Accidental Ingestion of Buprenorphine a Danger to Young Children: Study

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

September 16th, 2014/

Buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction, is the prescription drug most commonly implicated in emergency hospitalizations of young children, according to a new study. The drug poses a danger to children who find and accidentally swallow relatives’ prescriptions, the Associated Press reports.

The study, published in Pediatrics, found for every 100,000 patients prescribed buprenorphine, 200 children ages 6 and younger were hospitalized for ingesting it. That rate is four times higher than the rate for the next most commonly ingested drug, a blood pressure medication. In total, almost 800 young children are hospitalized annually after swallowing buprenorphine.

Lead researcher Dr. Daniel Budnitz of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the AP that recent drug-packaging changes may help reduce the risks of accidental buprenorphine ingestion by children.

In 2013, the company that makes Suboxone (a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone), said the drug would no longer be available in tablet form because of the risk of children becoming poisoned after swallowing the drug. The company switched to making a film version of the medication, which is put under the tongue. According to the AP, generic Suboxone tablets are still available.

Buprenorphine can help reduce drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing a narcotic “high,” the AP reports. In children, the drug can cause sedation, dangerously slowed breathing and vomiting.

New Portable Method to 

Detect “Bath Salts” Being Developed

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

September 16th, 2014/

British researchers are developing a new method to detect synthetic drugs known as “bath salts,” PBS NewsHour reports. The researchers say the method is low-cost, disposable and quick. It could someday be used in a handheld sensor to detect bath salts, the researchers explain in the journal Analytical Chemistry.

Although bath salts have been banned in the United States, they are still sold in some retail shops and online disguised as household products including stain remover, toilet bowl cleaner or plant food, the article notes.

Bath salts can be taken by mouth, inhaled or injected. Adverse effects of bath salts include heart and blood vessel problems, depression, suicidal thoughts, psychosis and death.

The suggested technique to test for bath salts uses mercury, which is toxic, the article notes. The new method uses a mercury-free electrode. It could be the basis for the first portable, onsite testing device for bath salts. The researchers tested their method on bath salts bought online. They reported the accuracy of their results matched that of established methods for identifying bath salts.

Tens of thousands of emergency room visits and several deaths have been attributed to bath salts, the researchers noted in a press release.

Percentage of Positive Drug Tests in Workers Increased For First Time in a Decade

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

September 16th, 2014/

For the first time in more than 10 years, the percentage of positive drug tests among American workers has increased, according to a company that conducts the tests. The increase is fueled by a rise in use of marijuana and amphetamines, Quest Diagnosticsfound.

The findings come from an analysis of 8.5 million drug test results. The positive drug test result rate increased to 3.7 percent in 2013, compared with 3.5 percent in 2012. It is the first time the positive rate for national workplace urine drug tests has increased since 2003, the company reported.

In Colorado, marijuana was detected in 20 percent more employment-related drug tests performed by Quest during the first year recreational use of the drug was legal, The Coloradoan reports. “While it’s interesting, and it could be a harbinger for things to come, I think it’s a little too early to draw conclusions at this point,” Dr. Barry Sample, Director of Science and Technology at Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions, told the newspaper. Sample said he did not see evidence that employers are changing their drug-screening patterns to reflect Colorado’s legalization law.

In Washington state, where recreational use of marijuana has also been legalized, Quest found a 23 percent increase in drug tests that were positive for marijuana. In contrast, the company found an increase of 6.2 percent nationally.

Employers in Colorado are getting mixed messages about how to deal with employees who use marijuana. While recreational use of marijuana is legal for adults in the state, it remains illegal under federal law. Under Colorado state law, employers can ban use of marijuana at work. Another state law prohibits employers from dismissing workers for engaging in lawful activities off the premises of the business during nonworking hours.

	Hello , Because you’ve registered to receive PACT360 community education materials, I want to let you know about a new informative toolkit from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. The Partnership is teaming up with Major League Baseball Charities for a special “Play Healthy” program designed to help coaches, parents, teachers and all concerned adults help young people make healthy decisions and prevent them from abusing performance-enhancing substances and prescription drugs. The Play Healthy Toolkit contains a DVD, a discussion guide and handouts that anyone can use to educate themselves and others about the risks of abusing performance-enhancing substances and other drugs. The Toolkit is free of charge and available in English and Spanish. It also contains nomination forms for the Commissioner’s Play Healthy Award, which celebrates and recognizes one youth sports coach and one student athlete who embody the spirit of teamwork, dedication, leadership and a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. To receive your free Play Healthy Toolkits, e-mail Kevin Collins at kevin_collins@drugfree.org. Please specify the number of English and Spanish kits you would like to receive and your contact information, including e-mail and phone number. I hope you and your community will make use of this important resource.   Kevin Collins Deputy Director, Community Education The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
We're here to help. Call our Parents Toll-Free Helpline 1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373)            DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages sent to this email address are not read. If you have a question or comment, please use our interactive online help system. Subscribe to our RSS feeds. To prevent mailbox filters from deleting mailings from Drugfree.org, add thepartnership@drugfree.org to your address book. Partnership for Drug-Free Kids | 352 Park Avenue South | Ninth Floor | New York, NY 10010 Forward to a Friend unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

Like us on Facebook                      www.councilsepa.org               Follow us on Twitter       The Council, PRO-ACT and DBHIDS are pleased to invite you to a FREE SHOWING of this special film  in honor and recognition of Recovery Month!!  COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 801 Market Street, 11th Floor Large Conference Room Philadelphia, PA 19107   THIS FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014  Noon to 2:30pm     To view the trailer, click here   Film Begins at noon followed by a Panel Discussion.     Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and comment. GREAT EVENT TO GET THE PHILADELPHIA RECOVERY COMMUNITY READY FOR THE WALK THIS SATURDAY!! To register:    https://theanonymouspeopledbhids.eventbrite.com For more information contact Andrea Brooks at andrea.brooks@phila.gov  or call 215-413-3100, x 6238 www.councilsepa.org

Use of Drugs and 

Alcohol Among Teens Declines Again

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

September 17th, 2014/

The rate of drug and alcohol use among American teens continues to decline, a new government study indicates. Teens’ use of tobacco also dropped, The Washington Postreports.

The rate of current illicit drug use among teens ages 12 to 17 was 8.8 percent in 2013, compared with 9.5 percent in 2012, and 11.6 percent in 2002. The 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) also found between 2002 and 2013, the level of teens with substance dependence or abuse problems decreased from 8.9 percent to 5.2 percent.

Between 2002 and 2013, teens’ rate of regular alcohol use declined from 17.6 percent to 11.6 percent. During that period, marijuana use among teens ages 12 to 17 also declined. Teens’ recreational use of prescription painkillers decreased as well.

The NSDUH is an annual survey of a nationally representative sample of about 70,000 Americans ages 12 and older. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the report as part of its 25th annual observance of National Recovery Month.

Many Americans who need treatment for a substance use disorder are not receiving specialty treatment, the report indicates. While 22.7 million Americans 12 and older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem last year, only 2.5 million received it in a facility designed to treat substance use disorders.

“This report shows that we have made important progress in some key areas, but that we need to rejuvenate our efforts to promote prevention, treatment and recovery, to reach all aspects of our community,” SAMHSA Administrator Pamela Hyde said in an agency news release.

Online Initiative Aims to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

September 17th, 2014/

An online initiative designed to reduce prescription drug abuse is beginning to gain steam after launching in 2010, according to The Washington Post.

The initiative, called Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS), is a rule by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that allows pharmacies and care providers to handle prescriptions for controlled substances that are designated Schedule II-V entirely online. The program is voluntary.

Schedule II drugs include oxycodone and fentanyl. The DEA recently announced it willreclassify hydrocodone combination products such as Vicodin from Schedule III to Schedule II.

The system reduces reliance on paper prescriptions, which decreases the risk of forged prescriptions, the article notes. The system also generates information that allows doctors and pharmacies to identify potential cases of drug misuse. New York launched a new online prescribing system last summer, which helped identify 200 incidents of “doctor shopping” in the first three days, according to the newspaper.

The launch of EPCS has been slow for several reasons. States have had to change their laws to align with the DEA rule, and had to ensure the prescribing networks were secure. In the past year, electronic prescriptions for controlled substances have started to increase, according to data from DrFirst, a vendor of EPCS technology. The number of EPCS transactions increased from about 11,000 in January 2013 to 60,000 in July 2014.

Surescripts, the company that operates the largest e-prescribing network, found as of August, 50 percent of pharmacies were able to electronically prescribe controlled substances, up from around 40 percent at the end of 2013. Implementation of the program has been uneven, ranging from 74 percent of pharmacies in Delaware to 15 percent in North Dakota.

Starting in March, New York will be the first state to require controlled substances to be prescribed electronically.

College Tries New Ways to Reduce Binge Drinking

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

September 17th, 2014/

Colleges are looking for new ways to reduce binge drinking, as part of initiatives to reduce campus sexual assaults, NPR reports.

Frostburg State University in Maryland and city police agreed in 2012 to joint jurisdiction. This allows campus police to patrol off campus, looking for house parties. The university helps to pay overtime costs for state, county, city and campus police near the school. “We know there’s going to be underage drinking,” said Frostburg State University police officer Derrick Pirolozzi. “We can’t card everybody. But we want to make sure everybody does it the right way and safe way.” The aim is to prevent bad behavior before it starts.

“The thing that’s so striking to me is that many universities perceive [binge drinking] as an intractable problem and that there’s nothing they can do,” Jonathan Gibralter, president of Frostburg State University, told NPR. When he became president in 2006, the party scene was “out of control,” he said.

In addition to the joint patrols, the school has instituted more Friday morning classes to discourage students from drinking on Thursday nights. Gibralter was instrumental in passing Maryland’s ban on the sale of grain alcohol. The school has received a state grant to form a coalition with police, city officials, parents and business leaders to reduce underage drinking.

Gilbralter has been surprised by the parents and alumni who say they drank in college and don’t see it as a big problem. “When I tell parents that 1,800-plus college students drink themselves to death every year, they are stunned,” he said. “They have no idea.”

The changes seem to be having an effect. Since 2006 the share of Frostburg students who binge drink at least once every two weeks has decreased from 57 to 41 percent, the university says. The average number of drinks students have weekly has dropped from eight to four.

Medication Misuse a Rising Problem in Seniors: Experts

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

September 17th, 2014/

Medication misuse is an increasing problem in seniors as Baby Boomers age, according to experts. Many older patients develop addictions to prescription drugs, says David Oslin, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

Older patients often misuse drugs because they continue to take them long after the medications stop being effective, Dr. Oslin told The Wall Street Journal. “Unfortunately, it’s much easier to take a pill than to exercise or routinely train health-care workers to properly treat the pain, anxiety, and insomnia often experienced by older adults,” he said.

Doctors may not recognize the potential for addiction in their older patients, according to James Huysman, a psychologist and a senior clinical consultant at the Hanley Center, a drug-treatment center in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Physicians who work in a fee-for-service system and are traditionally paid by procedure are pressed for time, and too often write prescriptions in the interest of time management without knowing the necessary behavioral health background of a patient,” he says. Doctors may end up prescribing potentially addictive drugs to people with a history of addiction, or who have a high risk for addiction.

When seniors take opioids or anti-anxiety medications for too long, they are at risk of cognitive decline and depression, as well as addiction, the article notes. Older patients who take a variety of drugs for their many medical conditions are at risk for potentially dangerous drug interactions. A dosage that is appropriate for a younger person may be too much for an elderly person.

The University of Pennsylvania has joined with a state pharmacy-assistance program to improve results for older patients prescribed anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants and antipsychotics prescribed by non-psychiatrists. Preliminary results suggest patients in the program show improvement in depression symptoms, and have better overall emotional well-being.

	Dear Joseph,   September is National Recovery Month, a time when we celebrate individuals who have bravely navigated the difficult and often devastating path of addiction. At the Partnership, we provide a place for those in recovery – like Ricky, Trena and Joshua – to share their stories and a chance to connect with our community who supports them. Every day, we take calls from people across the country looking for help for a loved one, giving them the tools they need to find and maintain sobriety. We need your support this month to keep these efforts going. We want to reach even more individuals who are struggling with addiction, giving them a place to come together, get help and share hope. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating those overcoming their addiction, and help us continue our commitment to recovery by making a donation today.
We're here to help. Call our Parents Toll-Free Helpline 1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373)            DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages sent to this email address are not read. If you have a question or comment, please use our interactive online help system. Subscribe to our RSS feeds. To prevent mailbox filters from deleting mailings from Drugfree.org, add thepartnership@drugfree.org to your address book. Partnership for Drug-Free Kids | 352 Park Avenue South | Ninth Floor | New York, NY 10010 unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

Like us on Facebook                        www.RecoveryWalks.org                       Follow us on Twitter September 20, 2014 Recovery Walk START Instructions **NOTE LOCATION CHANGE** New Walk Start Meeting Place: Walnut Street Bridge Under the Balloon Arch                Exit the Great Plaza of Penn's Landing at river level to the right of the stage, then proceed to the Walnut Street Bridge as directed by our Volunteers. The Honor Guard will line up behind the yellow PRO-ACT Recovery Walks banner (8:15-8:30 am) for the annual Honor Guard group photo. Teams and others will then join in behind them for the Walk.        This new route involves a flight of stairs to reach the Walnut Street Bridge. For those who are physically challenged or using a stroller for an infant we have made an accommodation. Leave Penn's Landing by the Upper Chestnut Street gate and proceed across the Chestnut Street Bridge sidewalk (the road will be closed to us). Meet up with your teams and friends at the Walnut Street Bridge and Front Street. The Recovery Walk will begin from there and continue the original route up Walnut Street to Independence Hall and back.        Upon returning to Front Street, everyone will access Penn's Landing the same way they exited.        We will all come together in the Great Plaza where we will enjoy some fruit and water, the Post-Walk Program, visit the sponsor booths, mingle with friends, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate the many joys of recovery.   We greatly apologize for this inconvenience and trust that you understand this is necessitated by circumstances completely beyond our control. Celebrate With Us! PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! 2014 September 20, Penn's Landing, Philadelphia Gates open 7:00 am; Walk begins 9:00 am; Post-Walk Program Ends 12:30 pm To Register, Donate, Join a Team, Sign Up for Honor Guard www.recoverywalks.org PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR HEALTH AND OTHERS NO SMOKING WILL BE PERMITTED AT THE WALK  Many thanks to our Top Walk Sponsors!   For a complete list of our sponsors, please click here.

September 16 Chp 143 v 3 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALM

My enemy (addiction) has chased me . He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave .

STEP 2 - Came to believe that God could restore us to sanity.

That explains addiction ! Once caught you will be imprisoned .If you try to get away you will be chased relentlessly . Like a corpse in a grave your addiction will allow no choices freedoms or light.You are under its spell and your mind and body begin to rot . Alone isolated and trapped is where you will be . Only God can dig you out once your buried in addiction.

When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors (addictions) He will send them a savior and defender (Jesus ), and He will rescue them. (Isaiah 19:20)

Are you up for a challenge? Please join In The Rooms for f.ree and send me a friend request (Barbara Theodosiou) addictsmom on in the rooms. Also make sure to join the Addict's Mom group here is the link http://www.intherooms.com/group/view?gid=1806. You will be updated on all future meetings the Addict's Mom will be hosting to educate you and your family on addiction. This Thursday 7:00pm EST on the Addict's Mom Live Video Chat Meetings on in the Rooms; We will be "Sharing Without Shame." Members will be reading poems, essays, letters, blogs written by those whose lives have been touched by addiction. We need 10 brave members to SHARE!! Do you have a favorite story, letter, poem etc you wrote to your addict? yourself? your younger self? Or to anybody at all that you would like to share we would love your participation. To participate please join in the rooms, and the addicts mom group on in the rooms. Let me know you would like to share on Thursday September 18th by emailing me atbarbara@theaddictsmom.com. Please include your phone number and name on in the rooms. Remember you can remain anonymous or not.

Visit The Addict's Mom at: http://addictsmom.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

September 14 Chp 73 v 26 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALMS

My health may fail ,and my spirit may grow weak , but GOD remains the strength of my heart ; He is mine forever .

STEP 2 - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

There is a Higher Power and his name is the GREAT " I AM " .Many twelve step programs tell you name your higher power whatever you want . My thinking is why cry out to a God of your understanding that does not excist because you created it. This universe and world in which we live was created by a God that is real and he loves you , and you are His greatest creation . He calls us Sons and Daughters and he understands our pains and hurts . God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son Jesus to die on a cross of reconciliation to bring us together with Him through Him and for Him. Your not getting clean or finding lasting joy or peace because you are praying too a God that does not excist ,stop listening too others and listen too God s voice coming from your heart. Be still and know that He is God. 

Father's Love Letter

My Child ~

You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3 

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27 

In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28 

For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28 

I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5 

I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12 

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26 

You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14 

I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13 

And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6 

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16 

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1 

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11 

For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48 

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17 

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33 

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3 

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18 

And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17 

I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40 

For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5 

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41 

And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29 

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4 

For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20 

For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18 

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4 

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4 

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31 

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10 

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32 

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39 

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7 

I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15 

My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13 

I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad, Almighty God

Casey’s Law

Home » Casey’s Law

An involuntary treatment act for those who suffer from the disease of addiction.

What is Casey’s Law?

The Matthew Casey Wethington Act for Substance Abuse Intervention is named for Matthew Casey Wethington, who died in 2002 from a heroin overdose at the age of 23. Casey was an energetic young man who enjoyed life until it was “taken” by drugs. Casey never intended to become addicted to drugs when he used the first time. What he did not realize was that his using would progress from abusing to dependence and then to the disease of addiction. Although his parents tried to get him help, there was no law that could force someone into treatment because he was an adult. After Casey’s death his parents lobbied for a change. “Casey’s Law” passed on April 9, 2004, and took effect July 13, 2004.

What does this law provide?

The act provides a means of intervening with someone who is unable to recognize his or her need for treatment due to their impairment. This law will allow parents, relatives and/or friends to petition the court for treatment on behalf of the substance abuse-impaired person.

Why is this law needed?

Denial and distorted thinking impedes a person’s ability to make a rational decision. The “bottom” for many is death. Addiction is a progressive, life-threatening disease. The best hope of survival for a person who is substance abuse impaired is intervention. Studies show that involuntary treatment can be just as successful as voluntary treatment. Most individuals who are substance abuse-impaired receive court-ordered treatment only after they have become arrested for a crime while under the influence of a substance. Drugs and crime often go hand-in-hand because people who are substance abuse impaired are forced by their disease to resort to any means necessary to procure their drug. Court-ordered treatment can be effective regardless of who initiates it. Not all people who are substance abuse impaired are arrested or, in the event that they are, may not receive the necessary treatment.

What is the process to use Casey’s Law?

The following steps must be taken in order to involuntarily commit someone to treatment:

Obtain a copy of the petition from the District Court clerk’s office by requesting Form 700A – the Verified Petition for Involuntary Treatment of Alcohol/Drug Abuse – or click here to download.

A spouse, relative, friend or guardian of the substance abuse-impaired person completes the petition and files it with the District Court clerk.

The court reviews the allegations in the petition and examines the petitioner under oath.

The court determines whether there is probable cause to order treatment for the person named in the petition (the respondent).

If probable cause is established a judge appoints an attorney to represent the respondent, order the respondent to be evaluated, and schedule a hearing within 14 days.

The respondent is notified of the date and purpose of the hearing.

The respondent is evaluated by two qualified health professionals, at least one of whom is a physician, to determine if the respondent could benefit from treatment.

If the judge finds the respondent should undergo treatment, the court shall order treatment from 60 days up to 360 days, depending upon the request in the petition and the result of the evaluation. Treatment options vary depending upon each individual’s circumstances and can range from detoxification to intensive treatment through recovery.

Who pays for treatment?

As the law is currently written the petitioner is obligated to pay all costs incurred in the process as well as for the court-ordered treatment. The petitioner must sign a guaranty for payment. Low-income individuals living within the Fifth Congressional District may qualify for a UNITE treatment voucher if they acknowledge that they have a problem. For information call the UNITE Treatment Referral Line – 1-866-908-6483.

What happens if the respondent fails to comply?

Failure to comply at anytime during the process may place the respondent in contempt of court.

What is UNITE’s role?

Operation UNITE is helping to raise awareness of this law’s existence by distributing pamphlets and educating court staff. It is UNITE’s opinion that those with a substance abuse problem often need treatment, but are unwilling to seek assistance. This law has the potential to save lives by enabling family and friends to look out for a person’s best interest.