Tomorrow night October 23rd at 7:00pm EST on the Addict’s Mom Live Video Online Meeting on In the Rooms topic will be Understanding Codependency. To join us sign up for f.ree at www.intherooms.com, you must log in with Google Chrome or Firefox. Sign on at about 6:55pm, please check your settings to make sure your microphone is on.

**Remember You Can Remain Anonymous**

Codependency can be so very painful and debilitating.

For codependents, being open and honest in close relationships may be difficult. Instead of being assertive, initiating action, and meeting your own needs, you hide your truth, react, and feel responsible for others. You become anxious and try to manage, c...ontrol, and manipulate, often by pleasing or giving advice. Some codependents turn themselves into pretzels trying to accommodate others, because they feel too guilty to say “No.”

Contrary to what you might think, not all codependents are caretakers or are even in a relationship. Codependents have all different personalities, and symptoms vary in type and severity among them. There are codependents who seek closeness, while others avoid it. Some are addicts, bullies, selfish, and needy, or may appear independent and confident, but they control, or are controlled by, a personal relationship or their addiction. A relationship marked by addiction or abuse is a sign of codependency. But not all codependent relationships are abusive. Sometimes they are just very out of balance where one person is the contributor and keeps the relationship going, and the other is the consumer and doesn’t contribute much and is unavailable in many ways. Codependency is about control, enabling, care-taking, and looking outside of ourselves, being needed, in order to fill that hole inside.

Barbara Theodosiou, founder of The Addict’s Mom will be speaking heart to heart with Debbie Sherrick an expert on Co-dependency with over 25 years of experience.

About Debbie Sherrick:

Debbie Sherrick has been motivated by her own personal journey to healing and health, Debbie Sherrick is a certified Holistic Health Counselor and Codependency Life Coach teaching people how to unite mind, body and spirit for a successful healthy life style.

Debbie is the owner of Inside Out Wellness Inc. http://insideoutwellnesscoach.com

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

PCB's Fall/Winter 2014 Online Newsletter is now available! Click here to read the latest edition.

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ORGANIZING THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY HIV & Recovery in the Workplace: What You Need to Know Monday October 27, 2014 from 12:00 - 1:30 PM EST Join Faces & Voices of Recovery and Young People in Recovery for a webinar where you will learn about:     Addressing the rights of people with HIV and substance use disorder in the workplace     The Americans with Disabilities Act and how it affects them     What rights are protected and which are not     Bsic legal concepts around employment and determination for people with HIV and substance use disorder     Best practices around human resources and recovery in the workplace Presented by: Douglas Rudolph, Chief Policy Officer for Young People in Recovery Registration deadline is October 24, 2014. The webinar will be recorded and available online. Peer Support Services for People with Substance Use Disorders and HIV Wednesday October 29, 2014 from 12:00 - 1:30 PM EST Join Faces & Voices of Recovery for a webinar presented by Ben Bass, Faces & Voices Board Member. He will draw on his experience with the Texas Recovery Initiative and the El Paso Alliance to describe how providers can move support services for people with substance use disorder and HIV into a recovery oriented system of care; the background of the movement to do so in Texas and beyond; best practices in the field; and the growth of peer recovery and HIV supports. Presented by: Ben Bass, Executive Director of the El Paso Alliance and a board member of Faces & Voices of Recovery Registration deadline is October 28, 2014. The webinar will be recorded and available online. Help get the word out with our flyer. These webinars are supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

Synthetic Marijuana-Related ER Visits More Than Doubled in One Year

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

October 21st, 2014/

A new government report finds emergency rooms visits related to synthetic marijuana more than doubled between 2010 and 2011, HealthDay reports.

Synthetic marijuana, also known as “K2” or “Spice,” is especially dangerous because there is a widespread misconception these drugs are safe and legal, according to Pamela Hyde, Administrator at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “These injury reports compel us to get the word out to all segments of the community — especially youth — that these products can cause significant harm,” she noted in a news release.

Emergency rooms reported more than 28,500 visits linked to synthetic marijuana in 2011, up from 11,400 in 2010, according to the report. Among teens ages 12 to 17, the number of visits linked to synthetic marijuana rose from about 3,800 to nearly 7,600 during that year. Among young adults ages 18 to 20, ER visits linked to synthetic marijuana rose from about 2,000 to more than 8,000.

Short-term effects of synthetic marijuana include loss of control, lack of pain response, increased agitation, pale skin, seizures, vomiting, profuse sweating, uncontrolled/spastic body movements, elevated blood pressure, heart rate and palpitations. The drug takes effect in three to five minutes, and the high lasts from one to eight hours. In addition to physical signs of use, users may experience severe paranoia, delusions, hallucinations and increased agitation. Its long-term effects are unknown.

The Synthetic Drug Prevention Act of 2012 specifically prohibits the sale or possession of some types of synthetic marijuana. The Drug Enforcement Administration and nearly all states have also taken some regulatory action against these products once they have been identified, according to SAMHSA. “However manufacturers of these compounds continue to modify their chemical structures in an attempt to evade current laws,” the agency notes.

Buprenorphine Better Than Detox For Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment: Study

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

October 21st, 2014/

Buprenorphine maintenance therapy is more effective than detoxification for patients being treated for prescription opioid dependence, a new study finds. The researchers, from Yale University, said primary care doctors do not have evidence-based guidelines to decide between the two treatments.

The researchers conducting the 14-week study followed 113 patients with prescription opioid dependence, Health Canal reports. The patients in the detox group received six weeks of stable doses of buprenorphine followed by three weeks of tapering doses, while patients in the maintenance group received ongoing buprenorphine therapy. All patients received physician and nurse support and drug counseling for 14 weeks.

Patients in the detox group tested positive for illicit opioid use more frequently than those in the buprenorphine maintenance group, lead researcher Dr. David Fiellin reported inJAMA Internal Medicine. Maintenance group members were also less likely to use illicit opioids. Few patients in the detox group stayed in treatment or were able to abstain from using opioids after they stopped taking buprenorphine.

“For prescription opioid dependence, buprenorphine detoxification is less effective than ongoing maintenance treatment, and increases the risk of overdose and other adverse events,” Fiellin said in a news release.

“It is very common for patients seeking treatment to request detoxification,” he added. “They want to be off of everything as soon as possible as opposed to considering long-term treatment, but unfortunately there’s no quick fix for the disease. The majority of patients will do better if they receive ongoing maintenance treatment.”

New Label for Opioid Painkiller Embeda Will Say Drug Has Abuse-Deterrent Features

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

October 21st, 2014/

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved new labeling for the opioid painkiller Embeda that states the drug has abuse-deterrent features, the Associated Pressreports.

The label will indicate Embeda has properties expected to reduce abuse of the drug when it is crushed and taken orally or snorted, the article notes. The drug can still be misused if it is swallowed intact.

Embeda contains morphine and naltrexone, and comes in extended-release capsules. It is approved to treat pain that is severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment, and for which other treatment options are not sufficient, according to aFDA news release. When taken properly, the drug releases only the morphine in the capsule. When the capsule is crushed, the naltrexone blocks some of the euphoric effects of the morphine, and can cause withdrawal in people who are dependent on opioids.

The FDA noted it is not known whether the abuse-deterrent properties of the drug will lead to a reduction in people who abuse the drug intravenously.

“Preventing prescription opioid abuse and ensuring that patients have access to appropriate treatments for pain are both top public health priorities for the FDA,” said Sharon Hertz, MD, Acting Director of the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Addiction Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The science behind developing prescription opioids with abuse-deterrent properties is still evolving and these properties will not completely fix the problem. But they can be part of a comprehensive approach to combat the very serious problem of prescription drug abuse in the U.S.”

The FDA is requiring Pfizer to conduct postmarketing studies of Embeda to further assess the effects of the abuse-deterrent features of the drug.

Thanksgiving Day - The Addict's Mom is working hard towards supporting the addict's mom entity in several ways including promoting scholarships for addicts and expenses associated with the cause. By purchasing a tee shirt you support our efforts in finding treatment, solutions and raising awareness for addict's moms. To purchase your tee shirt go to www.teespring.com/addictsmom4.

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

CALL OUR ADDICTION & COUNSELING HELPLINE: 1-844-543-3242 (1-844-LIFE-CHANGE)

Share Tweet Forward   Don't miss the discussion about adjusting to lifestyle changes! Hear Lighthouse Network's Dr. Karl Benzio's insights this Thursday!   Karl Benzio, M.D. Counsels Callers on "Adjusting to Lifestyle Changes" with Dr. Gloria Gay on WEHA 88.7 FM   STATION: WEHA 88.7 FM (Pleasantville, NJ) DATE: Thursday, October 23 TIME: 9:30 a.m. ET PROGRAM: Hearing Hearts TOPIC: Adjusting to Lifestyle Changes ONLINE: wehagospel887.com   Check out other media interviews including TV appearances, radio programs, print features and articles here.

Lighthouse Network is a Christian-based, non-profit organization that offers an addiction and mental health counseling helpline providing treatment options and resources to equip people and organizations with the skills necessary to shine God's glory to the world, stand strong on a solid foundation in the storms of their own lives, and provide guidance and safety to others experiencing stormy times, thus impacting their lives, their families and the world. Lighthouse Network offers help through two main service choices: Lighthouse Life Change Helpline (1-844-LIFE-CHANGE, 1-844-543-3242), a 24-hour free, national crisis call center, where specialists (Care Guides) help callers understand and access customized treatment options. Life Growth and self-help training resources for daily life, including online and DVD series and training events to help individuals achieve their potential.   unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Facebook Twitter Website

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.                                                   and           Pennsylvania Recovery Organization --      Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT)  Recovery in Our Communities October 21, 2014      Like us on Facebook                                   www.councilsepa.org                       Follow us on Twitter Information and Recovery Support Line 24/7: 800-221-6333 HALT Series: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired:    Coping with ANGRY Moments in Recovery   Let's face it... we all get angry from time to time.  After all, we are human beings, first and foremost.  In dealing with the many elements of recovery from a substance use disorder, we are often overwhelmed with a flood of emotions that have, in the past, been suppressed through the use of drugs or alcohol.  Anger is often a feeling that doesn't subside when we stop 'using.'  In fact, sometimes anger becomes predominant.  Anger Defined:  In the most general sense, anger is a feeling or emotion that ranges from mild irritation to intense fury and/or rage.  This may also lead to hostile and violent behaviors. Hostility is seen as a form of emotionally charged, angry behavior.   Many people often confuse anger with aggression.  Aggression is a behavior that is intended to cause harm or injury to another person or damage property.  Hostility, on the other hand, refers to a set of attitudes and judgments that motivate aggressive behaviors.       Click here to continue reading.     UPCOMING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ON OPIATES   Upper Bucks Community Outreach - "Substance Abuse in Our Community" October 23, 7-9 pm at Palisades High School, 35 Church Hill Road, Kintnersville, PA  "Opiates and Youth: A Comprehensive View" November 19, 8 am - 4:45 pm at Spring Mill Manor, 171 Jacksonville Road, Ivyland, PA  Overdose Education Advisory Board, October 28, 5-7 pm, Bailiwick Unit 12, 252 W Swamp Road, Doylestown, PA. Click here for more information.  Town Hall Meeting "Heroin & Opiates" October 30, 7:00 pm at Morning Star Fellowship Church, 429 S 9th St, Quakertown, PA  Click here for more information on these programs or email David with questions.    AT OUR CENTERS TONIGHT at the CBRRC!  "Expanding Your Recovery Toolkit: Thinking SMART in Your Recovery" 7-8:30 pm 252 W Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown. Tonight learn from Jennifer Seitzer, CLC, CCH and Stephen Osborne, CRS, how sugar and SMART recovery work together to help you sustain recovery!  Call 215-345-6644 for more information.  "Beating the Blues" at PRCC, 1701 West Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia. A free 8-session program on how to handle stress and anxiety, while viewing life in a more positive way. Mondays, 12:30-2:00 pm. Next session October 27. Sign up now. Call 215-223-7700 to register.   Overdose Education Advisory Board, October 28, 5-7 pm, Bailiwick Unit 12, 252 West Swamp Road, Doylestown. Email David for more information. "Fed Up," Movie, November 7, 6 - 9 pm, Bailiwick Unit 12, 252 West Swamp Road, Doylestown. A movie that will change the way people think about eating. Bring a dish, Pot Luck Dinner. Register with Rick, 215-345-6644, or email Rick. "Minute For Moms" at SBRCC, 286 Veterans Highway, Unit D-6, Bristol Support group for Moms and Moms to Be discussing parenting, healthy relationships and support networks. 2nd Wednesday of every month. Next meeting is November 12 at 6 pm. Call 215-788-3738 or email Karen for more information. "A Sugar Seminar" at CBRRC, November 19, 9 am - 12 noon, Bailiwick Unit 12, 252 W Swamp Road, Doylestown.  Learn how sugar affects your recovery and relapse potential.  Click here for more information.  Employment Opportunities: Please click here WAYS TO GET INVOLVED WITH PRO-ACT Committee Meetings Educating the Community, at PRCC, October 24 and November 21, 3 - 4 pm.  All Volunteer Meeting, at PRTC, October 30 and November 20, 5:30 - 7:30 pm Volunteer Orientation, at PRTC, November 4, 10 am - 1 pm Bucks Chapter, at CBRCC, Unit 33, November 4, at 6:00 pm Amends in Action, at PRTC, November 12, 3 - 4 pm Recreation Celebration, at PRCC, November 14, 3 - 4 pm Young People in Recovery, at PRTC, November 17, 7:30 - 8:30 pm Recovery Walks 2015 Planning Committee, at PRTC, December 1, 6 - 7:30 pm

DONATE Donations help us to reduce the impact of addiction for more individuals and families. The Council is a 501(c)(3) organization.

ORGANIZING THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY Dear Friends, We hope by now you have heard the exciting news about our merger with Young People in Recovery (YPR), the national volunteer-based organization dedicated to improving access to treatment, education, employment and housing for young people in recovery. We are absolutely delighted to unite the nation’s top recovery advocacy organizations into a single, more powerful national force that will serve even more people in or seeking recovery, their friends, family members and supporters. The timing - announced in September during the 25th annual celebration of Recovery Month - couldn’t have been more perfect. This is truly a historic turning point for the nation’s recovery advocacy movement! “For more than four years, Faces & Voices of Recovery and YPR have informally collaborated in a partnership focused on advancing education about addiction recovery and providing support for those in or seeking recovery,” said Mike DeAgro, former chairman of the Board of YPR and current co-chair of the newly merged Board of Faces & Voices of Recovery and YPR. “By joining forces, Faces & Voices of Recovery and YPR can unite separate organizations into a single, stronger, national voice that can advocate for the needs of millions of people, of all ages, who need support while seeking or in continued recovery.”  Of course, many people have had questions about what this means on a day-to-day basis and I’d like to take this opportunity to address some of those. Faces & Voices of Recovery and YPR, while taking legal steps to formalize the merger such as incorporating under the same 501c3, joining administrative staffs and unifying the leadership team into one Board of Directors, will retain their distinct, individual identities, separate branding and continue to work under their own names to fulfill their complementary missions. Faces and Voices’ work with the Association of Recovery Community Organizations (ARCO), the Executive Directors Leadership Academy, our recovery community messaging and other trainings, technical assistance, and our partnership in ManyFaces1Voice, the online platform around the release of the documentary film, The Anonymous People, will remain unchanged. What will improve is our expanded ability to reach an even wider audience of voices dedicated to change while increasing organizational capacity and decreasing administrative costs. With 94 ARCO member organizations and 31 YPR chapters, our ability to continue building recovery infrastructure nationwide, is significantly increased.  We look forward to sharing news about our accomplishments and goals on a regular basis through the reintroduction of e-blasts and e-newsletters so you can stay up-to-date on all that is happening at Faces & Voices as well as YPR. We want you to know that, now more than ever, your face and your voice matters; that your recovery counts; and that we remain inspired by your collective contributions. Our commitment to you as a community is to continue working until all 23 million recovery voices are counted and the more then 20 million still in need are able to access their own pathway to recovery too! As our journey together continues please know we appreciate everything you do to carry our unified message of hope across America and into other nations. Thank you, Richard Buckman Board Chair Faces & Voices of Recovery   Get involved. Stay involved. Be the voice. The recovery movement needs you.