“When the Prescription Becomes the Problem” Social Media Campaign Targets Overdoses - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

“When the Prescription Becomes the Problem” Social Media Campaign Targets Overdoses - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Frequent Visitors to the ER at Increased Risk of Death From Prescription Drug Overdose - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Frequent Visitors to the ER at Increased Risk of Death From Prescription Drug Overdose - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Frequent Visitors to the ER at Increased Risk of Death From Prescription Drug Overdose - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Frequent Visitors to the ER at Increased Risk of Death From Prescription Drug Overdose - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Alcoholism Medication May Help Treat Methamphetamine Addiction - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Alcoholism Medication May Help Treat Methamphetamine Addiction - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Women for Sobriety, Inc. Reflections Hello WFS Friends! I thought you would like to read one of the day passages from the WFS booklet, "Reflections for Growth" that WFS's Founder, Jean Kirkpatrick, wrote.  All women using our program in their recovery are encouraged and welcomed to submit their comments on this reflection for possible publication in the July 2015 issue of Sobering Thoughts newsletter...please send them to contact@womenforsobriety.org by June 22nd.  Thanks! SOBRIETY: Sobriety can be hell or sobriety can be the most marvelous time of our life.  I choose to make it the latter.  Those who find it a state of hell are those who are still wanting to drink. Today I cherish my wonderful, new life. (This was an excerpt from "Reflections for Growth" booklet and may be purchased through the WFS Catalog at http://www.wfscatalog.org/Reflections-For-Growth-Bundle-BT174.htm - there are 12 booklets - one for each month of the year.  Copyright WFS Inc.) Warm regards, Becky Fenner, WFS Director Email:  contact@womenforsobriety.org   *   Tel: 215-536-8026   *   Fax:  215-538-9026

http://www.womenforsobriety.org   *   http://www.wfscatalog.org

Creation Story We Never Get Tired Of

80 years of sobriety: Alcoholics Anonymous celebrate 80 years of dodging the drink    

WHAT was a seemingly unplanned meeting in Akron, Ohio on June 10, 1935 between two men, both "hopeless" alcoholics, began a programme of recovery that has helped millions get sober and a fellowship known as Alcoholics Anonymous. A stockbroker from New York, Bill Wilson, was one of them. He was fighting his own battle against drinking and already knew that helping other alcoholics was the key to maintaining his own sobriety. Bill traveled to Akron on business. He had been sober for five months but found himself alone...(more will be revealed)

Researchers Reveal New Criteria For Diagnosing Alcoholism « CBS New York

Researchers Reveal New Criteria For Diagnosing Alcoholism « CBS New York

JUNE 16 CHP 139 v 16 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALMS

Your eyes saw my unformed body, all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (GODS BIG BOOK)

ordained- order or decree (something) officially.

decree- an official order issued by a legal authority.

STEP 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

What if our poor decisions on choosing to use are a test designed by God to lead us too Him. It is so easy too think we are in control until we find ourselves strung-out and homeless in an alley somewhere on our knees crying out to God above , if you there please help me escape this hell or just take me outta here. What I do know is if it was not for my addictions I would have never got to know God on a deep personal level like I do now. Growing up I went to a school that told me about Him but I never Knew Him ! I had to take myself too hell to discover He is a loving merciful Father and creator and He desires a relationship with us and in order too accomplish this we must first realize we are not alone in this world and He is seeking us too find Him and know Him. That emptiness in our hearts that causes us too use and seek whatever it is to try and fill that empty space can only be filled by our Heavenly Father. Read the verse above over and over and ask God too reveal Himself and he will and no it wont be a burning bush it will be a sense of wholeness love and completion in your heart. When you have reached a point of brokenness in your life and all you want to do is die cry out to Him and don't stop until His spirit comes bringing freedom and comfort. Don't try to rationalize what I am saying just do it even if you think its crazy.GOD IS REAL ! GOD LOVES YOU ! YOUR ARE HIS DEARLY LOVED CHILD ! GOD MISSES YOU ! HE ALREADY KNOWS YOU ! GOD IS DESPERATELY SEEKING TO KNOW YOU ! GOD WILL NOT FORCE YOU ! YOU HAVE TO TELL HIM YOU NEED HIM ! 

Revelation 3-20 - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

(GODS BIG BOOK) By Joseph Dickerson

Sat., June 20, 10 am: COA Baseball!    On Saturday, June 20 at 10:00 am, the COA Angels will play their annual Sage Ferraro Memorial Game at Thunder Stadium against the NJ Spartans in a regular season NJABL game. There will be no charge for admission, though donations will be accepted. Enjoy hot dogs, soda & water on us! As Rich Fisher, writer for the Trentonian, put it "If the story of the newly formed City of Angels adult amateur baseball team doesn't make you feel good, then you're either the crankiest person on earth or the emotionless Dr. Spock from Star Trek. This is a story of second chances, dedication and courage." Click here to read more. Sat. June 20, 2 pm: Life ReScripted Workshop Are painful memories holding you back?  ReScript them at this workshop! Life ReScripted is a (FREE!) experiential workshop that uncovers and clears unresolved issues that can undermine recovery. There are strong and compelling reasons why these issues persist.  A rescripting identifies and transforms the root cause of our self-sabotaging choices & behavior. Whether they were small injuries or major dramas, from last week or many years ago.... A few comments from past workshop participants: "Life ReScripting is one of the greatest gifts I have received." - Male, New York "Vicki, you are part of the healing force for survivors" - 12 Step Retreat Coordinator "It has taken me over 40 years to get to this point and this event has been my spiritual awakening.... feels like a mountain has been lifted from my shoulders. ...Vicki I wanted to share with you that the outcome that we did in the ReScripting session that I so badly wanted from my father all those years ago did come true. ...the response from my Dad was so real and authentic that I couldn't help thinking what a blessing the Rescripting session was. G-d bless you and thank you." - Male,­ Sydney, Australia To learn more about Life ReScripted and its facilitators, click here.  Time: 2:00 to 6:00 pm, Dwier Center (392 Church Street, Groveville, NJ). For questions or comments, contact: cityofangelsnj@hotmail.com

DEA Arrests 280 in Four-State Crackdown on Prescription Pill Distribution - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

DEA Arrests 280 in Four-State Crackdown on Prescription Pill Distribution - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Federal Prosecutors Seek Lengthy Prison Sentence for Creator of Silk Road Website - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Federal Prosecutors Seek Lengthy Prison Sentence for Creator of Silk Road Website - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Costs Rise for Treating Babies Born to Mothers Addicted to Painkillers - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Costs Rise for Treating Babies Born to Mothers Addicted to Painkillers - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

A Benefit to Help Fight Addiction- Here is a printable flyer for the music fest and will be available to download from the Music Fest website. Please share

Bob Sofronski, Executive Director

Christian Life Prison and Recovery Ministries, Inc.

Po Box 1624

Southampton, PA 18966

www.clprm.org

www.musicfest2015.org

215-833-2512

Jeremiah 29:11

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

-------- Original message --------
From: Bob Sofronski <bobsofronski@live.com>
Date:06/13/2015 10:26 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: Bob Sofronski <bobsofronski@live.com>
Cc:
Subject: Official 2015 Music Fest Flyer

Bob Sofronski, Executive Director
Christian Life Prison and Recovery Ministries, Inc.
Po Box 1624
Southampton, PA 18966
www.clprm.org
www.musicfest2015.org
Phone: 215-833-2512
Fax: 267-988-4629
bobsofronski@live.com

2 Attachments

 

 

Preview attachment 2015 Music Fest flyer Jpeg.jpg

2015 Music Fest flyer Jpeg.jpg

Preview attachment 2015 Music Fest Flyer Scanned.pdf

2015 Music Fest Flyer Scanned.pdf

June 13 CHP 106 v 13 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALMS

But soon they forgot what He had done and did not wait for His plan to unfold.

(GODS BIG BOOK)

STEP 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Is that just like us! We get free from the chains and horrors of addiction only too get complacent and reckless only too find ourselves on the relapse roller coaster screaming for help again .Through self discovery this is one of my worse character defects (Impatience ,pride ). Complacency leads to impatience and that will turn into forgetfulness and forgetfulness becomes ungratefulness and Pride . We must never forget the hell we once lived and the pain we swam and almost drowned in. Waiting for Gods plan is a must and that plan is for our lifetime. Never become ungrateful and whatever you do train yourself to pray and wait it works and God will direct you ! Stay  thankful in every situation and watch how peaceful your life will become.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

(GODS BIG BOOK) BY Joseph Dickerson

	Recovery Coach Training in Williamstown, NJ  The next Recovery Coach class will be June 22 - June 28 in Gloucester County, NJ. For more details, or to register for this class, click here.   Developed by the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), the CCAR Recovery Coach Academy at COA is a week-long training opportunity designed for those interested in serving as a recovery coach. It is the first peer-based recovery coaching and training program designed for people interested in guiding individuals into and through long-term recovery from alcohol and/or drug addiction.   Since January 2013, COA has trained more than 120 Recovery Coaches. To visit COA's Recovery Coach webpage, click here. Take This Survey, Help Fight Addiction! The Prevention Coalition of Mercer County (PCMC) needs your help in battling drug addiction! This voluntary survey will take about five minutes of your time and will help the Prevention Coalition's efforts to strengthen our community's capacity to address substance abuse issues across the lifespan for residents of Mercer County.  We can see if we are making a difference by tracking community change over time.To take the survey, click here. The PCMC is a community group made up of representatives from treatment centers, government, the healthcare system, the school system, parents, the recovery community and others. Its mission is to reduce substance abuse through collaboration and sharing of resources. COA is an active member. To learn more about PCMC, click here. New on COA Recovery Radio This week's "Saving Lives" is a special tribute to the lives that have recently been lost....35 overdoses in the past 7 days, and counting....in it, Jessi, Keith & Rob talk about super-pure dope, barriers to treatment, summertime triggers, the stigma of addiction and why, despite all the challenges & temptations, recovery is worth it! "It's sad but I have hope, because for each person we lose, dozens more are in treatment," says Rob, who is COA's Director of Community Outreach as well as a certified interventionist and Recovery Coach.  If you missed this EXCELLENT show when it aired live, you can listen to it on demand...click here to tune in!
	Community Forum on Opioid Addiction in NJ The Rescue Mission of Trenton  Tuesday June 16th at - 8 am to 10 am Last year, opioid abuse claimed nearly 800 lives in the State of New Jersey. New Jersey is among the growing number of states where first responders can administer life-saving medication to reverse an overdose. What happens after? As a co-sponsor of this event, COA will have an information table at this event. For more details, click here.   Drug Reality Forum

Best of the week from Choose Help Avoiding Methadone Overdose During the Dangerous First 2 Weeks Your risk of overdose is higher during the first 2 weeks on methadone than it was before you started. Learn how to stay safe until you get stabilized. No two people react the same way to methadone, it’s impossible to predict in advance what dosage you’ll need for optimum results and it takes about 5 days on any dose for bloodstream levels to stabilize – and until they do, methadone levels in your body increase by the hour. Methadone saves lives, but it’s a potent drug with a narrow margin of error. If you abuse opioids then switching to methadone reduces your risks of fatal overdose. However, during the first induction phase, methadone treatment actually raises your risk of accidental death. Don't get scared off by manageable risks; just be careful, understand how it works and use it with respect. Read on to learn more about: The dangers of the induction period. Why methadone is so dangerous in the first 2 weeks (and much less dangerous after that). Warning signs of dangerous over-medication (knowing what to look for can save a life). What Are the Dangers? Methadone is an addiction treatment lifesaver, but you're at elevated risk of overdose until you get stabilized on a steady dose. Consider the following sobering statistics:1 In one study, researchers found that people were 7 times more likely to die during the first 2 weeks of treatment than they were while still abusing street opioids. In another study, researchers found that people were 98 times more likely to die during the first 2 weeks of methadone treatment than in the period after the first 2 weeks. People have been known to overdose during induction with starting doses as low as 30 mg per day. So once stabilized on methadone the risk of accidental death drops substantially,however, during the first weeks of treatment, accidental overdose risks actually increase. Three variables that may increase your risks of overdose are: Higher starting doses and quicker dosage raises. Using other drugs or alcohol during the initial methadone induction phase. Poor health, especially cardiac, neurological  or respiratory problems, or genetic factors that result in abnormal methadone metabolism. Deaths are most likely during the first 3 to 10 days of treatment. People who overdose commonly do so at home, while asleep. Why Are the First Weeks so Dangerous? Methadone has a very long half life, typically between 24 and 36 hours. This means that after 24 hours, you still have half (or more) of yesterday’s methadone in your bloodstream. So if you took 30 mg on your first day, you would still have 15 mg or more in your bloodstream when you took 30 mg again the next day, bumping your total up to 45 mg. The next day, you would have 30 mg + 15 mg from the day before and + 7.5 mg from the first day… Because the half life is typically more than 24 hours, the amount of methadone in your bloodstream will continue to increase for 5 to 7 days, even when you take the same dose every day. After a week, blood plasma levels can be up to 7 times higher than they were on the first day, even when taking the same dose every day. After 5 to 7 days, your plasma levels stabilize and you achieve a steady state. At this point, continuing to take the same dose once a day will no longer cause progressive increases in blood plasma levels. So, for example, if you notice that you’re feeling a little over-medicated after your second daily dose, continuing to take the same dose on the following days could put you at overdose risk. Or, if you found that the first day’s dose provided a full 24 hours of withdrawal symptoms relief, this would also indicate a dangerously-high starting point. Warning Signs of Over-Medication During the induction phase, be on the lookout for signs of dangerous over-medication, and if possible, ask a loved one or housemate to also stay vigilant for any of the following warning signs. Although over-medication can feel pleasant, due to methadone’s long half life and the way it causes rising blood plasma levels for days until stabilization, what feels pleasant at one minute can turn deadly in the following days (or even later as you sleep). Warning signs of over-medication include:2 Feeling high or drugged Feeling unsteady Nodding off Unusual snoring Being hard to wake up from sleep Slow breathing or difficult breathing Pinpoint pupils Itching and scratching Low blood pressure Slowed heartbeat Mental confusion An unusual feeling of extra energy and the ability to stay awake for longer than usual without needing sleep. Don’t Let a Loved-One Sleep It Off Most methadone-induction overdose deaths occur at home after the victim first went to sleep. Loved ones need to know that methadone over-medication is a medical emergency that demands immediate intervention. Don’t let a person you love try to sleep-off methadone over-medication. Remember that blood plasma levels will continue to rise during the night and that by morning it could be too late. Don’t Mislead for a Higher Dose No one wants to feel withdrawal symptoms, so there’s a temptation, when starting with methadone, to under-report withdrawal symptoms relief to get a higher daily dose.3 Zeroing in the correct dosage is tricky and dangerous. If you lie about how methadone makes you feel you put yourself at higher risk of over-medication and fatal overdose. Remember, methadone levels build slowly in your body and you can’t easily predict how higher doses will affect you. The little dosage bump that you try to get could be the bump that puts you over a dangerous edge. Do You Need a Higher Dose? Methadone dosage-needs are very individualized and what works for one person might not work for another, even if these people seem to have very similar characteristics. If, after a week on a steady daily dose you experience signs of under-medication, then you likely need a dose increase. Signs of under-medication include drug cravings, insomnia, anxiety and depression, irritability, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and other common opioid withdrawal symptoms. Maybe Your Dose Is OK - You Just Need to Give it Time If you feel OK at 3 or 4 hours after your daily dose but sick later in the day or over night, then you probably just need more time for methadone to accumulate in your body, rather than a higher daily dose. Avoiding Overdose (Don't Top-Up) To avoid overdose during the induction period: Keep increases low and slow. Your provider should assess you daily for any warning signs of over-medication. Stay vigilant for signs of over-medication. Avoid topping up with other opioids or other medications, drugs or alcohol. So for safety, when starting with methadone, you have to start low and go slow. Though many people eventually find optimal therapeutic effects at between 80 and 120 mg per day (after several weeks or months of induction) federal regulations prohibit first day doses of more than 30 mg (plus 10 mg more if necessary) and in many situations, doctors will advise starting-doses that are lower than 30 -  40 mg per day.4 Unfortunately, this means that for the first days or weeks you likely won’t get all-day relief from withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings; you typically feel a little better peaking at 3 to 8 hours after your daily dose and then levels start to drop down at about 12 hours after dosing. if you feel good at 3 to 8 hours after dosing, this is a sign that your daily dose is about right). As levels drop down, you will experience increased withdrawal symptoms, though with some methadone in your bloodstream, these should be tolerable. As methadone levels drop and as you experience increased withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings, you may feel tempted to top up with additional opioids, or with alcohol or benzodiazepines. Do not do this! Using other drugs or alcohol with methadone increases the overdose risks at any time. When you do this during the induction phase, the risk of accidental death goes up substantially. In one study, researchers found that 92% of methadone overdose deaths involved methadone and another drug (benzodiazepines are particularly lethal when mixed with methadone).5 Take Home Message Methadone is dangerous during the induction phase, but once you get past the first couple of weeks overdose risks drop substantially. Although you may feel under-medicated at first, methadone levels in the bloodstream can multiply 7-fold over a week on the same daily dose, so it’s very important to begin cautiously with low starting doses and slow dosage increases. You may not get all-day withdrawal symptoms relief during the first week or two of methadone induction. This is normal, and the methadone in your bloodstream should be sufficient to make withdrawal symptoms tolerable. The first 2 weeks of methadone are a high risk period for overdose and you elevate your risks substantially by using supplementary opioids, benzodiazepines or other substances on top of your methadone. Read in browser »   Recent featured articles: Emotions in Early Recovery: "You Can't Heal What You Can't Feel" 16-Point Safety Checklist before Sending Your Teen to Residential Treatment Why Interventions Fail: Avoiding Pitfalls Recognize the Physical Signs of Stress and Learn 2 Quick Ways to Turn it Off Addiction Recovery for Single Parents And, as always, thank you for reading! All the best to you and yours, Martin Schoel, founder of Choose Help P.S. If you’d like to dive into the conversation, make sure to follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook (40K+ people do). FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO A LOVED ONE Do you or someone you know need rehab? Click or 'Tap' to speak with us now: (877) 333-5266 Facebook Twitter Google Plus Pinterest

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