Six Ways Your Family Is At Risk From Addiction

How it affects your loved ones.

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By Pamela Wray

05/22/14

SOURCE THE FIX

ADDICTION IS A PROCESS

Addiction must be viewed as a process that is progressive, and an illness - not a disease - which undergoes continuous development from a starting point to an ending point. According to Craig Nakken in his book, The Addictive Personality: Understanding the Addictive Process and Compulsive Behavior, “we must first understand what all addictions and addictive processes have in common: the out-of-control and aimless searching for wholeness, happiness, and peace through a relationship with an object or event. No matter what the addiction is, every addict engages in a relationship with an object or event in order to produce a desired mood change or state of intoxication. The crucial crux of the situation is that the addict will not recover unless he or she wants to recover regardless of any intervention!"

After spending many years on drugs, even young, otherwise healthy bodies fight back. The vibrations of an addict are of a very specific sort - they ricochet out of control, mostly out of reach. The energy called up by the drug quickly disperses, leaving a void, a nothingness. Nature abhors a vacuum, so negative forces rush in, take up residence. The only immediate relief is more narcotics. This is the vicious cycle of addiction for an addict. 

DIFFERENT EFFECTS FOR DIFFERENT FAMILY STRUCTURES

In days past, when society spoke of “family,” it was typically referring to Mom, Dad and the kids, plus grandparents and an aunt or uncle. Family structures in America have become more complex - growing from the traditional nuclear family to single‐parent families, stepfamilies, foster families, and multigenerational families. Therefore, when a family member abuses substances, the effect on the family may differ according to family structure.

SMALL CHILDREN

A growing body of literature suggests that substance abuse has distinct effects on different family structures. For example, the parent of small children may attempt to compensate for deficiencies that his or her substance‐abusing spouse has developed as a result of drug abuse. Frequently, children act as surrogate spouses for the parent who abuses substances, according to S. Brown and Lewis V. in The Alcoholic Family in Recovery: A Developmental Model. In a single‐parent household, children are likely to behave in a manner that is not age‐appropriate to compensate for the parental deficiency.

Empirical studies have shown that a parent’s alcohol problem can have cognitive, behavioral, psychosocial, and emotional consequences for children. Among the lifelong problems documented are impaired learning capacity; a propensity to develop a substance use disorder; adjustment problems including increased rates of divorce, violence, and the need for control in relationships; andother mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and low self‐esteem.

PARTNERS

The consequences of an adult who abuses substances and lives alone or with a partner are likely to be economic and psychological. Money may be spent for drug use; the partner who is not using substances often assumes the provider role. Psychological consequences may include denial or protection of the person with the substance abuse problem, chronic anger, stress, anxiety, hopelessness, inappropriate sexual behavior, neglected health, shame, stigma, and isolation.

PARENTS OF GROWN CHILDREN

Alternately, the aging parents of adults with substance use disorders may maintain inappropriately dependent relationships with their grown offspring, missing the necessary “launching phase” in their relationship, so vital to the maturational processes of all family members involved.

When an adult, age 65 or older, abuses a substance, it is most likely to be alcohol and/or prescription medication. The 2012 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that 12.5 percent of older adults reported binge drinking and 6.4 percent reported heavy drinking within the past month of the survey. Veteran’s hospital data indicate that, in many cases, older adults may be receiving excessive amounts of one class of addictive tranquilizer (benzodiazepines), even though they should receive lower doses. 

Further, older adults take these drugs longer than other age groups. Older adults consume three times the number of prescription medicine as the general population, and this trend is expected to grow, as children of the Baby Boom (born 1946–1958) become senior citizens, according to “The epidemiology of alcohol use, problems, and dependence in elders: A review” by K.K. Bucholz, Y. Sheline., and J.E. Helzer. 

STEPFAMILIES

Interestingly, many people who abuse substances belong to stepfamilies. Even under ordinary circumstances, stepfamilies present special challenges. Children often live in two households in which different boundaries and ambiguous roles can be confusing. Effective co-parenting requires good communication and careful attention to possible areas of conflict, not only between biological parents, but also with their new partners.

Experts believe that the difficulty of coordinating boundaries, roles, expectations, and the need for cooperation places children raised in blended households at far greater risk of social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Children from stepfamilies may develop substance abuse problems to cope with their confusion about family rules and boundaries.

Substance abuse can intensify problems and become an impediment to a stepfamily’s integration and stability. When substance abuse is part of the family, unique issues can arise. Such issues might include parental authority disputes, sexual or physical abuse, and self‐esteem problems for children.

Substance abuse by stepparents may further undermine their authority, lead to difficulty in forming bonds, and impair a family’s ability to address problems and sensitive issues. Clinicians treating substance abuse should know that the family dynamics of blended families differ somewhat from those of nuclear families and require some additional considerations.

EXTENDED FAMILY AND INTERGENERATIONAL EFFECTS

The effects of substance abuse frequently extend beyond the nuclear family. Extended family members may experience feelings of abandonment, anxiety, fear, anger, concern, embarrassment, or guilt; they may wish to ignore or cut ties with the person abusing substances. Some family members even may feel the need for legal protection from the person abusing substances. 

Moreover, substance abuse can lead to inappropriate family subsystems and role taking and the effects on families may continue for generations. Intergenerational effects of substance abuse can have a negative impact on role modeling, trust, and concepts of normative behavior, which can damage the relationships between generations. For example, a child with a parent who abuses substances may grow up to be an overprotective and controlling parent who does not allow his or her children sufficient autonomy.

FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY

Neighbors, friends, and coworkers also experience the effects of substance abuse because drug abusers are often unreliable. Friends may be asked to help financially or in other ways. Coworkers may be forced to compensate for decreased productivity or carry a disproportionate share of the workload. Consequently, they may resent the person abusing substances, according to H.C. Fishman in Intensive Structural Therapy: Treating Families in Their Social Context.

In cultures with a community approach to family care, neighbors may step in to provide whatever care is needed. Sometimes it is a neighbor who brings a child abuse or neglect situation to the attention of child welfare officials. Most of the time, however, these situations go unreported and neglected.

Substance abusers are likely to find themselves increasingly isolated from their families. Often they prefer associating with others who abuse substances or participate in some other form of antisocial activity. These peers support and reinforce each other’s behavior.

Different treatment issues emerge based on the age and role of the person who uses substances in the family and on whether small children or adolescents are present. In some cases, a family might present a healthy face to the community while substance abuse issues lie just below the surface.

TREATMENT

In any form of family therapy for substance abuse treatment, consideration should be given to the range of social problems connected to substance abuse. Problems such as criminal activity, joblessness, domestic violence, and child abuse or neglect may also be present in families experiencing substance abuse. To address these issues, treatment providers need to collaborate with professionals in other fields. This is known as concurrent treatment.

Whenever family therapy and substance abuse treatment take place concurrently, communication between clinicians is vital. In addition to family therapy and substance abuse treatment, multifamily group therapy, individual therapy, and psychological consultation might be necessary. 

With these different approaches, coordination, communication, collaboration, and exchange of the necessary releases of confidential information are required. With concurrent treatment, it is important that goal diffusion does not occur. Empowering the family is a benefit of family therapy that should not be sacrificed. 

Pamela Wray is a writer and author based in Birmingham, Alabama. She has a blog.

Should Prescribing Doctors Be Held Responsible When Their Patients OD and Die?

Rehab admissions have increased, emergency room visits are up and overdose deaths from prescription medication have multiplied dramatically as a result of unregulated prescribing practices.

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By Remi L. Roy

05/20/14

SOURCE THE FIX

On June 25, 2009, fans around the globe mourned the death of Michael Jackson. Like too many before and since, Jackson, only 50 at the time, met his demise at the hands of a prescription medication addiction that no doubt had ruled his life for the final days, years and maybe even decades before his death. 

The autopsy conducted on Jackson’s body concluded that the cause of the star’s death was a fatal injection of propofol. Sold under the brand name Diprivan, propofol is a powerful sedative that slows heart and nervous system activityand is most often used to relax patients before, or during, general anesthesia for medical procedures and surgery. The post-mortem also included details that he had ingested a number of other pills, including a reported eight lorazepam, on the night he overdosed. 

What followed in the wake of Jackson’s untimely passing was a peculiar series of events that saw his personal physician Conrad Murray charged with, tried for, and convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the singer’s death. The bizarre trial revealed that Murray stayed with Jackson six nights a week, and that he was at times begged to administer drugs to help his insomniac patient sleep. While the doctor's defense team argued that Jackson had injected himself with the lethal shot of propofol, the jury found Murray guilty and he served two years in prison before being released in late 2013. 

Once a renowned physician with a promising career, Murray had his medical license revoked in Texas and suspended in California and Nevada. Though he is now practicing medicine again, the incident irreparably tarnished his reputation in the U.S. He is currently working with local heart surgeons in his new role at the Trinidad Ministry of Health. 

Murray’s anti-climactic exodus marked an end to the bizarre story of the murder of pop music’s prodigal son. Still, regardless of the here and now, the strange case of Dr. Murray had the effect of setting a precedent for criminally trying physicians in cases where their patients die of drug overdoses from prescribed medications.

More recently, the fallout from another celebrity death caused a stir when former Slipknot bassist Paul Gray was lost to a vile combination of morphine and fentanyl. The notorious rocker’s doctor, Daniel Baldi, was subsequently charged with seven counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count that stemmed from Gray’s 2010 overdose. 

Baldi had already faced four medical malpractice claims and three suits for wrongful death prior to being tried for involuntarily killing seven other patients. The doctor, who ran a pain clinic in Des Moines, Iowa, was accused of audaciously writing scripts for Gray and others, and faced up to 16 years in prison if convicted of the crimes. 

According to court documents, Baldi "did unintentionally cause the death of Paul Gray by the commission of an act likely to cause death or serious injury, to-wit, continually wrote high-dose prescription narcotics to a known drug addict.” Gray’s wife Brenna agreed with those findings. She testified that Baldi prescribed Xanax to Gray, knowing that her husband was gripped by an addiction to the anti-anxiety medication.

Despite calls for justice by Gray’s widow and the friends and family members of other departed patients, Baldi was cleared of all charges. On May 1, jurors determined the doctor was not guilty of any of the seven counts of involuntary manslaughter leveled at him. Unlike Murray, Baldi would not be held responsible and jailed for the overdose of the people he had prescribed drugs to.

Of course, celebrity overdoses and the trials of their doctors are but a drop in the bucket of the issue at large. A Google search with the keywords “doctor overdose deaths” turns up nearly 34 million hits. The headlines are as varied - “Tulsa physician has most patient overdose deaths,” “NYC doctor on trial in patients’ overdose deaths,” “Long Island Dr. Feel-Good charged in Oxycodone overdose deaths...” - as the stories are tragic. 

Prescription drugs contribute to over 22,000 fatalities a year in the US alone. The number is indicative of an epidemic that, unlike heroin in the 1970s or crack in the 1980s, is being perpetuated by educated white coats, not by drug pushers and street chemists. That revelation, it seems, is puzzling the judicial system, lawyers on both sides of the bench, police officers, researchers and doctors who, increasingly, find themselves at the center of lawsuits and criminal court cases.

MAY 23 v 29 v 30 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?

Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?

Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,

trying out new drinks.

STEP 1 - We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

Do I need to add to the Proverb certainly not .The Bible clearly tells us that alcohol does wreck lives . Alcohol does not control you and yes you can stop drinking but it will be the toughest fight of your life and Detoxification from Alcohol will require medical assistance . There are millions who have overcome Alcohol and so will you . Never quit trying to quit !

Matthew 16 : 24 : 27 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

By Joseph Dickerson

Cassy Pink ‘s Creation
“I’m gonna die if I don’t start to live again.” Once rang like lightning through my heart. I came to recognize, the life I was living, was not the one I would have chosen for myself. Bon Jovi Lyrics tapped on my senses a second time with, “It’s my life, it’s now or never.”

My life, what did I want it to be? I looked to people who seem to be living the life I desired. What did I desire? I didn’t know but I did know the basics and that was a life where I was free to be myself and one where I could stand tall with how I lived and the decisions I made. I later realized the rest would unfold as I found strength and friendship in myself. Friendship may sound like a funny term to use when referring to oneself. Grace me, with a moment to clarify. When you have a true friendship/love for someone, you show them understanding and embrace all of what makes them who they are. How often do we grant ourselves this kindness and consideration? Truly no one is harder on us, than ourselves. Learning to accept ourselves as we actually are and not as we would like to believe we are is rough on the ego.
The more I pondered the more I realized the profoundness of recognizing the break between, who I would like to believe I am and the actions I actually take. I believe I am a person with a high moral code, but my actions have not always support my beliefs. It is most difficult to recover from letting yourself down let alone others. I actualized that there would continuously be a difference between who I would like to be and who I will be. My goal became to narrow the variation.
All emotions exist because we experience them. Think about that for a moment. It is because we are built to experience all ranges of emotion that we are incapable of pure innate altruism. Motive and experience will always play a role in our actions, conscience or not. For me out of this acknowledgement I began writing under Cassy Pink. I myself am faulted because I am human. Cassy Pink is the ultimate person I strive to become.
The concept of Cassy Pink is not simply about nobility but all of whom I desire to be the dancer, the artist as well as the fisher the philosopher, the nurturer and so on. Above all I seek peace in my heart, my mind and the actions I will take tomorrow. Cassy Pink is my Idyllic self. Who is yours?
Hearts, minds and muscles will forever take their share of bangs and bruises that is inevitable. The question is what will you take from your pushes and trips? Will you learn that they are needed steps on a ladder and grow from them or will you continue to keep restarting at the bottom of the ladder? It’s easier to keep our chins up and keep climbing the ladder when there is an abundance of support and positive guidance both when we struggle and when we are doing just fine. Religions and support groups have impact on the souls that seek them out because of their regular influence and consistency in what, as well as, the positivity they have to offer.
I believe that through simply making the choice to make noble choices; we can learn how to walk with our heads held high. Life is a wheel of fortune and circumstances always play their role and there are always unknown factors. The key is to make choices that you know you can live with. When circumstances fade your clarity, ask yourself, what is best choice for the greater good? It is easy to hold your head high when your conscience is free.
Walk Tall my friends! Cheryl

MAY 23 v 29 v 30 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB

Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?

Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?

Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,

trying out new drinks.

STEP 1 - We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

Do I need to add to the Proverb certainly not .The Bible clearly tells us that alcohol does wreck lives . Alcohol does not control you and yes you can stop drinking but it will be the toughest fight of your life and Detoxification from Alcohol will require medical assistance . There are millions who have overcome Alcohol and so will you . Never quit trying to quit !

Matthew 16 : 24 : 27 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

BY : Joseph Dickerson

Xanax Misuse Sent 123,000 People to Emergency Room in 2011: Report

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

May 22nd, 2014/

More than 123,000 people ended up in hospital emergency rooms in 2011 after misusing the sedative alprazolam, sold under brand names including Xanax. The findings come from a new government report.

The number of ER visits associated with Xanax in 2011 was slightly less than the previous year, but more than double the number in 2005, USA Today reports. The drug is also sold as Xanax XR and Niravam. Alprazolam was the most commonly prescribed psychiatric drug in 2011, the article notes. It is prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia and depression.

In total, more than 1.2 million people went to the emergency room for prescription drug abuse in 2011, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Misuse of alprazolam can lead to physical dependence, causing withdrawal symptoms such as tremors and seizures, according to a SAMHSA news release. The effects of alprazolam can be dangerously enhanced if it is combined with alcohol or other drugs that depress the central nervous system, such as narcotic pain relievers.

The report found in 81 percent of cases, patients used alprazolam together with other prescription drugs or alcohol. Almost two-thirds used the drug with another prescription drug. More than one-third used the drug with a prescription painkiller such as oxycodone.

“When used as directed, alprazolam is safe and effective, but misuse can result in serious health consequences,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “This report highlights the need to educate people about the dangers of misusing or sharing prescription medications and the importance of properly disposing of unused medication.”

California Counties Sue Five Drug Manufacturers Over Prescription Drug Abuse

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

May 22nd, 2014/

Two California counties have sued five drug manufacturers, accusing them of causing the country’s prescription drug abuse epidemic. The suit alleges the companies waged a “campaign of deception” in order to increase painkiller sales.

The Los Angeles Times reports Orange and Santa Clara counties filed the suit Wednesday. Both counties have seen an increase in overdose deaths, emergency room visits and increased medical costs linked to prescription drug abuse. According to the suit, the drug companies violated California laws against false advertising, unfair business practices and creating a public nuisance.

The lawsuit alleges the companies profited by making doctors believe the benefits of narcotic painkillers outweighed the risks, despite “a wealth of scientific evidence to the contrary.” The lawsuit contends the companies’ efforts “opened the floodgates” for these drugs and “the result has been catastrophic.”

According to the suit, the companies ran a marketing campaign to encourage patients, including the elderly and well-insured veterans, to ask their doctors for painkillers for conditions ranging from headaches to back pain and arthritis. The suit says the widespread prescribing of narcotic painkillers has created “a population of addicts,” and led to a resurgence of heroin use.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said the goal of the suit is “to stop the lies about what these drugs do.” It seeks compensation for damages allegedly caused by the painkillers. It also seeks a court order to force the drug manufacturers to forfeit revenue based on the marketing campaign.

The companies named in the suit are Actavis, Endo Health Solutions Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Purdue Pharma, and Cephalon Inc.

“We’re committed to responsible promotion, prescribing and use of all our medications,” said Robyn Reed Frenze, a spokeswoman for Janssen Pharmaceuticals. She said her company was reviewing the case. Representatives for the other companies either declined to comment or were not immediately available.

Colorado Steps Up Education and Enforcement of Drugged Driving

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

May 22nd, 2014/

Now that recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, the state has increased education about the dangers of drugged driving and stepped up enforcement, according to NPR. The problem, experts say, is that there is no widespread agreement about how much marijuana impairs a person’s ability to drive.

Colorado’s new state limit for marijuana use while driving is 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood of THC, the drug’s psychoactive chemical.

John Lacey, a traffic safety expert, says marijuana doesn’t metabolize predictably like alcohol. “It makes setting an absolute level where everyone is impaired, like we have for alcohol, much more difficult for marijuana and for other drugs,” he told NPR. “They just behave differently than alcohol does.”

He noted drivers who use marijuana tend to drive more slowly, have trouble staying in their lane, and don’t respond as quickly as drivers who don’t use the drug. He advises people to stay off the road after they’ve used marijuana.

Colorado has added dozens of drug recognition experts to its ranks of law enforcement. While the state has started to keep track of marijuana DUI citations, most local police departments do not.

A study published earlier this year concluded that fatal car crashes that involved marijuana tripled in the past decade. One in nine drivers involved in a fatal crash tests positive for marijuana, according to the Columbia University researchers.

MAY 22 v 12 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB
The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.



STEP 11- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out

Knowledge - information, understanding, or skill that you get from experience or education. : awareness of something.

Unfaithful - Not adhering to promises, obligations, or allegiances; disloyal.

 

Sometimes seeing the meaning of the word , can change the message completely . The Proverb is very clear that the Lord will frustrate those who are unfaithful in their relationship with HIM .Remember that day when you hit rock bottom ,drowning in your tears and screaming for God to help you change your life . At that moment God heard you and He helped you ,but now you got some clean time in your feeling good ,who needs God. The bible clearly states that the trials we face in life are used to bring us closer to Him and teach us to reach our maximum potential in life. If your at step eleven and are miserable and frustrated give yourself a check up from the heart up . Are you being faithful in your relationship ,and are you keeping the promises you made to God .
 

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

By Joseph Dickerson

Prescription Drug Abuse Takes Enormous Toll on Seniors
/By Celia Vimont
May 21st, 2014/

Prescription drug abuse is hitting the senior community hard, according to a review of government data conducted by USA Today. The newspaper looked at overdose deaths, emergency room visits and admissions to addiction treatment programs.

“There’s this growing group of seniors, they have pain, they have anxiety…and a lot of (doctors) have one thing in their tool box — a prescription pad,” said Mel Pohl, Medical Director at the Las Vegas Recovery Center, which treats elderly patients for pain and drug dependence. “The doctor wants to make their life better, so they start on the meds.” Patients build up a tolerance over time, or they suffer more pain and request more medication. “And without anyone necessarily realizing, it begins a downward spiral with horrible consequences,” he told the newspaper.

Elderly patients are susceptible to complications from drug use, including falls, cognitive problems, respiratory failure and dementia, the article notes.

Older patients are receiving more opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines (such as Xanax and Valium). Last year, 55 million opioid prescriptions were written for people 65 and older, marking a 20 percent increase over five years—almost double the growth rate of the elderly population. During the same period, the number of benzodiazepine prescriptions rose 12 percent, to 28.4 million.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found in 2012, the average number of elderly people misusing or dependent on prescription painkillers in the past year increased from 132,000 a decade ago, to 336,000. Government data also shows a 46 percent increase in cases of adults 55 and older seeking substance abuse treatment for prescription narcotics from 2007 to 2011.

Law Enforcement Struggles to Keep Up With Prescription Drug Diversion Crimes
/By Celia Vimont
May 21st, 2014/

Law enforcement officials are struggling to keep up with the large number of prescription drug diversion schemes, according to USA Today. The crimes are putting the spotlight on the safety and security of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Drug experts told the newspaper these schemes are putting consumers at risk. Last year, Congress strengthened oversight of the drug supply chain. The Drug Quality and Security Act established a system to track prescription drugs from the time they are manufactured until they are sold at a drugstore.

Over the next seven years, the Drug Quality and Security Act calls for drug manufacturers, repackagers, wholesale distributors and dispensers to pass and hold onto key information about each drug’s distribution history. The goal is to allow unit-level product tracing within 10 years. Four years after the law is enacted, manufacturers will serialize drugs in a consistent way across the industry, to allow for efficient tracing to respond to recalls and notices of theft and counterfeiting.

Marvin Shepherd, Director of the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, told the newspaper the problem “is much bigger than people will admit.” He noted large amounts of substandard drugs can be bought online. Some unscrupulous wholesalers purchase drugs from sources other than the manufacturer because it’s cheaper, he said. “Greed is the underlying reason for all of it,” Shepherd said. “People can obtain a lot of pharmaceuticals through diversion and make a lot of money from it.”

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy issued a report last year that stated the “prescription drug diversion problem has increased dramatically since 2005.” Federal and state regulators have not been able to keep pace with the crimes, the group added.

Retired NFL Players Say League Illegally Supplied Them with Prescription Painkillers
/By Celia Vimont
May 21st, 2014/

A group of retired National Football League (NFL) players filed a lawsuit this week, alleging the league illegally supplied them with prescription painkillers. The drugs numbed their injuries, and led to medical complications, according to the players.

The players say the NFL obtained and administered the painkillers without prescriptions, the Associated Press reports. The league did not warn the players about the drugs’ potential side effects, the lawsuit alleges. The players say the league wanted them to return to the field quickly, in order to maximize profits.

Some players say they were not told they had broken legs or ankles, and were instead given painkillers. One player said he was given anti-inflammatory medication instead of surgery. The years of free painkillers led to addiction, some players contend.

The NFL would not comment on the lawsuit, which names eight players. Lawyers for the players are seeking class-action status for former players who received narcotic painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics, sleeping aids or other drugs without a prescription. More than 500 other former players have signed on to the lawsuit, according to the lawyers.

The suit seeks to force the NFL to fund a testing and monitoring program to help prevent addiction, injuries and disabilities resulting from painkiller use, the AP notes. The suit also seeks unspecified financial damages.

Daily Quote

"Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny--he has something to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidentally--you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you." - Osho

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Saturday, September 20, 2014  Penn's Landing, Philadelphia Registration begins 7:00 am; Walk begins 9:00 am Click here to see the video from last year

Team Captain Kick-Off Meetings Get personal help on forming or leading a team!                  PRO-ACT has scheduled several Team Captain Meetings in various locations so that you can find one convenient to you. Sign up now to attend a meeting listed below and you will learn how to sign up your team online, raise funds effectively, receive tips on how to organize your team, and order team t-shirts if you want to for September 21. We will have handouts of many tools we developed and refined over the years and will be available to answer your questions.         In the meantime, continue to ask your associates, family members, and friends to join your team and to learn more about why we walk. Spread the word that recovery is real and alive! Do your part to fight the stigma! Recovery Walks! 2014 is the Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas largest National Recovery Month event with lots of support from other areas. Show up and be counted because, as SAMHSA says, REACH OUT  --  SPEAK UP! Tuesday, June 10, 12 noon - 1:00 pm Tuesday, June 24, 6:00 - 7:00 pm PRO-ACT Recovery Training Center 444 North 3rd Street, Suite 307 Philadelphia, PA 19123 To register, contact Kim Doughty here, or 215-923-1661   Friday, June 20, 1:00 - 2:30 pm Central Bucks Recovery Resource Center 252 West Swamp Road, Unit 12 Doylestown, PA 18901 To register, contact Rick Petrolawicz here, or 215-345-6644   Saturday, June 21, 11 am - 1:00 pm Wednesday, June 25, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center 1286 Veterans Highway, Unit D-6 Bristol, PA 19007 To register, contact Annika Odhner here, or 215-788-3738   Wednesday, June 25, 10:00 am - 12 noon Monday, June 30, 6:00 - 8:00 pm Philadelphia Recovery Community Center 1701 W. Lehigh Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19132 To register, cntact Sean Brinda here, or 215-223-7700

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Philadelphia Recovery Idol Round 3          Round 3 of Recovery Idol auditions has been rescheduled to Friday, May 30, 12 noon to 3:00 pm, at the Thomas Paine Plaza, 15th and JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia.   Competitors face a total of 6 rounds of competition at several locations around the city. The two finalists will perform at PRO-ACT's Recovery Walks! on September 20 in Penn's Landing, after which the winner will be announced. The winner receives a plaque, studio recording time, and an opportunity to perform before tens of thousands of people.  BE THERE TO APPLAUD YOUR FAVORITE!

A Note from Marita About Sponsorship   We would greatly appreciate your signing up to become a Sponsor of PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! 2014. We have several levels of sponsorship with accompanying opportunities to promote your company or organization. These levels accommodate every budget, because, YES we know--we all have them. For details, please click here. A contribution to PRO-ACT's Recovery Walks! is a good investment! We will use more than 80 cents of every dollar to help combat addiction and promote recovery opportunities. We do this through prevention, education, advocacy, intervention, and recovery support services. Together, let's do what we can to fight the tragic disease of addiction, which is increasing at an alarming rate.   Contact Marita here if you would like more information. Otherwise, just complete the Sponsorship Agreement here and send it to the address on the form.

Need a Recovery Coach? With this April's class, more than 70 people have now been trained and certified by COA with the CCAR Recovery Coach curriculum. Recovery Coaches serve as personal guides and mentors to people seeking or already in long term recovery. They remove barriers & obstacles to recovery by connecting recoverees with resources, developing personalized wellness plans, monitoring progress and providing lots of encouragement. Coaches act as a compliment to counseling, 12-Step programs, spiritual pursuits, community activities and other recovery support systems. To connect with a COA/CCAR Recovery Coach, click here. If you are a COA/CCAR Recovery Coach grad and would like to be listed on this page, contact cityofangelsnj@hotmail.com. Thank You To COA's Newest Sponsors! As a non-profit organization, COA's mission is to be of service. We understand that addiction is a mental, physical and emotional disease that can leave lasting financial scars upon those it affects. Because of this, we never charge the families and individuals we work with, but rely upon donations and sponsors to meet our expenses.        With more and more calls for help, those expenses are rising.    But so is the assistance we are receiving from the Recovery Community.  We are hugely grateful to our website advertisers, without whom we would not be able to continue to provide services in the way that we do. These advertisers represent many different types of facilities with a variety of programs, but all have one thing in common: they are committed to excellent care and support Recovery thru their partnership with COA as well as other community activities. Please check out their websites and/or their appearances on COA Recovery Radio! Addiction Treatment Services International (ATSI) is a new facility in Galloway, New Jersey.  To learn more about them, click here.      The Recovery Place is located in Florida -  click here to listen to them talk about their program on COARR's "Saving Lives".     For their website, click here.  Footprints to Recovery is a new treatment center in Hamilton, New Jersey that offers some innovative programs such as career training thru a local business school, relapse prevention and 90-day covered stays.  To learn more about them, click here. Compass Health is an outpatient facility in Princeton Junction. Click here to see their website. Genesis House is an inpatient rehab in Florida with a 20-year track record. To learn more about them, click here.   COA has relationships with many different treatment facilities - inpatient & outpatient, secular & faith-based, local and out-of-state. In fact, the facilities mentioned here represent only our newest sponsors! We can therefore refer people to the right facility for them, based on their individual needs. City of Angels NJ, Inc. remains an all-volunteer organization; while some of our volunteers are employed in the recovery field, none receive compensation for their work at COA. Furthermore, COA never receives fees from treatment facilities in return for referrals.     Golf Tourney at Ancient Order of Hibernians The Ancient Order of Hibernians has recently selected COA to receive proceeds from their Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, August 4 at Yardley Country Club in Yardley, PA. This will be a wonderful opportunity for all of COA's golfing friends to help COA while they get in a round of golf. There is also a "luncheon only" participation, which is available for our COA non-golfer friends.   For details or to join in, click here. On COARR...Jobs in the Addiction Field Let's Talk About Recovery!   The COARR archives have recently been expanded with show photos and links to resources. Catch up on your favorite shows and listen to episodes you missed! COARR can be accessed via any Internet-enabled device - for the free smartphone app, visit your iphone or android store. If you missed last week's "Women & Addiction" with guest host Tricia Abney from Addiction Jobs Board talking about jobs in the addiction field, the show is now in the COARR archive. This is a super-informative show that will benefit anyone who wants to work - or is currently working - in a rehab, treatment center, counseling facility, sober home or other recovery resource. To listen to the show, click here.   Also in the archive: Paul Ressler on "Saving Lives" with Redneck talking about New Jersey's Overdose Prevention Act. To listen to that show, click here. Listen to past COARR shows any time: For "Women & Addiction" with Terri Thomas, click here. For "Hope Fiend" with Minister Rich Mollica, click here. For "Emotional Sobriety" with Andy Finley MFT, click here. For "Journey Thru the 12 Steps with the Life Recovery Bible," click here. For "Share Your Scars" with Vicki, click here. For "Wings Over Water: Creativity in Recovery" with recovery musician Kathy Moser,  click here. For "Laughter & Recovery" with stand up comic Wil B. Kleen, click here. For "Relationships in Recovery" with Alexa, click here. For "Saving Lives" with COA Director of Interventions Tom Redneck Clark, click here. For "Nar-Anon Families of Addiction Information Line" click here . Saturday, June 21: COA Open House This year, it's all about adjuncts: what are these tools, how do they work and how can (or should?) they be used? Come find out. Come to the Dwier Center for a full afternoon of speakers talking about Narcan, Ibogaine and other medications, the Overdose Prevention Act and more. We'll also be showing THREE recovery films throughout the afternoon and serving light refreshments. COA Recovery Radio (www.coaradio.com) will be broadcasting live and many different groups & treatment centers will offer resources in our outdoor vendor park.   For details, click here. To be a vendor (no charge), contact cityofangelsnj@hotmail.com.     Recovery Walk Update We think Recovery should be available to everyone. It shouldn't only be for those with the best insurance. So we will work with anyone who reaches out to us, regardless of their treatment history, insurance status or other details. You can learn more about COA scholarships in the video below. Our Recovery Walk on September 14, 2014 in Mercer County Park will support continued scholarships for recovery.     This is what a COA scholarship can do Please click here for details and help us if you can. Make a donation, register to walk or run, share this link, and/or volunteer. This will be an uplifting event with live music, vendors, food, testimonials from recoverees, live broadcast on COA Recovery Radio (www.coaradio.com) and much, much more!