Today's Online Meetings November 7 2013

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"Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps" - David Lloyd George

Today's Online Meetings
AA Meeting - 9:00 pm CST: "Thursday Night AA "



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Drug Used to Treat Epilepsy Can Help People with Alcoholism: Study

By Join Together Staff | November 5, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed inAlcohol, Research & Treatment

The drug gabapentin, used to treat epilepsy and some types of pain, can help people with alcoholism quit drinking, a new study concludes.

The 12-week study of 150 alcohol-dependent participants found gabapentin decreased the number of days people drank heavily, and at least tripled the percentage of people who were able to stop drinking altogether, compared with those receiving a placebo. The drug also reduced alcohol craving and improved mood and sleep quality, Forbes reports.

After 12 weeks, 4 percent of those receiving a placebo were completely abstinent, compared with 11 percent of those receiving 900 milligrams of gabapentin, and 17 percent of those receiving 1,800 milligrams of gabapentin. Among those receiving a placebo, 22 percent reported no heavy drinking days (more than four drinks a day for women, and five for men), compared with 30 percent taking 800 milligrams of gabapentin, and 45 percent taking 1,800 milligrams.

The study appears in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Gabapentin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating epilepsy and neuropathic pain, a complex, chronic pain state that is usually accompanied by tissue injury.

“Gabapentin’s effect on drinking outcomes is at least as large or greater than those of existing FDA-approved treatments,” lead researcher Barbara J. Mason of The Scripps Research Institute said in a news release. “Plus it’s the only medication shown to improve sleep and mood in people who are quitting or reducing their drinking, and it’s already widely used in primary care—that’s an appealing combination.”

There are currently several drugs treatments available for alcohol dependence, but they have limitations, the researchers said. Disulfiram (Antabuse) and naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol), are relatively ineffective against anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and other withdrawal symptoms. “They are also, by design, somewhat unpleasant—which often discourages patients from using them,” the release notes.

Acamprosate (Campral), a newer drug approved for alcoholism treatment, has not been shown to improve mood or sleep, the researchers said.

POWER IN THE PROVERB

November 7 v4 v 5 POWER IN THE PROVERB
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and to insight, “You are my relative.”
 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

Latest Synthetic Drug to Hit St. Louis: “N-Bomb”

By Join Together Staff | November 5, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed inCommunity Related & Drugs


The synthetic drug known as “N-Bomb” is being seen on the streets of St. Louis, KMOX reports. The drug is also known as “Smiles,” according to Dan Duncan, with the local office of the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.


The drug is often called N-Bomb because its chemical name is 25I-NBOMe. It is made from mescaline, and is similar to LSD. It is ingested as a liquid, powder, or on a blotter, the article notes. The drug can be harmful to kidneys, and can trigger mental health issues.


Last month, WHTM reported N-Bomb was believed to be responsible for the death of a high school student in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In May, police in Scottsdale, Arizona said they were investigating whether the deaths of two 18-year-olds were linked to N-Bomb.

POWER IN THE PROVERB

November 6 v 20 v 21 v 22 v 23  POWER IN THE PROVERB
 My son, keep your father’s [God-given] commandment and forsake not the law of [God]
 Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck.
 When you go, they [ God] shall lead you; why you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you waken, they shall talk with you.
 For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life,.
My advice read the instruction manaual  (BIBLE) !

Experts Voice Concern Over FDA Approval of New Hydrocodone Drug

By Join Together Staff | November 4, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Addiction,Government & Prescription Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the first pure hydrocodone drug in the United States concerns law enforcement agencies and addiction experts, who predict overdose deaths will increase, Newsday reports.


The drug, Zohydro ER (extended release), was approved for patients with pain that requires daily, around-the-clock, long-term treatment that cannot be treated with other drugs. Drugs such as Vicodin contain a combination of hydrocodone and other painkillers such as acetaminophen. Zohydro is expected to reach the market in early 2014.


In December 2012, a panel of experts assembled by the FDA voted against recommending approval of Zohydro ER. The panel cited concerns over the potential for addiction. In the 11-2 vote against approval, the panel said that while the drug’s maker, Zogenix, had met narrow targets for safety and efficacy, the painkiller could be used by people addicted to other opioids, including oxycodone.


Zohydro is potentially 10 times stronger when abused than hydrocodone combination products, according to the article. Zohydro is designed to be released over time, and can be crushed and snorted by people seeking a strong, quick high. The opioid drug OxyContin has been reformulated to make it harder to crush or dissolve, but Zohydro does not include similar tamper-resistant features, the newspaper notes.


Zogenix has started the development of an abuse deterrent formulation of Zohydro , according to a company statement.


“That the FDA has approved another incredibly powerful painkiller without [tamper-proof features] is both disconcerting and dangerous,” said Jeffrey Reynolds, Executive Director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, who told the FDA expert panel he opposed Zohydro’s approval without safety features. “While this drug might be a godsend for people with acute pain, it’s a potential nightmare for those struggling with or at risk for addiction.”