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and violence, but the provisions in most states are poorly drafted and rarely enforced, according to two experts on alcohol policy.
James Mosher, JD, and Elizabeth Dahl, JD, of Alcohol Policy Consultations, say the enforcement of well-designed service of intoxicated persons (SIP) laws would provide significant public health and safety benefits. Mosher spoke at the recent American Public Health Association annual meeting.
Only Florida and Nevada do not have SIP laws, and Wyoming’s law applies only to drive-through sales, according to Dahl. Other states have some form of SIP law, although the specific provisions vary widely.
“Law enforcement largely ignores these laws,” Mosher notes. “One reason for this is they are usually so poorly drafted that there’s little likelihood of conviction.” A 2007 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that states have limited resources to enforce the laws, and the provisions of the laws tend to make collection of proof overly burdensome. The report also found that cultural norms that tolerate excessive drinking or that support the idea that bars are appropriate places for patrons to become intoxicated present a challenge for effective SIP enforcement.
New Mexico is one of the few states with an effective SIP law, Dahl says. In that state, if a patron is stopped after leaving a bar or restaurant with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .14 or higher, a rebuttable presumption is established that the patron was intoxicated when served at the establishment. The bar or restaurant can rebut the presumption with evidence that the server could not reasonably know about the patron’s intoxicated state. After three violations in one year, the establishment can lose its license. According to Dahl, New Mexico implemented a targeted program to enforce its SIP law and combined it with DUI checkpoints and dedicated DUI enforcement. As a result, the state experienced a substantial reduction in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.
This contrasts sharply with the laws in other states. “In many states, you can’t use the BAC of a patron to infer they became intoxicated in the bar—you need to prove that through direct observation of a witness, which makes it harder to prove,” Mosher says. “You have to send undercover officers into bars and have them sit and watch to see if a violation occurs.”
SIP laws that do not require actual knowledge of intoxication are easier to enforce, Mosher says. “Some states use a ‘reasonable person’ standard – would a reasonable person in like circumstances know that the patron was intoxicated? This constitutes the legal definition of negligence and is an appropriate approach for drafting SIP laws.” According to Mosher, SIP laws are more likely to reduce patron intoxication if the penalties focus on suspending and revoking the licenses of repeat offenders rather than relying on criminal penalties. Administrative sanctions are typically easier than criminal sanctions to impose.
The authors suggest that an effective way to reduce Driving Under the Influence (DUI) incidents is to focus on the relatively small percentage of drinking establishments that repeatedly serve intoxicated patrons. Law enforcement often knows which ones these are because of the repeated calls for service that typically occur. After every DUI arrest or crash, the offender should be asked where they were drinking as a routine part of the investigation. The data can be compiled to identify potential problem establishments. Law enforcement can meet with the owner and manager, alert them to the problem, and suggest Responsible Beverage Service programs that focus both on management policies and staff training. If problems persist, a targeted law enforcement effort can be initiated. This approach can greatly reduce the costs of SIP law enforcement and focus limited resources on the establishments most likely to be SIP law violators.
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) 686-7867Email 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 215-579-2076nwest@councilsepa.org CathieCush@comcast.net
Beverly J. Haberle, executive director
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.
215-345-6644bhaberle@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 467305Other Phones
+44 20 3239 7061 WorkAddress
7 Harley Street
W1B 8BJ London, United Kingdom
Screen Name
mdcounselling (Twitter)
Website
http://www.markdempstercounselling.com
mark.dempster.77@facebook.com
LIVINGRINS DAY OF THANKS
Lighthouse Network Offers Emotional Guidance, Support in the Aftermath of Sandy
Through the Storms of Life – and Nature – Lighthouse Offers Personalized Counseling and Referral Options for Those Seeking “The New Normal” SOURCE LIGHTHOUSE NETWORK
Key Facts:
Hurricane Sandy devastated the eastern United States last week, leaving entire communities destroyed.
Those most greatly impacted may have difficulty in the days, weeks, and months to come in processing their “new normal” and moving forward emotionally in healthy ways.
Lighthouse Network, the country’s premier Christian counseling and addiction referral service, offers hope, resources, and even customized treatment plans if needed, for victims struggling to make sense of the devastation from this latest storm or from other issues and circumstances from which they suffer.
PHILADELPHIA – The entire Eastern seaboard of the United States was ravaged last week as Hurricane Sandy barreled up the coast, making landfall in New Jersey and destroying towns in her wake throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut. Citizens in the entire Mid-Atlantic region are struggling to return to a sense of normalcy, though many remain without power for basic needs. Estimated damages range from $20 to $50 billion dollars, making this storm one of the most destructive in our nation’s history.
Though repairs and restoration of homes and towns begins, restoration of battered spirits can take more time and assistance.
“People generally have a limit to the emotional burdens they can bear and once that limit is breached, people can explode, implode, or just melt down depending on their own coping mechanism,” said Karl Benzio, M.D., Founder and Executive Director of the Lighthouse Network. “Though this may seem a time when folks bearing the majority of the burden just have to keep going to restore a sense of normalcy to life after the storm, there is great need to proactively process what has happened, grieve any losses, and move forward effectively. Professional help can aid in that process when an event of this magnitude occurs.”
Lighthouse Network can help storm victims by providing compassionate, Christ-centered counseling and therapy or referrals to Christian counseling professionals that can help people affected by Hurricane Sandy to cope with their new realities and move on with the practical side of rebuilding. The organization promotes Christian counseling and therapy programs, recognizing that God has the ultimate power and ability to completely heal the whole person, no matter what storms life may bring.
“No matter what the storm in life, whether it’s a sudden natural disaster like this hurricane, something that builds over time like financial woes, or destructive habits, Lighthouse Network can offer a light in the storm to guide people to hope and healing,” said Benzio. “We offer all levels of assistance, from simple web resources like daily devotionals or articles to faith-based counseling or referrals through our Addiction and Counseling Helpline, all the way to customized curriculum development to help people or groups that can’t find the support they need through other programs.”
Through their free, 24-hour Lighthouse Network Addiction and Counseling Helpline at
877-562-2565, Lighthouse Network Care Guides talk with callers and can help determine the next best course of action for the caller’s needs, based on their current situation.Lighthouse Network provides guidance through life’s storms for people who have a hard time defining their particular problem or have difficulty finding the right answers from other often-confusing sources. Care Guides will link patients or loved ones to a counseling, addiction, or psychiatric care facility through Lighthouse Network’s national database of treatment centers, counselors, and therapists. They successfully manage complicated cases, especially of acute addiction, and provide help from a holistic (spirit, mind, and body) perspective. Helping people of all faiths, our approach integrates cutting-edge science and spiritual truths as this approach produces the best chance of successful change in a person’s life. Being a faith-based organization has opened the doors to many hard-to-find Christian options producing powerful and lasting transformational experiences. Read stories of changed lives that have resulted from Lighthouse Network’s assistance.
Through its website, www.lighthousenetwork.org, Lighthouse Network offers several resources for those struggling with addiction, as well as for their families, including Stepping Stones, a free daily devotional for managing life’s stressors and storms and equipping readers with healthy decision-making skills, and Not Alone radio short features that help parents or grandparents of addicts cope with their situation and help their loved one. Visit http://lighthousenetwork.org/stepping-stones/ to read the devotionals and sign up to receive them daily via email. To listen to the radio short features, visit http://lighthousenetwork.org/ln-radio-short-features/. For more information on Lighthouse Network, visit www.LighthouseNetwork.org or call the Lighthouse Network Addiction and Counseling Helpline toll-free at
877-562-2565.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Commentary: What Foundations Can Do to Fight the Opiate Epidemic
By Ann Barnum | November 6, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Community Related,Funding, Healthcare & Prescription Drugs
Foundations can play a vital role in battling the epidemic of opiate overdoses. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States, while heroin use is also on the rise in communities around the country. In addition to funding, some foundations have the expertise to provide technical assistance and can bring together communities and policymakers to devise solutions to this devastating public health problem.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the increase in unintentional drug overdose death rates in recent years has been driven by increased use of opioid analgesics. Since 2003, more overdose deaths have involved opioid analgesics than heroin and cocaine combined. For every unintentional overdose death related to an opioid analgesic, nine persons are admitted for substance abuse treatment, 35 visit emergency departments, 161 report drug abuse or dependence, and 461 report nonmedical uses of opioid analgesics.
One of the major roles foundations can play in the opiate epidemic is to support grassroots prevention efforts. We can fund drug take-back programs, providing money for disposal units for hospitals and police stations and anywhere else communities feel they need such units. We can also sponsor education for patients about what do with unused medicines.
We can encourage prescribers to use their state’s prescription monitoring program, which are designed to prevent “doctor shopping” for opiates. These databases are used to monitor the prescription and disbursement of prescription drugs designated as controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The program allows physicians and pharmacists to log each filled prescription into a state database to help medical professionals prevent abusers from obtaining prescriptions from multiple doctors.
In addition, we can promote screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) programs. While basic SBIRT services may be funded by insurance, foundations can provide technical assistance, by educating physicians, medical staff and counselors about how to work together to implement these programs in a medical practice or a hospital.
Needle exchange programs are another area where foundations can have a large impact on opiate abuse. These programs are a powerful, yet relatively inexpensive, way to reduce harm from injection drug use. One of the most common health consequences of injection drug use is endocarditis, or inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers. One heart valve replacement costs at least $250,000, while an entire needle exchange program generally costs between $50,000 and $60,000 per year.
Foundations can also advocate for the wider use of naloxone (Narcan). Naloxone is carried by ambulances to reverse overdoses. It saves lives. In some states it is available to be administered by trained members of the general public who might be present when an overdose occurs. We can fund community-based distribution programs and the advocacy and education efforts needed to change laws so that naloxone is more widely available.
In addition to backing new initiatives, foundations can foster effective implementation of laws such as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). This federal law requires insurance companies to treat mental illness and substance use disorders no differently than other medical conditions. The law applies to employer-sponsored health plans with 50 or more employees and Medicaid managed care plans.
Under the law, plans are not mandated to offer addiction and mental health benefits, but if they offer such benefits, they must do so in a non-discriminatory manner. That means a plan must have the same co-pays, deductibles and annual and lifetime caps on medical/surgical benefits and mental health/addiction benefits covered by the plan. We can fund monitoring, public education and evaluation efforts to make sure this act is implemented in our states.
Finally, foundations are in a perfect position to assist existing treatment programs in implementing evidence-based treatment practices and to build their capacity. Many programs are interested in adding medication-assisted therapies to their current programs but do not have the processes, policies, or staff to do this work. Foundations can provide the needed start-up funds and sustainability technical assistance that these agencies need to embrace new practices and more clients.
With everyone focused on the economy, foundations have a powerful argument for focusing on substance use disorders. If we can prevent and treat substance use disorders, we help can get extraordinarily high substance-abuse related costs in the criminal justice, medical and foster care systems under control. Foundations cannot supplant government funding for these programs, but we can help our communities figure out the smartest ways to address these problems. We can bring issues into sharper focus and help our communities find new and different ways to fight the opiate abuse epidemic.
Ann Barnum is Senior Program Officer, Substance Use Disorders at The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. She works with organizations throughout the Foundation’s 20-county service area to develop innovative programs that deal with substance use disorders.
SERENITY HOUSE NJ
About
Residential Sober Living Houses
MissionThe Hansen Foundation's mission is to obtain and distribute funds for scientific, educational and charitable purposes, specifically to address substance abuse treatment, affordable sober-living housing and to encourage the continuum of care in the field of chemical addiction.
DescriptionThe Serenity Houses and The Randy Scarborough House provide a comfortable, affordable, drug and alcohol free environment for people who are transitioning back to the community and learning to live responsible lives.
Nearly 100% of Serenity House alumnae have successfully maintained sobriety. Parents who have lost their children due to addiction find the support they need to change their lives and regain custody of their children.
Serenity House is a division of The Hansen Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Basic Info
Opened 2007
Location P.O. Boc 1020, Cologne, New Jersey 08213
Contact Info
Email info@serenityhousenj.org
Website http://www.serenityhousenj.org
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
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Colorado and Washington Approve Measures to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
By Join Together Staff | November 7, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inCommunity Related, Drugs & Legislation
Voters in Colorado and Washington approved measures to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use, becoming the first U.S. states to do so. A similar measure in Oregon was defeated, Reuters reports. The measures allow personal possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for anyone at least 21 years old. They also permit marijuana to be sold and taxed at state-licensed stores.
The approval of the new state laws has set the stage for a potential showdown with the federal government, which classifies marijuana as an illegal narcotic, the article notes.
In Colorado, the recreational marijuana law received almost 53 percent of the vote. In Washington, early returns showed the measure was leading with 55 percent of the vote. Marijuana is already legal in Colorado and Washington for medical purposes.
In Colorado, marijuana cultivation will be limited to six plants per person. In Washington, personal marijuana plants will continue to be banned.
In September, nine former administrators of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) wrote a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, urging him to oppose the three state legalization measures. The letter stated that not opposing the measures would indicate acceptance. The former DEA officials said the measures would pose a direct conflict with federal law.
Three other states also voted on marijuana initiatives. According toCNN, a measure to legalize medical marijuana in Arkansas trailed narrowly with 89 percent of the vote in, while a medical marijuana initiative in Massachusetts was ahead by almost a two-to-one margin. In Montana, early returns showed voters agreed to make the state’s medical marijuana law more restrictive.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Half of Addiction Counselors Say It’s OK for Some Patients to Drink Occasionally
By Join Together Staff | November 5, 2012 | 4 Comments | Filed in Alcohol,Drugs & Treatment
A survey of addiction counselors finds almost half say it is acceptable for at least some of their patients to drink from time to time. The survey included 913 members of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Counselors.
About half of the counselors said they would not object if some of their clients who abuse alcohol wanted to limit their drinking, but not totally abstain, PsychCentral.com reports. That is double the number of counselors in a 1994 survey who said moderate drinking was acceptable for some clients.
The new survey found about half of counselors said moderate drug use was acceptable as an intermediate goal, while one-third said it was adequate as a final goal.
“Individuals with alcohol and drug problems who avoid treatment because they are ambivalent about abstinence should know that — depending on the severity of their condition, the finality of their outcome goal, and their drug of choice — their interest in moderating their consumption will be acceptable to many addiction professionals working in outpatient and independent practice settings,” the researchers from Bowling Green State University noted in a press release.
Counselors were less accepting of occasional substance use for clients diagnosed with alcohol or drug dependence, which is considered more severe than alcohol or drug abuse. At least three-fourths of the counselors said they would not approve of limited or moderate consumption for these clients.
“In light of this study, we suggest that clients ask about their counselor’s openness to limited or moderate consumption as an outcome goal, and that agencies acknowledge their policy regarding negotiation of outcome goals as part of informed consent,” said researcher Harold Rosenberg, PhD.
The study was published in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Ryan's Light of Hope
About
Ryan's Light of Hope is an informal non-profit organization to help people that are recovering from addiction.
MissionOur mission is to assist people in recovery from addiction with affordable housing and support after losing our son to a heroin overdose.
Company OverviewTo see more information on our organization go to, www.ryanslightofhope.org
General InformationWe bought our first Ryan House 8/2010.
Basic Info
Started June 2012
Contact Info
Phone
(770) 633-5468Email parkeraudrey13@aol.com
Website http://www.ryanslightofhope.org
Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse More Common in Boys: Study
By Join Together Staff | November 2, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Drugs,Research & Youth
A new study suggests boys are more likely than girls to abuse over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The study of middle school and high school students in 133 schools in Cincinnati found 10 percent said they abused over-the-counter drugs such as cough syrup or decongestants.
University of Cincinnati researchers noted this type of drug abuse can lead to accidental poisoning, seizures and physical and mental addictions.
HealthDay reports the researchers found high rates of over-the-counter drug abuse were found among both female and male middle school students, but boys had a higher risk of longtime use, compared with girls. Teens who admitted to abusing over-the-counter drugs were more likely to say they had gone to parties where the drugs were available, or had friends who abused the drugs.
Teens involved in school clubs, sports, community and church groups were less likely to report abusing over-the-counter drugs. “Findings from this study highlight and underscore OTC drugs as an increasing and significant health issue affecting young people,” Rebecca Vidourek, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion, said in a news release.
The study was presented at the American Public Health Association meeting.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Legacy Sober Living
Exclusive sober living environment in Los Angeles, with an addiction recovery program second to none.
Description
Why Legacy Sober Living
We’re often asked what sets us apart from other sober livings. We have the personal and professional experience to truly understand the issues and challenges that face someone during the "sober living" stage of recovery. We recognize that treatment is just the beginning of the journey and the willingness to continue developing sober living skills outside of treatment is cr
itical to successful recovery. There are usually external motivators in the form of consequences that lead to treatment. When the consequence motivation passes, many feel they are past the critical stage. This however isn’t the case. They need guidance, assistance and most importantly motivation to continue developing the coping skills and support systems that will ensure a productive recovery lifestyle.
We’re not part of a large corporation or treatment center. We are two individuals with recovery experience that is both personal and professional. Professional experience includes inpatient and outpatient programs, detoxes, sober coaching, relapse prevention and sober living.
We accept the disease concept of addiction and the recovery process as set forth in 12-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. We work with addicts and alcoholics to ensure they develop a solid recovery foundation rooted in the principles and actions that have proven successful in these programs.
We believe that anyone can stay clean and sober. We have worked with many over the years and seen them embrace a recovery lifestyle and stay clean and sober. We have alumni who after multiple past attempts now have multiple years of recovery.
Alumni Participation in Legacy
"What is your success rate?" is another question we are often asked. Legacy is about community and a sense of belonging. The community continues on through our alumni. Legacy alumni, many with over five years clean and sober, are a big part of the Legacy story. The Legacy community doesn’t end when people leave. There is an open door policy so they always have a place to come back to. And they do come back. They come back to morning meditation, evening tenth step or just drop in to fellowship. We host an alumni meeting every Tuesday night where many who’ve gone through the house attend, celebrate their clean and sober milestones and share recovery with our current clients. They take the newer people out to meetings. We plan holiday parties and barbeques to ensure that not only those in our house have a clean and sober place to be, but our alumni do as well.
Our alumni have gone on to become successful, active members of society. They have gone to school, gotten jobs, reunited with family, started their own families and they come back and share their stories. They show others that it works. They bring hope and that’s what we consider success.
12079 jefferson blvd
Culver City, California 90230
Always open
Phone(310)-962-1776 or (310) 351-4990
Email contact@legacysoberlivng.com
Website http://www.LegacySoberLiving.com
Description
Why Legacy Sober Living
We’re often asked what sets us apart from other sober livings. We have the personal and professional experience to truly understand the issues and challenges that face someone during the "sober living" stage of recovery. We recognize that treatment is just the beginning of the journey and the willingness to continue developing sober living skills outside of treatment is cr
itical to successful recovery. There are usually external motivators in the form of consequences that lead to treatment. When the consequence motivation passes, many feel they are past the critical stage. This however isn’t the case. They need guidance, assistance and most importantly motivation to continue developing the coping skills and support systems that will ensure a productive recovery lifestyle.
We’re not part of a large corporation or treatment center. We are two individuals with recovery experience that is both personal and professional. Professional experience includes inpatient and outpatient programs, detoxes, sober coaching, relapse prevention and sober living.
We accept the disease concept of addiction and the recovery process as set forth in 12-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. We work with addicts and alcoholics to ensure they develop a solid recovery foundation rooted in the principles and actions that have proven successful in these programs.
We believe that anyone can stay clean and sober. We have worked with many over the years and seen them embrace a recovery lifestyle and stay clean and sober. We have alumni who after multiple past attempts now have multiple years of recovery.
Alumni Participation in Legacy
"What is your success rate?" is another question we are often asked. Legacy is about community and a sense of belonging. The community continues on through our alumni. Legacy alumni, many with over five years clean and sober, are a big part of the Legacy story. The Legacy community doesn’t end when people leave. There is an open door policy so they always have a place to come back to. And they do come back. They come back to morning meditation, evening tenth step or just drop in to fellowship. We host an alumni meeting every Tuesday night where many who’ve gone through the house attend, celebrate their clean and sober milestones and share recovery with our current clients. They take the newer people out to meetings. We plan holiday parties and barbeques to ensure that not only those in our house have a clean and sober place to be, but our alumni do as well.
Our alumni have gone on to become successful, active members of society. They have gone to school, gotten jobs, reunited with family, started their own families and they come back and share their stories. They show others that it works. They bring hope and that’s what we consider success.
12079 jefferson blvd
Culver City, California 90230
Always open
Phone
(310)-962-1776 or (310) 351-4990Email contact@legacysoberlivng.com
Website http://www.LegacySoberLiving.com
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Cirque Lodge
About
Cirque Lodge is a nationally recognized addiction treatment and drug rehab facility in Sundance Utah.
It offers the finest in a private and exclusive treatment experience for those struggling with addiction.
Company OverviewCirque Lodge is a private and exclusive alcohol treatment and drug rehab facility in Sundance Utah. For individuals and families seeking answers for problems with alcoholism, drug addiction or prescription drug abuse, Cirque Lodge provides a balanced and unique recovery experience.
DescriptionWe are dedicated to the effective treatment of individuals and families afflicted with the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions in a healing environment where spirituality, recovery and hope are offered in the privacy and serenity of the mountains.
General InformationFor individuals in need of care of recovery from alcoholism or drug addiction, we encourage you to call us at 1-877-99-REHAB.
Website http://www.cirquelodge.com/
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Charging into Recovery – Is Cash Really a Gateway Drug?
By TRI David Festinger, PhD; Karen Dugosh, PhD; Ashley Harron | October 26, 2012 | 7 Comments | Filed in Addiction, Recovery & Treatment
A recent article published in numerous outlets announced the debut of a special credit card for recovering substance abusers.
The card, referred to as Next Step, purports to help addicts stay clean and sober by shielding them from the powerful cravings elicited by cash. The pre-paid credit card prevents the user from making purchases at liquor stores, bars, escort services, casinos, tattoo parlors, and piercing shops. It also restricts the user from making ATM cash withdrawals or receiving cash back when making purchases. The article extols the virtues of the card and refers to cash as a “gateway drug” and a trigger for substance use.
Although the field of addiction treatment is always in need of new ideas and helpful tools, it is critical that the ideas/tools be based upon sound research. The idea that “cash in hand” is a trigger for drug use has long been an area of critical debate. Common sense suggests that cash, which is used to purchase drugs, “must” be a precursor and trigger to substance use and relapse.
However, research has found limited support for this common belief. Although some research has linked the occasional receipt of large sums of money to relapse, most studies indicate that individuals who receive money while in addiction treatment use the cash for daily necessities such as bills, food, transportation and household items. Our own program of experimental research (Festinger et al., 2005; Festinger et al., 2008) as well as research conducted by Dempsey et al. (2008) and Vandrey et al. (2007) found no connection between cash payments as high as $160 and new drug use. In fact, this was true even for individuals who were no longer enrolled in treatment.
Addiction treatment, and relapse prevention more specifically, typically focus on avoiding triggers such as old neighborhoods, substance abusing friends and items associated with prior substance use. The use of cash in our society would make long-term avoidance of it highly unlikely. Even assuming that cash on hand is a threat, the use of these specialty credit cards in the short term means that recovering individuals would not be exposed to cash until they are potentially out of treatment and have less structure and support. Either way, use of these new “drug-free” cards has very real and substantial costs. Their fees, admittedly among the highest in the market, stand to cause more harm than good as they further an unfounded assumption based upon the overly paternalistic view that people who suffer from addiction cannot be trusted with money. Equally interesting are the behaviors that the card company chose to restrict. Tattoo parlors and piercing shops must also have a well-documented link to relapse. Surprisingly there was no mention of limiting card purchases on rock or rap music.
Policies and programs like this one are based upon isolated events, individual observations and broad generalizations rather than empirical data. There is no doubt that individuals who abuse drugs most often use cash to purchase drugs. But they also use their feet, bikes, cars and other forms of transportation to meet their dealers. Should we enforce transportation limits on them as well? Are cars a gateway drug? Research to date indicates that cash is not, despite case examples and anecdotal reports, a major trigger to relapse.
Learning how to live with and use cash responsibly should occur as part of treatment and not come at an additional cost to those already struggling to rebuild their lives.
The writers are members of the Section on Law & Ethics Research at the Treatment Research Institute (TRI). TRI is a non-profit research and development organization dedicated to developing and providing evidence-based solutions to the problems of substance use affecting families, schools, businesses, courts and healthcare. To learn more, visit the TRI website.
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