CLPRM MUSIC FEST 2013 RAISING FUNDS FOR THE INMATE RELEASE AND RECOVERY SCHLORSHIP FUND

From: Bob Sofronski <bobsofronski@live.com>
Date:
To: Bob Sofronski <bobsofronski@live.com>
Subject: IMPORTANT CLPRM MUSIC FEST

Dear Ministry Partners and Friends of CLPRM,

The Conquering Grounds Music Festival we are setting up for September 14, 2013 is the single largest undertaking this ministry has ever attempted. Amazingly complex logistics,  that need to be fully developed, and expenses that need to be completely taken care of if this event is to be a success, while also serving as a genuine outreach to community. Remember this benefit event is to raise funds for the Inmate Release and Recovery Scholarship Fund. In order to make this all happen, we need to, first and foremost, commit everything to God as all our efforts at CLPRM are ALL about Him in the first place. Just as important, this event cannot succeed without each of you praying diligently, making the volunteer base available for that day, but Most Important, assisting us to obtain solid sponsorship, which will generate the funds we need to stage this entire day of activities. If we all pitch in, roll up our sleeves, and make this a real team effort,  Lives will be changed, the community will see Christ in action, God will be glorified and EACH of you who helped, even in a small way, WILL BE BLESSED!

Please check out the enclosed attachments, which describe our sponsorship packages in complete detail, and present this unique opportunity for everyone you can get them to.  People such as your auto mechanic, a nearby store or pizza shop that you always purchase from, a friend, a neighbor, or even your boss, just to name a few! We have carefully spent allot of time to put these together in a manner which is clearly explained, simple, effective and really sells itself. All you have to do is help us get the word out to as many Companies, Ministries, Churches, potentially interested individuals, and Organizations as possible by simply handing them a packet while letting God’s Holy Spirit take the seed that you have just planted and causing it to grow in the hearts of the potential sponsor!

We truly love each of you and value you far beyond what words can express. So together, we can make a difference in the lives of others who so desperately need our help. Sounds pretty simple, when you think about it. Just pray, have faith then take these few printed pieces of paper and simply give them, or even email them, to someone who may just be willing to help us, while promoting what they do in the process! Please make a list of those who you will need to follow up with. You won’t know until you try and, no matter what the result is, I GUARANTEE God will bless you in a mighty way just for making the effort!!

Thanks for taking the time to prayerfully consider what God may want you to do! We are so glad to serve with you and will always be here for you!  If you have any questions (or if anyone you give the sponsorship information to has questions or would like further information), please do not hesitate to contact me Bob Sofronski 215-833-2512 or my project manager, John Accunzo (267-701-2116) and we will get the answers and provide everything we can in order to make your efforts a complete success!

Have a blessed week!

Bob Sofronski

Chairman and Director, CLPRM

 
 

Bob Sofronski,  Chairman/Director

Christian Life Prison and Recovery Ministries, Inc.

PO BOX 1624

Southampton, PA 18966

215-833-2512
Fax # 267-988-4629
www.CLPRM.org

6 attachments — Download all attachments  

Pic of Stage fo CG music fest.jpg 143K   View   Share   Download

CLPRM Brochure with pics.pdf 208K   View   Download

CGC-CLPRM Event Sponsorship Letter.pdf 319K   View   Download

CGC Music Fest Sponsorship Form (1).pdf 486K   View   Download

CLC Grounds new.pdf 273K   View   Download

Conquering Grounds Outdoor Music Fest info half sheet.docx 365K   View   Download

New Meetings at the Dwier Center City of Angels NJ is proud to introduce a support group  for veterans which will kick-off on Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 pm at the Dwier Center - 392 Church Street, Hamilton NJ 08620. The meeting will be opened by Eric Arauz, who is a Navy veteran of Operation Desert Storm and president of AIE, Arauz Inspirational Enterprises, LLC.  "We are so fortunate to have Eric Arauz at our inaugural veterans support meeting. He is the author of An American's Resurrection, an internationally supported book on bipolar 1 disorder, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and child abuse", said Pam Wilson, Executive Director of City of Angels. Everyday, more veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan and while there are a variety of services afforded them, COA is offering a chance for them to just meet and talk to fellow veterans.  Assisting in coordinating the veterans support meeting will be COA's Lead Interventionist, Tom "Redneck" Clark, who himself is a Marine veteran. "In addition to Eric Arauz, we will have Rich Bulvid join us, as Rich was drafted into the U.S.Army out of high school and served in a Combat Infantry, Air Mobil Unit, 1st Air Cav. and was wounded se veral times, receiving the Purple Hearts (2), Bronze Star w V Device, Air Medal for Combat Air Assaults, CIB, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry", said Clark.      Other new meetings include a support group for those who self injure, each Saturday night at 6:00 pm and an NA meeting for women that begins at 7:00 pm every Tuesday night. For a complete list of meetings held at the Dwier Center and COA events, click here. Open House Videos The Effects of Addiction on the Brain.wmv City of Angels' 4th annual Open House was a huge success, with a full afternoon of speakers, information, camaraderie and of course, refreshments. If you missed some or all of it, videos of the speakers are now online. To watch keynote speaker and Trentonian columnist L.A. Parker discuss his journey of recovery, click here. For Launching Point founder Vicki Duffy discussing self injury, click here.    For Dr. Karl Benzio describing how addiction affects the brain, click here.

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 new Thursday night veteran's support group, Saturday night self-injury support group, 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 the 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.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/7PM-March-22---Revolution-Live---Fort-Lauderdale.html?soid=1102906894456&aid=VJSaF-Qh_f4

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/7PM-March-22---Revolution-Live---Fort-Lauderdale.html?soid=1102906894456&aid=VJSaF-Qh_f4

God's Word: You Can't Live Without It
by Rick Warren

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 NIV)
The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God. To become like Jesus, we must fill our lives with his Word. The Bible says, “Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us” (2 Timothy 3:17 MSG).
God’s Word is unlike any other word. It is alive. Jesus said, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63 NASB).
When God speaks, things change. Everything around you — all of creation — exists because “God said it.” He spoke it all into existence.
God’s Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever! We cannot live without the Word of God! Never take it for granted. You should consider it as essential to your life as food.
Job said, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12 NIV). God’s Word is the spiritual nourishment you must have to fulfill your purpose.
Talk About It
- How has knowing God’s Word transformed your life?
- Ask people what they do to stay in God’s Word. But also share with others what you do to stay in God’s Word. Learn from each other!
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life." His book, "The Purpose Driven Church," was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

This devotional © 2013 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Alcohol is Third Leading Cause of Global Disease and Injury, Study Finds

By Join Together Staff | March 5, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol

Alcohol is the third leading cause of disease and injury worldwide, even though the majority of adults do not drink, a new study concludes. Just over 40 percent of the world’s adult population consumes alcohol, said researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada.

They noted alcohol causes liver cirrhosis and leads to traffic accidents, and has also been linked to several types of cancer, including female breast cancer. “Alcohol consumption has been found to cause more than 200 different diseases and injuries,” lead author Kevin Shield noted in a news release. Only high blood pressure and tobacco smoking caused more disease and injury, the study found.

The researchers discovered wide regional variations in drinking patterns, MedicalXpress reports. For instance, drinkers in Europe and parts of sub-Saharan Africa consume the most alcohol, on average. People in southern sub-Saharan Africa frequently drink large quantities, drink until they become intoxicated, engage in prolonged binges, and drink mainly outside of meals.

Drinking is lightest in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, the study found. North Americans drink more than 50 percent above the worldwide average, and binge drink more than people in Europe.

Almost 30 percent of alcohol consumed in 2005 was “unrecorded,” meaning it was not meant for consumption, was home-brewed, or illegally produced. “The amount of unrecorded alcohol consumed is a particular problem, as its consumption is not impacted by public health alcohol policies, such as taxation, which can moderate consumption,” co-author Dr. Jürgen Rehm said.

The study appears in the journal Addiction.

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

Next free sessions start week of April 2 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.

 

Enjoy a Sober St. Patrick's Day  from The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.    252 West Swamp Road, Unit 12 Doylestown, PA 18901 215-345-6644 www.councilsepa.org

Celebrating the Irish Can Be Fun!                 There are about 35 million U.S. residents with Irish ancestry and roughly 145,000 U.S. residents who were born in Ireland. Most of us who want to celebrate all that's great about being Irish do it on St. Patrick's Day. But many people use the day as an excuse to get drunk, whether on green beer or other alcohol.                  Unfortunately, getting drunk is not one of the great things about the Irish. Many of our ancestors buried under the beautiful Celtic crosses in Ireland "drank themselves to death." So here are some tips for celebrating a fun and joyful day of honoring the Irish while staying sober:   Wear some green clothing--any shade. Get a leprechaun hat.  Spray your hair green; paint a shamrock on your cheek; wear a "Kiss Me I'm Irish" button. Start your day with the magical cereal, Lucky Charms! Add green food coloring to your milk! Cook some Corned Beef and Cabbage; or traditional green and white Colcannon. Make some pasta with green food coloring in the water and add some Alfredo sauce on top with chopped parsley. Make your own shamrock shakes--or you know where to get them!. Get together with a group of sober friends and watch an Irish movie (Once; The Commitments; Borstal Boy; The Magdalene Sisters; Angela's Ashes; Waking Ned Divine; Michael Collins). Put your feet up and celebrate Ireland's rich storytelling history by reading about some Irish myths and legends (Cu Chulainn, Finn MacCool, Oisin, Tir na nOg). Attend a St. Patrick's Day parade with friends and family family and hear some Irish music. Know that the next morning you will greet the sun with a smile and perhaps whistle Irish music you heard the previous day. If you want to attend an event where there is drinking, bring a sober friend.         If you believe, like many, that drinking alcohol is genetically in your Irish bloodline, you can break the chain by seeking recovery for yourself, your family, and your children's children. Recovery is not only possible; today recovery is real. For information or help, call The Council's 24-hour Information, Intervention, Recovery Support Line: 1-800-221-6333    For a free celebration of St. Patrick's Day come and join us at   PRO-ACT's Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center 1286 Veterans Highway, D-6, Bristol, PA    Sunday, March 17, 1:00 to 3:00 pm Food, entertainment, activities--face painting, crafts, Irish trivia, caricatures and more. . . Free of charge and Free of alcohol!   Please call 215-788-3738, ext 107  just so we have a head count www.councilsepa.org

Federal Judges Work With Prosecutors to Create Drug Courts

By Join Together Staff | March 4, 2013 | 2 Comments | Filed in Drugs, Government, Legal & Treatment

Following decades of success for drug courts at the state level, federal judges around the nation are collaborating with prosecutors to create the special treatment programs for defendants who are addicted to drugs, The New York Times reports.

These defendants normally would face significant time in prison, the article notes. The judges hope to work around drug laws that are often seen as too harsh and inflexible. The Justice Department is permitting U.S. attorneys to reduce or even dismiss charges in some drug cases.

Defendants in drug court must accept responsibility for their crime, and agree to receive drug treatment and other social services. They must attend regular meetings with judges, who monitor their progress. If they successfully participate in the program, they receive a reduced sentence, or even no jail time. Failure to successfully complete the program results in them being sent to prison. Defendants facing more serious charges are not eligible for drug court.

Legal experts say drug courts are a less costly and more effective option than prison for many low-level repeat offenders. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, every dollar spent on drug courts yields more than two dollars in savings in the criminal justice system alone.

Federal judges have instituted drug court programs in California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington. So far, about 400 defendants have been involved in federal drug court programs.

The United States Sentencing Commission has established guidelines for sentencing since 1984, after studies found federal judges were giving different sentences for similar crimes. Judges feel the guidelines interfere with their judicial independence, according to the article. “When you impose a sentence that you believe is unjust, it is a very difficult thing to do,” Stefan R. Underhill, a federal judge in Connecticut, told the newspaper. “It feels wrong.”

Conquering Grounds Café
Saturday Night March 9, 2013

At Christian Life Center, 3100 Galloway Rd Bensalem, Pa 19020
In The Edge Building
Doors open at 6:30 Event starts at 7pm
Appearing
Latin Worship Band " Sandro El Siete"
plus Special Guest Holy Hip-Hop Psalmist "Virtuous"
This is a FREE event and open to everyone. There will be hot and cold beverages and goodies to eat, all free of charge. Come out and join us for a great night of music and fellowship.
Bob Sofronski, Chairman/Director
Christian Life Prison and Recovery Ministries, Inc.
PO BOX 1624
Southampton, PA 18966
215-833-2512
Fax # 267-988-4629
www.CLPRM.org

www.recoverywalks.org

Recovery Walks! 2013 Is on September 21

THE PHILLIES vs. ATLANTA BRAVES

Friday Evening, September 6, 2013!



National Recovery Night at the Baseball Game
6:00 pm Gathering - 7:05 pm Game Time
Citizens Bank Park
North Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia

Enjoy a fun Phillies night of baseball with about 500 other fans in recovery! Watch the Philliestake on the Atlanta Braves at home without everyone around you drinking beer! For the 8th consecutive year, PRO-ACT will participate in this annual baseball game, developed to gain national visibility for recovery in celebration of SAMHSA's National Recovery Month of September. Attendees in these sections are requested not to consume or purchase alcohol. Parking is $15--get a group together and car pool--or take SEPTA.


To Order Tickets and Pay Online

Tickets are $20 each, $4 of which funds PRO-ACT services

It's easy and secure!

Just click HERE

Organize your friends and team members and enjoy a night out!

First come, first served--don't wait too long

And Look Who's Throwing Out the First Pitch

Jackie Ferrer of Recovery Walks! 2012

Jackie won this Prize by being Captain of Team Ricky Ferrer

who walked last year and raised the most donations for PRO-ACT


They walked in honor of Jackie's brother, Ricky





www.councilsepa.org

Alcohol Therapy May Improve Domestic Violence Problems in the Short Term

Alcohol Therapy May Improve Domestic Violence Problems in the Short Term
By Join Together Staff | February 28, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Research & Treatment

Male heavy drinkers arrested for domestic violence, who participate in a therapy session devoted to alcohol, were less aggressive toward their partners in the months after the counseling, according to a new study.

Men arrested for domestic violence generally are referred by the court to group education sessions that don’t always address alcohol use, even though a high percentage of domestic violence involves drinking, Reuters reports.

Previous research has found these programs are particularly ineffective for men involved in domestic violence who have drinking problems, according to researchers of the new study from the University of Tennessee. They studied 252 men who were arrested for violence against an intimate partner, and who reported binge drinking—having five or more drinks on one occasion—at least once a month.

All of the men attended court-mandated domestic violence education programs that consisted of 20 two-hour sessions of group education. Half of the men also attended a 90-minute individual substance abuse session with a therapist.

Participants completed a survey about their behavior at three, six and 12 months after the program ended. The researchers also gathered police reports related to the study participants. On average, all of the men in the study reported lower violence levels after one year. The men who received the extra alcohol counseling session had greater short-term improvement in violence and alcohol consumption, compared with men who did not receive the individual alcohol counseling, the researchers report in the journal Addiction.

Men who received alcohol counseling were less physically aggressive toward their partners at the three-month mark, and less psychologically aggressive at six months. They also drank less per day at three months, and drank less often at six months. However, after one year, the levels of physical and psychological aggression in both groups were similar.

Lead researcher Gregory Stuart told Reuters he thinks the results of this study are a promising start toward improving batterer programs. “The goal is to gently lead them to the conclusion that potentially stopping the use of alcohol and drugs is a good idea,” he said.- See more at: http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/alcohol/alcohol-therapy-may-improve-domestic-violence-problems-in-the-short-term?utm_source=Join+Together+Daily&utm_campaign=93e5b11d7c-JT_Daily_News_Youth_Involved_in_AA_Related&utm_medium=email#sthash.ZO46LARo.dpuf

Affordable Care Act to Provide Substance Abuse Treatment to Millions of New Patients                  By Celia Vimont | February 26, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Addiction, Government, Healthcare, Insurance, Prevention & Treatment


The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will revolutionize the field of substance abuse treatment, according to A. Thomas McLellan, PhD, CEO and co-founder of the Treatment Research Institute.

“It will have more far-reaching positive consequences for substance abuse treatment than anything in my lifetime, including the discovery of methadone,” he said at the recent annual meeting of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine. “It will integrate substance abuse treatment into the rest of health care.”

Currently, just 2.3 million Americans receive any type of substance abuse treatment, which is less than one percent of the total population of people who are affected by the most serious of the substance use disorders—addiction, said Dr. McLellan, who is a former Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Most who receive treatment are severely affected, he said.

“If diabetes were treated like substance abuse, only people in the most advanced stages of illness would be covered, such as those who had already lost their vision or had severe kidney damage,” he said.


A. Thomas McLellan, PhD

Dr. McLellan reported that 23 million American adults suffer from substance abuse or dependence—about the same number of adults who have diabetes. An additional 60 million people engage in “medically harmful” substance use, such as a woman whose two daily glasses of wine fuels growth of her breast cancer. The new law will allow millions more people to receive treatment, including those whose substance abuse is just emerging.

Under the ACA, substance abuse treatment will also become part of primary care, and will be focused more on prevention. Substance abuse treatment will also be considered an “essential service,” meaning health plans are required to provide it. They must treat the full spectrum of the disorder, including people who are in the early stages of substance abuse. “There will be more prevention, early intervention and treatment options,” he said. “The result will be better, and less expensive, outcomes.”

By the end of 2014, under the ACA, coverage of substance use disorders is likely to be comparable to that of other chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, asthma and diabetes. Government insurers (Medicare and Medicaid) will cover physician visits (including screening, brief intervention, assessment, evaluation and medication), clinic visits, home health visits, family counseling, alcohol and drug testing, four maintenance and anti-craving medications, monitoring tests and smoking cessation.

Currently, federal benefits, such as Medicaid and Medicare, focus on inpatient services, like detox programs, but do not cover office visits for substance abuse treatments. In contrast, Medicaid covers 100 percent of diabetes-related physician visits, clinic visits and home health visits, as well as glucose tests, monitors and supplies, insulin and four other diabetes medications, foot and eye exams, and smoking cessation for diabetics. “These are all primary care prevention and management services, which are the most effective and cheapest way of managing illness,” he said.

The impact of these new rules will be quite substantial, since an estimated 65 percent of insured Americans are covered by Medicaid or Medicare, and the rest are covered by insurance companies that base their benefits structure on federal benefits, said Dr. McLellan.

As addiction becomes treated as a chronic illness, pharmaceutical companies will be much more interested in developing new medications, he added. “Immense markets are being created,” he said. “Until now, there have been about 13,000 treatment providers for substance use disorders, and less than half of those are doctors. Now, 550,000 primary care doctors, in addition to nurses who can prescribe medications, will be caring for these patients.”- See more at: http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/addiction/affordable-care-act-to-provide-substance-abuse-treatment-to-millions-of-new-patients?utm_source=Join+Together+Daily&utm_campaign=dff816eb3f-JT_Daily_News_13_House_Members&utm_medium=email#sthash.dtJLAnvi.dpuf

Study Links Substance Abuse, Chaotic Family Life to Violence Among Teens in Denver
By Join Together Staff | February 27, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related, Drugs, Prevention & Youth

A new study links substance abuse, early exposure to violence and chaotic family life, to teenage violence in one Denver neighborhood. The study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is part of a five-year effort to classify risk factors that promote teen violence. The new results come from the first year of the project.

The study involves more than 800 door-to-door surveys and interviews with more than 2,000 students, The Denver Post reports. The researchers from the University of Colorado’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence found 23 percent of youths said they were involved in a violent act when they were 10 or 11, and 6 percent said they used drugs at that age. Participation in religious activities was found to be the greatest deterrent to teen violence, the study found.

Community leaders in the Montebello neighborhood of Denver plan to use the information from the surveys to create a community action plan that will target the risk factors, the article notes. Their goal is to reduce teen violence and problematic behaviors by 10 percent among children ages 10 to 17 in the neighborhood by 2016.

According to the university, the project aims to reduce rates of serious violent crime and gang-related violence, in addition to rates of drug and alcohol abuse, gang participation, fighting, and bullying or being bullied in schools.- See more at: http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/drugs/study-links-substance-abuse-chaotic-family-life-to-violence-among-teens-in-denver?utm_source=Join+Together+Daily&utm_campaign=e46fb0f8bb-JT_Daily_News_Parity_Act_Leads_to_&utm_medium=email#sthash.hRECvhKP.dpuf

CALENDAR LISTING:

“Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit” Workshop March 19 in Doylestown

Free monthly workshop series for individuals and families with a current or pastdrug/alcohol addiction issue. Next session meets Tuesday, March 19, 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 prescription drug abuse, “Kyle: Rehabs, Jail and Sobriety” and a group discussion period. Refreshments. To register, call 215-345-6644 or email JSchwartz@councilsepa.org.

THE A TEAM

About
We are an informally structured grassroots organization concerned about drug dependence and related deaths in our Westmoreland County Communities.
DescriptionWe are the voices of families, loved ones and former addicts who have lost our children, siblings and friends to this rampant disease. We have found each other because no one else was listening and our voices together are louder than our individual pleas for help. We are not often the known ‘experts’ in the field of addictions, but we have a deeper intimate understanding of the effects of addiction than anyone should ever have to know. We have cried in the dark and screamed in the daylight and those we thought should listen and help have not seemed to hear. But now, with a stronger voice, a coalition is forming of those who hear and intend to act.


Created February 11, 2013
Awards Each day that an addict celebrates the freedsom from substance abuse!
Products A life in recovery!


Contact Info
Phone 724-570-2111

FDA Approves Two Generic Versions of Suboxone

By Join Together Staff | February 25, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Government,Legal, Prescription Drugs & Treatment


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the maker of the opioid addiction treatment Suboxone that it has approved two generic versions of the drug, according to Reuters. The company, Reckitt Benckiser, had asked the agency to block the generic products because of concerns over pediatric poisonings.


Reckitt asked the FDA to refuse applications from generic drug makers unless they adopted stricter packaging standards. The FDA decided there was not enough evidence to support the need for stricter packaging, Reuters notes.


The agency said it received comments that Reckitt’s request was an anti-competitive practice, and will refer the company to the Federal Trade Commission.


The company voluntarily withdrew the sale of Suboxone tablets in the United States, and instead is selling individually sealed film strips, which melt under the tongue. Reckitt said tablets posed a risk of poisoning for children who accidentally got hold of them.


In a statement, Reckitt noted it “is disappointed with the decision but will continue to work with the FDA on safety enhancements.” The company said it will carry on with the decision to discontinue the sale of tablets of Suboxone in the United States.

Commentary: New Skills to Prevent Drug Abuse Presented at 2013 CADCA Forum

By Mary Elizabeth Elliott | February 22, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related & Prevention

Community and youth leaders from across the country learned new strategies to prevent substance abuse at CADCA's Forum.

As a longtime Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) team member, it was my 15th year of 6:30 am staff meetings and grueling conference schedules. And yet, the amazing people that attended CADCA’s 23rd National Leadership Forum renewed my spirit and gave me even greater energy to help coalitions transform their communities and improve public health and safety.

From 43 states and as far away as Moscow and the island of Palau, 2,600 community and state leaders converged at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center just outside of Washington, D.C. for four days in February for the Forum. Participants formed new partnerships and learned new strategies in the art and science of effective coalition building.

The CADCA Forum – the premier training conference for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers – kicked off Monday, February 4 with longtime federal partner the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 9th Prevention Day.

The Forum featured more than 90 workshops aimed at helping CADCA’s network of 5,000 coalitions develop comprehensive evidence-based strategies to prevent the use of illicit drugs like marijuana, as well as underage and binge drinking, youth tobacco use, and the abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines in order to achieve community-level change.

Participants also had the opportunity to participate in “power sessions” with key leaders from federal agencies, such as SAMHSA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), where they heard the latest research and policy updates.

“By preventing drug use, abuse and addiction, we are saving lives. The fact that we help young people live up to their potential and make communities safer and healthier is powerful,” CADCA’s Chairman and CEO, Gen. Arthur Dean told the packed ballroom at the opening plenary.

The Forum traditionally welcomes the ONDCP Director as a keynote and this year was no different. Director Gil Kerlikowske told participants that, “We need you—and prevention professionals across the country—to continue your work to prevent drug use and its related consequences. At the end of the day, prevention is the most powerful alternative to legalization or a ‘war on drugs’ in America.”

As critical as it is that we hear from our federal leaders, the event strives to bring in speakers that can give attendees inspiration and new tools. Keynote speaker Dorie Clark (@DorieClark), a branding expert and regular contributor to Forbes and the Harvard Business Review, gave us all a tutorial on messaging through social media.

The Forum is always in the Washington, D.C. area, providing an opportunity to coalesce as a national movement and connect with key policymakers all at one time. The audience heard directly from a record number of Members of Congress, including Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Reps. Karen Bass (D-37th/CA); Elijah Cummings (D-7th/MD); Michael Fitzpatrick (R-8th/PA); William Keating (D-10th/MA); Bill Johnson (R-6th/OH); Harold Rogers (R-5th/KY); and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-40th/CA).

Attendees also heard from former Congresswoman and new CADCA Board Member Mary Bono Mack, who received our 2013 National Leadership Award. “I am very honored to receive this award from CADCA. Their good work does a lot to raise the awareness of the epidemic of drug use and ultimately to save lives of countless people around our country. I look forward to our continued work together,” Bono Mack said.

During “Capitol Hill Day,” over a thousand participants took to the Hill to educate their U.S. Representatives and Senators about the effectiveness of community coalitions and the importance of substance abuse prevention. CADCA’s Public Policy Consultant Sue Thau, who has been with the organization since its inception 20 years ago, rallied the crowd noting “Funding for prevention is down 47.3 percent over the past seven years, and if we are to avoid a train wreck of drug use and underage drinking, we cannot afford to cut anymore.”

Asking the attendees to engage in some old-fashioned “pounding the pavement” for prevention, Thau reminded the audience, “You have very powerful stories of how you have kept kids and communities on track with your work.”

Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), who met with 20 people from three coalitions in Michigan, noted on his Facebook page: “This week marked the 2013 National Leadership Forum of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). A number of Michigan-based coalitions came down to DC to share ideas on how to best reduce youth drug and alcohol use in their communities. The most impressive thing about this forum? Meeting the enthusiastic youth leaders who are creating positive change among their peers across Michigan.”

There was not a moment to rest at the event. Besides the traditional workshops, it featured numerous tobacco-free living strategy training sessions, early-morning first-timers’ and members’ breakfasts, a Monday night reception and Ideas Fair, special offerings in the Exhibit Hall throughout the week, and CADCA set aside time for state and territory meetings to help states strategize for Hill visits and state-level challenges. Ninety coalitions formally graduate from their year-long National Coalition Academy, a training initiative of CADCA’s national Coalition Institute. A special session hosted by CADCA offered more insights on the new Smart Approaches to Marijuana organization, being spearheaded by former Rep. Patrick Kennedy.

Bringing additional energy to the conference were over 250 youth who were part of CADCA’s National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI).

Lauren Foisy, from the Bucks Promise for Youth and Communities in Bucks County, PA, first attended the CADCA Forum when she was a fifth-grader. This time around the 18-year-old NYLI participant said it equipped her with helpful skills and ideas that she plans on putting into practice when she returns to her community.

“With the training I have received at CADCA, I feel like I have the tools to take back home and build something effective,” Foisy said.

Forum attendees will be able to view video recordings and training session PowerPoints on the Forum website in the coming weeks. Photos are available on CADCA’s Facebook page. CADCA now turns its attention to “Big Ideas for Social Change” in the Lone Star State, as Austin, TX is the site for the 11th annual CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute on July 22-25.

Mary Elizabeth Elliott

VP of Communications, Membership and IT

CADCA

Contact - Intervention 911

Contact - Intervention 911

Southampton Man Faces Involuntary Manslaughter Charge in Teen Drug Overdose Death

Luke Edward Bonhage, 22, is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with the death of a teen.

   

At Luke Edward Bonhage’s preliminary hearing Thursday in Richboro, Assistant District Attorney Chris Rees withdrew felony charges of drug delivery resulting in death, criminal trespassing and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance.
However, the 22-year-old Upper Southampton man waived his right to a full preliminary hearing and is now set to face a new misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter when his case is heard at county court in Doylestown.
Before the drug delivery resulting in death charge was withdrawn, Bonhage was the first person in Bucks County be charged with that offense, according to the prosecution.
Bonhage is charged in connection to the death of a 19-year-old woman who was found unresponsive on the couch in his parent’s home on Dennis Road in December 2011. It is believed by authorities that she suffered an adverse reaction to prescription drugs Bonhage gave her, according to a report from PhillyBurbs.com
The PhillyBurbs report detailed the  following chain of events in regards to the day of the incident:

Text messages between Bonhage and the 19-year-old victim show the duo went to a lot on Jaymor Road, where Bonhage’s car was impounded, due to a DUI arrest earlier in the day, and jumped a fence. Once in the lot, the 22-year-old retrieved prescription drugs from his car.
The victim and Bonhage spent a portion of the night of December 4, 2011 smoking marijuana and snorting crushed prescription pills. The victim began to have a bad reaction and was carried to the couch where she was found dead the next morning.

 An autopsy conducted by the Bucks County coroner ruled the woman’s death was caused by a drug overdose.
The drug delivery resulting in death legislation was introduced by State Representative Bernie O’Neill, whose district covers parts of Buckingham, New Hope, Upper Southampton, Warminster, Warwick, and signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett in July of last year.
Prior to the new law, prosecutors had to prove malice when charging a drug dealer in connection with the death of a victim who expired after taking a substance they were given or sold.
With the new law, all prosecutors have to do is prove that the drug dealer provided the substance that killed the victim.
After the hearing let out, Robert Mancini, Bonhage's hired defense attorney, and ADA Rees would not comment on the amendments to the charges.
It is unclear whether the change in charges was due to a plea deal.
Bonhage is currently out of prison on $20,000 unsecured bail for the charges connected with the woman’s death, and $5,000 related to his DUI charges.

Related Topics: Luke Edward Bonhage, Police, Upper Southampton Police Department, and bernie o'neill

Prescription drug abuse destroys lives with death and crime - News - The Times-Tribune

Prescription drug abuse destroys lives with death and crime - News - The Times-Tribune

Falcon Jess Testimonial

Children More Likely to Accept Drug Use if Parents Admit Past Substance Use

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

Middle school students are less likely to think using drugs is bad if their parents told them about their own past substance use, a new study finds. Children whose parents warned them not to use drugs were more likely to avoid them, ABC News reports.

The study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign included 561 middle school students. They were less likely to accept drug use if their parents set rules against drugs, and told them about people who have gotten into trouble because of drugs.

“Parents should really hit on what are the bad things that can happen, health-wise, from using drugs,” researcher Jennifer Kam told ABC News. ”They should really clearly tell kids that they disapprove of them using drugs. Also, give them strategies to avoid use or decline use in a way that makes them look cool.”

She advised parents against lying. “I wouldn’t volunteer the information, but if a child asks, and a parent lies, it could impact the relationship later on,” she noted.

The study appears in the journal Human Communication Research.

Can the Lizard King Come Back Clean? | The Fix

Can the Lizard King Come Back Clean? | The Fix

Essential Health Benefits” Rule Covers Drug Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Treatment

By Join Together Staff | February 21, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Drugs, Government, Healthcare, Insurance, Mental Health & Treatment

The federal government on Wednesday issued a final rule on “essential health benefits” that most health insurance plans must offer next year, including treatment of drug addiction and alcohol abuse.

The New York Times reports the Obama administration says 32 million people will gain access to coverage of mental health care as a result of the new benefits. An additional 30 million people who already have some mental health coverage will see an improvement in their benefits, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said. She noted the new ruling will make it easier for consumers to compare health plans.

In the past, nearly 20 percent of individuals purchasing insurance didn’t have access to mental health services, and nearly one-third had no coverage for substance use disorder services, according to a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) news release. The new rule provides more Americans with access to quality health care that includes coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services, HHS states.

Each state will set its own benchmark insurance plan that reflects coverage typically offered by employers, the article notes. More than 30 states are using a plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield as their benchmark.

Heroin Addiction on the Rise in New York State

By Join Together Staff | February 21, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Community Related, Drugs & Prescription Drugs

A growing number of people are becoming addicted to heroin in New York state, according to drug treatment counselors and police. They say many people have switched to heroin from prescription painkillers, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, the Associated Press reports.

Police report the people they arrest for heroin often started on painkillers prescribed by a doctor, then started purchasing them on the street. They turned to heroin because it is less expensive.

Many areas around the country are seeing a surge in heroin addiction that stems from prescription drug abuse. A study published in July 2012 in the New England Journal of Medicine found OxyContin abuse has decreased now that the painkiller has been reformulated to make it more difficult to misuse. Many people who abused the drug have switched to heroin.

The study included more than 2,500 people who were dependent on opioids, who were followed between July 2009 and March 2012. During that time, there was a 17 percent decrease in OxyContin abuse. In 2010, the company that makes OxyContin introduced a new version of the drug that is more difficult to inhale or inject. During the same period, heroin abuse doubled.

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Drug-Sniffing Dog

By Join Together Staff | February 20, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Drugs & Legal

The Supreme Court ruled police do not have to extensively document a drug-sniffing dog’s expertise to justify relying on the canine to search a vehicle, according to The Washington Post.

The unanimous ruling overturned a Florida Supreme Court decision involving Aldo, a German shepherd. After the dog detected drugs in a pickup truck, a police officer searched the truck and found 200 pseudoephedrine pills and 8,000 matches, which are used to make methamphetamine. The Florida Supreme Court ruled police must compile detailed evidence of the dog’s reliability before probable cause to search the vehicle is established.

In Tuesday’s ruling, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan suggested proper training and certification of a dog, instead of how it performs in the field, could be enough. “The question — similar to every inquiry into probable cause — is whether all the facts surrounding a dog’s alert, viewed through the lens of common sense, would make a reasonably prudent person think that a search would reveal contraband or evidence of a crime,” she wrote. “A sniff is up to snuff when it meets that test. . . . Aldo’s did.”

The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on a second dog-sniffing case, involving a chocolate Lab named Franky. Florida’s Supreme Court ruled the dog’s ability to detect marijuana growing inside a home in Miami by sniffing outside the house was unconstitutional. The state’s attorney general is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the ruling.

Franky, who recently retired after seven years with the Miami-Dade Police Department, is responsible for the seizure of more than 2.5 tons of marijuana and $4.9 million in drug-contaminated money.

Mapping Location of Alcohol Outlets, Drug Activity and Crime Could Aid Prevention

By Join Together Staff | February 20, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Alcohol, Community Related, Drugs & Prevention

Mapping the location of alcohol outlets, drug activity and violent crimes could help police prevent violence, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Michigan studied the relationship between violent crimes in Boston drug markets, and the types and densities of alcohol outlets in those areas, MedicalXpress reports. They analyzed data on homicides and aggravated assault incidents, drug arrests and 911 calls, along with 2009 alcohol outlet data from the Massachusetts Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. They also examined census data.

They found areas with the highest levels of violent crime were poorer and had greater numbers of alcohol outlets and higher drug arrest rates.

“Identification of such ‘hot spots’ may help in identifying micro-environments: blocks or intersections whose characteristics facilitate violent behavior. Our study helps identify such micro-environments, an emerging area of criminology research, in Boston,” the authors wrote in the American Journal of Public Health.

Number of Deadly Drug Overdoses Rises for 11th Year

By Join Together Staff | February 20, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Prescription Drugs & Research

The number of deadly drug overdoses in the United States increased for the 11th consecutive year, according to new government data. More than 22,000 people died of overdoses involving prescription drugs in 2010, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In total, 38,329 people died of drug overdoses that year. Of the 57 percent whose deaths involved prescription drugs, three-quarters were due to painkillers such as OxyContin and Percocet, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. They reported their findings this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

More than 74 percent of deaths due to prescription drugs were accidental, while 17 percent were suicides, the article notes.

Opioids were found in 77 percent of overdoses involving benzodiazepines such as Valium, Xanax or Ativan. They were also involved in 65 percent of overdoses with antiepileptic or anti-Parkinsonian drugs, 47 percent of overdoses involving antidepressants, and 56 percent of overdoses with fever-reducing and anti-inflammatory medications.