Ivy League Universities Unveil New Programs to Combat Drinking

By Join Together Staff | January 25, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Alcohol, Prevention & Young Adults

This fall, seven of the eight Ivy League universities introduced new alcohol policies in an effort to combat high-risk drinking, the Yale Daily News reports.

The new policies at Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard emphasize educational programming over direct disciplinary approaches, the article notes.

“We are in a wave where many universities are trying to curb high-risk drinking,” Yale Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Affairs Melanie Boyd told the newspaper. “There is a lot of research that high-risk drinking has risen in recent years.”

Close to 40 percent of college students in the United States engage in binge drinking, and that number has remained virtually unchanged for decades. Almost 2,000 college students in the U.S. die each year from alcohol-related injuries. An estimated 600,000 students are injured while under the influence, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Administrators from Dartmouth launched the National College Health Improvement Project in 2010. This project includes 32 colleges and universities that are collecting data on the effectiveness of alcohol regulation policies on campus.

At Yale, all off-campus parties must now be registered with the Dean’s Office. Two new committees have been formed to address alcohol and drug use among students. Students at several Ivy League institutions said a number of new alcohol-related policies are aimed at fraternities and sororities. Dartmouth has instituted a ban on punch at parties held by fraternity and sorority houses, and conducts random walkthroughs at the houses by safety and security officers.

Emergency Room Visits for ADHD Drugs More Than Doubled from 2005 to 2010

By Join Together Staff | January 25, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Prescription Drugs

Emergency room visits involving attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs more than doubled from 2005 to 2010, according to a new government report. The number of visits involving ADHD medications that were used non-medically almost tripled during this period.

The report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found in 2005, there were 13,379 emergency room visits related to ADHD drugs. Such visits jumped to 31,244 in 2010, Newswise reports.

Non-medical use of ADHD medications rose from 5,212 in 2005, to 15,585 in 2010. Other pharmaceutical drugs were involved in nearly half (45 percent) of emergency room visits involving ADHD stimulant medications and about one fifth involved illicit drugs (21 percent) or alcohol (19 percent).

The report found emergency room visits for nonmedical use have not increased among children and adolescents, but they have increased among adults aged 18 or older.

“ADHD medications, when properly prescribed and used can be of enormous benefit to those suffering from ADHD, but like any other medication they can pose serious risks – particularly when they are misused,” SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in a news release. “This study indicates that a better job has to be done alerting all segments of society – not just the young – that misuse of these medications is extremely dangerous.”

Apple 32GB Blue 5th Generation iPod Touch - MD717LL/A (Google Affiliate Ad)

Siberian Psychologists Whip Addicts Clean

The bizarre beating "treatment" doesn't enjoy mainstream support—but some recipients swear by it.

Natasha receives her "treatment."
Photo via

By Sarah Beller   THE FIX

01/07/13

Siberian psychologists are taking a hardline approach to helping people with addiction: literally beating it out of them. The practitioners claim that lashing addicts on the buttocks with a willow cane can help those for whom more conventional methods have failed. Practitioners Dr. German Pilipenko and Professor Marina Chukhrova say that their treatment is grounded in science: "We cane the patients on the buttocks with a clear and definite medical purpose—it is not some warped sado-masochistic activity," insists Professor Chukhrova. The pair say that addicts suffer from a lack of endorphins, and that pain can stimulate the brain to release the feel-good chemicals, "making patients feel happier in their own skins." Mainstream doctors dismiss the practice, saying that exercise, acupuncture, massage, chocolate or sex are all better at stimulating endorphin secretion. Dr. Pilipenko admits, "we get a lot of skepticism...but so do all pioneers." The Siberian Times reports that "the reaction of most people is predictable: to snigger, scoff or make jokes loaded with sexual innuendo." And one recipient of the treatment, 41-year-old recovering alcoholic Yuri, says his girlfriend accused him of simply visiting a dominatrix. But he adds that although "the first strike was sickening...Somehow I got through all 30 lashes. The next day I got up with a stinging backside but no desire at all to touch the vodka in the fridge. The bottle has stayed there now for a year."  

Natasha, a 22-year-old recovering heroin addict with several months clean, says, "I am the proof that this controversial treatment works, and I recommend it to anyone suffering from an addiction or depression. It hurts like crazy—but it's given me back my life." She receives 60 strokes of the cane per session (drug addicts get double the dose of alcoholics), at a cost of about $100. Her "therapy" is hardly for the faint-hearted: "With each lash," says Natasha, "I scream and grip tight to the end of the surgical table. It's a stinging pain, real agony, and my whole body jolts." But she also insists, "I'm not a masochist. My parents never beat me or even slapped me, so this was my first real physical pain and it was truly shocking. If people think there's anything sexual about it, then it's nonsense." Professor Chukhrova stresses that care is taken to ensure clients' safety: "The beating is really the end of the treatment. We do a lot of psychological counseling first, and also use detox. It is only after all the counseling, and heart and pain resistance checks, that we start with the beating." The doctor adds that the willow branches used are "flexible and can't be broken nor cause bleeding." And the practitioners are also at pains to deny any ulterior motives: "If any patients get sexual pleasure from the beatings, we stop immediately," says Professor Chukhrova. "This is not what our treatment is about. If they're looking for that, there are plenty of other places to go."

The 10 Best Addiction Novels | The Fix

The 10 Best Addiction Novels | The Fix

Calvary Chapel Old Bridge

Calvary Chapel Old Bridge

Addiction Recovery - "The Most Excellent Way"

Since 1986, "The Most Excellent Way" has been providing the Christian solution to chemical dependency and life-controlling problems: Jesus!

"The Most Excellent Way" is LOVE according to the Bible, 1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:3-8. God Himself demonstrated His love for us by freely giving us the gift of Life, abundant Life, His Son. And, we love because He first loved us!

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived

and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.

We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

so that, having been justified by his grace,

we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

Titus 3:3-7 NIV

"The Most Excellent Way" is a loving group of men and women affected directly or indirectly by drugs or alcohol or any addictive behavior as pornography or any anti-Biblical behavior. In the Support Meetings, we grow in our faith in Christ with the encouragement of God's Word and prayers. Thousands worldwide have been helped through attending these weekly meetings.

A person can be totally free from addiction and compulsive behavior only by the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ Jesus. Your Creator has created you and knows everything about you (everything!) and if you are one of His, He still loves you. And…there is a good purpose and a plan for your life.

Please join us on Wednesday evenings for this loving, caring support group meeting! We are here for YOU!

First Baptist Church Markham Woods contact person: Ernie Rudisill

Visit the national headquarters website at www.mostexcellentway.org

Addiction Support Group Meeting

Weekly: Wednesdays – 8:15PM

First Baptist Church Markham Woods

5400 Markham Woods Road 

Lake Mary, FL 32746

407.333.2085

Teaching Teens to Manage Personality Traits May Reduce Problem Drinking

By Join Together Staff | January 24, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Mental Health, Prevention & Youth

High school programs that teach teens to better manage their personality traits can help reduce and postpone problem drinking, a new study suggests.

“Two factors determine problem drinking: personality and peer pressure,” said study author Dr. Patricia Conrod of King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry. “Teaching young people how to better manage their personality traits or vulnerabilities helps them make the right decisions in given situations, whether it is a matter of overcoming their fears, managing thoughts that make them very emotional, controlling their compulsions, analyzing objectively the intentions of others or improving their self-perception.”

In the two-year study, high school staff in London worked with ninth-grade students, who were divided into two groups. One group participated in a personality-based intervention program run by school staff, while the second group received the standard United Kingdom drug and alcohol curriculum. All of the students’ drinking patterns were examined.

Students filled out a personality questionnaire to determine their risk of developing future alcohol dependence. Personality traits identified with a greater risk of alcohol dependence included impulsivity, hopelessness, sensation-seeking, or anxiety, Newswise reports.

School staff members trained in the personality-based program delivered group workshops targeting the different personality profiles. The workshops taught the teens to better manage their personality traits. “Our study shows that this mental health approach to alcohol prevention is much more successful in reducing drinking behavior than giving teenagers general information on the dangers of alcohol,” Dr. Conrod said in a news release.

After two years, the study found high-risk students in the intervention group had a 29 percent reduced risk of drinking, a 43 percent reduced risk of binge drinking, and a 29 percent reduced risk of problem drinking, compared with high-risk students in the standard drug and alcohol education programs. The intervention also significantly slowed the progression to more risky drinking behavior in the high-risk students over the two years.

The study appears in JAMA Psychiatry.

Motorola Droid Razr M - Developer Edition - Android AT&T Blue Z221 GoPhone Prepaid Cellular Phone - Z221 (Google Affiliate Ad)Smartphone (Google Affiliate Ad)

Living Free Every Day®

Moving On

Today's Scripture   JANUARY 25 2013

"I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." - Philippians 3:12-14 NLT

Thoughts for Today

As we come to Jesus and begin to understand who we are in him, it is time to learn from the past, put it behind and move on ahead. Paul makes it clear in today's scripture that he is on a journey. He knows he is not perfect, but he determines to forget the past and reach forward—to become all Jesus wants him to be. He is moving the right direction—toward Jesus—and he is not turning back.

That's where we need to be too. On a journey to Jesus, to accomplishing his purpose for us. If we try to drag the hurts and mistakes of the past along with us on the journey, our progress will be slowed … or come to a stop altogether. We need to give all that baggage to Jesus and receive his healing and forgiveness. We need to keep our eyes on him and run forward.

Consider this …

Are you dragging baggage along as you try to move ahead with Jesus? Painful memories of abuse or other hurts. Unforgiveness. Condemnation. If you have made Jesus Lord of your life, it is time to put all those things behind. You have been made right in God's sight. You are his child. You are his masterpiece, designed for a purpose.

Join the apostle Paul in putting the past behind and moving forward along the marvelous path God has set before you. He has a good plan for you. Press on!

Prayer

Father, thank you for your healing and forgiveness. Help me to truly leave my hurts and failures in the past and keep my eyes on Jesus as I move forward along the path you have for me. In Jesus' name …

These thoughts were drawn from …

Restoring Families: Overcoming Abusive Relationships through Christ by Janet M. Lerner, D.S.W. This study helps to minister to families caught in the cycle of abusive relationships. The curriculum deals with overcoming these abusive relationships through Christ and is recommended for use in support groups and Christian counseling.

• Ministers to families from abusive relationships
• Ministers to victims of family violence
• Deals with wounded emotions
• Deals with control and intimacy issues
• Presents a strong message of Christ as healer of abusive relationships

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.

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More

 

 

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.

Navy Blood-Alcohol Tests to Start in February

By Join Together Staff | January 24, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Alcohol, Military & Prevention

The U.S. Navy will begin conducting random blood-alcohol tests on sailors in the United States in February, the Associated Press reports. The Navy will use the tests, which were announced earlier this year, to determine whether a sailor is fit for duty, or may need counseling.

Sailors whose blood-alcohol level is .04 or higher when they report for duty will not be allowed to work. A reading of .02 or higher will not be used to punish sailors, but could be used to refer them to a substance abuse treatment program.

The Navy will begin distributing hand-held alcohol detection devices (ADD) to Navy commands in February. The devices should distributed throughout the Navy by the end of May.

“Deterring irresponsible use of alcohol is essential to the readiness of our fleet and ensuring the health and safety of our service members and units,” Admiral Bill Gortney, Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces, said in a statement. “Fleet Forces, in partnership with Pacific Fleet, will remain engaged in providing service members the tools and resources to make these responsible choices. The ADD is one of many tools commanders have to educate service members.”

The Marines will carry out their own random alcohol screening, according to the AP.

Missouri a National Leader in Drug Courts: State’s Top Judge

By Join Together Staff | January 24, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related, Drugs, Legal & Treatment

Missouri’s drug courts have more than 12,000 graduates who have successfully completed treatment court programs, according to the state’s top judge. “Missouri has become a national leader in drug courts,” Chief Justice Richard Teitelman said in an address to the state legislature this week.

The courts were established in Missouri two decades ago, according to the Associated Press. They are designed to divert nonviolent offenders who struggle with substance abuse to judicially supervised treatment programs, instead of prisons, the article notes. Missouri has drug courts in all but two of its 45 judicial circuits.

Almost 600 drug-free babies have been born to treatment court participants, Justice Teitelman said. More than half of participants successfully complete the program.

The report states that 7.1 percent of adults who complete drug court programs commit additional crimes within the next 30 months, compared with 15 percent for those who do not go through the programs.

Dear Joseph, Did you know that over 85 million people in the U.S. say they have been affected by addiction? Whether it is family, friends, or loved ones, the impact of addiction is far-reaching. But, imagine if everyone came forward to share a story of recovery or a message of support. It would mean 85 million reasons to have hope. That's why we've launched The Hope Share. At The Partnership we believe that together we can dispel the stigma of feeling alone and helpless because of addiction, and that we can give hope by sharing the stories of others. Share your story of hope now: http://my.drugfree.org/the-hope-share The Hope Share is a campaign that lets those affected by drug and alcohol addiction know they are not alone, that there is hope and the possibility of recovery. Feeling that recovery is possible is one of the first steps for taking action and finding the way back. One story sent to us from Cathie, a loving mother, has stayed in our minds: For 10 years I was asking, "Why us?" We had tried so hard to be the best parents. ... I didn't know if I would get a call that he was in jail, in the hospital or dead. Finally he reached his bottom and it is amazing that he survived. His abuse could have so easily killed him. I have learned so much about addiction. ... In one week I am going to visit him to celebrate three years of sobriety! He tells me that it is statistically a major milestone. I am so lucky today! Share your message of hope -- or one the many other stories we've received -- and help change the ending of someone else's story: http://my.drugfree.org/the-hope-share Together we can dispel the stigma. We can give hope to the hopeless. Thank you, Steve Pasierb President and CEO The Partnership at Drugfree.org

PRIME ADVERTISING AVAILABLE

PRIME ADVERTISING AVAILABLE

RECOVERY CONNECTIONS!                                              JOIN THE MOVEMENT!
People who could not find or get the help they needed are getting it.  Peoples lives are being transformed because Recovery Connections empowers people to overcome there fears, gives them courage to step up out of the chains which entrapped them for most of their lives and take that first step toward freedom. Recovery Connections comes along side the one struggling  for a lifetime of support if need be!  Recovery Connections is our mission and helping hurting people is our passion!  WE ARE REACHING  PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD!

We’re building a movement, one community at a time.
And we’re doing it to help radically greater numbers of people get well.

We not only let the world know about your organization, we PROMOTE it:

By removing stigma and shame, and
By improving the accessibility to resources of care available to people in recovery.

1. Awareness.
We’re proliferating a world-class, research-based awareness and education program to shatter the stigma and shame around substance use disorder to empower more people to enter recovery.

2. Transformation.
We’re facilitating system transformation to reach more people and provide greatly improved recovery care. This includes helping communities:

Mobilize all community sectors—public and private—in system transformation;
Extend the community of recovery into the workplace through strategic employer partnerships;
Engage the private sector to create a financially sustainable recovery model; and
Foster the development of a holistic service network that reflects the chronic nature of substance use disorder.

Ads on Recovery Connections are priced as follows:
Full page on top...........................................................$40.00 per day
Banner ad on top (4 vertical inches).......................$25.00 per day
News Column ad...................$15.00 per insertion (up to 5 inches)
                               ................$20.00 per insertion (up to 10 inches)
(News column ads scroll off the page in a few days.)
Blue sidebar....................................$2.00 per vertical inch per day
Red sidebar.....................................$1.00 per vertical inch per day

We can host many types of ads, photo, etc.

For more info e-mail us recoveryfriends@gmail.com

Living Free Everyday

Living Free Everyday

The World's Coolest Hotel Rooms By Tikos, Bill (Google Affiliate Ad)

Proposal to Increase Restrictions on Opioid Prescribing Prompts Debate

By Join Together Staff | January 23, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Government, Prescription Drugs & Prevention

A proposal by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to more tightly control prescriptions of drugs containing hydrocodone is prompting debate among doctors, according to NPR. A committee of the FDA will meet January 24 and 25 to consider the DEA’s request.

Emergency room visits related to hydrocodone, the key ingredient in Vicodin and other painkillers, have soared since 2000. Vicodin, which also contains acetaminophen, is subject to fewer regulations than pure hydrocodone.

For almost a decade, the DEA has called for stricter regulation of Vicodin, in order to reduce abuse of the drug. The DEA wants to change the way drugs that combine hydrocodone with other products are classified, to require patients to have more interaction with doctors in order to obtain prescriptions for them.

Andrew Kolodney, who leads Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, wants opioids to be used only for patients who really need them, such as cancer patients. “This epidemic has been fueled by overprescribing of opioids, particularly for chronic noncancer pain, whether it’s low back pain, headaches,” he told NPR. “I think that’s really created a public health crisis.”

His group wants the Food and Drug Administration to rewrite labels on opioids to state that physicians should write prescriptions only for severe pain, and at much lower doses. The group wants prescriptions for the drugs to be written for a maximum of 90 days at a time. “The way to begin to turn the epidemic around is by getting doctors to prescribe more cautiously,” Kolodney said.

Lynn Webster, President of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, is concerned these changes may prevent many patients from obtaining drugs they need. “We have millions of people who are totally disabled because of their pain,” he said. “Many people who do not have access to aggressive pain management may simply not be able to survive.”

Living Free Everyday

Living Free Everyday

National Rx Drug Abuse Summit

About

Operation UNITE will host the second annual National Rx Drug Abuse Summit in Orlando April 2-4. We hope you will join us! Last year we had 750 people from 47 states!

Company Overview

This must-attend National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, April 2-4, 2013, is unlike any other national conference, bringing all impacted parties together to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic. Conference programming is designed to convey a synergistic approach to include: prevention, education, treatment, law enforcement, health care providers, pharmacists, advocates, and third-party payers – among other impacted parties.

 

 

 

Contact Info

Phone	+60 6-657 3218
Email	erice@centertech.com
Website	http://nationalrxdrugabusesummit.org/

Google Nexus 7 32GB Tablet NEXUS7ASUS- (Google Affiliate Ad)

Commentary: Time to “Make An Impact” on Rx Epidemic

By Karen Kelly | January 22, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related & Prescription Drugs

Every month approximately 1,200 calls are received from individuals in southern and eastern Kentucky seeking help with an addiction issue. Multiply this by the hundreds of regions across America and it’s easy to understand why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider prescription drug abuse a public health “epidemic.”

One accidental overdose death every 19 minutes; more than the number of deaths from car crashes. That’s a sobering statistic.

Families and communities are being torn apart, and our children are not immune to addiction’s deadly consequences.

In 2009, an estimated 28,068 visits to the emergency department misuse or abuse of drugs by children aged 12-14, according to a report by the Drug Abuse Warning Network. Half of these visits involved prescription and over-the-counter medications.

As the tide of prescription drug abuse rolled across the country, communities found themselves unprepared for the impending flood of problems and now struggle to react against the tsunami of addiction.

Recognizing that no single organization or agency could fend off this storm, UNITE launched the inaugural National Rx Drug Abuse Summit in 2012. Impacted parties came together for a holistic examination of what is being done to help solve the prescription drug problem, what could be done or done better, and to forge lasting partnerships and strategic alliances.

“Operation UNITE’s inaugural National Summit on Rx Drug Abuse was one of the most professional and well organized conferences I have ever been to,” stated Carla Saunders, NNP-BC, advance practice coordinator with Pediatrix Medical Group at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. “Power packed with excellent keynote speakers, the Summit brought hope to our team that has treated more than 400 prescription drug-exposed newborns suffering from withdrawal in the past two years.”

“We learned so much about the problem of prescription substance abuse and what can, and is, being done to combat the problem,” Saunders said. “We had incredible opportunities to ‘unite’ with others and see that there is hope. In hope there is strength, and in strength there is the power to make a difference.”
Last year’s conference sparked many on-going collaborations among stakeholders in this on-going battle. Feedback from the more than 700 participants has been used to shape discussion at the second Summit, to be held April 2-4, 2013, at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Florida. Breakout and general session programs will focus on ways participants can “Make An Impact” in the fight against prescription drug abuse.

With youth experimenting with drugs at an earlier and earlier age, it is incumbent on all stakeholders to identify and collaborate on successful educational strategies that will help change behaviors.

No single entity or initiative can solve our nation’s problems alone. In addition to grassroots educational efforts, law enforcement strategies and providing appropriate treatment/recovery programs for addicts, we must look at long-term cures – and that involves effective legislation at local, state and federal levels. The Summit brought recognition to work of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse and collaboration continues on strong Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs.

“This may be the biggest challenge of our society, and the only way this destructive trend can be reversed is if everyone — I mean, everyone – gets involved,” stated U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (WV-3rd), a keynote speaker at the first Summit. “Our nation’s future – our children’s and grandchildren’s future – hangs in the balance.”

We cannot let this problem go unchecked. Prescription drug abuse is growing out-of-control, draining limited resources and devastating families. Please join this important national conversation on April 2-4, 2013, and Make An Impact! Our future is at stake.

Karen Kelly, President/CEO, Operation United

Military Deployment Increases Risk of Substance Abuse in Young Family Members

By Join Together Staff | January 22, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Drugs, Military, Parenting, Research & Youth

Having a parent or sibling who has been deployed in the military increases the risk of drug and alcohol use among middle and high school students, a new study finds.

The study found multiple deployments by a parent or sibling was linked with an increased risk of lifetime and recent use of drugs and alcohol, MedicalXpress reports. The study found a high number of deployments was linked with a 14 percent increase in the likelihood of lifetime drug use, and an 18 percent increased risk of recent use.

The researchers at the University of Southern California School of Social Work found youth in grades 5 to 11 with a sibling in the military were more likely to use drugs than those with a parent in the military. The findings appear in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

“The potential for strain and the trauma associated with multiple deployments in the past 10 years of war seem to be driving this. People need to be aware that these experiences have an impact,” lead author Tamika Gilreath said in a news release. She added, “Everyone talks about the impact of parents, but no one talks about the impact of other close family members, such as siblings. There is research to suggest that the deployment of a sibling is similarly disruptive as parental deployment. Parental concern may influence their interactions with the younger sibling who is left to cope with their own sense of loss as well as their parents’.”

The researchers suggest schools with a high density of students with deployed family members should consider providing education about substance use. They also recommend that community medical providers increase substance abuse screening in these children.

Phone App Shows Effects of Drinking On Facial Appearance

By Join Together Staff | January 22, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Community Related & Prevention

A new phone app shows the effect of drinking alcohol on a person’s facial appearance. The “Drinking Mirror” is designed to make people aware of the physical toll of heavy alcohol consumption.

The app, which is free until March, is available for Android and iPhone users. People can upload or take a photo of themselves, and enter information about their drinking habits, The Washington Post reports. The app shows them how their face might age if they continue to consume alcohol at their current rate, by adding weight gain, dull skin, wrinkles and red cheeks.

The app is part of the Scottish government’s “Drop a Glass Size” campaign, launched by Health Secretary Alex Neil this month. “Evidence shows us that most people who drink alcohol, particularly at home, have no idea of how much they are actually consuming. This campaign will show people how small changes to their drinking habits can have a significant impact on their health and wellbeing,” he said in a news release.

.   January 22, 2013 New Study Results Shine a Light on Teen Behaviors When it comes to teen risky behaviors, the best information comes straight from the source - we'll never know what's going on in their world unless we ask. That's why the National institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) surveys teens about their drug, medicine, and alcohol abuse for its Monitoring the Future study every year. The results for 2012 are in, and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse remains around 5%. Every parent should read the survey findings to learn about the influences and pressures their teen might be facing. Read the Five Moms' summary of the report findings and check out Becky's take on how parents can use the report results for talking to their teens on our blog.  FROM THE FIVE MOMS BLOG Get Informed During Drug Facts Week If your New Year's Resolution was to educate your teens about the dangers of drugs, National Drug Facts Week is the perfect opportunity! This year, the week kicks off on January 28, and there are lots of ways to get your teen involved. You can visit the official site to test your drug IQ, plan your own event, or participate in Drug Facts Chat Day on January 31. If you're hosting or participating in an event, make sure to visit our Facebook page and tell us all about it!  You Asked, We Answered! In our Facebook poll, you asked for more tips and advice from prevention specialists, and we listened! Check out our guest posts from community coalitions such as the GRAAB Coalition and the Beachway Therapy Center to hear about the steps these groups are taking to prevent medicine abuse. Don't forget to visit the comments and let us know about great work happening in your community as well!  In 2013, we'll be bringing you the best resources and information on preventing teen drug abuse every quarter. Your next email newsletter from Stop Medicine Abuse will be coming in April, so make sure you add admin@stopmedicineabuse.org to your contacts so it goes straight to your inbox. Copyright © 2012 StopMedicineAbuse.org, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. StopMedicineAbuse.org 900 19th Street NW, Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20006 unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

The Hospital Tech Who Stole Needles | The Fix

The Hospital Tech Who Stole Needles | The Fix

HIS MANSION MINISTRIES NH

About

Christian counseling and long-term care for those dealing with addiction and other harmful habitual behaviors. We also offer volunteer and intern opportunities.

Company Overview

His Mansion is a Christ-centered residential recovery program. We help men and women between 18 and 35 years of age that have difficult life situations.

We provide help for adults dealing with Alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual addiction, pornography, eating disorders, depression, abuse, and other harmful habitual habits.

The program is approximately one year long.

We believe that true and ultimate healing comes by God the Father, through the work of Jesus Christ's atonement, by the agency of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, emphasis is placed upon the importance of becoming a new person in Christ.

From the day a new "resident" arrives, he or she is a member of His Mansion’s Healing in the Context of Community process. Their day consists of early rising, quiet time, breakfast, work assignment, Scripture-based classes and counseling, lunch, work assignments, supper, and evening routines.

During this daily time stream, Long Term Staff and Mentors serve beside the "residents," coaching and encouraging them. One-on-one counseling with a trained counselor is available as appropriate and necessary.

This process of mentoring, encouragement, intake of God’s Word, meaningful employment, and healthy lifestyle are regularly bathed in prayer. When all is said and done, if God’s Spirit doesn’t energize the process, no amount of counseling, coaching or encouraging will get the job accomplished. At His Mansion, we believe in miracles — and witness them!

• 395 Wolf Hill Road
• Deering, New Hampshire 03244

Phone	(603) 464-5555
Website	http://www.hismansion.com

Living Free Every Day®

Tell Your Story      JANUARY 21 2013

Today's Scripture
"Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." -  Matthew 5:16 MSG
Thoughts for Today
Appropriate self-disclosure can be a useful tool in a helping relationship. Sharing your own personal experiences and insight may help your friend understand how to deal with a life-controlling problem. Keep the conversation positive, telling about your mistakes but focusing on how God helped you and the things you learned through the process. A word of caution—don't overuse self-disclosure by talking too much, shifting the focus of the conversation toward you and away from the person you want to help.
It is also important that while sharing with others, you do not talk down to them, making them feel as though you are treating them like a child or an inferior person. Your self-disclosure should have a clear goal of providing insight your friend does not appear to have and moving him or her toward healing. Try to stay at the level of insight relevant to the person's need.
Consider this … 
Freedom from a life-controlling problem is a process. Pray that God will help you disclose all that will assist your friend in that process, but not so much as to produce confusion. And pray that God will use what you say to help set your loved one free.
Prayer
Father, help me be generous with my life and share with my friend those things that will hasten deliverance and healing. I pray that my self-disclosure will be an encouragement to my friend to open up to you. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …

Understanding the Times and Knowing What to Do by Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee. This book offers biblical strategies for ministry to our family and friends. Contemporary issues and needs faced by society are addressed with biblical principles that are timeless. Ideal for small group leaders and Sunday school teachers who want a better understanding of ministry in an addictive culture.
Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More

 

 

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.

COA Needs You! City of Angels NJ, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that runs entirely on volunteers. All COA Board members, Directors and helpers volunteer their time to a cause they believe in....do you have a few extra hours you could spare?    At 6:30 pm on the 4th Thursday of every month at the Dwier Center (392 Church Street, Groveville, NJ), COA holds volunteer meetings to discuss volunteer opportunities and match people with those opportunities. Volunteers are particularly needed to help with Rockfest in June 2013 and a major new event in September. This informal get-together is also a great way to meet new people, learn more about COA and enjoy a pleasant pizza dinner with friends.  The next volunteer meeting will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013. Pizza will be provided by Family Nest Italian Restaurant. For directions to the Dwier Center, click here.    If you are interested in volunteering with COA but can't attend the dinner, please contact Volunteer Director Lynn Cranstoun at lcwolflady@optonline.net. Recovery Coach Training - There's Still Room! As of today, 25 people are registered for the Recovery Coach Training Academy at City of Angels. This training was developed by the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) and has been provided to more than 2,000 people worldwide. There are still a few spots open but we are filling up quickly... If you would like to register for this groundbreaking program - or just learn more about it - click here. This training is invaluable for anyone who lives or works with people in recovery from drug addiction - including counselors, healthcare professionals, group leaders, teachers, parents, spouses and other family members. Speakers at Tonight's Spirituality Meeting Tonight's Spirituality Meeting will include speakers from U-Turn for Christ in Tennessee. U-Turn for Christ is a faith-based facility for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. It offers a highly structured, no-frills program that is incredibly affordable and effective. Over the past 18 months, COA has sent more than three dozen young men and women to U-Turn - don't miss this opportunity to learn more about how and why it works so well.   The Spirituality Meeting begins at 7:00 pm at the Dwier Center (392 Church Street, Groveville, NJ).

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 Sunday night Spirituality Meeting and the popular Sunday morning family support group, The Breakfast Club. 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.