Recovery Works

Addiction Guide Helps You Get Clean and Sober

2009-05-25T16:24:00.002-04:00

The Addicts Guide

Do you hate your addiction? Are you ready to kick it for good? Do you have no clue where to start? The Addicts Guide is here to help you kick your addiction for good. While The Addicts Guide was originally written for readers who had difficulty with alcohol, it's information can be applied to many other addictions, especially with drugs.

Millions of people have suffered from addiction in the past one hundred years. Luckily, with the methods included in The Addicts Guide you no longer have to be one of those suffering. There are simple ways that you can stay sober and live a perfectly normal life. However, to begin real sobriety, the type that will last more than a few weeks, you need to be willing to take the next step. Just thinking that you want to quit is not enough, your alcohol addiction needs serious treatment, and it will require serious effort on your part.

Emotions are a huge part of your addiction. Whether your addiction was to a substance that made you feel on top of the world, or at the bottom of the gutter, you can control your emotions with several techniques that are in The Addicts Guide. Experts have helped pour their professional careers into The Addicts Guide in order to assist you with the emotional impact of your addiction.

Physical reactions to addiction are often the hardest part of an addiction to overcome. Not only will you feel like you need the substance you are addicted to, you will feel constant cravings and desire to go back to your addiction for years, if not for the rest of your life. The Addicts Guide lists some great tips on how to suppress cravings and manage your addiction.

Six years of blood, sweat and tears have been poured into The Addicts Guide in order to help you get the information that you need about becoming sober. An addiction recovery plan, which is necessary in order to fully recover from your addiction is also key to The Addicts Guide. Drug addiction recovery is not done in one day, or even one month. You will need to work at your addiction treatment for many years to come. The Addicts Guide will give you hundreds of helpful tips that will make sure you stay on the right path while you are recovering from your addiction.

There is help out there for addicts. Whether you are addicted to alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, or heroin The Addicts Guide is here to help you. Through expert knowledge, and helpful advice you can conquer your addiction. The Addicts Guide also provides plenty of support for you after you have beat your addiction, to prevent you from ever relapsing! Get The Addicts Guide today to save yourself and your loved ones from further pain and suffering from your addiction.

Why Alcohol And Drug Rehab Doesn't Work For So Many

2009-01-23T11:11:00.002-05:00

Accountability

Those who are victimized, including addicts who are victimized by drugs and alcohol, have a tendency to blame everyone and everything else for their problems. Extended care programs teach recovering addicts how to think like winners and leaders by taking accountability for their actions. Unless we take accountability for the actions that have led us to our current situation, we can never change our future.

A life of sobriety is attainable for each and every person who chooses to take the necessary action to achieve it. Those who have relapsed after short term treatment programs don't need to give up, nor must they feel like they have failed. Most everyone needs more than just a few weeks in a treatment program. Recovery is a lifestyle change and extended care programs provide a foundation to create that change.

To read this complete article please visit: Enhanced Healing

Surviving the Holiday Sober

2008-12-18T17:07:00.003-05:00

Below find a list of resources and links in helping you stay sober, plan for urges, and escape the holiday spirit still sober! All links can be found from this source at about.com

Staying sober and healthy during the holiday season is not always easy. These articles offer tips on dealing with many aspects of the surviving the holidays safely.

Surviving the Holidays Sober
Staying sober during the holidays may not be easy, but it can be done. This six-day e-course provides tips for maintaining sobriety, dealing with depression, and staying healthy during the holiday season.

Holidays and Recovery
Recently sober people are often confronted with drinking and using situations for the first time since they began their recoveries. There are solutions.

Dealing With the Holidays
The holidays can be a time of great joy and celebration or a time of great pain, sorrow and depression for anyone. These can be particularly dangerous times for people who are in recovery, especially those in early recovery.

Staying Sober During the Holidays
Regular visitors to the About Alcoholism site have taken time to share thier personal tips on dealing with the pressures of the Holiday Season.

How To Resist Drinking at a Party
Not drinking when everyone else is can be very difficult, but it can be done with careful planning and determination.

It's Okay to Celebrate!
We spend so much time trying to "help" those who struggle with the holidays, that sometimes we forget that for most it's a joyful, happy time and a reason to celebrate.

Planning a Safe Party
Due to the dangers and liabilities involved, companies and individuals alike are coming to the realization that alcohol should not be the main attraction at holiday parties.

Healthy Holidays
Whether you are dealing with stress, depression, grief or you are just allergic to your Christmas tree, your About.com Guides can help you have a safer, happier holiday.

Dealing With Depression
Dealing with stress, depression, grief and seasonal blahs during the holidays.

Staying in Shape
Staying in shape during the holiday season.

Taking Care of Yourself
Looking after you is not always easy during the holiday season.

Safety Tips
Tips for having a safe holiday season for you and your family from your About Health Guides.

Copy source:http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/holiday/a/blholidays.htm

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-28T13:02:00.002-04:00

The Breast Cancer 3-Day® is a 60-mile walk for women and men who want to make a personal difference in the fight against breast cancer. Participants walk 60 miles in three days and help raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research and patient support programs.

Each night of the event, walkers experience an incredible mobile city that's more than just sleeping tents and warm showers, where they can eat, relax and renew their spirit with their fellow walkers.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

For more information visit www.the3day.org, or call 800-996-3DAY to walk the Breast Cancer 3-Day in a city near you.

Brits get tough on alcohol

2008-10-14T07:58:00.001-04:00

A proposed code of behaviour regarding the sale of alcohol in the United Kingdom could see offers of free drinks for women banned and restrictions introduced on pub "happy hours".

The draft industry code has been sent to bar and restaurant owners and suggests that offering free alcohol to women should be banned and that wine should be served in glasses with marked measures.

The new proposals being considered by the government will not be popular with the drinks industry and licensees have reacted angrily to the prospect of further regulation.

They say given the current economic situation, a more restrictive code is as necessary as a "hole in the head" and have accused the government of failing to support businesses.

The British Beer & Pub Association says as many as five pubs a day are closing and the current Licensing Act already has the power to act against any of the country's venues that were causing problems.

The draft code aims to reduce public drunkenness and its associated health and social problems, by encouraging people to drink sensibly - other initiatives under consideration include the compulsory display of health warnings wherever alcohol is sold, curbs on free wine, whisky and beer tastings and a ban on drinking games.

According to the Home Office and the Department of Health the draft proposals are part of a consultation on the government's alcohol strategy - Safe, Sensible, Social -which claims that the introduction of 24-hour drinking has failed to bring about the shift in behaviour that a more continental "cafe culture" had been expected.

Criticism has been levelled at many current attitudes to alcohol and warnings that drinks should not be promoted as a way of enhancing an individual's "social, sexual, physical, mental and financial or sporting performance".

The health warnings will include graphic information for drinkers on how many units their glass or bottle contains, a statement from the chief medical officer on safe drinking and the address of a website offering information on moderate alcohol consumption.

According to the Home Office the draft code is not a statement of government policy and will probably be revised in order to make it mandatory in retail premises that sell alcohol.

Experts say the drinks industry needs tougher regulation and the current voluntary code governing the industry should be made mandatory as there was no evidence it had "stopped bad practice" or discouraged young and heavy drinkers from consuming too much cheap alcohol.
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source: http://www.news-medical.net

Subtle Addictions

2008-09-19T15:12:00.001-04:00

Subtle Addictions
by Margaret Paul, Ph.D.

Many people are not aware of the more subtle addictions, the addictions that are often so covert and pervasive that they are as invisible to us as the air we breathe. Yet these addictions may be impacting us negatively as much as the more overt addictions. Many people are aware of the fact that addictions are used to avoid pain, and most of us are aware of the common addictions: food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, TV, spending, work, sex, rage and so on. Most people, however, are not aware of the more subtle addictions, the addictions that are often so covert and pervasive that they are as invisible to us as the air we breathe. Yet these addictions may be impacting us negatively as much as the more overt addictions. Read more about this..

How To Stop

2008-09-05T17:29:00.000-04:00

If you’re looking for advice on how to stop drinking and taking drugs, hopefully I can help.

But before I do that, let me give you the bad news first ...

If you’re looking for a genuine solution to alcoholism or drug addiction and really want to stop drinking and using, ultimately the only person that can make it happen is YOU.

Sounds kind of obvious, I know. But you’ll be amazed how many addicts miss that one, single, potentially life-altering fact.

Because if you’re like most alcoholics and drug addicts, you’re so deep in DENIAL, playing the blame game, that you can’t see you’re the cause and ultimately it’s YOU that has to take responsibility for turning your life around.

..To read more please visit: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/How_To_Stop_Drinking_And_Taking_Drugs.html

Lessons on Anger Management

2008-08-19T21:29:00.000-04:00

Working through Anger Management Lesson Plans

When an individual accepts they have anger issues, normally the next phase includes steps to anger management. There are many people and programs available to help people with difficulties controlling their temper. Besides visiting a psychiatrist, there are options such as support groups, anger management seminars, retreats and many techniques that are beneficial for anger management. An option which provides the individual with a step-by-step approach is an anger management lesson plan.

Anger management lesson plans are developed to offer a person a plan of action when a stressful or confrontational situation arises. When the individual experiences signs of negative emotions and angry thoughts, an anger management lesson plan is meant to provide tools to decrease or control their temper. Anger management lesson plans can be designed to be individual, once a person finds techniques or adopts skills which work for them. Working through these anger management lesson plans ought to greatly increase their chances of success regarding keeping their angry behavior at bay.

Anger management lesson plans are meant to give the individual a guideline to problem-solving. Helping the person to discover things about themselves through a series of questions and practices, anger management lesson plans can make positive changes. When an irritating encounter arises, they ought to tune into their feelings. Becoming self-aware of what makes the person angry is the first step. Writing down these feelings may help a person to determine how to act in a positive manner rather than lash out.

The second step required in working through this anger management lesson plan would be to practice self-control. When opposition arises it is essential to stop, take a minute and think the situation through. This gives the individual a chance to consider their normal reaction without actually acting on it. It offers the angered person a chance to manage their anger.

Thinking through the possible reactions is important when working through anger management lesson plans. After the person considers their possible reactions, it is then necessary to think about the possible results from each reaction. Thinking things through may allow the individual to consider sensible ways of dealing with the situation besides becoming hot-tempered.

The fourth step in this anger management lesson plan is the decision making step. Considering the options for reactions, now the individual must decide which one that is likely to work or be effective. Of course then it's time to act on this decision.

When the individual has followed through with these four steps, it is then necessary to evaluate their process. This step in the anger management lesson plan allows time to think over the entire situation to discern whether the result was a positive one.

Working through anger management lessons plans such as this one or any other may be easy to carry out when an individual is in a calm state of mind. The true test comes when these steps are put into action when the individual is angry and experiencing negative thoughts and emotions. The only way to ensure these anger management lesson plans work is to practice them over and over again.

Prescription Drug Abuse

2008-08-04T20:26:00.000-04:00

Prescription drug abuse affected nearly 7 million Americans in 2007, and problems ranging from poorly trained prescribers to easy access to medications among young people are making it difficult to stem the tide, Reuters reported July 30.

Non-medical use of prescription drugs is up 80 percent since 2000, and overdose deaths from prescription medication are now the leading cause of accidental death among adults ages 45 to 54. But among physicians, parents and other segments of society, there often seems to be a laissez-faire attitude about the dangers associated with pain medications and other prescription drugs. Read more...

What to Expect when Getting Sober

2008-07-21T11:11:00.001-04:00

Getting Sober: What To Expect, is written from first hand experience of a recovering alcoholic. I know all to well the fears you may face when thinking about getting sober. It’s not so bad, there’s 2 years of research in this book explaining what the majority of alcoholics go through when recovering in the early days of alcoholism.

In this book you will have all those questions answered and more! It is my hope that knowing what to expect when getting sober will make that decison all the easier. Getting Sober: What to Expect was written with your best interests in mind. I hope this book makes that decision easier for you once you know what to expect.

Good luck and I wish you the very best on your road to recovery!

Please visit www.sobertime.net to get your copy of Getting Sober: What to Expect.

The Beginning of AA

2008-07-13T21:37:00.000-04:00

Below is an excerpt from the original article about the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous.

You can find an excellent and concise description of the whole process in my title "God and Alcoholism: Our Growing Opportunity in the 21st Century (http://www.dickb.com/Godandalcoholism.shtml), pp. 2 -12.
A short description of the original program as Frank Amos described it, would be:

1. Abstinence-the alcoholic shall realize he must never again drink.
2. Absolute surrender of himself to God.
3. He must remove from his life the sins which frequently accompany alcoholism.
4. He must have devotions every morning-a Quiet Time of prayer and Bible reading.
5. He must be willing to help other alcoholics get straightened out.
6. Important, but not vital, he must frequently meet with other "reformed" alcoholics and form both a social and religious comradeship.
7. Important, but not vital, he must attend some religious service at least once weekly.

To read the complete article visit the original source at:
http://www.mental-health-matters.com....php?artID=591

Calling a Treatment Center for Alcoholism Intervention

2008-07-06T10:58:00.001-04:00

Maybe you're asking yourself if an intervention will make matters worse. NOT acting will make matters worse. Once you have made the decision to make the call, you probably want to know what to expect. Each alcohol treatment center has its own procedures, so understand that there is likely to be some differences between them.

The people at the alcohol treatment center will ask you questions about the situation with your loved one and will do a clinical assessment of what needs to be done. Is an intervention necessary or not. If intervention is needed, you will be referred to an interventionist, who will determine exactly what needs to be done and discuss that plan with you. Arrangements will be made for in-house treatment and all of the insurance details, etc. will be worked out before the intervention occurs. If travel is involved, those arrangements will be made as well.

What happens during an alcoholism intervention?

The intervention needs to be organized. The interventionist will work with you to plan the intervention. You will likely meet with this person several times, either in person or over the phone. You will have to assemble a group of family, friends, co-workers and perhaps clergy to coordinate your participation in the intervention.

Once the participants are selected, the interventionist is likely to call a pre-intervention meeting with everybody. During this meeting you will learn about the disease and you'll be encouraged to document the impact it has had on each member of the group. The interventionist will discuss the plan with the group and tell each participant what is needed from them.

Each person will prepare a written statement for the intervention and each statement will be rehearsed at this meeting. It's important to be a team, that each member of the group understands the necessity to hold firm their commitment to helping the loved one.

The group will assemble at a pre-determined location for the intervention. The interventionist will direct the meeting, which can take an hour or so to get through the agenda. Each member of the group will share their statement. These statements are non-judgmental, loving and need to communicate the person's care for the addict.

During and between statements, understand that the addict may react poorly toward your compassionate outreach. Remember, there is nothing wrong with them and it's your problem. They may argue. They may deny anything you say. Expect the worst.

The addict's circumstances may be dire, but there is nothing wrong with them, so be patient and hold your ground. If there is going to be fireworks, the interventionist is the one who can handle the conflict. You are there to show your love and concern. You are there to share how the addiction is hurting you.

If the loved one is willing to go into treatment, and all of the arrangements having been made, they can immediately be taken to the center. If the center is local they can be driven, or if a plane flight is necessary, they can be taken to the airport and put on a flight. They will be met at the destination airport and taken to the treatment center.

The interventionist will report to the treatment team all of the findings from the intervention, from the assessment to the group meeting. The professionals at the center will have an excellent head-start to help your loved one get on the road to recovery.

The addict is not the only one who will receive help, as most centers will offer you assistance as well. You were the one to "blow the whistle" so to speak and do not be hesitant to allow their support and counsel. The addict needs treatment, but so do those who live with the addict and the family members who have shared in the suffering.

Support groups like Al-Anon are excellent for husbands, wives and family members. The emotional toll the addiction takes can be enormous and people need the help and support of others who have walked through the tunnel of living with the addict. Many churches have addiction support groups, which bring an added spiritual/religious component to the spouses and family.

Ned Wicker is the Addictions Recovery Chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital Lawrence Center He author's a website for alcoholism support. For more information about this author please visit: Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ned_Wicker

Life After Meth-Video

2008-06-27T18:16:00.000-04:00

What Is Cocaine?

2008-06-24T17:50:00.001-04:00

Cocaine is a kind of drug extracted from the cocoa plant. It is severely addictive and quickly affects the brain immediately after using it. Cocaine is one of oldest drug and it was misused for more than 100 years and later it was labeled as an illegal drug in the mid of 1980’s. The natural cocaine was first extracted from erythroxylon cocoa leaf. It is mixed with some of the medicines to cure the illness. It is the second type of drug which is misused all over the world but it is legally used by the doctors for eye, ear and throat surgery. It stimulates the entire nervous system as soon as it is used. Cocaine is also used as an anesthesia for children and it can be purchased only with the prescription of a doctor.

It is a plant which is cultivated illegally all over the world. Even though it is used for medication yet the government have not sanctioned for growing it legally. There are two chemicals formed from the cocaine plant-freebase and hydrochloride salt. The hydrochloride salt can be used by mixing up with water and if it is misused it can be extracted through the vein. The use of cocaine remains wide spread in much social and cultural work. Usually cocaine is sold in the American streets with the name of white-powder, snow and blow. It is a white powder which increases the feeling of relaxation when it is ingested. It can be injected or snorted because the chemical extracted from cocaine is a type of salt so it can be only injected by diluting.

History of Cocaine

Cocaine is one of the oldest drugs and it was cultivated by the South Americans before thousand years and the people of Peru and Bolivia grows this plant illegally in the 19th century. The cocaine hydrochloride was the first drug extracted from the cocaine plant and this develops the interest of growing cocaine plant and this yields more money for the people. The cocaine cultivation was first introduced in the year 1900 and it was banned in the year of 1914 by the Harrison act. The formula of cocaine also involves in the manufacture of cocoa-cola. In 1960 again the growth of cocaine was started and later in the year 1980 it was became a national problem.

Effects of Cocaine in Health

Mostly cocaine affects the nervous system of the body. It stays in the body from 20 minutes to several hours depending on the dosage of cocaine used. The initial symptom of cocaine addiction is increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and restlessness. If the use of drugs becomes excessive then it will lead to itching, paranoid delusion and hallucination. This can also cause coronary artery spasm for some of the users.

Recovery Works!
The Sober Village

A Critical Factor In The Success Of Drug And Alcohol Recovery

2008-06-13T20:53:00.000-04:00

When families are looking for a drug rehab or alcohol rehab program for their loved one, they are often focused on the program itself, not the support programs and systems that follow the residential care. However, a recovery program that offers regular, scheduled events for alumni can be just as important in helping recovering addicts live a life of permanent sobriety as the program itself.

Why Alumni Programs are So Important

An addict is never "cured" from addiction. Life in recovery is not always easy and there are certain to be dark and weak moments along the way when the recovering addict struggles not to take that drink or call an old contact for a fix. These are the moments when a strong support group becomes invaluable in the recovery process.

Though family members and friends who have not dealt with addiction may be more than happy to provide support, it is the people that have shared similar experiences with addiction and recovery that the addict often needs most for support.

It is not only during times of crisis that the recovering addict needs a support system, it's important to have regular contact with others in recovery to stay focused and to get recharged.

Residents of drug and alcohol recovery programs often form very close friendships and connections with other residents and staff during their stay. Having planned activities for this group to continuously meet up in a safe environment can be one of the keys to a healthy, happy, life of recovery.

Types of Alumni Program Activities

Each drug and alcohol recovery center offers its own alumni program activities. No one type of alumni program is better than another is; what is important is that there is some sort of regular, on-going group meeting or activity that past residents are welcome to attend.

For example, the Mark Houston Recovery Center holds a one hour aftercare group each Thursday and a barbeque each Saturday with a different motivational house speaker each week. Other centers offer a recharge weekend where residents can regain focus when they feel like a slip may be near. Still others may offer a program where graduates can sponsor a new resident and learn about recovery through the eyes of the teacher.

Choosing a Drug Rehab Center

It can seem overwhelming to choose a drug and alcohol rehab center for your loved one. Quite understandably, you may feel as if you've got one chance to save this person from his or her own life and want to make the right choice. Seeking out recovery programs that offer alumni groups and activities after completion is one piece of the puzzle.

Other factors to consider are the length of time of the program. A 30 day program may be fine to start with but you may find that your loved one requires a longer continuum of care after the 30 day period. Look for programs that offer longer programs or that will allow the resident to extend their stay if needed.

Recovery from Drugs and Alcohol is Possible

Many addicts are resistant to go to treatment but so thankful once they emerge on the other end. The best thing that family members and loved ones can do for the addict is to stop enabling their addiction, find a program that offers a well balanced recovery plan and organized alumni activities, and get that person to speak with an intake counselor.

Though it may not seem possible during the height of a person's addiction, drug and alcohol recovery can be a reality. There are tens of thousands of success stories of people who have reclaimed their lives and gone on to live lives with more happiness and purpose than before the addiction.
Author: Mark Houston

Obama and McCain: Where They Stand on Addiction

2008-06-10T16:38:00.001-04:00

By Bob Curley

Based on their records, neither John McCain or Barack Obama can really be considered a leader in the drug-policy arena. Still, both appear to have a broader and more nuanced understanding of addiction issues than their White House predecessor, and William Cope Moyers, vice president of external affairs at Hazelden, says that he has "never been more hopeful that addiction treatment will begin to get the attention it deserves, because we at least have two candidates who are aware of the issue."

"I feel guardedly hopeful that both candidates recognize that alcohol and other drugs should be an integral part of their platforms," said Moyers.

Up to this point, we've heard far more about the candidates' personal histories involving alcohol, tobacco and other drugs than how either John McCain or Barack Obama would approach treatment and prevention from a policy perspective.

Much has been made, for example, about Obama's admission that he used cocaine and marijuana in his youth: Billy Shaheen, co-chair of Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire campaign, was forced to step down in December 2007 after saying that Obama's admissions would be a liability in the general election. "The Republicans are not going to give up without a fight ... and one of the things they're certainly going to jump on is his drug use," said Shaheen in an interview with the Washington Post.

McCain has admitted to heavy drinking (but no illicit-drug use) as a youth, and both he and Obama are former smokers. McCain has long been a thorn in the side of the tobacco industry. However, he also has routinely recused himself from votes on matters pertaining to the alcohol industry because his wife, Cindy, heads a large Anheuser-Busch distributor in Arizona -- a luxury he won't have if elected president.

Like many Americans, McCain has a family history of addiction: his father was an alcoholic, and Cindy struggled with an addiction to prescription drugs in the 1990s, including illegally obtaining painkillers from a charity where she worked and filling prescriptions in the names of staff members. That led to a DEA investigation but no criminal charges, with Mrs. McCain diverted into a treatment program instead.

Tom Coderre, national field director for Faces and Voices of Recovery, praised both Obama and McCain for their support of addiction parity legislation and noted that Obama also supported the Second Chance Act of 2007, which provided greater support for offenders reentering society.

"Some advocates have been cautious about McCain's connections with the alcohol industry," said Coderre, "but we also know that Cindy McCain is in recovery from addiction, so it's an interesting dynamic there."

As a one-term senator, Obama has compiled relatively little legislative history on addiction issues but has made a number of public statements on aspects of drug policy, and his cornerstone campaign document, the Blueprint for Change, includes a number of positions and statements related to alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. McCain's campaign documents go into less detail on his positions related to addiction issues, but his voting record is longer.

Moyers predicted that regardless of who becomes president this fall, healthcare reform will be coming in 2009 and that it is "imperative that the president and Congress include addiction and treatment in whatever reform ultimately evolves."

"There will be a lot of issues on the table; let's just hope that not just addiction but treatment and recovery will be on the agenda," he added.

Obama: Blueprint for America

Obama's Blueprint for America spells out the Democratic nominee's approach to a broad range of issues, including a pledge to sign a universal healthcare plan by the end of his first term as president. "The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the plan members of Congress have," the Blueprint states. "The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity and mental-health care." (The FEHBP requires parity coverage of addictive diseases, although this is not explicitly mentioned in Obama's document.)

Obama cites the need to spend more money on disease prevention. However, the candidate also plans to reinstate pay-as-you-go (PayGo) rules in Congress, meaning any new spending would have to be offset but program cuts or funded with new tax revenues.

Obama's plan for supporting rural communities includes a pledge to combat methamphetamine. "Obama has a long record of fighting the meth epidemic," according to the Blueprint. "As President he will continue the fight to rid our communities of meth and offer support to help addicts heal. "

Expansion of drug courts, meanwhile, shows up as a priority in Obama's civil-rights agenda. "Obama will give first-time, nonviolent offenders a chance to serve their sentence, where appropriate, in the type of drug rehabilitation programs that have proven to work better than a prison term in changing bad behavior," the Blueprint states.

In his platform on civil rights, Obama cites the need to address sentencing and other disparities that disproportionately impact African-Americans and Hispanics. "Disparities in drug sentencing laws, like the differential treatment of crack as opposed to powder cocaine, are unfair," the candidate states.

Among Obama's military priorities is a pledge to improve mental-health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related psychological injuries. "Veterans are coming home with record levels of combat stress, but we are not adequately providing for them," according to the Obama Blueprint.

The Blueprint also includes a pledge to reduce recidivism by providing more support for ex-offenders to fight crime and poverty. "Obama will work to ensure that ex-offenders have access to job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling, and employment opportunities," the document says. "Obama will also create a prison-to-work incentive program and reduce barriers to employment."

I'll Engage Parents, Obama Tells PDFA

In December 2007, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA), asked candidates, "If you become President, how will you bolster efforts to reduce alcohol and drug abuse in communities throughout America?" and, "A recent national survey found a significant decline in the number of parents talking to children about the risks of drugs and alcohol. If you become President, how will you encourage parents to engage with their kids on this health issue?"

McCain did not respond to the PDFA questions, but Obama did, citing the need for international cooperation on drug enforcement, expansion of drug courts, strengthening enforcement efforts aimed at methamphetamine, and supporting afterschool programs.

"I will promote healthy communities and work to strengthen our public-health and prevention systems," said Obama. "I will promote healthy environments, which would include restricted advertising for tobacco and alcohol to children and wellness and educational campaigns. I will increase funding to expand community based preventive interventions to help Americans make better choices to improve their health."

Obama called parents "our first line of defense against alcohol and drug abuse," but said parents need more resources and information. "My health care plan includes strengthening our public health and prevention infrastructures so that parents get the information they need about substance abuse, and guidance on how to talk about it," he said. "And my poverty plan calls for the creation of 'Promise Neighborhoods' in our cities that will support similar public-health initiatives."

"Some parents are just not taking the time to engage with their kids on [the drug] issue," said Obama. "We need to tell parents to turn off the television, put away the video games, and spend some time providing the guidance our children so badly need and desire. Parents need to strike up a conversation with their kids and warn them against the perils of drug use ... I've been quite open about my struggles as a young man growing up without a father in the home. I had to learn very early on to figure out what was important and what wasn't, and exercise my own judgment and in some ways to raise myself. Along the way, I made mistakes. And so I recognize the importance of parents talking to their children and actively engaging them on this issue, and will promote these values as president."

In other public statements, Obama said he would consider harm-reduction strategies like needle-exchange programs to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and would support medical use of marijuana under certain conditions.

"I think it is important that we are targeting HIV/AIDS resources into the communities where we're seeing the highest growth rates," Obama told Politico in a Feb. 11, 2008 interview. "That means education and prevention, particularly with young people. It means that we have to look at drastic measures, potentially like needle exchange in order to insure that drug users are not transmitting the disease to each other. And we've got to expand on treatment programs."

When it comes to medical marijuana, Obama told a reporter in March, "I have more of a practical view than anything else. My attitude is that if it's an issue of doctors prescribing medical marijuana as a treatment for glaucoma or as a cancer treatment, I think that should be appropriate because there really is no difference between that and a doctor prescribing morphine or anything else. I think there are legitimate concerns in not wanting to allow people to grow their own or start setting up mom and pop shops because at that point it becomes fairly difficult to regulate."

On the other hand, Obama stated in a September 2007 Democratic primary debate that he was opposed to lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18.

McCain's Interest in Addiction Mostly Indirect

John McCain's finest moments on addiction policy during the past decade were related to his early -- and impassioned -- campaign to regulate the tobacco industry, tax tobacco products more heavily, and limit tobacco advertising. McCain also signed on to the current legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products, but lost points with advocates when he opposed a child-health bill that would have been funded by an increase in the federal tobacco tax.

His current campaign documents, however, mention only a pledge to make smoking-cessation products more available. "Most smokers would love to quit but find it hard to do so," according to the healthcare position statement on McCain's campaign website. "Working with business and insurance companies to promote availability, we can improve lives and reduce chronic disease through smoking cessation programs."

McCain's healthcare priorities include paying more attention to chronic diseases, although addiction is not explicitly included. "Chronic conditions account for three-quarters of the nation's annual health care bill," the statement notes. "By emphasizing prevention, early intervention, healthy habits, new treatment models, new public health infrastructure and the use of information technology, we can reduce health care costs. We should dedicate more federal research to caring and curing chronic disease."

Addiction issues only get direct attention in McCain's military priorities, where he tackles the special health needs of veterans and the transition to civilian life. "He supported efforts to provide veterans with treatment for tobacco-related illnesses and substance-abuse problems, and he sponsored legislation to cover mental-health care in military retiree health plans," the McCain website says. "He has supported numerous bills to help homeless veterans by providing them with counseling, independent living training, and residential treatment programs so that they can address and overcome those ailments that plague many homeless veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse."

McCain has also pledged to impose a one-year freeze on discretionary spending growth and to submit a balanced budget to Congress. He also says he will eliminate government programs that don't perform; under the Bush administration, a number of key addiction-related programs were identified as nonperforming.

Ontheissues.org, which compiles information on candidates positions on various issues, cited a Project Vote Smart profile from 1998 that said McCain supported stricter penalties for drug crimes, including mandatory sentences for selling drugs and capital punishment for international drug traffickers. He also supported expansion of federal drug education and treatment programs, and said that alcohol should be included in such programs along with illicit drugs.

In 1999, McCain introduced legislation that would prohibit the use of federal funds for methadone maintenance programs unless they worked toward eliminating addiction and featured mandatory drug testing. He also sponsored legislation to establish drug-testing standards for professional sports leagues in 2005.

McCain has opposed marijuana legalization, including for medical purposes. "Every medical expert I know of, including the AMA [American Medical Association], says that there are much more effective and much better treatments for pain than medical marijuana," McCain said in a September 2007 town-hall meeting in New Hampshire. "I still would not support medical marijuana because I don't think that the preponderance of medical opinion in America agrees with [the] assertion that it's the most effective way of treating pain."

A new National Directory of addiction and alcoholism treatment centers, therapists and specialists.

2008-06-04T07:57:00.000-04:00

Most addicted people need help to find a way to live clean, sober lives. Treatment Centers, therapists and specialists are often the last stop in the vicious cycle that is substance addiction.

Maryland 6/03/2008 07:29 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)

TreatmentCenters.com is a national directory for treatment centers, therapists and specialists. We offer a free, simple and comprehensive index that provides assistance and guidance for those seeking help regarding alcohol addiction, drug addiction, eating disorders, cancer and many other conditions that affect the mind, body and soul. We also offer a wide variety of addiction and illness treatment centers, as well as individual counselors that can address your specific needs. We include peer support and detoxification programs. In addition, we can provide you with many resources for outpatient and residential programs.

Making the choice to seek treatment for an illness or addiction can be challenging. Our goal at TreatmentCenters.com is to make that job easier for you. We provide a bridge between people seeking treatment and the centers, physicians and counselors who provide that treatment. Keeping in mind that any disorder can affect the entire family, we provide resources and information for friends and family members as well. If you are a person seeking treatment, you will find a vast number of resources on our site.

If you are a professional offering services, we provide a first class showcase for what you have to offer. Our site consists of an easy to use search center that will match your needs to the services provided by professionals in your area. We also offer discussion forums where you can dialogue with others about various relevant topics. We provide cutting edge news on a variety of treatment related topics and offer a blog section in which you can journal about your personal experience.

Many individuals will not seek treatment for various reasons. It has been our experience that 'active' addicts and alcoholics, as well as people afflicted with different addictions or physical conditions can sometimes lose the ability to reason. A therapist or specialist for a specific illness or addiction issue, or a full-fledged residential treatment center can and will help. You, and/or your loved one, can find it at TreatmentCenters.com.

We appreciate input to further refine and maintain the efficiency of this website.
Please contact us with your thoughts. Thank You.

"Turn over a new leaf with TreatmentCenters.com"

Our motto "Hope, Help, Heal, and Happiness" shows the path.
You provide the hope. We provide the help

TreatmentCenters.com is a national directory for treatment centers, therapists and specialists. We offer a free, simple and comprehensive index that provides assistance and guidance for those seeking help regarding alcohol addiction, drug addiction, eating disorders, cancer and many other conditions that affect the mind, body and soul.

For further information, please contact us at 713.992.2828.
Sales: palmer@treatmentcenters.com
Webmaster: dan@treatmentcenters.com
http://treatmentcenters.com
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source: TransWorld News

Timely Alcohol Detox Saves The Lives Of Drunk Drivers And Their Accident Victims

2008-06-03T17:45:00.000-04:00

If you think drinking alcohol is a normal and acceptable social activity, you have a lot of company. The vast majority of Americans never think about the potential disaster they might cause by driving home after hoisting a few, let alone the risk of alcohol addiction. That's something that happens to movie stars and rock musicians who wind up in fashionable country-club alcohol detox centers.

So let me pose a few questions: Why is it okay to get drunk at every party since high school? Get smashed every weekend at college, and keep getting drunk at party after party as life goes on? And even worse, why is it okay to drive home drunk? Why do people laugh about it instead of getting into alcohol detox where they should be?

And here's another one: Why is drinking at a party any different from going to a friend's BBQ where everybody shoots up heroin? Or lies around on yoga mats smoking raw opium? Because the only real differences between alcohol and street drugs are not about addiction or danger, they're about social custom and the fact that alcohol is legal and cheap.

For some 25 million Americans, alcohol has proven every bit as addictive -- and far more physically debilitating -- than most other addictive drugs. Not only that, although heroin and opium can be difficult and extremely uncomfortable to withdraw from without drug detox, withdrawal rarely kills anyone. Alcohol withdrawal, on the other hand, can actually kill someone unless experienced alcohol detox professionals are on the case.

Every day we read about some person getting busted for DUI, about alcohol-related injuries, crimes and tragic deaths -- things we seldom consider when reaching for another drink at a party. If they're famous, the reporter may add that the person is "entering alcohol detox" or something of the sort, which is commendable and no joke, by the way.

But when was the last time you heard on the news that someone driving under the influence of opium or heroin crashed through a divider and killed somebody? I can't remember such a story, and maybe it could happen. But millions more people drive while impaired by alcohol than narcotics, and it affects drivers much more severely.

And while most people would have a negative reaction to any suggestion they try heroin or opium at a neighborhood BBQ or anywhere else, many go right on drinking until they're staggering, and then pick up the car keys and head for the door. They should be taking a taxi, probably to the nearest alcohol detox center.

I'm not sure of any scientific surveys, but I think the people with real alcohol problems are the ones who habitually drink and drive, not occasional drinkers. Such people should have their keys taken away from them and get into alcohol detox and rehab to deal with their problems.

Here's a case in point. A 32-year-old West Virginia man was convicted recently of felony driving under the influence of alcohol, causing death. Police said Brian Stone of Gans, PA, killed five people from two different families while driving drunk on Interstate 68 in West Virginia last year. Prosecutors said Stone's car was loaded with beer and his blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit.

Police say Stone killed Courtney Evans, 31, and 12-year-old Sawyer Evans, and injured Sheena Evans, 29, and their youngest son, 3-year-old John. Stone also killed Donnell Perry, 52, and daughters Jacquesha Perry, 13, and Jentil Perry, 15, and injured family members Marcia Perry, 18-year-old Justine Perry,10-year-old Cory Perry, 8-year-old Aynna Perry, and 18-month-old Mia Barnes.

Now here's the kicker: This was the seventh time Stone had been arrested for DUI, five times in the past five years alone. This is a person who needed alcohol detox and rehab a very long time ago. An alcohol detox could have paved the way for a full alcohol rehab program that actually saved the lives of five adults and children, and rescued the life of young man who is now looking at possibly decades in prison.

The overall cost to society of alcohol abuse dwarfs the costs of all other drugs. If someone you know and care for has a problem with alcohol, talk to an alcohol detox counselor as soon as possible. It's never too soon to get someone onto an alcohol detox that can open the door to full rehabilitation and a sober life.

Rod MacTaggart is a freelance writer who contributes articles on health.

info@drugrehabreferral.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rod_MacTaggart

Sobriety T.V

2008-05-31T19:09:00.002-04:00

Please visit our friends at Sobriety T.V

Helping women heal emotional issues, addiction

2008-05-27T21:50:00.002-04:00

The young woman had lied, cheated, manipulated and stolen when her addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine became so "crippling" she couldn't keep a job and her family took the advice of her sponsor and kicked her out.

Christina had hit rock bottom. She couldn't stop using on her own. The drug always won.

"My choices were Mater Dei or a life on the streets," Christina, 32, said Sunday at the charity's event, In Celebration of Women... a Journey from Darkness to Light.

"The realization that this is what it had come to... that I would have to eventually sell my body for drugs and be dead in no time was the moment that my life was saved. It was then that I saw just how out of control things had gotten, and I had to admit defeat. I surrendered."

Mater Dei (Latin for 'Mother of God'), recently renamed Carmelina's Home, is a central Etobicoke-based residential therapeutic program that supports women in the treatment and recovery of addictions or emotional issues. It is named after a late nun who counselled for 24 years from her Riverdale Hospital bed.

While Carmelina's Home is run by the (Catholic) Passionate Sisters of St. Paul of the Cross, it is not a religious program. Women of all denominations are welcome. Clients are 16 to 60.

Its symbol is a butterfly, representing transformation and new life.

Christina arrived 18 months ago at the front door of Carmelina's Home's mortgaged brick backsplit nestled on a quiet, leafy residential street. Unlike provincial government-funded programs that run 21 or 31 days, Carmelina's Home offers a two-year program, divided into four, six-month phases.

The unique, lengthy, abstinence-based program offers seven clients at once much-needed time for self-reflection and the excavation and healing of unresolved emotional issues necessary to control and conquer her addiction, said Martin Riley, president of Carmelina's Home's board of directors.

There, women learn effective life coping skills, and strengthen social and interpersonal skills.

For many, it's a last resort, said Riley. Other programs haven't worked. Some clients have taken 21-day programs five or six times. Their families have rejected them. The addiction returns because they don't change their environment upon release.

"Everybody has lived it differently, but at its core addiction is rooted in emotional issues that are hidden and never really exposed," Riley said. "Addiction is used to cover up that emotional hurt. The challenge of working through that is why the program is so long. It's a lifetime of issues you can't expect to get through in 30 to 60 days."

Participation is voluntary. The program is strict and disciplined. The women rise at 6:30 a.m. There's a schedule, including assigned chores. Daily therapy sessions and group therapy participation. Bed at 9:30 p.m.

Women sleep three to a bedroom. They eat together. They quilt, sew, use exercise equipment, garden.

The women confront one another on their behaviours, and gain insight into their own healing as a result.

"All that we do in the program is for us to gain insight into the truth of who we are," Christina said Sunday. "It has been the most crucial part of my growth and healing. We call it 'the mirror effect'. It is what we see in each other that shows us who we really are. What is truly in our hearts... We confront each other on our negative, harmful behaviours."

They pay $450 a month room and board. Some qualify for social assistance.

Carmelina's Home receives no government funding. It operates strictly on community funding and donations.

"People think about charities for children or donating to tsunami relief," Riley said of the challenge in finding donors. "People want to help with addiction. But people don't understand how real it is. It could be your mother or your sister."

The Rotary Club of Etobicoke recently donated funds to replace the home's roof.

Presently, officials are seeking a small corporation to become its sponsor. New board members and volunteers are also welcome.

An annual spring walk-a-thon will be held this Sunday in Centennial Park. It typically raises as much as $20,000. An annual gala in November raises as much as $50,000 per year.

While fund-raising is a challenge, the home's accepting, empathetic and loving environment is key to its success, say officials and clients.

"When I came here, I felt safe. I called it my 'cocoon,'" said Amelia, a mother of two daughters in their 30s, who became a client in November 2005 and stayed for 10 months.

Married at just 16, she'd had two children in short order. Her husband was often away on business. With little support, cycles of depression waxed and waned in her for years.

Amelia arrived at Carmelina's Home after reaching her breaking point with her physically and emotionally abusive husband.

Her husband enrolled in the men's program, the Caritas Project, run by Father Gianni Carparelli.

Today, the healed couple has reunited.

"I now have confidence and self-assurance. I'm totally healed. I'm no longer afraid," said Amelia, who now sits on Carmelina's Home's board of directors.

Riley joined, then led, the board of directors after first consulting on a funding proposal five years ago.

He heard one client's testimonial at that year's gala and felt moved to help.

"It's just so amazing to see someone get their life back, the life they were destined to have," Riley said. "For some, it has been hell. They acknowledge it all. It's so amazing to see that recovery and healing take place."
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source: http://www.insidetoronto.ca/News/Etobicoke/article/48748

First USA Use Of New Liver Cancer Technology At Saint Raphael

2008-05-26T09:31:00.001-04:00

Scott Helton, M.D., chief of surgery at the Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut, an internationally recognized liver surgeon, became the first in the USA to use the new Acculis microwave cancer-fighting technology to destroy liver tumours.

Saint Raphael's is one of six world leading cancer hospitals in the U.S.A. to introduce the new MTA microwave system, manufactured by the U.K. based company Acculis Limited. The six initial sites were chosen because they are also home to several of the nation's top liver surgeons.

During the May 15th procedure, Helton performed microwave tissue ablation (MTA) using the Acculis MTA high-powered microwave system to treat a non-resectable liver tumour. During the complex procedure, Helton performed multiple liver resections on the right side of the liver and then used microwave energy to destroy a remaining non-resectable tumour on the left side of the liver.

"The treatment today was groundbreaking. We were able to remove or destroy three liver tumours situated on both sides of the patient's liver during a single procedure," said Helton. "Previously this patient would not have been eligible for a single operation because we could not have removed or destroyed all the tumours in one setting. This system allows us to destroy tumours quickly and decisively using high power microwave energy through a carefully placed small probe. We expect that this new technology will allow us to treat previously inoperable tumours and open up new treatment options for patients with primary or metastatic liver tumours."

"While liver ablation is commonly done using radiofrequency, treatments that were impractical with previous technologies are now possible because of the speed, power and precision of microwave energy," Helton said. "The Acculis System is the first to successfully deliver high power microwave energy in this area of medicine."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as the European Union's CE marking body SGS, have given approval for the Acculis MTA System to go into commercial distribution.

A cohort of 14 world leading cancer centres in the UK, USA and Australia are collaborating with AUGIS, the UK Liver Surgeons body, in the initial use of this new technology. "We are working with the very best surgeons around the world in introducing this revolutionary new system," said Stuart McIntyre, CEO of Acculis Limited. "This leading cohort of top cancer centres will evaluate the new treatment options the Acculis MTA System creates. Through centres such as Saint Raphael's, this technology will offer patients new hope."

Acculis is a specialist medical device company developing microwave energy ablation systems for oncology applications. Acculis is part of the Microsulis group of companies. Microsulis and Acculis are based in Hampshire, England. For more information about the Acculis MTA System, visit http://www.acculis.com, http://www.microsulis.com, or contact Caroline Hall at +44 2392 240011.

The Hospital of Saint Raphael is a 511-bed community teaching hospital affiliated with Yale University School of Medicine. A leader in cardiac, cancer, orthopaedic, neuroscience and geriatric services, Saint Raphael's is the largest member of the Saint Raphael Healthcare System, which is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.
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source: medicalnewstoday.com

Cannabis addiction almost destroyed me

2008-05-24T11:36:00.002-04:00

For James Langton, drugs are about all or nothing. "You cross a line when you have your first joint in the morning," he explains. Growing up in a comfortable, supportive, middle-class, suburban home did not stop him developing a cannabis habit which lasted for 30 years. Neither depressed, lonely nor a thrill seeker, the young teenager smoked because he wanted to try something different. But his adolescent habit became an addiction.

Now, at 51, he wants to add his voice and experience to help others from falling into the same trap that left him unable to function in "normal" life.

At present there is no hard evidence to demonstrate that cannabis use causes severe mental health problems. According to Martin Barnes, chief executive of drug information and policy charity DrugScope, while the amount of people smoking cannabis has risen over the last 30 years, available evidence shows the number of incidences of schizophrenia have not increased.

But a spokesman for mental health charity Rethink says: "We think for those with a predisposition to mental illness, statistics show you're more likely to develop psychotic illness. We use the peanut allergy — some eat them every day and are fine, others have an allergic reaction.

"We don't think it's addictive, but we do think people can become dependent."

Whatever the argument, in a recent report for the Government, the drugs advisory panel concluded that cannabis did pose a "real threat to health " and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced her intention to reclassify cannabis from a Class C to a Class B drug.

James Langton is in no doubt that cannabis poses huge risks to young minds. The author of self-help book No Need For Weed explains how addiction to this so-called "soft drug" took over his life. "I did it in the park after school, in my room, wherever I thought I could get away with it," he admits.

After leaving school at 17, James says that his life began to revolve around cannabis. "When you start smoking as soon as you wake up, it takes on a different perspective in your life. I'd have around 12 joints a day on my own. I'd go for walks in the park or nip home at lunchtime. A lot of people do that."

James eventually kicked the habit aged 45, and set up Clearhead.org , an organisation dedicated to helping those who want to leave the drug behind. After struggling to quit for five years, he doesn't agree that it's not addictive.

"Being stoned felt normal. If I couldn't get hold of cannabis, I'd feel a deep emptiness. When I realised I had a problem, I was too embarrassed to talk about it with friends, so I went to the doctor and was told that cannabis wasn't addictive, that I didn't have a drug problem."

Lacking support, James struggled to find a way to live his life without cannabis.

"It was just me and the drug. There wasn't a lot of balance in my life. All my friends smoked or were dealers. I ran a picture shop in London because I was quite entrepreneurial, but it was always a terrible struggle.

"If you're smoking that much then everything takes longer. Your decision making is not good and you settle for second best. I had difficulty managing the accounts, paying bills, being on time for appointments and finding ways to hide my addiction. I tried quitting, just smoking on weekends, leaving my cannabis with someone else so I wouldn't be tempted, and not buying any. But for five years the longest I went without was a few days. I couldn't do it alone."

From the outside, it can be difficult to understand how a drug which prompted James to feel acutely lonely and confused could come to control his life.

He explains: "At the start it felt really pleasurable. During the first five years, even before the addiction really took hold, it's unlikely that any amount of nagging would have stopped me.

"Cannabis has a subtle way of raising your senses, offering you a slightly altered perspective on life and the everyday nine to five routine. Music sounds better and colours are more vivid. You can see beauty in an ugly city; things which other people are immune to.

"That perspective becomes a big part of your identity. It's hard to give that up, and re-learn to live normally."

But James explains that the drug can also magnify other feelings. "Weed can reflect the personality or mood of the user. I was a shy child and became isolated and withdrawn. Those with a tendency toward anxiety might become paranoid and if you're fairly relaxed and easy going, it could make you less motivated."

Like other mood-altering substances such as alcohol or nicotine, regular use of cannabis can lead to emotional dependency.

"One of the big myths is that this is a hippy peace drug," James says. "All it does is dampen down feelings. If you start smoking at a young age you end up putting a lid on normal, human feelings like anger, fear and sadness That means you never work through them. People who stop smoking weed have to risk those feelings bubbling up which can be very uncomfortable."

Finally James reached breaking point.

Driving to Berlin, to deliver a van full of furniture, he made a potentially catastrophic error: "I was really in debt and needed to fulfil this contract. Having smuggled my weed with me I set off to drive the last leg from Hamburg to Berlin. But when I stopped at a petrol station, I accidentally filled up with unleaded instead of diesel petrol. That was the last straw for me.

"It was a stupid, stoned mistake which might have cost me my business. In the end, I was lucky and they sent someone out with a replacement vehicle. But I made a promise to myself then and there, that nothing like that would ever happen again."

Throwing away his cannabis, James looked for help. With the support of Marijuana Anonymous ( www.marijuana-anonymous.org ) who organise meetings in London, he got his life back on track. But he was shocked to discover there wasn't more help available.

"We would get referrals from the drugs helpline Frank, from people all over the country, and it was frustrating because there was only a limited amount we could suggest."

Two years ago James started writing his self-help book, No Need for Weed. His book and website (www.clearhead.org) offer ways to deal with cannabis addiction. These include considering how each joint affects you and if you still get real pleasure from cannabis, visualising how you think your life could be better after not smoking for 12 months and distracting yourself with a new habit.

He advocates choosing a quitting day and sticking to it and finding the support of at least one person you trust to speak honestly about what you are doing and why. Then take it one day at a time, and acknowledge yourself for taking this positive step.
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source: Belfast Telegraph

Government launches cocaine crackdown

2008-05-21T07:46:00.002-04:00

The government is launching a new crackdown on cocaine, Drugs Minister Vernon Coaker announced today.

A £1 million FRANK campaign targeted at 15-18 year olds, a commitment to the Colombian government’s Shared Responsibility campaign and a new leaflet illustrating the dangers of the drug are being announced to enhance the drive to tackle cocaine use.

The FRANK campaign will make young people aware of the health and social harms of using cocaine and aims to deglamourise the drug’s celebrity image by revealing its ugly consequences. The campaign will use a range of media including online advertising to reach young people with the real facts about the drug.

Coaker will also lead a summit with the representatives of Colombian government, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the National Treatment Agency and the London Drug Policy Forum to explore how the efforts to cut cocaine use can be enhanced. He will also attend a special exhibition in Trafalgar square with the Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos and former Blur bassist Alex James that will demonstrate the environmental and social destruction caused by cocaine use.

Coaker said “We have taken tough action against cocaine use in recent years. More than 1,100 crack houses have been closed thanks to powers we introduced four years ago."

“Cocaine use has been stable in recent years but it is a very dangerous drug for users and has a devastating impact on the people that live in producing countries. Cocaine users need to realise that their drug use destroys more than their health; it destroys the lives of innocent people caught up in kidnapping, exploitation and armed violence” he continued.

“We will continue to tackle cocaine and other illegal drugs through tough enforcement, innovate prevention campaigns, effective education and, where necessary, tailored treatment.”

The FRANK drug awareness campaign, which plays a crucial role in empowering young people with knowledge of the effects of drug use, celebrate its fifth anniversary on 23 May.
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source: http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk

Heavy Marijuana Users Experience Withdrawal, Researcher Says

2008-05-18T13:16:00.000-04:00

A study of heavy marijuana users found that about one-third reported resuming use of the drug to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms, according to researcher David Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"Heavy pot users should be aware that they may experience a withdrawal syndrome that will make them uncomfortable when they try to quit," he said.

WebMD reported May 7 that Gorelick said at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association that the study involving about 500 heavy, long-term marijuana users -- about a quarter of whom reported smoking marijuana more than 10,000 times during their lifetime -- found that 42.4 percent of those studied reported at least one symptom of withdrawal, such as cravings, irritability, boredom, anxiety, or sleep disturbances when they abstained from use.

Not all of these users, however, resumed marijuana use as a result.

Gorelick said he expects marijuana-withdrawal syndrome to be included as a psychiatric disorder in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, due in 2012.

10 tips to stop drinking Alcohol

2008-05-13T12:47:00.001-04:00

1. Stay away from places and situations where you might be tempted to drink. Don't go to bars and stop hanging around "drinking buddies" who won't support your efforts to quit drinking.

2. Get rid of all the alcohol in the house. If you have a spouse or roommate who drinks, kindly ask them not to drink around you. If you're serious about quitting alcohol, this is a step you must take.

3. Take it one day at a time.

4. Tell friends and family that you want to stop drinking alcohol. Hang around people who will stand by your decision and support you and your goal.

5. Give yourself incentive not to drink. For every day (or even every hour!) that passes that you don't drink, give yourself a pat on the back! Give yourself the credit you deserve for having the strength to stop drinking and share those big victories with family and friends.

6. Picture yourself how you would look in the future when you're completely alcohol-free. Visualization is very powerful in helping you make the right decisions.

7. Set realistic goals for yourself. Maybe you can't quit cold turkey, so perhaps you could gradually cut down you alcohol intake day by day.

8. Deal with the psychological and emotional issues related to your drinking problem. Many people begin drinking alcohol to get away from problems or maybe alcoholism is something that runs in the family. Find someone you feel comfortable talking to about these problems.

9. Find positive and meaningful activities to engage in.

10. Never give up!

Maria Palma is a freelance writer dedicated to helping people with their San Diego DUI. Make sure to hire a professional and experienced DUI lawyer in San Diego.

Sex Addiction a serious problem

2008-05-09T12:31:00.001-04:00

Reckless sexual behaviour - commonly known as sexual addiction - is a growing and serious problem, a researcher has found.

In the latest issue of the Sexual and Relationship Therapy journal, Robyn Salisbury, the director of Sex Therapy New Zealand, says treatment of the condition has been neglected for too long.

In an article she suggests practical measures to address sexual addiction such as developing strong non-sexual relationships and directly addressing such individual behaviours as chronic masturbation.

Salisbury said sexual addiction was at the root of many social ills.

"Look in your own backyard - rapes, murders, incest," she said.

"There are so many big social problems caused by sexuality issues and they're not addressed well and I think it's important."

Salisbury said sexual addiction was a similar problem to alcoholism or drug addiction. "Some of those people who act on the outside like they are highly appropriate, conservative people are actually seething with this kind of problem inside them and just need to get the appropriate help to deal with it."

There was a mountain of theoretical research into the problem but few practical solutions, she said.

Conservative attitudes to sex were partly to blame for this.

Salisbury said a recent case involving a teacher spotted looking at child pornography was an example of sexual addiction.

Gambling, Drug Addiction and Alcoholism - Path to Hell

2008-05-07T21:54:00.001-04:00

What Is Gambling?

Any betting or wagering for self or others whether for money or not and where the outcome is uncertain or depends on chance or probability constitutes gambling. Gambling comes in many forms. Most of them are for money.

Compulsive Gambling and Addiction

There is something called as compulsive gambling. It starts at the age of 20’s for most men and at the late 30’s for women as an entertaining, stress relieving and fun activity which eventually progresses to become a habitual gambling. However most people progressively become addict gamblers usually after a big win. After this the desire to win back all the money intensifies more rapidly. It is a disorder which causes inconvenience to both the gambler and his/her family. There is no cure for habitual gambling. Despite disruptions in family and professional life, the gambling goes on.

Compulsive gambling has three phases which include ecstasy when winning, severe tension and depression when loosing and extreme anxiety in between these two phases. Being a gambling addict not only causes trouble to the individual but also to the people around the individual. As the time passes, lying becomes a characteristic feature of the gambler and the family persons learns not to trust the individual. Then the relationship between the family and children becomes hatred and they eventually break up. The psychological agony and social turbulence can result in marital breakdown, financial ruin and irreparable personal life profile. Gambling is always associated with physical symptoms like anxiety, headaches, and depression leading to smoking and alcohol consumption.

As it progresses, the individual losses the job and the savings might be lost which may induce the individual to venture in criminal activities like stealing money from colleagues to obtain more funds for gambling. They also borrow large amount of money which is usually never be paid. They tend to ignore rents and other family expenses also.
Heavy gambling is done because of the easy access and availability of casinos. Individuals from the middle class family are more prone to gambling because of the unemployment.

What is drug addiction?

Drug addiction is probably known as the imbalance state of a person resulting in improper functioning of both his physique and mind. Drug addiction is not similar in drug dependence and its tolerance.

Do you know the drugs which are used for addiction?

Here some of the fundamental addict causing drugs is mentioned.

Stimulant Which Includes

Amphetamine and Methamphetamine
caffeine
cocaine
nicotine etc.,

Sedatives and Hypnotics Which Includes

Alcohol
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
alprazolam
clonazepam, temazepam
Methaqualone and the related quinazolinone

Opiate and Opioid Analgesics Which Consists of

Morphine and Codeine
Semi-synthetic opiates such as Heroin
(Diacetylmorphine), Oxycodone, and Hydromorphone

Marijuana

What Is Marijuana?

Marijuana is a type of drug. It is a mixture of various parts (leaves, stems, seeds and flowers) of a plant called the hemp plant. The scientific name of hemp plant is Cannabis sativa. Marijuana has about 400 different types of chemical in it and some of them can cause cancer, but the main and active ingredient is called as tetrahydrocannabinol which is better known as THC. Ganja, chronic, pot, grass, boom and reefer are some of the common names but there are about 200 different names which refer to marijuana.

How and for what marijuana is used?

Marijuana is used in different ways. Some of users mix it with food, some brew it as tea but most of them smoke. Marijuana has tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which affects the brain and triggers it to release dopamine which gives high pleasure to the user for a short time.

Do you know the meaning of drug injection?

In olden days people prefer to take tobacco, alcohol, heroine etc., as a drug to nourish them. But nowadays it is casual to nourish them by using certain drug injections which is an instant process and also more effective. Though there are lots of alternatives it seems to be the time saving approach.

Alcoholism

What do you mean by the term alcoholism?

Alcoholism is the term reveals the meaning of simultaneous consumption of certain alcohol beverages. People are saying many reasons for the intake of this slow poison, despite of the health problems and negative social sequences made by it. Some people say that the sudden stop of certain alcoholic beverages will lead to a great problem in health. They argue that it will induce them to make a suicide attempt so it is always advisable to stop it.

What are the modern diagnoses taken against drug addiction?

Nowadays there are many modern diagnoses taken against the drug addiction through using modern technologies. It is possible to diagnose a person by knowing the intake of that particular drug. The recovery of the person depends on him. He should refuse to accept the intake of those drugs by himself.

In European countries they are struggling to bring down the people who were affected by drug addiction, but it is quite difficult there. On other hand in USA they have achieved.

What are the effects of marijuana and other drugs?

When the drug enters the brain, the THC present in it locates the neurons with specific receptors called cannabinoid receptors and binds to them. Then it influences the normal communication between the brain cells and causes lack of coordination. It is usually caused by smoking. High usage of the drug can cause anxiety and often panic attacks.
High concentrations of cannabinoid receptors are found in cerebellum, cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Centers of these parts of the brain are responsible for memory and certain types of learning. So when the THC binds to these parts it causes studying and memory problems like recalling the recent events becoming difficult. Cerebellum is associated with coordination. And another part of the brain called basal ganglia is also affected by THC. The basal ganglia control the movement of our body and hence our reflection becomes slow. So it is unwise to drive vehicles when marijuana is used or it may lead to accident.

Smoking Marijuana increases the chance of heart attacks. It may also lead to lung cancer even quickly than normal cigarette smoking because the Marijuana smoker tends to inhale more deeply and hold his breath longer than a cigarette smoker does.

What are the alternative therapies given for drug addiction?

Some of the medical experts say that acupuncture is one of the good alternative therapies for such addiction. Though there is some information about some alternative therapy, you can inquire to know which one is suitable to you.

What do you know about self medication?

Self medication termed as the treatment which is made for us and made by us without any medical supervision. If a buyer diagnoses himself using specific drug then it is fair to mention it as self medication.

It is not advisable to undertake self medication because you may use the drug on wrong ratio which leads to any other problems. So we should make sure about the nature and use of that drug.

Though many articles say about these drug addictions and its rehabilitation, it is not advisable to take certain drugs which leads to fatal results. It is better to conclude this essay by saying “prevention is better than cure”.

What is the cure?

Once addicted, it will be very difficult to come out. The user must have pure determination to get rid of these drugs.

Does Marijuana have medical values?

Marijuana has medical values. THC, the main and active ingredient can produce effects which can be potentially used for treating variety of medical conditions. It is also used in pills for stimulating appetite in AIDS patients. Scientific research is still going on about the medical values and the effects of the other chemicals present in marijuana.

Needing to Beat Addiction

2008-05-06T17:41:00.000-04:00

Addiction is a horrible thing. It doesn't matter what exactly you're addicted to - drugs, alcohol, etc. When you're addicted you no longer have control of your life. You are living for the addiction. And that's no way to live. Needing to beat an addiction is obvious, but how to actually beat it too often seems impossible.

The worst part about any addiction is that the addict usually doesn't realize just how much they need help. They think they are in control. They think they can stop at anytime. In reality, they are in denial.

Other addicts know they need help but they just don't think they will get it. They may have failed at rehab. They may feel like they aren't strong enough to break the addiction. So they've stopped even trying to break free from the chains of the addiction.

Those who are in denial are the last people to get help. If a person doesn't believe they have a problem then they aren't likely to go for help. Usually people on the outside think the person is lying, that the person has to know they have a problem. But this isn't true. The addiction convinces the addict that he/she doesn't have a problem and that's what that person really believes.

There are two main reasons why people get to the point where they are needing to beat an addiction. They need to break the addiction so they don't hurt themselves anymore and/or so they don't hurt others anymore. People can permanently hurt themselves and permanently damage relationships because of their addiction.

Needing to beat an addiction is a tough position to be in. However, people need to admit they have a problem and then they need to believe they can get help. Those are the first two steps toward recovery. If a person can just go that far then there is a lot of hope that he/she can break free from the terrible chains of addiction.

For the secret how to beat an addiction... when nothing else has worked... visit: http://www.quit-drugs-alcohol.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Rose

Treatment Options

2008-05-02T12:38:00.001-04:00

Twelve Questions to Consider When Selecting Treatment Programs

If you or someone you care for is dependent on alcohol or drugs and needs treatment, it is important to know that no single treatment approach is appropriate for all individuals. Finding the right treatment program involves careful consideration of such things as the setting, length of care, philosophical approach and your or your loved one's needs.

Here are 12 questions to consider when selecting a treatment program:

* Does the program accept your insurance? If not, will they work with you on a payment plan or find other means of support for you?
* Is the program run by state-accredited, licensed and/or trained professionals?
* Is the facility clean, organized and well-run?
* Does the program encompass the full range of needs of the individual (medical: including infectious diseases; psychological: including co-occurring mental illness; social; vocational; legal; etc.)?
* Does the treatment program also address sexual orientation and physical disabilities as well as provide age, gender and culturally appropriate treatment services?
* Is long-term aftercare support and/or guidance encouraged, provided and maintained?
* Is there ongoing assessment of an individual's treatment plan to ensure it meets changing needs?
* Does the program employ strategies to engage and keep individuals in longer-term treatment, increasing the likelihood of success?
* Does the program offer counseling (individual or group) and other behavioral therapies to enhance the individual's ability to function in the family/community?
* Does the program offer medication as part of the treatment regimen, if appropriate?
* Is there ongoing monitoring of possible relapse to help guide patients back to abstinence?
* Are services or referrals offered to family members to ensure they understand addiction and the recovery process to help them support the recovering individual?

Retirees pushing pills to get by

2008-04-29T12:35:00.000-04:00

enice, Florida —- The battle against drug addiction is one that Norman Shewman has waged for 41 years.

Since Vietnam, the 57-year-old's addictions have centered on heroin and alcohol, but for the past seven years he's been clean. Now he's helping save the lives of others as the CEO of Home Detox, the only home detox center in the state. Unfortunately, with the boom in pharmacies in recent years, business is too good. Shewman saw 125 patients in 2007. He also began to see a trend.

“I've had patients tell me that they go to older people for the drugs,” says Shewman.

By older, he means seniors. More and more are pushing what they have access to in order to just get by.

“If you're only making $600-$700 a month and that is your social security, well, they find out they can sell their pills for $50 a piece. All of a sudden $50 times 30, what is that? $1500,” says Shewman.

Some Bay area residents that we spoke with have heard of seniors cashing in. For them, the concept is almost too difficult to fathom even in these economic times.

“It's sad that for such a great nation we have to get to the point where elderly have to be selling their drugs to provide for themselves,” says Tonya Van Fossen of Bradenton.

Another bitter pill of reality that makes it difficult for many to swallow is the fact that the Bay area has seen a rash of robberies at pharmacies in recent weeks.

“I'd be a little nervous about being a pharmacist because these kids are coming in fully armed and holding up the pharmacist,” says Mike Dyer, a retiree from New York.

If the economy continues to turn south, the potential for more drug-related crimes is expected to intensify.

Environment Key Early: Genes' Role Expands In Alcohol Dependence

2008-04-28T15:26:00.001-04:00

ScienceDaily (Apr. 24, 2008) — The influence of genetics increases as young women transition from taking their first drink to becoming alcoholics. A team of researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that although environment is most influential in determining when girls begin to drink, genes play a larger role if they advance to problem drinking and alcohol dependence.

The researchers studied 3,546 female twins ages 18 to 29 to ferret out the influences of genes and environment in the development of alcohol dependence.

The road to alcohol dependence involves transitions through many stages of drinking behaviors: from the first drink to the first alcohol-related problems (such as drinking and driving, difficulty at school or work related to alcohol use) to alcohol dependence.

Environmental factors the twins shared, such as exposure to conflict between parents or alcohol use among peers in school, exerted the largest influence on initiation of alcohol use. The study found that females who had their first drink at an earlier age were more likely to develop serious alcohol problems. The researchers found that all transitions were attributable in part to genetic factors, increasing from 30 percent for the timing of first drink to 47 percent for the speed at which women progressed from problem drinking to alcohol dependence. But genetics did not explain everything.

"Even when genetic factors are most influential, they account for less than half of the influence on drinking behavior," says lead author Carolyn E. Sartor, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Medicine. "That's good news in terms of modifying these behaviors and reducing the risk of developing alcohol dependence. Genetics are not destiny, and our findings suggest that there are opportunities to intervene at all stages of alcohol use."

New Generation Gap as Older Addicts Seek Help

2008-04-25T11:57:00.001-04:00

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — All is peaceful and orderly on the older adult unit at Hanley Center, where substance abusers over the age of 55 are spared the noisy swagger of addicts half their age across the campus.

In their separate oasis, alcoholics and prescription drug abusers of a certain age do not curse at one another, raise their voices in anger or blast music at midnight. They don’t brag about their macho pasts or stage drama-queen breakups on the communal pay phone. They show up on time for therapy groups.

“We have different health issues, different emotional issues, different grief issues,” said Patrick Gallagher, 66, who was treated here for a dual addiction to pain medication and alcohol. “We need more peace and quiet and a different pace.”

Across the country, substance abuse centers are reaching out to older addicts whose numbers are growing and who have historically been ignored. There are now residential and outpatient clinics dedicated to those over 50, special counselors just for them at clinics that serve all ages, and screenings at centers for older Americans and physicians’ offices to identify older people unaware of their risk.

Addiction specialists and organizations for the elderly anticipate a tidal wave of baby boomers needing help for addictions, often for different substances and with different attitudes toward treatment than the generation that came before them. Federal data shows the shifting demographics: In 2005, 184,400 Americans who were admitted to drug treatment programs — roughly 10 percent of the total — were over 50, up from 143,000, or 8 percent of the total, in 2001.

The same report, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, foresees 4.4 million older substance abusers by 2020, compared with 1.7 million in 2001 — numbers that are “likely to swamp the current system,” said Deborah Trunzo, who coordinates research for the agency.

At Hanley Center, Carol Colleran, a 71-year-old counselor, pioneered age-segregated residential treatment, challenging one-size-fits-all programs that mix people of all ages. Odyssey House in East Harlem, with its low-income clientele, has followed Hanley’s lead. Older adults are harder to lure into treatment, officials say, because of a generational aversion to airing one’s laundry in public. But once there, they are often highly motivated and more likely to complete a program.

“We are reticent and don’t readily share our feelings in a group,” Mr. Gallagher said. “That’s not something we’ve grown up with.”

But living with people of a similar background, he said, had given him a “comfort level and a sense of belonging” conducive to success.

Treatment providers are seeing signs that the 50-and-over group is not, in fact, monolithic. Rather, it is divided between the “old old” and the “young old,” the Silent Generation and the Me Generation. Neither feels much kinship with the Lindsay Lohan set. But neither do they necessarily feel much kinship with each other, and counselors are bracing for a collision of cultures.

According to the federal report, 83 percent of older addicts were 50 to 59, and the trailing edge of the baby boom, age 50 to 54, is the fastest-growing older group: They were 6 percent of all admissions in 2005, from 3 percent a decade earlier.

“It’s already changing,” said Tom Early, a counselor on Hanley’s older-adult unit, where the patients, all alcoholics or prescription drug abusers, are 55 to 78. “We can see it. We can feel it.”

Alcohol remains the dominant problem for both groups, although that is changing quickly. Among patients over 65, 76 percent abuse alcohol; many have allowed social drinking to get out of hand after the isolation of retirement or loss of a spouse. In the 50-to-54 age group, by contrast, 55 percent cite alcohol, followed by opiates, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines. Prescription drug abuse is climbing in both groups, led by anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax and pain-killers like Oxycontin.

Ms. Colleran said prescription drug abuse among the “old old” was usually accidental. They have faith that anything a doctor prescribes must be safe, she said. In the younger group, these medications are knowingly abused, experts said, by buying them online or borrowing from friends.

As the age group skews younger, Ms. Colleran said: “They say, ‘I’m not like anyone else.’ They challenge everything.”

These characteristics, she added, make treatment tricky and require new techniques, like cognitive behavior therapy and lectures on anger management by the noted male-consciousness-raiser Iron John (a k a Robert Bly). Anger and stubbornness are more prevalent among those in their 50s. At Senior Hope, an outpatient clinic for older adults in Albany, 55-year-old Ken Einbinder described fantasies of violence that seemed to dismay or embarrass group members in their 70s.

Only John Quinn, 54, nodded knowingly. He was struggling after a recent relapse and had been prescribed an antidepressant. Mr. Quinn tossed out the pills without telling anyone because, he told the group, they caused erectile dysfunction. Dr. William Rockwood, founder of Senior Hope, said older clients, even if they complained of the same side effect, would have complied with medical advice.

On Hanley’s older-adult unit, there is disdain for street drugs, which “very few of us have used,” Mr. Gallagher said. On the patio where residents take cigarette breaks , a half dozen said the harmony of the group would be compromised by the addition of crack, heroin or even marijuana abusers.

One 61-year-old alcoholic said that “if the numbers flipped so there were more of them than me, I’d be out of here.” He added that he had stopped attending Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, and relapsed, because of an influx of young drug addicts.

The antipathy toward street drugs is a function of socio-economic class, said Frederic Blow, who studies elderly substance abuse at the Addiction Research Center at the University of Michigan. For Hanley’s clients, who pay $24,500 for a 28-day rehab, “it’s not part of their culture.”

Indeed, no such distinction is made at the unit for older adults at Odyssey House, where clients are mostly poor, addicted to heroin or crack, and remanded by the courts for 12 to 18 months of subsidized care.

But across social class, many older substance abusers said, they no longer consider themselves invincible.

A 66-year-old chief of staff at a veterans’ hospital, recently treated at Hanley, said he had no patience with men in their 20s and 30s who “aren’t finished drinking and drugging and think their war stories are a badge of honor.”

The doctor, since retired, pointed to “all we have to lose — the social binding” that accumulates with age. In his case, that included a 40-year marriage and children and grandchildren who refused to see him until he was sober.

“I just wanted to stop drinking and get on with my life,” he said.

At Odyssey House, Charles White, 57, said of the younger clients: “They think they have another run in them. And as far as the ladies go, they have no respect.”

Mr. White was dignified in a dark suit and tie and chivalrous as he held a chair for Doris Ellison, 55, another longtime heroin addict, also dressed in her Sunday best.

“It was a different era,” Ms. Ellison said. “We had a lot of guidance growing up. They don’t have that at home. Their parents — and that includes some of us — are out there drugging. But now, for however many years we have left, we can try and do the right thing.”

For Ms. Ellison, that includes setting an example for 26-year-old Milagros Bonilla, who lives on a separate floor and attends separate therapy groups but got to know the older woman on long bus rides to high school equivalency classes.

Ms. Bonilla said people her age were “kind of loud and obnoxious” and often less disciplined than their elders. She credits Ms. Ellison with inspiring her to get clean, stick to her studies and remain hopeful that she will regain custody of three daughters in foster care.

“She’s more motivating to me than anyone my age, because she makes me feel anything is possible,” Ms. Bonilla, whose own mother is dead, said of Ms. Ellison.

Officials at these age-segregated programs promote the success of their clients. But, Dr. Blow said, completion rates are poor statistical measures of long-term sobriety. Nevertheless, he is persuaded, based on years of observation, that age-specific treatment “makes total sense.”

At Senior Hope in Albany, Dan Fitzsimmons, 79, an executive for a major utility, and Tom Hyde, 76, who owned a sheet music business, became good friends.

Both let their drinking get out of hand in retirement, when they had too much time on their hands and a shrinking circle of companions. Both relapsed once and helped each other get back on the wagon. Now, they are determined to leave a proper legacy for their grandchildren.

Mr. Fitzsimmons needs only to think back to his own adolescence, when he was assigned the task of finding his grandfather in neighborhood bars. All these years later, Mr. Fitzsimmons said, he carries the indelible memory of “an old gray-haired guy out on another toot.”

“I’m not going to let that happen to me,” he said. “It’s not the way I want to be remembered.”

http://www.nytimes.com

Vatican Makes Drug Use a Deadly Sin

2008-04-23T16:58:00.001-04:00

New York, NY (1888PressRelease) April 23, 2008 - With Pope Benedict XVI currently visiting the United States, many American Catholics are wondering: Could their “innocent” drug use be putting their mortal souls at risk?

Yes, it could, according the Vatican, which recently added seven new offenses to its list of deadly sins—among them, genetic modification, polluting the environment and taking drugs.

“I don’t think this is going to help anyone,” says Stephen Della Valle, author of the new addiction and recovery memoir Rising Above the Influence. “Addicts already feel hopeless and worthless. With the Pope now telling them that they’re eternally damned, and that there’s nothing they can do about it, how likely will they be to seek help?”

The Catholic Church has not updated its list of deadly sins in 1,500 years. This current modification, which also lists “contributing to the widening divide between the rich and poor” and “‘morally dubious’ experiments such as stem cell research,” seeks to address today’s more secular world and what the Pope has referred to as our “decreasing sense of sin.”

Today, there’s no doubt that drug use is an international epidemic. Surveys have shown disturbing addiction trends in nations around the world, including:
• Mexico: marijuana, cocaine and inhalants reported as the most-used drugs
• East and South Asia: heroin is the number-one choice; cannabis comes in second
• Australia: while marijuana and amphetamines remain most popular, heroin is becoming more widely available
• Various European countries: heroin and other opiates continue to top the list
• Canada: marijuana is most widely used, but heroin is a growing problem, and cocaine is considered a major health issue

“I understand where the Vatican is coming from on this,” says Mr. Della Valle. “Drug abuse is a serious problem in many countries. But I’d be more impressed if they created a Church-based recovery program to help the drug and alcohol abusers of the world, instead of condemning them.”

Who Are We? Coming of Age on Antidepressants

2008-04-22T13:15:00.002-04:00

“I’ve grown up on medication,” my patient Julie told me recently. “I don’t have a sense of who I really am without it.”

At 31, she had been on one antidepressant or another nearly continuously since she was 14. There was little question that she had very serious depression and had survived several suicide attempts. In fact, she credited the medication with saving her life.

But now she was raising an equally fundamental question: how the drugs might have affected her psychological development and core identity.

It was not an issue I had seriously considered before. Most of my patients, who are adults, developed their psychiatric problems after they had a pretty clear idea of who they were as individuals. During treatment, most of them could tell me whether they were back to their normal baseline.

Julie could certainly remember what depression felt like, but she could not recall feeling well except during her long treatment with antidepressant medications. And since she had not grown up before getting depressed, she could not gauge the hypothetical effects of antidepressants on her emotional and psychological development.

Her experience is far from unique. Since their emergence in the late 1980s, serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac and Zoloft have become some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world, for depressed teenagers as well as adults. Because depression is often a chronic, recurring illness, there are certain to be many young people, like Julie, who are coming of age on these newer antidepressants.

We know a lot about the course of untreated depression, probably more than we do about very long-term antidepressant use in this population. We know, for example, that depression in young people is a very serious problem; suicide is the third-leading cause of death in adolescents, not to mention the untold suffering and impaired functioning this disease exacts.

By contrast, the risk of antidepressant treatment is small. A 2004 review by the Food and Drug Administration, analyzing clinical trials of the drugs, did show an elevated risk of suicidal thinking and nonlethal suicide attempts in young people taking antidepressants — 3.5 percent, compared with 1.7 percent of those taking a placebo. But since the lifetime risk of actual suicide in depressed people ranges from 2.2 to 12 percent, risk from treatment is dwarfed by the risks of the disease itself.

Still, what do we know about the effects of, say, 15 to 20 years of antidepressant drug treatment that begins in adolescence or childhood? Not enough.

The reason has to do with the way drugs are tested and approved. To get F.D.A. approval, a drug has to beat a placebo in two randomized clinical trials that typically involve a few hundred subjects who are treated for relatively short periods, usually 4 to 12 weeks.

So drugs are approved based on short-term studies for what turns out to be long-term — often lifelong — use in the world of clinical practice. The longest maintenance study to date of one of the newer antidepressants, Effexor, lasted only two years and showed the drug to be superior to a placebo in preventing relapses of depression.

What do I say to a depressed patient who is doing well after five years on such a drug but can’t stop without a depressive relapse and who wants reassurance that the drug has no long-term adverse effects?

I usually say that we have no evidence that the drug poses a risk with long-term use; and since the risk of untreated depression is much greater than the hypothetical risk of the drug, it makes sense to stay on it.

This large gap in our clinical knowledge is compounded by the public’s growing and well-founded skepticism about research sponsored by drug makers. A study in the January 2008 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, involving 74 clinical trials with 12 antidepressants, found that 97 percent of positive studies were published, versus 12 percent of negative studies.

Clearly, physicians and the public need much better data on the safety and efficacy of drugs after they hit the market, which at present consists mainly of anecdotes and case reports.

Congress recently reauthorized the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which will expand the F.D.A.’s post-marketing drug surveillance, though I think it did not go far enough in mandating the use of powerful epidemiological strategies to monitor drugs over the long term.

Beyond these concerns, there are other important issues to consider in long-term use of antidepressants, especially in young people. One patient, a woman in her mid-20s, told me that she felt pressured by her boyfriend to have sex more often than she wanted. “I’ve always had a low sex drive,” she said.

For the past eight years she had been taking Zoloft, which like all the antidepressants in its class is known to lower libido and to interfere with sexual performance. She had understandably mistaken the side effect of the drug for her “normal” sexual desire and was shocked when I explained it: “And I thought it was just me!”

This just underscores how tricky it can be to use psychotropic drugs during adolescence — when the brain is still developing, when one’s identity is still work in progress.

The drugs save lives, and we often have no choice but to use them — even if we have questions about their long-term use. But the questions are big ones, and we owe it to our patients to try to answer them.

Richard A. Friedman is a professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College.
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A Grim Tradition, and a Long Struggle to End It

2008-04-21T16:23:00.002-04:00

By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: April 2, 2008

ESPAÑOLA, N.M. — Eric Lucero has been addicted to heroin for three decades and says he has known at least 100 people in this pastoral county who died from overdoses, some in his presence.

But Mr. Lucero has recently become a popular — and, he would argue, safer — injection buddy. Seven times, he says, he has revived companions by using an anti-overdose drug, Narcan, which the state now hands out to addicts and their relatives as part of its effort to reduce the toll of one of the country’s most pervasive epidemics of narcotics use.

Mr. Lucero, 48, said, “People know I’m good at saving them.”

Rio Arriba County, just north of Santa Fe, is a Georgia O’Keeffe landscape of juniper-dotted desert and mountain valleys populated mostly by Hispanics who proudly trace their lineage to settlers of the 1600s — and who, a decade ago, discovered that their county had the nation’s highest per capita rate of deaths from overdoses. Hundreds of families are struggling to live with a multigenerational plague of narcotics; Mr. Lucero’s own son is addicted.

Federal data released in March showed that the county ranked first in drug fatalities for 2001 to 2005, with a death rate of 42.5 per 100,000, compared with a national average of 7.3.

Heroin use in the county jumped in the 1970s, as world production soared and some Vietnam veterans returned as addicts. It zoomed in popularity in the 1980s and ’90s, abetted, surprisingly, by the tradition of close-knit extended families. “We start our addiction getting high with our uncles, then we turn on our own nephews,” said Manuel Anaya, who was an addict for 26 years and now runs a drug counseling program for Hoy, the county’s largest treatment group.

Intensified law enforcement and a flurry of new treatment programs have failed to stem the use of narcotics here. So New Mexico has adopted the country’s most sweeping effort at “harm reduction,” a strategy to eradicate disease, suffering and death among addicts that includes exchanging used needles for clean ones and dispensing Narcan. Last year, the state adopted the country’s only law limiting the ability of the police to arrest users who call 911 to save an overdosing companion.

There has been no evidence yet of a decline in addictions, perhaps because of a scarcity of treatment facilities. And the seemingly contradictory impulses to stamp out drug use and safeguard addicts can lead to difficult situations for relatives.

In Cordova, a valley hamlet with peach and apricot orchards, Dolores S. emerged from her adobe house to greet the state’s needle-exchange van. A nonuser who lives with seven relatives, four of whom are addicts, she said trading hundreds of used syringes each week for fresh ones “makes me uncomfortable.”

Her face tightened as she admitted to giving money for heroin to her addicted son, slouched nearby, who is in his 20s. “I’d rather give him money than see him panhandle or steal,” said the woman, who does housework for a living and spoke on the condition that her last name not be used, to protect her family. “A lot of mothers here are in the same situation.”

Needle exchanges and Narcan distribution are opposed by federal officials, who say they amount to endorsing addiction. Bertha K. Madras, a deputy director at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, has said that Narcan, the trade name for naloxone, should be administered only by medical professionals and that it could make addicts feel safer and less likely to seek care.

But Bernard Lieving, director of the harm reduction program at the New Mexico Department of Health, said, “These programs have just the opposite result.” Mr. Lieving said studies elsewhere had shown that needle exchanges greatly increased the chances that users would enter recovery programs.

“Unfortunately,” he said, “it’s very difficult to get people into residential treatment immediately, right when they express interest, because there aren’t enough beds in the state.” But field workers provide counseling, acupuncture therapy and social services to addicts who say they are ready, which Mr. Lieving called important first steps.

Addicts remain a small minority of the population, and drug use remains largely hidden behind the closed doors of trailers and small metal-roofed homes. But nearly everyone here seems to have friends or relatives who died from drug use or are addicted to cheap Mexican heroin, cocaine, prescription painkillers or, increasingly, combinations of the above, often mixed with heavy alcohol use.

Peggy Ulibarri, a state health official who distributes Narcan in Rio Arriba County, said clients had told her of using the antidote hundreds of times. Without Narcan, Ms. Ulibarri and others say, the number of deaths would certainly be higher. Instead, recorded deaths have been steady, around 20 a year in a county of 41,000. Meanwhile, the health department trades about 12,000 clean syringes for used ones in the county each week.

Dealers are arrested, but users found with syringes now flash a card showing enrollment in the needle exchange program and are often let go.

Proximo Martinez, 35, of Chimayo, counts 38 drug-related deaths in his extended family, including his brother and sister, and is a vocal crusader against drug abuse. Yet he recently collected syringes from the van — sterile needles to protect his brother-in-law and other relatives — as well as kits with a new form of Narcan that is sprayed in the nose rather than injected.

Mr. Martinez said he had administered Narcan about 20 times. “But some can’t be revived,” he said. “People have died in my house.”

Many in the fight against drugs, including Ben Tafoya, the director of Hoy, believe the heavy use of drugs and alcohol is rooted in a shared sense of loss, starting when the United States refused to recognize many Spanish land grants in the mid-19th century and building more recently as struggling families, accustomed to farming and ranching, became dispirited as they had to sell land.

An obvious factor is poverty — more than one in five residents is below the federal poverty line and far more are just above it. Yet many working-class people are users, too.

The family role is sometimes a sad reversal of expectations. “Addiction can become a source of bonding between parents and their children,” said Angela Garcia, an anthropologist who was born in Rio Arriba County and studied drug use here.

The Rev. Julio Gonzalez, the pastor at the Holy Family Roman Catholic parish in Chimayo since 2001, said he had buried overdose victims “of all ages, including people you’d think were pillars of the community.”

“It’s not just the youth, it’s all generations here,” Father Gonzalez said.

James Garcia, who is now clean, used and sold heroin and cocaine in Española until 11 months ago and said he had encountered at least a dozen families in which grandparents, parents and children all injected drugs, with some working and others selling drugs or stealing to sustain habits that can cost $40 to $100 or more each day.

Lawrence N., an Española man in his early 50s, said he had been addicted to heroin, pills and cocaine since 1970, including during 18 years in prison.

The man, who would not allow his surname to be used, is disappointed that his two sons, in their 20s, use heroin, too. “I had them deliver to me in jail,” he said. “Maybe that had something to do with it.”

Dr. Fernando Bayardo, director of the Española Hospital emergency room, called overdoses “only a small fraction of the deaths and disease caused by substance abuse,” which include liver disease and blood infections as well as car accidents, marked by omnipresent roadside crosses bedecked with plastic flowers. The county has been spared a major epidemic of AIDS, but testing in drug clinics indicates that a majority of needle users here are infected with hepatitis C.

The county built a residence that now houses about 25 patients and has a program to counsel youths at high risk, said Lauren Reichelt, the county’s director of Health and Human Services. But there is no county center for medically supervised detoxification, and the wait list for the one in Albuquerque is long.

The most successful treatment, used on 75 patients at the community health clinic, is the opiate replacement bupenorphrine, which can be dispensed at doctors’ offices and is rapidly catching on around the country despite costing up to $450 a month.

In the backyard of the house he shares with his elderly, ailing mother, Mr. Lucero, the 30-year addict, raises chickens and pigeons, saying, “This is what keeps me sane.”

He survived five overdoses, he said, turning apologetically to his mother. “She would find me in the yard with a needle in my arm, all purple, or lying on the floor in the kitchen.”

He has been more careful, or luckier, in the last several years. But just in case, his mother took a quick lesson in Narcan administration the other day. She and her son watch over each other, she said. Every night, before going to bed, she checks to make sure he is breathing.

http://www.nytimes.com/

Prescription Drug Abuse

2008-04-19T12:47:00.001-04:00

Prescription drug addiction is major problem affecting millions of individuals in North America growing the demandfor drug rehab, but there is not much awareness about the magnitude of the problem. Because the nation has a major problem with other illicit drugs (like cocaine, marijuana, crack), prescription drug abuse has not been a major priority for both the health and legal professionals.

The non-medical use or abuse of prescription drugs is an escalating and has become a major public health issue. Every single day, there are reports of deaths being reported from accidental overdose of prescription drugs. In most cases, the individual was abusing multiple prescription drugs.

Even though many of these prescription drugs have beneficial uses in clinical medicine, for some unknown reason(s), the abuse of a wide variety of prescription drugs will soon surpass smoking as the number one health problem in America. Hundreds of internet sites sell these drugs without a prescription. These drugs may relieve anxiety and pain, but when abused they can be lethal and just as addictive as other illicit drugs like cocaine.

The abuse of prescription drugs has increased exponentially over the past 2 decades and is just below marijuana, which is the most abused substance in North America. The prescription drug abuse has created problems at all levels of society and presents a major challenge to law enforcement, health professionals and families of those involved. Today there needs to be a legitimate strong willed approach to control the abuse of these drugs, because the problem will soon be out of control with devastating consequences to society.

Extent of Use

Data from the National Drug Threat Survey organization reveals that prescription drugs are illegally diverted and heavily abused in most states.

Data from the pharmaceutical agencies indicate that at least 50 million Americans report the use of at least one psychotherapeutic drug (tranquilizer, sedative, pain killer, stimulants) at some point in their lifetimes. Approximately 7 million Americans over the age of 12 report recent (past month) use of psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical purposes.

Drug Availability

Obtaining prescription drugs for abuse is not difficult and there are various means of obtaining the drugs. This includes:

- multiple Doctor shopping
- forged prescriptions
- via Illegal online pharmacies
- Theft and burglary (from hospitals, residences, pharmacies)
- obtaining prescription from family and friends
- Over prescribing by physicians
- Unscrupulous physicians selling drugs

Prescription drug abuse is occurring at epidemic proportions in almost every state. Numerous government studies reveal that the majority of internet sites selling prescription drugs do not even require a formal doctor’s prescription. The drugs are bought directly from the pharmacy and there are never any questions asked and no IDs are required for purchase.

Commonly Abused Drugs

The four classes of prescription drugs that are most commonly abused are

- Opioids -prescribed to treat pain,—(codeine, oxycodone, oxycontin, Percocet, morphine, Lortab, Vicodin

- central nervous system (CNS) depressants -used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders—(barbiturates, Valium, Xanax, clonazepam)

- CNS stimulants- treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obesity—(dextroamphetamine, Ritalin, Phentermine).

- Non opioid pain killers (vioxx, oxycodone, oxycontin, Lortab, Vicodin

Abusers of prescription drugs tend to combine other prescription drugs for abuse. This leads to more adverse effects and the risk of overdose is common.

Symptoms of Drug Use

Because there are numerous prescription drugs that are abused, it is impossible to mention all the symptoms, but some features are common to all prescription drugs. These features include:

- alterations in mood
- erratic behavior
- mental cloudiness
- confusion
- inability/excess sleep
- anxiety
- hyperactive, increased alertness
- suicidal tendencies
- alterations in physical outlook

Medical Problem

Just like illicit drugs, prescription drugs also have numerous side effects and toxicity from these drugs is common. On a daily basis, individuals are admitted to the Emergency Rooms with overdose from the drugs, some of these overdoses are intentional, some not.

The majority of medical emergencies are related more to overdose. Once managed in the hospital, these individuals are stabilized and treated but the addiction problem is not catered to.

Like all individuals who abuse illicit drugs, individuals who abuse prescription drugs also deny that they have a problem. The majority of these individuals have premorbid conditions which are obvious but the prescription drug problem is hidden. The majority of these individuals may have social, emotional problems, stress, depression, anxiety, financial woes or familial problems.

A gradual change in these individuals may give a hint to their problem of prescription drug abuse. These changes include:

- a change in friends
- declining interest in health
- decreased interest in school
- isolation from family and old friends
- repeated lies, stealing
- withdraws from social activities

Health Effects

The health risks associated with prescription drug abuse vary depending on the agent. Each class of drugs has its own particular set of side effects but in general the majority of prescription drugs can cause the following side effects:

- opioids (respiratory depression, low BP, nausea, vomiting)

- Benzodiazepines (sedation, coma, decreased respiration, lethargy, mental confusion)

- Stimulants (fever, fast heart rate, increased BP, seizures)

Reports from emergency rooms across the nation reveal that individuals abusing prescription drugs are increasing in numbers in the hospital. Accidental overdoes and adverse reactions to the drugs have accounted for the majority of these cases. In many instance, it was discovered that the individuals have been abusing multiple drugs of different classes, thus compounding the toxicity and increasing the chance of an adverse reactions.

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

The major dilemma is treating prescription drug addiction is that it is a hidden disorder. No one admits to using drugs. Because the problem is not recognized by the individual, helping the person is difficult. It is essential to see a physician as a first step in the management of the disorder. After this step the primary care physicians may help with getting aid from organizations which can help with detoxification. The physician can also refer to a drug rehabilitation center; many government institutions offer free medical help to treat the addiction.

There is no single type of treatment that is appropriate for all individuals addicted to prescription drugs. Treatment takes into account the type of drug used and the needs of the individual. Successful treatment may incorporate several components, including detoxification, counseling, behavior management and the use of pharmacological therapies. Multiple sessions of treatment may be needed for the patient to make a full recovery.
Narcotics Anonymous is a great source for helping people fight their addiction.

Most individuals have to be realistic and realize that the treatment is time dependent and takes time. Relapse is common and it is essential to have the support of the family and friends through the recovery phase.

Legal Problems

In the last few years, the DEA has become more aware of prescription drug fraud and new regulations and bills have been passed to prosecute doctors, pharmacists and others who deal in the selling of these drugs without proper authority. Almost all the states have addressed the prescription drug abuse by

- keeping a check on the pharmacists and record of all drug prescription
- keeping a track of all patients who require prescription drugs
- employ tamper resistant prescription pads
- maintain records of all electronically prescribed drugs
- target internet pharmacies and doctors who work for them

Most states have developed strict prescription monitoring programs, which can help prevent and detect the diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical controlled substances. Recent bills have made funds available to develop and enhance the strict enforcement of drug regulation in each state.

The proliferation of internet pharmacies has also been noticed by the Federal agencies who have now become very involved with prescription drug diversion. Both the DEA and FDA work together on criminal investigations involving the illegal sale, use, and diversion of controlled substances, including illegal sales over the Internet. Additionally, the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspect all parcels being shipped to US customers. In the last 2 years, many pharmacies, doctors and others have been criminally prosecuted for the illegally distribution of these drugs.

Words of Encouragement

2008-04-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

When we feel discouraged, it’s usual to try to find some external source which will give encouragement. We think that we can find a way to increase our motivation by finding someone who can give us a pep talk, or by reading a motivating book or a piece of motivational writing—much like this one.

It’s true that these things, especially people with a bright outlook on life, can give us encouragement and motivation. People with a positive outlook can do wonders for our own mental outlook. But sometimes that doesn’t work. No matter how much we’re around positive people, the great outlook just doesn’t seem to rub off.

So what do we do when we have no motivation and can’t be bothered?

What do we do when we want to feel positive but can’t help feeling negative? Being in a positive situation, with positive people can help us to be encouraged, but we need something more.

And paradoxically—as always—what can be good for us is the exact opposite of what we think. Being around positive people can be good because they encourage us, but it doesn’t follow that they are positive and so are good at giving encouragement. It can be that they are good at giving encouragement, and so therefore have a positive outlook. What you give out, you get back.

What may be needed then, when we feel a lack of motivation and feel discouraged with our progress and life in general, is not encouragement or to be around positive people. What may be needed is for us to be around people who need encouragement and motivation and for us to give it to them. We then find that what we give out—encouragement—comes back to us.
If you look back on times when you have encouraged someone to make an effort, you usually find that your own outlook improved dramatically.
This paradox is encapsulated in one of the many Zen sayings which relate to our outlook on life. One day a Zen student went to his master feeling that he wasn’t progressing in his training. The conversation went like this…

Zen student: “Master, I am very discouraged.”
Master: “Encourage others.”

The next time you find yourself feeling discouraged look at how you could give encouragement to someone else. The encouragement you give out will come right back to you in the form of encouragement for yourself.
Source: The Sober Village

Alcohol Addiction

2008-04-10T21:13:00.000-04:00

What does addiction mean?
When a person has lost control over the drug or drinks he or she uses, then it is called as addiction. Besides alcohol or some illegal drugs, people get addicted to cigarettes, medications and even glue. Addiction can often be psychological, physical or both. The need to have the specific substance or drug is the most significant sign of an addiction.

Addiction to Alcohol – Alcoholism
The persistent use of alcoholic beverages despite health problems and negative effects is generally known as alcoholism. Medically, alcoholism can be described as a disease that results in continued use of alcohol despite negative consequences. It is basically the inability to understand the negative consequences of alcohol consumption. Alcoholism, as per the American Medical Association is the primary chronic disease that is characterized by loss of control over drinking, use of alcohol despite negative effects and even distortions in thinking.
What are the primary and secondary effects of alcoholism?

It induces the sufferer to drink at times and in damaging amounts. This is perhaps the primary effect of alcoholism. The impaired ability to have control over drinking is the secondary damage due to alcoholism.
Even after the health problems start, it is common for an alcohol addict to drink well. The health problems that are related to excessive alcohol consumption are pancreatitis, increased chance of cancer, liver cirrhosis, polyneuropathy, heart diseases epilepsy, alcoholic dementia, sexual dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies and also death from all kind of sources.
How does alcoholism affect socially?
The consumption of alcohol during duty hours can lead to loss of employment and thus creating financial problems. The intake of alcohol at inappropriate times can cause legal consequences, which includes criminal charges for tortuous behavior, public disorder, and drunk driving. The behavior due to reduced judgment of a drunken person can lead to the imposition of civil penalties on that person. The impact caused by an alcoholic’s behavior can be significant. The mental impairment of a drunken person due to increased consumption of alcohol can affect the surrounding family and friends. This could lead to domestic violence, divorce and marital conflict. As a result, the emotional development of the alcoholic’s children can be drastically affected.

What are the issues related to alcohol withdrawal?
When an alcohol addict stops drinking, he may find very difficult without alcohol. The person may feel very uneasy. This is known as withdrawal. The withdrawal from alcohol differs very much from that of other types of drugs due to the fact that it could be fatal directly. If mismanaged, a healthy alcoholic could die due to the direct withdrawal effects. The production of a neuroinhibitor known as GABA could be very much reduced due to heavy consumption of alcohol. When the consumption of alcohol is stopped abruptly, it leads to a condition where both GABA and alcohol to be in inadequate quantities in the system as a result causes the firing of the synapses in uncontrolled manner. This manifests as convulsions, hallucinations, seizures, shakes and even heart failure. These are together referred as delirium tremens. A medically directed detox can be used to control all these withdrawal problems.

What impact does alcoholism have on society?
The general perception of the health problems related to long-term alcoholism is that it is detrimental to the society. The most important factor for causing vehicle accidents, head injuries, assaults and violence is the use of alcohol. It causes pain induces suffering and causes money problems to alcoholic affected and others around the person. Fetal alcohol syndrome is an incurable condition caused by consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman. Due to its wide impact on the society parliaments and governments have formulated alcohol policies to control the problems of alcoholism.

How to treat Alcoholism?
Since there are many perspectives for alcoholism, treating an alcohol addict is quite varied. Persons approaching alcoholism as a disease or medical condition suggest differing treatments than those who approach it as one of social option. The main focus of treatment is on aiding people to stop their alcohol consumption. It is then followed up with life training and social supporting so as to help them withstand a return to use of alcohol. Alcoholism treatment should prevent a relapse since alcoholism encourages a person to continue consumption of alcoholism. Detoxification is an example of this kind of treatment. It is then followed by combination of providing support through introducing to the self-help groups. The treatment to alcoholism is based on zero tolerance approach and harm reduction approach.

How effective is the treatments?
As far as the effectiveness of the treatment is concerned, it varies widely. When the effectiveness of alcoholism treatment is taken into account, the rate of success should be based on those who enter the program, but not on those who complete the program. Qualification of success is the completion of the program. So the success rate among the persons who complete the program is nearly 100%. It is vital to consider not just the success rate, but also the relapsing rate. A year after the completion of the rehabilitation program the results show that roughly a third of the alcohol addicts are sober, 40% of alcoholics have improved substantially but still consume occasionally, and a quarter of the persons have totally relapsed.

Rehabilitation Program – A Good Treatment
The integral part of the rehabilitation program is the detoxification, which is abrupt stopping of alcohol consumption coupled with replacing drugs having same effects in order to prevent alcohol withdrawal. The detoxification is followed by group therapy and psychotherapy. Detoxification treats physical effects and psychotherapy deals with psychological issues related addiction to alcohol. The next step is rationing and moderation programs. Then, providing the medication, which is the vital part of the rehabilitation program. It is considered as part of the treatment for alcoholism. The medication includes medications for withdrawal and detoxification known as Delirium treatments, and medications for long – term usage.

Link Between Insomnia And Depression In Young Adults - New Study In The Journal SLEEP

2008-04-08T21:14:00.001-04:00

A study published in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP confirms the persistent nature of insomnia and the increased risk of subsequent depression among individuals with insomnia.

The study, conducted by Jules Angst, MD, of Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital in Switzerland, focused on 591 young adults, whose psychiatric, physical, and sleep symptoms were assessed with six interviews spanning 20 years. Four duration-based subtypes of insomnia were distinguished: one-month insomnia associated with significant distress, two-to-three-week insomnia, recurrent brief insomnia, and occasional brief insomnia.

According to the results, the annual prevalence of one-month insomnia increased gradually over time, with a cumulative prevalence rate of 20 percent and a greater than two-fold risk among women. In 40 percent of subjects, insomnia developed into more chronic forms over time. Insomnia either with or without comorbid depression was highly stable over time. Insomnia lasting two weeks or longer predicted major depressive episodes and major depressive disorder at subsequent interviews. Seventeen to 50 percent of subjects with insomnia lasting two weeks or longer developed a major depressive episode in a later interview. "Pure" insomnia and "pure" depression were not longitudinally related to each other, whereas insomnia comorbid with depression was longitudinally related to both.

"We used to think that insomnia was most often just a symptom of depression. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that insomnia is not just a symptom of depression, but that it may actually precede depression. In other words, people who have insomnia but no depression are at increased risk for later developing depression. This study adds to our knowledge by including a much longer follow-up period than most previous studies," said Daniel J. Buysse, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, lead author of the paper. "We were also able to look separately at insomnia alone, depression alone, and combined insomnia-depression. The results show that insomnia seems to be followed by depression more consistently than the other way around. In addition, we found that insomnia tended to be a chronic problem that gets more persistent over time, whereas depression was a more intermittent problem."

Insomnia is a classification of sleep disorders in which a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early. It is the most commonly reported sleep disorder. About 30 percent of adults have symptoms of insomnia. It is more common among elderly people and women.

It is recommended that adults get between seven and eight hours of nightly sleep.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) offers the following tips on how to get a good night's sleep:

- Follow a consistent bedtime routine.
- Establish a relaxing setting at bedtime.
- Get a full night's sleep every night.
- Avoid foods or drinks that contain caffeine, as well as any medicine that has a stimulant, prior to bedtime.
- Do not bring your worries to bed with you.
- Do not go to bed hungry, but don't eat a big meal before bedtime either.
- Avoid any rigorous exercise within six hours of your bedtime.
- Make your bedroom quiet, dark and a little bit cool.
- Get up at the same time every morning.

Those who suspect that they might be suffering from insomnia, or another sleep disorder, are encouraged to consult with their primary care physician or a sleep specialist.

More information about insomnia is available from the AASM at http://www.SleepEducation.com/Disorder.aspx?id=6.

SLEEP is the official journal of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC, a joint venture of the AASM and the Sleep Research Society.

Problem Gamblers

2008-04-06T17:51:00.001-04:00

Problem Gamblers Want To Stop Their Gambling Addiction
By: howard keith

Problem gamblers from all walks of life want to stop their addiction to gambling, but seem to fall short of reaching their expectations. This seems to be a similar pattern among those who have a gambling addiction. Research in this area seems to dictate to compulsive gambler that the odds of achieving success are very limited. This statement may have been true in the past, but with all the new alternative stop gambling recovery programs, gamblers can be the odds and live a normal healthy life.

The key to any successful program is the willingness of the compulsive gambler at the time they enter a treatment program. There are so many compulsive gamblers today that it amazes me that there aren't more programs available. However on the bright side, there are a few programs that have been successful. These programs are drastically different but share a common bond. They all have been created to help those that are suffering from the negative affects of gambling addiction.

A compulsive gambler and their family members have searched endlessly to find the right program with very little success. However now with the world at their finger tips though the internet all new doors are starting to open. The amount of information now available has enabled them to head in the right direction.

There are programs that offer daily meetings, weekly meetings, private chat rooms open seven days twenty four hours and self help books.

Through new innovative programs those who suffer from gambling addiction now have hope to recover. Gambling addiction is just as serious an addiction as alcohol, tobacco and drug addiction. Our society needs to wake up and take responsibility and help those that continue to suffer.

The pain, anguish and self destructive behavior are apparent as the addiction gets out of control. Our society seems to look the other way. For example in New York City there are those that live on the streets in card board boxes. Each and every day those riding the subway walk over and even around these individuals. They do not think twice to help them. The police take notice and all they do is ask them to move to a more private area of the city. This is same at all local gambling establishments. They do nothing to help those that are addicted. They have no problem taking their money until there is no money to take. At that point they throw them out into a world where they have lost respect from friends and loved ones. They know that a large percentage of their profits come from those that are addicted. They do nothing. It is up to you and me to make that difference. By helping the compulsive gamblers to stop their addition we no longer feed the gambling establishments.

Gambling establishments should be legally responsible for the continual destruction of the people in our society. The day will come where politicians and lawmakers will open their eyes and put an end to the abuse brought on by the gambling establishments. Until then we need to take care of our own. Through proper education we need to help the compulsive gambler and family member to recover and move forward.

Problem gamblers do not have to suffer any longer. The stop gambling addiction resources available can put them and their family in the right direction. Look for well established websites that are at least two years old and find the answers to all of your questions. These websites will help you to move in the right direction. Take the time and before you know it, your lives will be a lot healthier and a lot more rewarding.

As a former compulsive gambler, I found it easy to take one day at a time as I faced my gambling addiction head on.

Article Source: http://article2008.com

A new Forum is born!

2008-04-04T08:17:00.000-04:00

Treatment Centers Support Forumsgreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Maternal Cocaine Use Affects Long-Term Health Of Offspring

2008-04-03T19:34:00.000-04:00

study published in the open-access journal PLoS ONE reports that maternal cocaine use results in lasting neurochemical and functional changes in the offspring. Dr. Ashiwel Undieh, PhD (Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University's Jefferson School of Pharmacy) and colleagues came to these conclusions while investigating how maternal cocaine use affects the long-term health of the child.

It is known from previous studies that cocaine exposed mothers tend to have offspring that demonstrate significant behavioral changes. Undieh and colleagues added to these findings by investigating the alterations in fetal epigenetic machinery of mothers exposed to cocaine.

Epigenetic refers to biological features such as DNA modifications that are stable over rounds of cell division and do not involve changing the underlying DNA sequence of the organism.

This current study uses mice to conclude that if mothers are exposed to cocaine during the last two trimesters of gestation, the result is potentially profound structural and functional changes in the epigenomic programs of neonatal and prepubertal offspring. The results suggest s strong link between maternal cocaine exposure and alterations in global DNA methylation, in CGI-specific methylation, and in the transcriptional processes of many genes that are responsible for coding proteins involved in critical neural functions.

Since cocaine is one of the most abused drugs in the Western hemisphere, the conclusions of this study are important for human mothers and children. It is widely known that when mothers abuse cocaine, there is an increase in the likelihood of both immediate and long-term harmful effects on both the mother and the child. Though there is not complete consensus on the effects of cocaine use by expectant mothers, animal studies have shown significant damage to nervous system structure and function in offspring.

Maternal Cocaine Administration in Mice Alters DNA Methylation and Gene Expression in Hippocampal Neurons of Neonatal and Prepubertal Offspring
Novikova SI, He F, Bai J, Cutrufello NJ, Lidow MS, et al.
PLoS ONE (2008). 3(4): e1919.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001919
Click Here to View Article

About PLoS ONE

PLoS ONE is the first journal of primary research from all areas of science to employ both pre- and post-publication peer review to maximize the impact of every report it publishes. PLoS ONE is published by the Public Library of Science (PLoS), the Open-access publisher whose goal is to make the world's scientific and medical literature a public resource.

About the Public Library of Science

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. For more information, visit http://www.plos.org

Written by: Peter M Crosta
Copyright: Medical News Today

Editorial: Evidence Disparities in the Drug War

2008-04-01T19:09:00.001-04:00

A legislative battle currently underway in Idaho illustrates an "evidence disparity" at work in US drug policy. The state's legislature, conservative but starting to favor different approaches to substance abuse, recently approved $16.8 million of funding for treatment programs, but Gov. Butch Otter vetoed it. Not that Otter opposes such programs in principle -- he says Idaho should have them -- but he wants to "ensure that taxpayer dollars are used carefully, responsibly and to the best possible advantage" in that context, according to reporting by the Boise paper New West.

I don't know enough about the details of Idaho's drug treatment programs to say whether they're well-designed or not. Odds are they are needed. But I wish such care would be put into the criminal justice side of drug policy. Is arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating drug law violators in large number a "careful" or advantageous use of tax monies? (Hint: Look at the availability of drugs and their prices, which have plummeted over these last most serious decades of the drug war. That means the answer is "NO.") Otter could at least claim consistency if he were also calling for an end to the drug war's imprisonment program, or even just scaling it back. But if he's doing so I've not heard that.

In this week, as in most other weeks I remember, the actions of governments all over exhibit this evidence disparity:

* In Mexico, dramatic evidence in the form of nationwide, gruesome violence shows that prohibition is dangerous and that enforcing it is futile. But Mexico continues to fight the drug war and suffer that cost.
* In California, the feds have garnered five year sentences against a couple who provided marijuana to patients, despite evidence that marijuana is helpful to patients.
* Alaska politicians are trying hard to overturn the state's constitutional protection of private marijuana possession, despite a lack of evidence demonstrating that marijuana is any threat.
* In states around the country, moves are afoot to ban the hallucinogenic plant salvia divinorum, despite a lack of evidence for danger or widespread use. One legislator wants to "help" salvia users by giving them five-year prison terms! Where's the evidence supporting that?

I support having policies that are based on evidence. But let's put all of the evidence, and all of the policies, on an equal footing. The drug warriors who are putting people in prison should bear the burden of proof for their policies, a burden under which their philosophy will undoubtedly collapse. Because it is the truth that is disparate -- the case for legalization is overwhelming -- and if measured evenly, that truth will indict the drug war beyond any and all reasonable doubts. Prohibition is indefensible, and the drug war is a failure and travesty. So let's really talk about the evidence, and do it right. The day on which happens will be ours.
Politics & Advocacy The Drug Debate
from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #529, 3/28/08

Is Winehouse going to rehab?

2008-03-30T11:21:00.002-04:00

Amy Winehouse is reportedly considering going back into rehab - fearing life in London holds "too much temptation".

The Back To Black star was admitted to a clinic in January (08) to finally kick her drug addiction - but checked out after just two weeks. Winehouse has since been photographed looking distinctly unhealthy; she came down with contagious skin condition impetigo earlier this month (Mar08) which left her with sores all over her face, and she has also been snapped with her arms covered in cuts - prompting fears she may have resorted to self-harming.

And British newspaper The Sun is now reporting the 24-year-old has conceded she needs further treatment, possibly in an international facility.

A source tells the publication: "Amy has admitted she needs to check into rehab again. There are too many temptations for her in the U.K. - people around her in London are making it impossible for her to stay clean for any length of time."

"Her management considered sending her to a clinic in Israel but are now looking further afield. They are assessing a clinic in Cape Town in South Africa."(LR/WNTSU/LJ)

Copyright 2008 WENN

Avoiding Alcohol is a Good Thing!

2008-03-28T15:45:00.001-04:00

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is nothing but a natural fruit juice. It is a health drink also. There are many types of alcohol. But the one which is useful to human being is ethyl alcohol. It is also known as grain alcohol since it is prepared from starch grains. Ethyl alcohol is the alcohol of wine beer, whisky and similar beverages. It is often simply referred as “alcohol”. Most of the alcohol is prepared when grains, fruits or vegetables are fermented.

What is fermentation?

The process of conversion of sugars into ethyl alcohol under the influence of yeast is known as fermentation. The raw materials of ethyl alcohol are cane juice, beets, dates, molasses, fruit juices which contains sugar, substances which contain starch such as potatoes, rice, barley and maize.

Why should you avoid commercial alcohol?

Denatured Alcohols

It is commercial ethyl alcohol to which small amounts of very poisonous substance have been added. So, commercial alcohol contains methyl alcohol which is poisonous. The manufacture and sale of ethyl alcohol is under strict government control. Heavy excise duty is levied on sale of alcoholic beverages. For industrial purpose ethyl alcohol is duty free in some of the countries.

Alcoholic Beverages

The largest use of ethyl alcohol is considered as a beverage. Wine contains about 12% ethyl alcohol. Beers contain about 4%. Whisky and Brandy contains about 40-50% ethyl alcohol. The alcoholic content of a beverage is indicated by a measure known as proof spirit.

How does it affect your health?

When you drink alcoholic beverages, the ethyl alcohol finds its way in your blood. When you consume 0.8% you will feel steady. If it is 2% you feel giddiness, 3% not able to walk, 4% you may fall down. When it reaches 5% it may leads to death

Why do people like to have it?

Due to some curiosity people like to drink it. They feel that it is good and reduces stress. Some times to people drink to relax themselves.

A Step By Step Method for Alcohol Detox

Alcohol detox may be defined as a phase of medically supervised and monitored withdrawal from alcohol at the same time the alcohol is detached from the body.

Alcohol detoxification depends on your age, medical status and alcohol intake history. In the case of a young man who drinks a lot and looks for 7 days treatment after his last consumed alcohol, he may not need detoxification ahead of starting medication for alcoholism. The most common drugs employed for this purpose are the benzodiazepines, which are followed by barbiturates.

What are benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, diazepam, oxazepam or lorazepam are the most common drugs used to minimize symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. There are a number of treatment methods in which it is employed. The choice of benzodiazepine depends upon the situation.

Chlordiazepoxide is preferred in case of uncomplicated withdrawal of alcohol.
Diazepam or Lorazepam are available for persons who are not able to take medicines safely by mouth.
Oxazepam and Lorazepam is considered best for patients who have cirrhosis

What is the proper medication for alcohol detox and withdrawal?

Alcohol detox can cause suffering and pain and it can be life threatening. Detox from alcohol, otherwise known as withdrawal, may lead to various problems. The symptoms of acute alcohol detox and withdrawal start to emerge within 6 to 48 hours. Proper medication for alcohol detox and withdrawal is to lessen the discomfort of the patient and avoid the development of severe symptoms. Admission in hospital gives the safest situation for alcohol detox and withdrawal.

What is common procedure to detox?

Most doctors are contented to prescribe for alcohol detox. A common procedure for detox is as follows.

Your doctor may prescribe a high dosage medication for the first day so that you discontinue drinking alcohol.
Then the dosage will be reduced gradually over the next five to seven days. Usually this avoids or reduces the nasty withdrawal symptoms.
You should accept not to consume any alcohol in the course of alcohol detoxification. In order to make sure that you are not drinking alcohol, a breathalyzer may be used.
Usually your doctor or nurse will monitor you more often at the time of detox.

While under going detox, support from friends or family may be of great help. The work of receiving the prescription and providing the detox medicine is shared with a friend or family member.

Trying to get sober?

Cross Addiction

2008-03-24T10:21:00.001-04:00

Cross addiction
Substance Addiction tends not to be confined to a particular mood altering drug.....when you have one addiction, you get the whole set thrown in for free - even before you have experienced the other drugs.

An addict I knew had a bad relapse. We couldn't figure out why. A reason may have been his use (not abuse) of an over the counter flu medication. It contained codeine, which is obtained from opium or prepared from morphine. He was a recovering heroin addict and the codeine sparked cravings. His flu nearly cost him his life.

The many pills and potions I was prescribed in hospital to treat my depression and anxiety, I became addicted to. To this day, I still crave Valium and Chloryl Hydrate on occasions - just out of the blue. But luckily those feelings are just flashes now, but they still serve as a warning.

Many alcoholics/addicts who go into recovery, never actually do. They simply swap one drug of dependence for another. An example would be someone who gives up alcohol and then is using valium long term for their "nerves". The "nerves" are actually protracted withdrawals, their bodies are never given a chance to actually start recovering. This is called cross-addiction. These drugs are usually prescribed to addicts in the first twelve months of recovery. Way too soon in most cases. The brain doesn't seem to differentiate between drugs.

I am a heavy tobacco smoker. I tried giving it up a couple of years ago by chewing nicorettes. Now I smoke and chew nicorettes. My caffeine consumption amazes people. There has been months where I consumed no other fluids apart from caffeinated drinks. So I guess if it really boils down to it, you could consider me not "recovered". But I am happy where I am at, and tobacco and caffeine does not seem to spark cravings for other drugs. It seems to be the exception to the rule. What are your views on this?... I'd be interested to know. Maybe I'll give up some day, maybe I won't, it's not an issue for me at the moment. Cigarettes and coffee have never caused me do the things I did whilst under the influence of other drugs and they definitely do not make my life unmanageable.

This may anger the non-smokers out there, but giving up tobacco and coffee early in recovery after giving up alcohol and/or other drugs can be quite dangerous. The body can go into overload, and you can end up right back where you started. And no, I'm not rationalizing, I'm serious.

I've got a feeling I may get a lot of email on this subject................

I take no other drugs. I am very careful not to. No liqueur chocolates, no medications containing codeine. I was very scared when I had to have a general anesthetic that I would wake up with withdrawals, or worse still, wake up during the operation because of my tolerance to that class of drugs. I discussed it with my doctor, who I was lucky to have - he understood addiction and he bumped up the levels of anesthetic. I regained consciousness fairly quickly, but at least not while I had the scalpel in me! And yes, I did suffer from mild withdrawals....

These are the things that an addict needs to keep in mind going through day to day life. A great many things that others take for granted, we can't have - or they have higher risks associated with them. It's as simple as that. Remember to carefully read the labels of any medication you are taking and find a doctor who understands your circumstances and the disease of addiction. At this point, I would like to state that I have no professional medical qualifications and I do not wish to turn anyone from their doctor prescribed treatments. I am only suggesting that you be aware of the dangers of cross-addiction by questioning any prescription or treatment you are given.

If you are not sure about the medication you are currently taking, a good source of information is http://www.rxlist.com/ . It has a huge listing of medications and associated issues. If your medications have a warning label on them that says "may cause drowsiness", you can bet that it contains some sort of MAS (Mood Altering Substance). Sometimes these medications will be necessary, but please, handle with care.

We are on the road to recovery and numerous emotions boil over in us. They can be quite overwhelming, we aren't used to dealing with them "straight". The most prevalent ones are depression and anxiety. Some doctors approach these conditions with the prescription of anti-depressants and tranquilizers. Does that seem right to you?

Doctors abide by what is known as the Hippocratic Oath. The oath had its origins from Hippocrates who is considered to be the Father of modern medicine. He also stated "It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has." This has special bearing in the case of anxiety and depression in the recovering addict. If your doctor is unaware that you have a substance abuse issue, he/she may prescribe totally unsuitable medications that could ultimately bring about your undoing. I came across a scenario like this only a few weeks ago. A close friend of mine who previously had cocaine problems was prescribed a tranquilizer - it had some undesirable effects.

Once again, these medications have their place, but not so much in recovery. The emotions you will experience are normal, they will pass. Anti-depressants and tranquilizers may act as a thin bandage over a gaping wound and may worsen the damage already done. Part of recovery is about dealing with emotions and problems without the use of drugs or "medicines". Medication does play an important part in the initial withdrawal stages, as detoxing can be potentially fatal. If you are currently taking anti-depressants and/or tranquilizers and decide you want to try to get along without them, ensure you discuss it with a qualified health professional first. Sudden cessation of the medication can be dangerous, and there are cases where they are necessary.

Well, my ash-tray is overflowing and my coffee cup is empty....I better go get another!

Michael Bloch
michael@worldwideaddiction.com
http://www.worldwideaddiction.com

The Sober Village Help is only a click away! Alcoholism and addiction recovery forums. Sober forums for those in need of help and support for themselves or loved ones. We do care!

High Rates of Binge Drinking in Ireland

2008-03-20T20:28:00.000-04:00

New research shows that 58 percent of the drinking done by men in Ireland is binge drinking, the London Press Association reported Oct. 8.

The study conducted for Ireland's health department further found that 48 percent of all men and 16 percent of women in Ireland binge drink at least once a week.

Ireland is the highest of all other European countries in term of binge drinking. In the United Kingdom, the percentage of men who binge drink is 40 percent, while in France it is 9 percent.

In addition, more problems, such as falls, unintentional sex and public order offenses, were linked to drinkers in Ireland than any other European country.

Irish health minister Micheal Martin said a number of initiatives are underway to address binge drinking.

"The clear message from this research is that we must change our drinking patterns -- we need to cut down and slow our drinking."

The health ministry recently districted a "Guide to Rethinking your Drinking," as well as a new advertising campaign that will be shown before movies in cinemas throughout the country.

In addition, the new single by Irish artist Sinead O'Connor will include a booklet with information on alcohol.
Source: http://www.jointogether.org/news

$4M Grant To Study Effects Of Chronic Marijuana Use Won By Scripps Research Team

2008-03-17T13:34:00.001-04:00

"I'm really excited about the opportunity that this grant offers," says Mason. "It's time to get some clarity on how cannabis use impacts cognitive function, induces withdrawal symptoms, and affects the body's stress systems. This is important information. People are deciding every day whether to use or not to use marijuana, for medical purposes or otherwise, and there is little scientific information to advise this decision."

The NIDA grant will fund the startup of a new Translational Center on the Clinical Neurobiology of Cannabis Addiction, the first such center to be dedicated to studying the neurobiology of cannabis dependence. The ultimate goal of this research is to help develop novel approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of marijuana addiction.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated 97.8 million Americans aged 12 or older had tried marijuana at least once in their lifetimes; 25.4 million had used marijuana in the past year.

Of those admitted to treatment programs for drug addition in 2005, marijuana was the primary drug for 292,250 people or 15.8 percent.

A New Center for Research

The issue of cannabis dependence first came to Mason's attention during her work on alcohol addiction. When recruiting patients for alcoholism clinical trials, she noticed that a number of candidates expressed the need of treatment for dependence on cannabis. She subsequently applied for an exploratory grant from NIDA to study the issue, which provided preliminary data for the foundation of the new center.

"While there are some people who have a problem with both alcohol and cannabis, many individuals are dependent on cannabis alone," she noted. "The estimate is that about four percent of those who use cannabis eventually become addicted to it."

The new center will pool the talent of several laboratories to learn more about addiction to cannabis and the consequences of withdrawal. In addition to Mason, who holds the Pearson Family Chair at Scripps Research, the center's principal investigators will include Scripps Research Associate Professor Michael Taffe, Scripps Research Associate Professor Loren Parsons, and University of California, San Diego, Associate Professor Susan Tapert.

The researchers and their teams will draw on complementary expertise in tissue analysis, imaging, animal models, and human clinical trials to understand the condition of marijuana addiction from a variety of perspectives. Techniques will include neuropsychological measures, biochemical analyses, and functional MRI.

Some of the center's initial projects will address questions such as the exact nature and duration of cognitive impairment caused by marijuana use; the role of development (for example, adolescence vs. young adulthood) on susceptibility to addiction; the effects of cannabis on the central nervous system; and the characteristics of withdrawal after long-term use.

The center will also contain a training component to mentor the next generation of researchers in the field.

"It's time we shed the light of science onto the topic of marijuana addiction," Masons says. "There is a lot we need to know in order to develop effective treatments.

source: http://www.medilexicon.com

Lancet urges parents to act on underage drinking

2008-03-14T05:35:00.000-04:00

Parents should take the greatest share of responsibility for steering teenagers away from binge drinking, according to an editorial in the Lancet. It said underage drinking had risen substantially during the past 10 years, and nearly one-third of teenagers were now binge drinkers.

Early abuse of alcohol increased the risk of serious health problems for teenagers, with more falling prey to fatal accidents, self-harm, suicide, violent behaviour, unprotected sex, alcohol dependence and liver disease, the journal said. Learning to enjoy alcohol, in moderation, was "an important part of growing up" in many societies, but it was a lesson not being taught in the UK.

In Britain and Ireland, young people are drinking more than ever before - and often substantially more than in the US, France and Mediterranean countries. According to the Lancet, 27% of British 15-year-olds admit to having had at least five alcoholic drinks in a row in the past month, up from 22% in 1995, and 29% of teenage girls binge drink. Nearly half of the alcohol drunk by young people comes from the family home, with the rest from supermarkets, shops, off-licences and bars.

"The biggest share, and burden, of the partnership must fall on parents and guardians who should take greater responsibility for teaching children about drinking safely. Creating a culture in which alcohol is enjoyed in moderation, perhaps diluted, and is drunk with food as part of sharing a meal together rather than drunk alone, is helpful. For a healthy younger generation, society's relationship with alcohol has to change, beginning in the home," the journal said.

The government is due to publish its Youth Alcohol Action Plan later this year, which aims to tackle parental alcohol misuse and improve alcohol education in schools. "Unless the UK government bans alcohol advertising, substantially raises taxes on alcohol, restricts its availability and seriously debates increasing the legal purchasing age to 21, an opportunity will be lost," the editorial said.

Alcohol taxes did go up in Wednesday's budget, adding 4p on beer, 14p on wine and 55p on spirits. Nigel Evans, the Tory MP for Ribble Valley and vice chairman of the all-party beer group, said the extra tax on beer would not tackle binge drinking, but would accelerate pub closures.

The Lancet said young people who misused alcohol often had symptoms of conduct disorder, anxiety, or depression, some of which may be signs of future alcohol dependence. Parents who misused alcohol or who had broken relationships with their children increased the chances of their sons and daughters drinking.

Adults should be willing to intervene when necessary. "It should not be acceptable for doctors, teachers or parents to turn a blind eye or offer no follow-up when a child is in hospital with a head injury after drinking, when a teenager truants to drink, or when a 15-year-old goes to bed drunk," the editorial added.

source: The Guardian

Understanding The Neurological Underpinnings Of Risk

2008-03-13T12:04:00.000-04:00

Researchers from EPFL and Caltech have made an important neurobiological discovery of how humans learn to predict risk. The research, appearing in the March 12 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, will shed light on why certain kinds of risk, notably financial risk, are often underestimated, and whether abnormal behavior such as addiction (e.g. to gambling or drugs) could be caused by an erroneous evaluation of risk.

Planning entails making predictions. In an uncertain environment, however, our predictions often don't pan out. And erroneous prediction of risk often leads to unusual behaviour: euphoria or excessive gambling when risk is underestimated, and panic attacks or depression when we predict that things are riskier than they really are. To understand these anomalous reactions to uncertain situations, we need to look to the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie how we learn to predict risk. Surprisingly little research has been done in this topic, and we do not yet know precisely how the brain is involved in our estimation of risk.

Using functional imaging in a simple gambling task in which risk was constantly changed, the researchers discovered that an early activation of the anterior insula of the brain was associated with mistakes in predicting risk. The time course of the activation also indicated a role in rapid updating, suggesting that this area is involved in how we learn to modify our risk predictions. The finding was particularly interesting, notes lead author and EPFL professor Peter Bossaerts, because the anterior insula is the locus of where we integrate and process emotions.

"This represents an important advance in our understanding of the neurological underpinnings of risk, in analogy with an earlier discovery of a signal for forecast error in the dopaminergic system," says Bossaerts, "and indicates that we need to update our understanding of the neural basis of reward anticipation in uncertain conditions to include risk assessment."

Contrary to what Descartes held dear, the finding that risk prediction and processing of emotions are related suggests that emotions may be intimately involved in rational decision making -- they may help us to correctly assess risk in an uncertain world.

source: medilexicon.com

Lack of permit forcing recovery center to close

2008-03-11T05:38:00.000-04:00

A recovery center for drug and alcohol addicts is looking for a new home after a zoning snafu forced them to leave a west Athens compound.

About two dozen residents at Serenity River Residence Center packed up Monday after discovering that the nonprofit group lacked a necessary permit to operate a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.

Residents said they planned to move in with members of Serenity River's board of directors or to rented houses elsewhere in Athens, pledging to stick together to beat addiction using the group's tough-love approach.

"We're not kin, but I consider this my family," said Roger Strickland Jr., who has lived at the center for about a month.

After applying to Athens-Clarke County for a permit to build a new dining hall, founder Phil Redden said he learned Friday that Serenity River would have to leave the property because the center was operating illegally.

Rehab centers, halfway houses and other such treatment facilities need a special-use permit from the Athens-Clarke Commission to open, and Serenity River never applied for one, county planner Lara Mathes said.

The nonprofit officially is suspending its operations, but the former residents will continue to meet and participate in the recovery program as they look for funding to find a permanent new home, Redden said.

Although the tight-knit group is separating, the move could be a "blessing in disguise" by allowing them to buy a new and permanent home and acquire the necessary permit, Redden said.

"To help thousands of people over the years, we need a place with a little more privacy, and we need to make it a little nicer," he said.

Redden will raise money to buy property for a larger treatment center that could house 40 people, and is seeking donations, he said. His goal is to open and begin accepting new residents in six months, he said.

"I'm sending up flares to see if anyone in Athens can do anything to help this thing that works survive," he said.

Redden rented two houses and a loft, formerly home to drug users, on five acres off Tallassee Road in July to open the treatment center. During time off from his full-time job as a crane operator, the former alcoholic collected used needles and beer cans and repaired the run-down property.

The six- to 12-month program uses Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous principles, frequent meetings, manual labor and plenty of straight talk to convince addicts to stop drinking and using drugs. Several residents said it's the only recovery program that's ever worked for them, and they were not discouraged by the recent setback.

"I want to stick around and help them build the new facility and help others get sober," Clemoth Church Jr. said.

Serenity River can be contacted at (706) 549-2667.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 031108

Fear of Failure

2008-03-06T16:17:00.001-05:00

Facing Fear Of Failure

At some point, we've all experienced some form of fear of failure. It stops some of us from even trying, while others try half-heartedly, undermining their own success and confirming their fears. I've done both in so many areas of life, I thought it would be helpful for me to share some of my fears with you, along with some insights to help you with yours. Here are some top-selling recent books on fear of failure.

Fear Of Failure is a phobia...actually, many phobias related to performance anxiety. It can present itself in sporting events, love life, business, school, church...anywhere. I've had serious anxiety in all of the above. I've "choked" under pressure in sporting events, singing, speaking, asking girls out, or to dance. I can remember anxiety as early as elementary school, where, even though I knew the answers, I couldn't put them on the board or speak them when called upon. As I got older, I was able to force myself to do some of these things despite my fears, though, I couldn't have told you how, at the time.

Anxiety And Motivation: What I learned was anxiety destroys motivation. As we see the potential devastation of failure, the price of trying seems too high...so we turn back. Every time we turn back, we strengthen the emotional wall between us and our goals. Enough times turning back and we'll stop trying completely. This is how anxiety can lead to depression. Depressed people just look like they don't care...they probably care so deeply they shut down. People with depression and anxiety live in a real hurt to avoid an imagined hurt...it's an amazing thing. Once, I was so afraid of failing in a full-time sales business I had started, I spent at least a week in bed, curled up in a fetal position, crying myself to sleep. Fear Of Failure can rob you of the motivation to even try...which guarantees...failure. To get over this, we need to find something that inspires us to take risk and then develop an innovative plan to minimize the risk.

Finding Inspiration isn't as easy as it sounds for a lot of people. In affairs of the heart, most of us see the prize as so valuable we become inspired to great risk. Other areas aren't so easy. With my business, I discovered money was not a good enough motivator for me to be willing to risk. Strangely enough, I became profitable in business only when I found out I was far more inspired to help people than to make a sale. Helping people get what they want, helping them overcome a financial difficulty and find solutions to life problems was what really drove me. Once I discovered helping people was what inspired me, I was willing to risk failure. What drives you? Let yourself off the hook of performance pressure for a few weeks and try to discover what moves you. Is it the approval of a loved one, your name on the door, receiving an award, seeing your daughter graduate college, finally being out of debt, helping others achieve their dreams? Collect up all those things that drive you. Think back over your life and picture the things you feel were accomplishments that made you feel fulfilled...these are your inspirations. Once you have a good picture of your inspiration, you're ready for the easy part, growing with innovation.

Growing With Innovation is establishing and carrying out an innovative plan to face down your fears one by one, using small, painless, almost risk-free steps. My fear of failure in sales was complicated by fear of people, making it extremely difficult for me to imagine ever selling to enough people to earn a profit. So, from the day I finally got out of bed, I broke down my job into stages...greet people, meet people, get phone numbers, make appointments, make sales. At first, I only concerned myself with greeting people. I even used my aerobic walk every morning to practice smiling and waving at people. In a few weeks, I was ready to go out in public and personally meet people...a few a day and gradually more. Then, I did the same thing with getting contact info, calling, selling, group presentations, etc. I've now spoken to groups over 1,000, founded 3 profitable businesses and 2 non-profit corporations, but it started with a little man frozen in fear, crying himself to sleep.

Your innovation will be based on what it is, specifically, you're afraid of. You must develop your own plan, starting where you're comfortable and slowly growing and stretching yourself until you can repeatedly face down your fear without hesitation. Let me promise a few things, so you won't be surprised. The only way to defeat fear is to face it. Courage is not fearlessness! No one is free of fear. Courage is going on despite fear, to accomplish your dreams. The steps I've recommended are designed to help you face your fears and respond to them differently. Instead of stopping or turning around, you'll still sense the fears but, with practice, be able to dismiss them and move forward. Also, as you're moving forward, you will certainly stumble and fall and embarrass yourself and others along the way. Welcome to life! The absence of struggle is death! "The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions." Alfred Addler. If you're truly in fear of failure, consider this...The only way you can fail is by not continuing to try.

BIPOLOAR DISORDER

2008-03-05T14:03:00.001-05:00

What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a medical condition that affects the brain, giving you periods of extremely high mood and periods of very low mood.

Highs are called "mania" and lows are called "depression". You will often still hear bipolar disorder called by its old name, "manic depression".

Everybody has good days and bad days; happy moods and sad moods. In bipolar disorder, these feelings become so extreme that you cannot cope without treatment.

The word "bipolar" means patients keep switching between two opposite "poles" of extreme mood. Think of mood as a range of feelings and emotions, with depression at one end and mania at the other.

How do you get bipolar disorder?

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Experts today believe that bipolar disorder is caused by several different things, including a chemical imbalance in your brain.

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Bipolar disorder also seems to run in families. About two thirds of people with bipolar disorder have a close relative who also has the disorder, or who suffers from severe depression.

How serious is bipolar disorder?

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Without effective treatment, bipolar disorder can have tragic outcomes. About 25% of people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide at some time during their lives.

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However, many people with bipolar disorder are not prevented from achieving their goals in life. In fact, throughout history, some of the most influential people in art, literature, business, and politics have had bipolar disorder. With proper treatment, you can still enjoy good relationships, rewarding careers and stability.

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Bipolar disorder can take its toll on friends and family, just like other serious illnesses. The patient's symptoms can cause many problems in their relationships with other people. Loved ones can often feel exasperated, angry, useless and even depressed. It is important for friends and family to look after themselves as well as the patient.

How long does bipolar disorder last?

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If you have got bipolar disorder, you might have to be on medication for the rest of your life. But with a good treatment plan, people with bipolar disorder can live full and productive lives.

How is bipolar disorder treated?

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People with bipolar disorder need various types of treatment and support to deal with it. They have to take an active role in understanding and coping with bipolar disorder.

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Nobody has discovered a cure for bipolar disorder, but we use medications to treat some of the symptoms. Many people who have bipolar disorder live full and productive lives. Yet, tragically, more than one in ten people with bipolar disorder try to commit suicide at some point.

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It is incredibly important for people with bipolar disorder to take their medication exactly as it was prescribed. Support, love, patience and understanding from family and friends is also a vital part of treatment.

SOURCE: http://www.patienthealthinternational.COM

Addiction: Why Can't They Just Stop? - Book Review

2008-03-03T11:17:00.000-05:00

Editors: John Hoffman and Susan Froemke

This companion book to the HBO documentary of the same name sheds light on the hidden American epidemic of addiction.

Blending compelling personal narratives with statistics and expert opinion, all gleaned from over two years of research and reporting, ADDICTION offers a comprehensive and provocative look at the impact of chemical dependency on addicts, their loved ones, society, and the economy.

Breaking the stigma that addicts are simply weak and immoral, it delves into new brain research proving that drugs and alcohol change the chemical composition of addicts' brains, making it veritably impossible for them to quit. The nation's top experts persuasively argue that the time has come for the blame to stop and the healing to begin.

ADDICTION also features material not included in the documentary: testimonials, original graphics and images, additional elaboration on theories and treatments of addiction, and more. This book is essential reading for anyone who has been impacted by what is now realized to be a very real and widespread disease.

The Four Stages of Alcoholism

2008-02-25T19:15:00.001-05:00

The Four Stages of Alcoholism
The effects of alcohol use intensify as the use and abuse progesses. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine recently presented a revised definition of alcoholism: "Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial...

Experts illustrate the progression of the disease by outlining four basic stages of alcohol use as follows:

I. STAGE ONE - Although there may be no outward behavioral changes caused by the casual use of alcohol, such use can not be considered "safe" for young people. Young people are particularly susceptible to the effects of alcohol. Alcohol is considered to be a gateway drug since use and abuse of alcohol often leads young people to use other mind-altering drugs.

II. STAGE TWO - This stage involves more frequent use of alcohol as the person actively seeks the euphoric effects of a mind-altering drug. At this point, the user usually establishes a reliable source, and may add mid-week use of alcohol to previous habits of weekend use at parties.

III. STAGE THREE -In this stage, there is intense preoccupation with the desire to experience euphoric effects. Daily drinking, depression, and thoughts of suicide are common. Family troubles increase. Problems with the law may also become evident.

IV. STAGE FOUR -Those who have reached this stage need increasing levels just to feel OK. Physical signs such as damage to the heart, liver, and brain, malnutrition,and lower resistance to pneumonia, and blackouts are common. Family life is a disaster.

Alcoholics Anonymous holding meetings on campus

2008-02-22T08:16:00.001-05:00

After a three-year hiatus, Alcoholics Anonymous is once again holding open support group meetings on campus, a convenient location for students and community members to help each other achieve sobriety.

The new chapter joined an ever-growing roster of over 100,000 groups in 180 countries, according to the AA Web site. An estimated 1.5 million people worldwide have achieved sobriety through AA.

In 2007, 21 percent of college students between the ages of 18 and 22 met the American Psychiatric Association criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, according to a study by the organization. Yet, only 4 percent of these students sought treatment.

"Across the nation, this is an issue for students," said Alisa Guglielmo, director of student life for Santa Clara's law school. "Because it is an issue in society, having it available to those in this community is a great idea."

During a campus wellness fair earlier this year, Guglielmo was approached by a graduate student who was interested in starting regular AA meetings on campus. Guglielmo arranged for a room in Benson, but that is where the university's connection to the program ended. AA is unaffiliated with any and all outside organizations.

The student, a member of AA himself, requested anonymity for press purposes in keeping with AA's firm commitment to maintaining the privacy of its members.

Essential to AA's mission is the principle that the only thing required for membership is a desire to stop drinking. In fact, the only thing standing between an alcoholic and attending their first meeting is their ability to admit that they need help.

"It's tough to define an alcoholic," the student said. "The simplest definition is someone who is physically and mentally incapable of just having one drink, or physically and mentally incapable of stopping."

AA's Web site describes alcoholism as an illness, "a physical compulsion combined with a mental obsession to drink," and not a matter of moral weakness or lack of willpower.

Warning signs can include brushes with the law for alcohol-related issues, engaging in physical or sexual behavior that is later regretted, driving while under the influence and frequent "blackouts" or vomiting after drinking to excess, said the student.

Since classes began in early January, there have been 13 incidents of illness due to excessive alcohol consumption in which students were involved, according to Campus Safety reports. In nine of these cases, the night ended with a trip to a local hospital.

Several campus organizations provide professional support services for students who are concerned about their alcohol or drug use, including Cowell Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Wellness Center. The staff within these departments can also refer students to outside agencies, including AA.

People who speak at AA meetings are members who engage in discussion about their personal struggles with alcohol addiction and the tools that helped them recover. A good meeting, said the student, is not in the quantity of participants, but in the quality of the experiences they share.

"It happens when two or more alcoholics are sharing their stories and helping each other to stay sober," he said.

The only structured content the organization provides is the 12-step program, which is based on the experiences of six decades' worth of members, rather than theory and scientific findings.

The steps are used as a suggestion, not a mandate. Individual approaches to healing vary, but the end goal is abstinence.

"Nobody in AA will tell you that you are an alcoholic. At the end of the day, you have to make that decision yourself," said the student.

source: Santa Clara

What is Happiness

2008-02-19T19:08:00.001-05:00

I once told a fellow whom I loved that his love for me was the icing on the cake, but the love for myself was the cake itself! I was supremely happy with me as I was, and any other attention, though most welcomed, I regarded mainly as a bonus, not the main course. He was rather surprised by my statement, interpreting it that I didn't really love him, but it was actually the opposite. I was able to love him lots through loving me first.

I didn't always feel like this. My self-love has been a gradual and painful process. Loving myself as I do, I could appreciate him as a whole being with all his faults and facets and allow space for us both to develop as individuals and as a couple. If I were expecting his love to make me happy, we wouldn't really last too long because one or both of us would gradually become dependent upon the other, clinging like limpets for our happiness until the relationship becomes claustrophobic or the victim of resentment and jealousy.

Someone To Complete Us
I have noticed that too many people seeking partners tend to say that they are seeking someone to 'make' them 'laugh' or to 'make' them 'happy'. Yet every relationship should have two 100% whole people, not two halves seeking someone else to complete them! We are all seeking happiness of one kind or another. That is essential to our well being. But that vague, yet important, state of existence - happiness - which we often associate with people and material things, appears to be the bane of our lives. We never seem to have enough happiness at all. It seems to be always elusive, even when we actually possess everything we desire. But no one, or any external thing, can ever make us truly happy because happiness is not a destination which we work towards. We cannot postpone happiness until we get that new job, that new house or that new man or woman.

Happiness is a state of mind based on our sense of worth; a feeling which we generate whenever we wish according to the level of self-love we possess and the positivity in our lives. If we feel great, we are unstoppable. It takes little to make us happy because happiness becomes integral to our lives. We feel good about ourselves so we feel good about others and our world. If we feel little love for ourselves, especially when we have not been treated appreciatively, or with any value in our lives, happiness will continue to elude us. We will always feel cheated in some way - unwanted, insignificant and excluded.

Happiness is the greatest indicator that we are happy with our bodies, identities and progress. We tend to see the world as a 'challenge' as opposed to it being a 'problem'. Others can share that happiness, perhaps enhance it in some way, or even reduce it temporarily, but they cannot create or maintain it for us. Only we can do that. We have to feel happy in the first place; we have to be able to possess that happiness before someone else can share it.

Misery Forever
That is why people who tend to be the misery type remain like that forever, even if they feel momentarily 'happy' through an external source. Such a state is not permanent because it is not based on self love. It is generated by someone else. So when that person withdraws, the pain of rejection becomes doubly hard to bear and even confirms our 'unwanted' state. As soon as there is a problem, or the honeymoon stage is over, we slip back into the old ways of sadness or complaining because unhappy people are usually unhappy with themselves and their world. They will remain in that state forever if they do not make a serious effort to change from within and recognise the magnificent unique individuals they are.

How do you feel inside you today? Is your happiness dependent upon someone else's attention or behaviour? Does it depend on the next event or the next exciting possession? Or is that actually masking what would really make you happy?

Author: ELAINE SIHERA

Living Your Purpose

2008-02-16T10:06:00.000-05:00

You have a purpose. You have specific gifts, talents, and abilities that are uniquely yours. At the intersection of "what you love to do" and "what you are good at" you will find your purpose. Do you know your purpose? Do you know why you are here on this planet? If not, then it's time to ask the questions:
� What do I love to do?
� What am I good at?
� When do I feel most alive?
Once you have answered these questions you need to gather the courage and confidence to act upon the answers.

In my speaking and coaching work I have met thousands of people who are on purpose. They are people who are good at what they do and they love what they do. They are people in health care, banking, manufacturing, education, associations, and government. There are leaders, writers, musicians, speakers, consultants, and artists. Each person brings their unique set of gifts in service to others.

At the same time I have met thousands of people who dislike their work. These people are not on purpose. They may complain about the organization, their compensation, their fellow employees, and a host of other things. Their real problem is that they are not on purpose. When you are not on purpose you create stress, pain, and conflict for yourself. Your gifts lay within you, unopened, abandoned. Much has been said about what to do to motivate people. Meaning and purpose motivate people. Truly successful organizations are made up of people doing work they love toward a meaningful purpose

Many will say that they know what their gift is, but they can't make any money at it. There is a way to make money at anything. The problem isn't money. It's confidence. They really don't believe their gifts have value, and so they believe no one else will value them either.

Once you develop confidence, you begin to see opportunities. The world, and possibly the organization you work in, have abundant opportunities for you to live your purpose. This brings up the other reason for not living on purpose. We tell ourselves that we are not getting the support we need from others. Our family, friends, and colleagues are not cheering us on.

From the day you are born you will receive comments, opinions and criticisms from others. You must choose whether you are living their dream or your own. You must decide that your purpose is too important to abdicate responsibility for it to others.

If the biggest problem is confidence, then how do we get the confidence? Here are some ideas for you:
1. Listen to the still small voice within. Practice listening to your intuition and following it. This voice should trump all external voices when deciding how to live your life. Access this voice through prayer, meditation, or quiet contemplation.

2. Study and practice to develop your gifts. Confidence increases with knowledge and skill.

3. Let go of the negative opinions of others. You owe it to yourself to listen within and trust that inner voice rather than putting your trust in the opinions of others. Find people who will encourage and respect your gifts, because they will reflect back to you your growing inner confidence. On the other hand, listen carefully and non judgmentally to criticism. Valid criticism will show you where you need more learning and practice. Invalid criticism will test your resolve.

4. Don't waste your time comparing yourself to others. Certainly others may serve as models for you, but envy and negative comparison will not help you. Do your best with what you have now.

5. Make sure the purpose you are expressing is really yours, and not one assigned to you by someone else. Also, know that a purpose can be very simple. It isn't always romantic or grand, but it does feel good. I have had clerks in stores and servers in restaurants who have made my day. These amazing people were each living their purpose. I have met assembly line workers, custodians, and receptionists who were living their purpose. They brought total focus and joy to their work. Sometimes your purpose is not "out there somewhere", but it's right here in front of you. Live the purpose that feels right to you.

6. There are no good excuses for why you can't follow your purpose. Make time. At one point in my life I decided to hone in on my purpose. Every night before falling asleep, I asked the question: What is my purpose? I placed a notepad and pen next to my bed. When I awoke, I wrote down the first thing that came to mind. I did this for seven consecutive mornings. Once I defined my purpose, I listed all of the things I was good at and that I enjoyed doing down the left side of a piece of paper. Next, I listed all of the industries I could think of across the top of the page. I divided my paper into columns and rows, creating a matrix. I placed X's on my matrix wherever I saw a fit between skills/interests and industries. I highlighted the industries where I felt most excited about expressing my skills and interests. I decided to focus my attention on positions in the industries where my skills and interests fit and where I felt the greatest enthusiasm. Within a week I found an ad that matched my area of focus. I was hired within a two months.

Maybe you already know your purpose. Are you challenged enough? Can you be living your purpose at a higher level? Once you find your purpose it is important to continue learning and growing. Listen to the voice within and follow it. There is a reason you are here. Whether you see yourself as young or old, working or retired, you have a purpose. It is calling to you from deep within. Answer the call. Allow it to take hold of you. It is in living your purpose that you will find fulfillment.

"Happiness comes from fidelity to a worthy purpose" Helen Keller

Source:http://www.enhancedhealing.com Author:William Frank

Four Tips

2008-02-13T17:35:00.000-05:00

At 15, Christina had her first alcoholic drink.

She bought a bottle of Don Juan, a highly concentrated spirit, and downed it with her friends in a high-school dormitory.

But Christina felt nothing after the swig and cursed herself for having used her pocket money to buy the bottle.

Little did she know that the seed to her problem with alcohol had been grounded, so to speak.

Later in her life, Christina only felt confident under the influence of drink. Every weekend, she went on drinking sprees with her friends. The drinking binges always knocked her out, leaving her sad and hopeless, and wishing for a better life.

At the same time, she started smoking cigarettes and cannabis. She also started listening to hippie music which in turn psyched her up to take up illegal drugs.

For Christina, drinking meant one thing: having blackouts.

"I just drank until all the lights knocked out. Only then did I call it call it quits -- I mean I passed out," said Christina, "I just felt an urge to do it. And, I followed it till it was dark."

When Christina was aged 28, she began sensing that she had a problem.

Her life was in shambles.

She had been in an out of relationships. She dropped in and out of Christian churches in search of a spiritual solution to her alcohol problem. But her desire to commit to a Higher Power did not quench her thirst for alcohol.

She tried to read self help books, joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and ventured into esoteric spiritual practices in a bid to retain a semblance of control in her life.

Although this somewhat softened the painful feelings that she had accumulated it did not resolve the underlying problem.

Christina's spirit desired change and growth but her physical self remain stuck in the quest for an alcoholic boost.

She made promises to quit drinking and broke them as quickly as she made them.

As a result, her sense of self-esteem and confidence declined sharply, she said.

Though she was a slave to liquor, she knew she had to do something drastic to resolve her inclination to addictive substances.

With that new thought, Christina's journey to recovery began, one day at a time.

"I began seeing a new light within me, and with that new light came hope," said Christina.

"All my life, I had been hiding my light under a bushel. Drinking kept me in a dark place but when I began recovering I exploited the positive power within me which I had neglected for a very long time," she added.

It was like having a new birth of self, it felt great, she said, nodding her head.

Alcoholism is one of the most common forms of addiction. It develops when the drinker's body becomes so used to absorbing large amounts of alcohol.

Mostly, alcoholism develops slowly over years of steadily increasing consumption. If not addressed, it can grow to become a fatal problem.

For many people, especially young professionals, the problem of alcoholism can be hidden under the cloak of a good education and employment. Or, it can simply be tolerated within a peer group that the affected person may not see the value of seeking professional help.

In many societies, drinking is largely seen as a pastime with little to no concern paid to the risk of addiction.

But, as in Christina's case, though the path to recovery may be filled with bumps, it is one worth taking when in the throes of alcohol addiction.

The following steps are essential in helping yourself to quit alcohol.

Prevention is key

The first thing to do is to understand what you're up against. You have to make a resolution to begin to pull away from your addiction. In other words, you have to make sobriety the biggest priority in your life. Prevention is the best method of dealing with alcoholism and drug addiction.

Addiction is a trap you fall into when you begin to compromise what is important to you in life and settle for strategies that provide short-term relief from the pain of giving up your most precious dreams.

Accept where you are and who you are now

Alcoholism comes with a cost of damaged health, relationships, and poor finances among other problems. But to move forward, you first have to accept where you are at this point in life. Be honest with yourself about your situation without being self-judgmental. The fact of the matter is that there is a habit that you have maintained for long, it is not serving you. Rather, it's costing you more than you want to pay. And, plainly, it's time for change, right? So stick to that.

Face the challenge

To develop a new repertoire of behaviors after being stuck in the alcoholic loop is not as easy as it sounds. Certainly, it is an uphill task. Most people who try to "quit" make the decision without a clear understanding of the challenge that lies ahead of them.

But the fact is recovering from alcohol offers you a wonderful opportunity to radically transform your relationship with yourself, and your attitude towards who you are. It is about giving up repetitive and momentary pleasures that leave intoxicated and in a deep depression.

Feel the power

You must start to develop a deep sense and respect for yourself. Find some new goals that will energize your life. In fact, your path to freedom requires fully facing your challenges like a warrior. As you score success, one day at a time, of course, the power within you begins to grow allowing you to become alive again to the possibilities of life.
©2008 OhmyNews

Recent Deaths Renew Debate On College Drinking

2008-02-10T10:10:00.000-05:00

In September, five college students in four states died from binge drinking, leading some college officials to reexamine their drinking rules, USA Today reported Oct. 7.

Following the deaths, several college presidents announced a crackdown on underage drinking, while others have closed fraternity houses where the binge drinking deaths had occurred.

But some experts are unimpressed. "It's locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen," said Henry Wechsler, a Harvard University researcher who has studied campus drinking. "The schools that have the greatest problems take the easiest solutions. They have educational programs and re-motivation programs. But they don't try to change the system. These deaths are just the tip of the iceberg."

Wechsler said colleges need to become more actively involved with their surrounding communities. According to Wechsler, a number of towns located near college campuses promote drink specials at bars. Others have loose enforcement of liquor laws that make it easier and cheaper for students to get drunk.

Patty Spady of Beatrice, Neb., the mother of 19-year-old Samantha Spady, who was found dead in a Colorado State University fraternity after drinking up to 40 beers and shots of vodka, has formed the Sam Spady Foundation to find ways to prevent drinking deaths on campus.

"Drunks cannot take care of drunks," said Mrs. Spady. She urges students to "stay sober to take care of your friends."

Source: http://www.jointogether.org/

Diet Pill Addiction

2008-02-08T17:08:00.000-05:00

The use of over the counter diet pills is one of the unhealthiest and most dangerous methods of losing weight that there is. Unfortunately, diet pills are easily accessible to almost everyone, including minors. You can find these highly addictive substances online and in just about every pharmacy, health food store, grocery store, and convenience store around. Because these pills are so easy to obtain, diet pill addiction has become a very serious and very common problem in our society.

Most people who begin taking diet pills plan to use them responsibly. They start out taking just one or two pills, or whatever the recommended dosage may be. The problem is that after a short amount of time, the recommended dosage doesn't feel like enough. It is very common for individuals to begin to use more and more, until a full blown dependency develops.

The addiction results from the substance found in diet pills. Caffeine, ephedrine, and phenylpropranolamine are just a few of the common addictive ingredients found in most diet aids. Even the herbal diet pills, which are often referred to as 'natural and safe', can be dangerous because they act like stimulants to the central nervous system.

Much like speed and other amphetamines, diet pills can have serious and potentially fatal side effects when abused. There have been countless diet pills taken off the market because they do so much damage. Unfortunately, new pills are constantly being created to take their place. Until our society is ready to address the health issues associated with diet pills, these harmful substances will always be available.

As mentioned above, diet pills are one of the most dangerous and unhealthy ways to lose weight. There are many different complications that can arise from diet pill addiction. These complications include, but are not limited to:

* Depression
* Headaches
* High blood pressure
* Dizziness
* Diarrhea
* Flatulence
* Stomach pain
* Vomiting
* Menstrual irregularities
* Insomnia
* Irritability
* Glaucoma
* Memory loss
* Heart palpitations
* Congestive heart failure
* Cardiac arrest
* Strokes
* Tremors
* Seizures
* Nerve damage

As you can see from this list, diet pills have severe, and in some cases, life threatening side effects. Serious diet pill addiction can result in permanent health problems, and even death.

Weight loss is only beneficial when it can be maintained. There is no evidence that diet pills can maintain weight reduction indefinitely. And, regardless of all of the claims that are being made, there is no diet pill out there that is completely safe. If you take diet pills, you need to stop. No amount of weight loss is worth risking your health.

If you can't stop on your own, don't be ashamed. Diet pills are highly addictive and can be as difficult to kick as cocaine or heroin. Fortunately, there are many addiction treatment and counseling centers out there that can help you through the process.

Need help with diet pill addiction? Visit us at Diet Pill Help

Codependency Test

2008-02-05T11:51:00.000-05:00

Definition Of Codependency: Codependency is a condition that results in a dysfunctional relationship between the codependent and other people. A codependent is addicted to helping someone. They need to be needed. This addiction is sometimes so strong, the codependent will cause the other person to continue to be needy. This behavior is called enabling. The enabler will purposefully overlook someone abusing a child, will call in sick for someone suffering from addiction, will put roadblocks to prevent their child from becoming independent, or even keep a sick family member from getting the treatment that would make them well. These are behaviors common to codependents. A codependent often suffers from a 'Messiah Complex' where he sees problems with everyone and sees himself as the only person who can help. Here is where I need to work...trying to be 'Mr. Fixit' for everyone...even those who don't feel they need anything fixed. A codependent counselor (common) will never think your sessions are done. In fact, they often create issues that weren't there just so they can continue to feel they're an important, no, essential part of your life. This is one of the reasons I always spend the first counseling session evaluating the problem and setting up a schedule of sessions to complete the work. If we're not making progress, I don't want to become the person you feel you have to take every problem to...it's too addictive to me. That's what codependence is...an addiction to being needed. To learn more, try one of these recent top-selling books on the definition and treatment of codependency.

Codependency Test: Take this test to find out if you're helping people who need or needing people to help:
1. Do you feel demeaned, hurt or offended when someone you love tells you they don't need your help?
2. In the last year, has anyone resorted to arguing, begging or raising their voice to get you to stop trying to help them?
3. If you had plenty of money and your child, sibling or parent had an addiction to drinking, spending, gambling or drugs, and they asked you for money to help with their necessary expenses (food, rent, clothes, bills), would you give them the money?
4. When someone shares a life or relationship problem with you, but doesn't ask for help, do you offer help or advice, anyway?
5. When you survey your relationships, do you find yourself surrounded by mostly people who need you?
6. Do you ever find yourself making excuses for the needy people in your life?
7. If someone you love has a substance abuse, emotional, spending or gambling problem, do you avoid confronting them?
8. Do you measure your self-esteem by how much someone depends on you?
9. Do you ever remind people where they would be without you?

A. If you answered 'yes' to any of the above, read the rest of this article and monitor yourself for the next 3 months to verify your answers.
B. If you answered 'yes' to 3 or more of the above, you may have a codependency problem. Read the rest of this article, get a trusted friend who is independent of you to keep you accountable, and read a couple books on the subject of codependence.
C. If you answered 'yes' to 5 or more of the above, do 'A' & 'B' above and ask your friend to attend an alanon, narconon or codependents anonymous meeting with you.

Causes Of Codependency: Many codependents, like other addicts, blame the people around them for their problem, or, more accurately, use them to deny their problem. 'I'm not codependent, I just love them so much.' 'It's just that they need so much help.' 'They couldn't get along without me.' Let's face the facts...the needy people in your life need to learn to take care of themselves, take responsibility for their own problems and begin to solve them. If you'd stop bailing them out, they'd learn to handle life's challenges, themselves. So, actually, you're hurting them! (we're not talking about a rare emergancy situation...we're talking about a lifestyle of needyness.) I remember how upset I was when, in my early 20's, my mother told me to get a job and move out of her house. It was the best thing she could have done for me. I resented her for at least 5 years. If you can be as strong as my Mom with the habitually needy around you, you're not codepentent. Codependency, like any other addiction, is caused by a feeling of emptiness...a low self-esteem. Instead of a drug, a codependent uses the needs of others to make themselves feel whole. That's why no one around them is allowed to recover...the codependent wouldn't be needed.

Handle alcoholics firmly, but constructively

2008-02-04T14:35:00.000-05:00

Charlie, a top salesman for an Alberta software company had been drinking a little too much at company functions and with clients. His boss was starting to notice that Charlie was ringing up larger-than- average bar tabs when entertaining clients. At first, the boss turned a blind eye due to Charlie's exceptional sales performance. At the same time that the boss was noticing Charlie's increased use of alcohol, key clients were taking note too. Charlie was a bit too loud, wanted to stay at the bar longer than most and seemed to be in a hurry to get a drink. They started to wonder if the drink was more important than the business they were trying to conduct. They also started to quietly question Charlie's ability to maintain their account if he continued his heavy drinking.

Alcoholism or heavy drinking is a serious problem for businesses. An estimated 15 per cent of the workforce can be considered problem drinkers. These drinkers are functional in that they remain at work and perform at a satisfactory or even above-average level. Yet their drinking can damage their health, their home life and if left unchecked, their career. Worse still, many people who have trouble with alcoholism also suffer from depression or anxiety. A pattern emerges over time in which alcohol is used to self-medicate, to reduce worry and nervousness or provide a temporary escape from the blues.

Taken together the symptoms are a warning for employers to take substance abuse seriously. The law dictates it too. Substance abuse is considered a disability, making dismissal, demotion, suspension or discipline due to problem drinking or substance abuse discriminatory.

So, getting help for employees showing signs of substance abuse is the best way to handle the issue. But many have difficulty identifying when there is an issue and raising it constructively.

Indicators that alcohol is a problem in high functioning staff are subtle since top performers, like Charlie, usually do not allow their drinking behaviour to affect their work too much in the early stages. It's more likely to show up at home. In the later stages, however, the problem is easier to spot. The problem drinker will be frequently absent or late, especially around weekends and after holidays. They may get a lot of colds, flus or headaches and they may leave early or disappear from the job and be difficult to locate. Their quality of work suffers with periods of high and low productivity, poor judgment, carelessness and difficulty concentrating.

People may start to notice a problem when the rate and amount of alcohol the problem drinker consumes in their presence starts to increase. As with Charlie, the first signs of damage are found in the client/work or social relationships. People notice increased interest and consumption of alcohol on the part of the problem drinker, who may seem irritable, anxious or depressed. He may seem more sarcastic, argumentative or display an inflated sense of self-importance. When queried about big alcohol-related expense tabs or about a tendency to pursue alcohol-related meetings and activities to entertain clients, high-functioning problem drinkers may get defensive about receiving feedback. They may have domestic problems such as separation, divorce or trouble with their children.

Denial, defensiveness and self-aggrandizement contribute to the tendency for supervisors to steer clear of conversations about alcohol consumption with high performers. And the old saw, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," can deter the most well-intentioned supervisor. Rather than upset the status quo and cause a decline in productivity, many would rather turn a blind eye until forced to concede there may be a problem.

But these difficult topics must be broached for the health of the high performer and the sake of the company. The key to beginning a conversation with an employee about drug or alcohol abuse is to frame it as a health, safety and productivity issue. Present your concerns matter-of-factly while backing them up with supporting evidence. For instance, Charlie's supervisor held a private meeting with him and described factually what he saw occurring about the alcohol consumption. The supervisor backed himself up by showing Charlie the comparatively higher expenses overtime related to Charlie's "client entertainment" budget.

Being a top performer, Charlie argued that the tab was bigger because he entertained more and brought in more business as a result. The supervisor countered that Charlie's health and his reputation as a competent account manager were important to the company. He talked about the company image and what he hoped clients experienced when they were with the organization's top staff. The supervisor also reduced Charlie's defensiveness by acknowledging his contribution and thanking him for it. However, the conversation was focused on the supervisor's discomfort with the situation and, rightly, did not become a "Charlie appreciation" session.

Employers should be aware that often, troubled staff are adept at manipulating such conversations into discussions of not being appreciated at work or being picked on. By keeping the focus on issues with company image, company spending and the supervisor's own personal concern for his or her subordinate, the employer highlights the need for the employee to take action.

The supervisor told Charlie that he was sufficiently concerned that he recommended Charlie use the company's Employee Assistance Program. He told Charlie he'd be looking for a change in people's opinion of him and a shift in consumption rates.

Charlie entered therapy and recognized that his chosen profession (sales) helped him obtain alcohol with ease and legitimize its overuse. Staff working in construction, utilities, wholesale, retail, finance, insurance and real estate are most prone to alcohol abuse according to the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. He knew he had to change how he did business if he was to be a personal and work success. He decided to abstain from drinking alcohol and, with his supervisor's support, Charlie changed his sales, client appreciation and relationship building strategy to emphasize healthier pursuits that de-emphasized alcohol consumption. He stayed in the business, salvaged his reputation and continued to take pride in his sales achievements.
_____

Dr. Jennifer Newman and Dr. Darryl Grigg are registered psychologists and directors of Newman & Grigg Psychological and Consulting Services Ltd., a Vancouver-based corporate training and development partnership. Identifying information in cases cited has been changed to protect confidentiality.
They can be contacted at: sunmail@newmangrigg.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2008

Effects of Alcoholism

2008-02-02T15:48:00.000-05:00

Mental Health Screening in Juvinile Justice System Needed

2008-01-29T11:52:00.000-05:00

ScienceDaily (Jan. 29, 2008) — Kids who have been arrested and are depressed are more likely to use drugs and alcohol and engage in unsafe sexual activity that puts them at greater risk for HIV, according to new research from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center.

Findings of the study, published in the January issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, suggest the need for depression screenings as part of the juvenile intake process in order to determine appropriate mental health, substance use and HIV risk behavior interventions.

"We know that symptoms of depression may be a factor that is linked to both drug and alcohol use and sexual risk-taking behaviors," said lead author Marina Tolou-Shams, Ph.D., of the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center and an assistant research professor of psychiatry at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. "However, juvenile offenders aren't routinely screened for emotional difficulties, such as depression or anxiety -- rather, everyone tends to focus more on their conduct or behavioral problems."

She said that understanding more about the association between depression and risky behaviors can help create protocols for appropriately screening, assessing and identifying the needs of juvenile offenders and lead to positive health outcomes.

The current study is one of the first to examine the link between substance use, mental health and sexual risk among high-risk youth who have an arrest history but may not have been detained or incarcerated. According to Tolou-Shams, these kids may be at similar risk to those detained but are often released back to the community without ever having their needs comprehensively identified.

Researchers assessed the depressive symptoms, sexual behavior, substance use, risk attitudes and mental health history of 835 sexually active adolescents and young adults, ages 15 to 21, from Providence and Atlanta who participated in a larger, multi-site HIV prevention program. A quarter of the study participants had an arrest history.

They found that juvenile offenders with significant symptoms of depression, such as feelings of loneliness or worthlessness, reported much greater drug and alcohol use. They were also more likely to use these substances during sex, used condoms less, and had more psychiatric hospitalizations and suicide attempts than arrestees without depressive symptoms.

The authors caution that the study's findings need to be replicated with a larger, more representative sample of kids with depressive symptoms. However, based on these findings, they say substance use and HIV prevention efforts within the juvenile justice system that include strategies to regulate mood may help juvenile offenders reduce emotional distress, thereby reducing the likelihood of risky behaviors.

"Models of juvenile correction that address mental health and physical health are crucial, because arrestees' contact with the legal system may represent one of few opportunities to address health issues," the authors said.

Study co-authors were Larry K. Brown, M.D.; Christopher Houck, Ph.D.; and Celia Lescano, Ph.D., all of the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center and Alpert Medical School, along with the Project SHIELD Study Group -- a federally-funded prevention/intervention program aimed at developing and testing ways to encourage and enable behavior change among two subgroups at high risk for HIV infection: adolescents/young adults and women.

Methadone Crusader

2008-01-27T12:13:00.001-05:00

Salisbury, N.H., police chief David L'Esperance is working to improve drug-related law enforcement and education for personal and professional reasons: his son, Christopher, 20, died last year of a methadone overdose.

The Boston Globe reported Jan. 12. that L'Esperance has helped focus attention on the dangers of methadone, an effective treatment for opiate addiction that also is increasingly being prescribed as a pain medication -- and being diverted for illicit use.

In Massachusetts, fatal methadone overdoses rose 400 percent between 2002 and 2005, and the story is similar in New Hampshire. Nationally, methadone overdoses rose 390 percent between 1999 and 2004.

Whereas methadone clinics administer the drug in liquid form to opiate addicts, the drug also is available in 5 or 10 milligram tablets or 40 milligram wafers as a painkiller. Due to the controversy over OxyContin, many doctors began prescribing methadone for pain. That had led to more availability of the drug on the streets.

"It's a very serious problem," said Michael Botticelli, director of substance-abuse services at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. "What seems to be the case is that there are people who got it for a legitimate reason and then, for one reason or another, it gets diverted and used inappropriately by somebody else."

"People think it's safe, especially kids," said L'Esperance. "Because they see the ads on TV, they see it in the medicine chest. They're clean. They're not coming from some meth lab. It's not a crack pipe that somebody else is using or a dirty needle."

Methadone metabolizes slowly, staying in the body for longer than most users realize and raising the risk of overdose among novices and those who take the drug in combination with alcohol or other drugs.

Recovering a Healthy View of You

2008-01-23T11:51:00.001-05:00

by Dale Wolery

What is my view of me, your view of you? Is the internal consensus I maintain about me accurate, or is it distorted? Is your view of you the element propelling your recovery forward? Or does the way you think and feel about yourself make it more difficult for you to move forward in recovery?

Every pilgrimage into self-discovery and growth is an excursion into the known and the unknown, the certain and the uncertain, the charted and the uncharted. But everyone who intentionally and seriously embraces this journey enjoys its reward. My experience is that grappling with our view of ourselves can be immeasurably rewarding. And yet it is often very challenging and sometimes frightening. It is like mining for gold; you sometimes have to dig through many layers of subterranean stone and dirt before you find the treasures capable of impacting the balance sheet of your life. And sometimes it feels like all those layers you have worked so hard to dig through might come tumbling back down on top of you.

I've met some disconcerting snares on my own self-discovery journey. Are they familiar to you?

The Knowledge Trap

One snare is the knowledge trap. Certainly there is a body of knowledge that it is important for us to acquire about the self. Truths like each "self" is uniquely designed by its Creator, each of us is always warmly accepted by our loving Acceptor, and none of us can out-sin Grace. These facts are essential to an empowering view of the self. But we all learn sooner or later that insight has its limits. Recovering a healthy view of ourselves will require more than just increasing our knowledge about what is true. In addition to learning the truth about ourselves we will need to learn ways to feel and experience these truths. Consistently feeling and experiencing these powerful truths personally in one's soul requires process, struggle, and time. Knowing is important. But by itself it is not powerful enough to make possible the changes that need to be made.

The Performance Trap

Performance isn't enough either. It also is a trap. We can't do anything well enough, fast enough, better-than-everyone-else enough to achieve a healthy view of self. Even if we are very successful at achieving, we—or someone to whom we have granted Higher Power status—can raise the standard. Suddenly, more is expected before we can finally feel okay about ourselves. In most cases even perfection is not really enough. Like a puzzle missing some of the pieces, performance always leaves gaping holes in the picture of the self. There is no way to perform well enough to feel good about ourselves.

A related trap is an overemphasis on appearance. We critique and measure the visible self, the external self, from hair to feet. We endlessly appraise and compare. Are they too little? Too big? Is it too loose? Does it stick out too far? Does it sag too much? Can I cut it, pad it, dress it, accessorize it or accent it so that I feel better about me? The answer, of course, is yes and no. Our bodies surely do impact our view of ourselves. But they are only one patch in the self-image quilt. No amount of external effort fills unattended internal voids. There is no way to look good enough to feel good about ourselves. It's just another version of the perfectionist's nightmare.

Recovering a Healthy Self

So what is essential for the journey toward a healthy view of ourselves? This issue of STEPS looks at this question from several perspectives. Allow me to emphasize three factors that seem particularly important to me.]

First, we must be willing to throw away any theology or teaching that causes us to feel like trash. It may be a cliché, but God does not make junk.

Second, it is important for us to connect with empowering, nurturing people. If, early in childhood, we were deprived of a sense of self that can be acquired only in the arms of nurturing and adoring parents, then we will not regain it without nurturing arms and warm hearts encircling us. Recovery groups and caring counselors are priceless in this process.

Third, recovering a healthy view of ourselves is and may always be a struggle. Like white-water rapids on a river journey, the essential experience that you and I need for sound views of the self are necessarily chaotic and turbulent. Knowing, really knowing, that we are uniquely created, specially suited and deeply loved won't just happen. It requires struggle.

I was recently reminded of the way that rough waters contribute to a landscape. While viewing a rushing stream from a high mountain pass I was struck by the beauty added by the struggle. I can't say that I enjoy the fear and the uncertainty that rapids can cause. But I am deeply grateful to God for the beauty that they can contribute to life.

May this issue of STEPS support and guide you through the white water of life to a more buoyant view of you. May you come to share the beautiful view of you that your Creator enjoys from above.

2008-01-22T14:45:00.000-05:00

This is a call to arms for everyone who may someday be hospitalized, or who has a relative who may someday be hospitalized — which is to say everyone.

These days, to spend time in the hospital is to be at risk of contracting a hospital-acquired infection. Some of these infections can be life-threatening. But there is a simple way to make that hospital stay safer, devised by Dr. Peter J. Pronovost, a physician-researcher at Johns Hopkins.

The method — a five-item checklist to assure that proper precautions are taken to prevent infection — has been thoroughly tested, first at Johns Hopkins and later in 108 intensive-care units in Michigan, where it succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams in saving lives and reducing costs for patients who received the major fluid tube called a central venous catheter.

According to Dr. Pronovost, whose findings in Michigan were published in The New England Journal of Medicine on Dec. 28, 2006, about half of intensive-care patients receive these catheters; about 80,000 a year become infected and 28,000 die, with an economic cost of $2.3 billion.

Five Simple Steps

Using the checklist, in 18 months the average I.C.U. at these diverse hospitals reduced its catheter-related infection rate to zero, from 4 percent. All told, the checklist saved more than 1,500 lives and nearly $200 million. The program itself cost only $500,000.

Dr. Pronovost, a professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine, said in an interview that he distilled the five steps from a 64-page federal document on controlling hospital-acquired infections. When inserting a central venous catheter, doctors should do the following:

1. Wash their hands with soap.

2. Clean the patient’s skin with chlorhexidine antiseptic.

3. Put sterile drapes over the entire patient.

4. Wear a sterile mask, hat, gown and gloves.

5. Put a sterile dressing over the catheter site.

To someone on the outside, this list may seem like a no-brainer. But in the crush of crisis medicine, one or more of these steps is often neglected, sometimes with disastrous results. What made the program work in Michigan was continuous — and anonymous — collection of data. The hospitals were monitored on their use of the list, their rates of infection and their feedback to medical personnel to show what was working and where gaps remained in quality care.

The task now is to expand the checklist concept to other procedures and to get hospitals throughout the country to adopt it. New Jersey and Rhode Island are already planning to use it. And following a report on the checklist in the Dec. 10, 2007, issue of The New Yorker by Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Dr. Pronovost said he had been approached by health care authorities in California, Washington and Tennessee seeking the program for their states. Spain is adopting the program nationwide, and the World Health Organization is hoping to take it global.

As Dr. Pronovost explained, medical research must go beyond understanding the biology of disease and devising effective therapies.

“We have to assure that we deliver those therapies safely and effectively, but research examining 300 quality measures showed that patients receive adequate therapy only about half the time,” he said.

“My approach was to figure out what it takes to change behavior,” Dr. Pronovost said. “This represents the biggest opportunity to improve health — making sure that what we know works is delivered safely, effectively and efficiently.”

Coincidentally, a report in the Jan. 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases by Dr. Sanjay Saint and colleagues at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the University of Michigan stated that 1 percent of hospital patients fitted with a urinary catheter developed a urinary tract infection. Forty percent of all hospital-acquired infections are urinary.

Dr. Saint’s national study “found no strategy that appeared to be widely used to prevent hospital-acquired urinary tract infections.” Nearly half of hospitals had no system telling them which patients had a catheter, and three-fourths had no system to show how long the catheter was in place or whether it had been removed. Furthermore, fewer than 10 percent of hospitals used any system to remind doctors to check daily on whether a patient’s catheter was necessary; the longer one is in, the greater the likelihood of infection.

A nationally imposed checklist for safe urinary catheter insertion and removal could sharply reduce the risk to patients and the costs of hospital care.

But checklists need not be limited to reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections. As Dr. Gawande and Dr. Pronovost explained, they could be used to enhance the safety of surgery and anesthesia, the treatment of patients with heart disease, diabetes, pulmonary diseases like asthma and a host of other conditions where certain approaches to care have been scientifically established as most effective but are still often neglected.

What You Can Do

The federal Office for Human Research Protections recently ruled that because this quality-control program constituted research on human subjects, every participating hospital must first get approval from its institutional review board. That ruling did not halt the use of checklists in the Michigan hospitals where they had become part of routine care. But it did stop the collection of data based on the lists, which Dr. Gawande described as “the driving force behind the effectiveness of the program,” until each hospital’s institutional review board approved it.

These boards meet monthly, bimonthly or quarterly. Sam Watson, executive director of the Michigan Hospital Association’s Keystone Center for Patient Safety and Quality, a sponsor of the Michigan checklist program, said the need for their approval could seriously delay the use of checklists for other aspects of medical care, like preventing hospital-acquired urinary infections — something his center has been working on with Dr. Saint.

Dr. Gawande suggested that consumers write to their members of Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services, asking that the ruling be reversed. Dr. Pronovost suggested that consumers let Congress know that checklist programs “could have a profound impact on their health,” ask local hospitals whether they are using checklists to reduce infections, and write to state hospital associations asking for a statewide effort to reduce infections.

In addition, Dr. Pronovost said, hospital patients should be their own advocates, armed with their own checklist and asking medical personnel whether they are using it “to help assure that I don’t get an infection” or asking, “Do I still need this catheter?”
Source: http://www.nytimes.com

Drink to Much?

2008-01-16T11:42:00.000-05:00

IF YOU NEED HELP AND SUPPORT NOW PLEASE VISIT US AT The Sober Village or Sober Musicians where we care, understand and have been there!!

Here are practical suggestions for either cutting down or abstaining from alcohol along with tips for helping loved ones who have a drinking problem. Useful sources of help for alcohol and drinking abuse problems are also listed.
Some Questions

Could you or someone you care about drink too much? 1

* Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
* Does your drinking ever make you late for school or work?
* Does your drinking worry your family or friends?
* Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won't?
* Do you ever forget what you did while you were drinking?
* Do you ever get headaches or have hangovers after drinking?
* Have you started hanging out with heavy drinking friends?
* Do your friends use less alcohol than you do?
* Have you ever been in trouble because of your drinking?
* Do you ever borrow money or go without things in order to buy alcohol?
* Is drinking hurting your reputation?
* Do you feel a sense of power when drinking?
* Do you ever drink until your supply is gone?
*
Set Goals

Write your drinking goal on a piece of paper and put it where you can see it, such as on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror.

I will start on this day ________.

I will not drink more than ________ drinks in 1 day.

I will not drink more than ______ drinks in 1 week.

OR

I will stop drinking alcohol.
Have you ever lost friends because of your use of alcohol?
* Do you think you might have a drinking problem?

The more of these questions that apply, the greater the chance that you might have a problem with drinking. But having a drinking problem doesn't mean that you are alcoholic or that you have to abstain from alcohol. Most, people who experience problems from drinking choose to reduce their consumption to moderate levels rather than to abstain. You might consult with your doctor for advice.
How to Cut Back on Drinking

1. Write down your reasons for drinking less.

Why do you want to drink less? To protect your health, to get along better with your family or friends, to do better in school or to save your job? Make a list of the reasons you want to drink less.

2. Set a drinking goal.

Choose a limit for how much you will drink. A common guideline in the U.S. is no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men. These daily drinks can't be "saved" and consumed later. For example, a man can't abstain all week and then consume all 14 drinks in one day.

Most countries define moderation at higher levels of consumption than does the US. For example, Australia, Italy and France consider anything from three to over four drinks per day for men to be moderate drinking. 2.1

3. Keep a "diary" of your drinking.

To help you reach your goal, keep a diary of your drinking. For example, write down every time you have a drink for three or four weeks. This will show you when, where, and how much you drink. How different is you goal from the amount you drink now?

e especially careful at home

Keep only a small amount of alcohol, or even no alcohol, at home. This will help reduce temptation.
Keep your blood alcohol content (BAC) low

When you drink, sip your drink slowly. Drink for taste rather than effect.

Don't drink on an empty stomach.

Consume no more than one drink per hour.

Eat food or "munchies" while drinking. High protein and high fat foods like cheese and nuts are especially good at keeping your blood alcohol content low.

Drink soda, water, or juice after a drink containing alcohol.
Learn to say "no" when you don't want a drink

You don't have to take a drink just because it's offered to you.

You can "lose" unwanted drinks that are given to you. For example, set them down and later walk away.

"A Consumer Guide to Recovery Options" provides excellent descriptions of both abstinence and non-abstinence recovery options. This useful guide is in Anne M. Fletcher's Sober for Good (NY: Houghton Mifflin, 2001), pp. 267-302.

Additional resources below.

You can drink non-alcoholic drinks that look like alcoholic ones. For example, tomato juice, lemonade, iced tea, water with ice cubes, club soda with orange juice, tonic water with a twist or wedge of lime, and either orange juice or 7-Up with grenadine.

Stay away from people who give you a hard time about not drinking as much as they do.

Saying "no" gets easier the more you do it. Practice refusing drinks politely. Say something clever. 3

I don't need any more hair on my chest

I'm performing neurosurgery in the morning

It sloshes too much when I jog

No thank you
Get support

Cutting down on your drinking can be difficult at times. Ask your family and friends for support to help you reach your goal. Talk to your doctor if you are having trouble cutting down; medications are available to help make it easier. Get whatever help you need to reach your goal.
Avoid temptations

Stay away from people who want you to drink more than you want to. Watch out for people, times, places or situations that encourage you to drink too much.
Don't give up!

If you don't reach your goal the first time you try, don't get discouraged. Try again. Remember, get support from people who care about you and want to help. Don't give up!
Signs

Some signs that may indicate a drinking problem in a loved one include:

* Changes in drinking patterns. The person drinks more, or more often, or drinks in the morning.
* Changes in appearance. The person frequently or usually smells of alcohol, has slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, unexplained bruises, or unkempt appearances.
* Changes in personality. The person suffers memory loss, sleep problems, mood swings, irritability, distrust, or lack in activities earlier enjoyed.
* Health problems. The person suffers from frequent hangovers, chronic digestive problems, fatigue, or shaky hands. 5

Helping a Loved One

Having a drinking problem does not mean that a person is alcoholic, or addicted to alcohol. The person may only need to cut down rather than abstain. Many find the idea of drinking in moderation more acceptable and achievable than abstaining entirely from alcohol.

The decision whether to reduce drinking to moderate levels or abstain entirely from alcohol is best made after consulting with a doctor.

Helping a person who drinks too much takes knowledge, compassion and patience. Some actions are helpful and others are not.
Do

* Try to remain calm, unemotional and factually honest about how the person's drinking abuse hurts you and others.
* Discuss the problem with someone you trust - a friend, clergy person, social worker, or someone who has experienced alcohol abuse or alcoholism either personally or as a family member.
* Try to maintain a healthy, normal atmosphere in the home and try to include the alcoholic or problem drinker in family life.
* Encourage new interests and participate in leisure activities that the problem drinker enjoys and encourage the person to see old friends in non-drinking situations.
* Be patient and live one day at a time. Changing behavior is difficult, as dieters and those attempting to stop smoking know. Setbacks and relapses are to be expected. Try to accept them with calm understanding and don't become discouraged.

Don't

* Punish, threaten, bribe, preach, or try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only increase the problem drinker's feelings of guilt and compulsion to drink.
* Cover up or make excuses for an alcoholic or shield a person from the consequences of alcohol abuse.
* Take over the responsibilities of an abuser of alcohol.
* Hide or dump bottles of alcohol, or shelter a problem drinker from situations where alcohol is present.
* Argue with a person who is intoxicated.
* Drink with an alcohol abuser.
* Accept guilt for the behavior of a problem drinker.

Remember that changing behavior, especially becoming an abstainer, is very difficult. Be understanding and patient, but don't accept any responsibility or guilt for the behavior of another person. You are responsible only for your own behavior.

Breaking the cycle of drug addiction

2008-01-15T10:01:00.000-05:00

If a community were a pond, then drug addiction would be a pebble big enough to cause ripples throughout, said Jim Gouveia, Benton County Drug Treatment Court program coordinator.

According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, Oregon ranks No. 2 in the country for illegal drug use, and mid-valley communities are no exception.

“I can’t say the drug problem in Benton County has increased necessarily,” Gouveia said. “But we’re up there.”

Drug use isn’t an individual problem or even a family problem. It’s a community problem, said Jennifer Hogansen, a behavioral health specialist with the Corvallis Clinic.

“The effects on children and families, in particular, can be devastating,” Hogansen said.

The drug problem is a top priority for the criminal justice and social services systems, as well as educators, mental health experts and taxpayers.

Locally, a consistent approach of modifying drug users’ behavior to achieve lasting, life-changing results is being applied to public and private treatment programs. One of those programs is Benton County’s Drug Treatment Court.

There have been 70 or so graduates in its six years of existence, and officials say the program, which costs less than one-tenth as much as incarceration, is responsible for seeing some of the area’s most chronic criminal drug offenders become clean and sober, finish school, find jobs and become productive members of the community.

Cause for change

Figures from the Oregon Department of Human Services show that about 90 percent of children in foster care are there because of their parents’ drug use.

Hogansen previously worked as a clinical psychologist at Oregon Health & Science University and as a research assistant professor at Portland State University, where she studied the incidence of disabilities of children in Oregon’s foster care system. It’s believed than many of these children have a disability or experienced abuse, Hogansen said.

“When meth is involved, these rates skyrocket,” she said.

Drug addiction is a strategy that some people use for managing life, and parents who are using this strategy typically have limited parenting skills. For example, parents who are meth users often do not parent at all, meaning they neglect their children.

“This often results in an absence of basic needs like food, shelter and love,” Hogansen said.

Many of these children go on to have emotional or behavioral problems and developmental issues such as defiant behavior, communication problems, poor attention and impulse control, sensory difficulties and impaired emotional regulation, Hogansen said.

A flawed strategy

According to figures from the Benton County District Attorney’s office, 80 percent of the criminal cases are alcohol- or drug-related. Many of those crimes are thefts and burglaries committed by people who are trying to steal so they can pay for drugs. Most of these people make their way to the parole and probation system and get caught again for the same crimes.

The cycle is doomed to repeat, Gouveia explained.

“People can be compliant with treatment so long as there’s a hammer held over their head,” he said.

But compliance usually only lasts as long as drug users are supervised.

Turning things around

Benton County’s multidisciplinary drug treatment court incorporates the district attorney’s office, public defenders, psychologists and treatment providers, and law enforcement to work with drug users to internalize a behavior change.

“We work on getting them to see the benefit to them. If we motivate them to change, that will be lasting because it’s a choice they made, not a choice someone’s made for them,” Gouveia said.

Using a method known as motivational interviewing, treatment providers work with drug users to change their behavior. Through cognitive behavior therapy, people learn how to recognize and evaluate when they’re having thinking errors and to see how using drugs is not an effective way to deal with life.

Treatment involves intensive case management, as clients receive mental health care and housing assistance, and take GED, college or job-training courses. A majority of people in the program are parents, Gouveia said, and those with children are required to take parenting classes.

At a cost to the county of $9 a day, the drug treatment court program is a significant savings compared to the $150 a day the county pays to keep a person in jail. Benton County Drug Treatment Court Judge Janet Holcomb said the program is the best strategy she’s ever seen for dealing with criminal defendants.

“It’s cost effective,” Holcomb said. “It ties a lot of community partners together. I’m sold.”

Unlike in the regular criminal justice system, the consequences are immediate, as offenders can be whisked off to jail for failing a random drug test or lying to the judge at a mandatory weekly court appearance.

“The quickest way to get sent to jail in drug treatment court is to lie. We teach them to be honest in their recovery and provide close supervision and accountability,” Holcomb said.

Although drug treatment court is an accountability model, it’s also based on improving lives and strengthening and empowering people, Holcomb said. The change can be gradual to take hold.

“But people really do want to change their lives,” she said.

source: Albany Democrat Herald

CRAFT

2008-01-14T12:55:00.000-05:00

CRAFT: An Alternative to Intervention

by Robert J. Meyers, Ph.D.

Summary

* The CRAFT method relies on nonconfrontational methods to encourage loved ones to enter addiction treatment.
* The method also can help family members improve the quality of their lives.
* CRAFT's effectiveness has been proven through scientific study.

Do you have a substance-using loved one who refuses treatment? The CRAFT program may help. CRAFT - Community Reinforcement and Family Training - teaches the use of healthy rewards to encourage positive behaviors. Plus, it focuses on helping both the substance user and the family.

The CRAFT goals are to teach you how to encourage your substance user to reduce use and enter treatment. The other goal is to help you enhance your own quality of life. This non-confrontational approach teaches you how to figure out the best times and strategies to make small but powerful changes. And it will show you how to do so in a fashion that reduces relationship conflict.

Experts have based CRAFT on solid science. People from many walks of life have used it successfully to help their loved ones and themselves. Whether you are the parent, spouse, romantic partner, adult child or friend of the substance user, research tells us that you too can succeed with this program. The methods are effective and easy to learn . CRAFT allows family members to feel good about their efforts on behalf of their loved ones.
When a CRAFT Program is Not Available in Your Community

CRAFT can easily be learned on your own. The 2004 book, Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening by Robert J. Meyers and Brenda L. Wolfe, was written to bring CRAFT right into your home. It helps you change the way you think about your situation and teaches you how to help your loved one learn to enjoy a sober lifestyle. The authors also help you rethink your own lifestyle to make it safer and saner regardless of what your loved one does. If you are also working with a therapist, we recommend that you alert your counselor to the CRAFT manual for therapists, Motivating Substance Abusers to Enter Treatment: Working with Family Members.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CRAFT

1. CRAFT is a motivational model of help based on research that consistently finds motivational treatments to be superior to confrontational ones.

CRAFT shows you how to develop your loved one's motivation to change by helping you figure out how to appropriately reward healthy behavior. You learn how to make sober activities more attractive to your loved one, and drug- or alcohol-using activities less inviting. In this way, you minimize conflict and maximize cooperative relationship-enhancing interactions with your loved one.

2. More than two-thirds of family members who use CRAFT successfully engage their substance using loved ones in treatment.

This stands in sharp contrast to confrontational interventions that result in fewer than one-third of substance users entering treatment. The graph depicts one of the alcohol studies that contrasted CRAFT with both intervention and a modified approach supported by Al-Anon, a support group for family members of people with alcoholism.

3. Evidence suggests that substance users who are pushed into treatment by a traditional confrontational intervention are more likely to relapse than clients who are encouraged into treatment with less confrontational means.

4. Family members who use CRAFT experience greater improvements in their emotional and physical health than do those who use confrontational methods to try to help their loved ones.

5. People who use CRAFT are more likely to see the process through to success than those who use confrontational methods.

CRAFT programs have extremely low dropout rates, while over 75% of the people who try to use traditional interventions quit. The dropouts report that the confrontational techniques are too distressing and they worry about doing permanent damage to their relationship with the substance user.

FIVE MYTHS ABOUT CRAFT

1. CRAFT's system of offering and withdrawing "rewards" such as your affection and attention is just another way of enabling someone who is using substances. And enabling is bad.

Receiving affection and compliments for non-using behavior makes that behavior more enjoyable for your loved one. So, being nice when your loved one is engaged in sober activities makes it more likely that she or he continues those behaviors. One might say that you are "enabling" healthy behavior. Furthermore, CRAFT specifically teaches you how to withdraw rewards when the person is using - and this is the opposite of the traditional concept of enabling.

2. No one enters treatment until they "hit bottom" so using CRAFT while your loved one is still functioning is a waste of time.
People enter treatment when the reasons not to use outweigh the reasons to use. And as research has clearly shown, family members can help shift the balance so that the user develops enough reasons to stop. You can increase your loved one's reasons to not use by making sober time more enjoyable than using time. When she or he is not using, enjoy good times together. When she or he does use, withdraw yourself from the situation. The more pleasure your loved one experiences while sober, the less attractive getting drunk or high will be. So it is never too early to use the CRAFT alternative to nagging and threatening.

3. Most substance users overdo it all the time so it is impossible to do anything to lessen the severity of their use.
To the contrary, CRAFT teaches you how to map out your loved one's patterns to figure out the best ways to alter them. You learn two critical skills that allow you to do this. One is to identify the early triggers and signs of a drinking or drugging episode. The other is to determine which consequences you can influence or orchestrate yourself to begin to manage those episodes.

4. If you love someone, it is cruel to allow him or her to sleep in vomit or endure public humiliation when you have the power to fix those things.

Substance use creates messes. It causes missed work, embarrassing public behavior, vomit, wrecked relationships and worse. When it is your own loved one who gets into these messes, it is very difficult to just stand by and let him or her suffer. However, fixing the messes and protecting your loved one from his or her poor choices only makes it okay for those choices to be repeated. This may indeed be the most difficult lesson of CRAFT. With the exception of allowing truly dangerous behavior, let your loved deal with his or her own messes. These are called natural consequences and are powerful motivators to rethink one's behavior choices.

5. Once your loved one agrees to stop using or enter treatment, your job is done.

Between agreeing to enter treatment and making an appointment, a thousand things will change a substance user's mind. Your job, as a successful CRAFT practicer, is to select a therapist and be sure that he or she is ready to see your loved one within a day or two. From there, your support of treatment is invaluable. It can make the difference between your loved one dropping out of treatment or joining you in a happier, healthier life.

I haven't killed anyone.. yet.

2008-01-12T11:57:00.001-05:00

I've come to the conclusion over the years that most addicts are good people with a bad disease. In my conversations with many of them, they express a great deal of remorse for what they do and continue to do. Many become suicidal, not because they feel so sick, but because they cannot bear the thought of continuing to hurt those they love. To wake up day after day, not quite remembering what occurred the night before, then to see the look of disappointment and fear on the faces of the ones closest to you is a terrible thing - for everyone.

My arms are covered with light scarring - from practice cuts, "calls for help", and sometimes the pain inflicted would over-ride the confusion, fear and other emotional pain that was building inside me. They are a good reminder of the "dark days".........Death would have been an acceptable if not desirable effect of what I was doing.

There's a saying that goes "God looks after drunks and fools"....well, I can say from personal experience he (whoever he/she/it is) definitely does. When things got too much for me, I took a massive overdose and woke up 3 days later. Alone (no-one had found me), hallucinating, bright red through high blood pressure but, unfortunately, alive. I say unfortunately because that is how I felt at the time. I feared the future and what I may do next. I was so sure I was going to die from the overdose, I was at a total loss when I regained consciousness. So I did what any good addict would do in the situation - went and got blasted!

The years of accumulated destruction I had left behind me were really starting to wear me down. I could not see a time when I could walk down a street without looking over my shoulder. There were all the "yets" to think about:

I hadn't robbed a bank...yet
I hadn't killed anyone...yet
I didn't have irreversible brain damage...yet
There were still quite a few unspeakable things I hadn't done...yet.

If you are in the grip of a substance addiction....look back over the years...have things gotten better? What makes you think they will?

When you are an addict, you don't have control over a substance or a great deal of your behaviour while you are under the influence of that substance. As the disease progresses, your self-control declines. If you are an addict, it is very unwise to say "I would never do something like that" .... our jails are full of people who have uttered those damning words.

If you are close to an addict; whether you are their partner, family or friend there is also no way that you can state "He/She would never do that to me". Your false sense of security could cost you your life.

If you are living with someone who has a substance abuse problem and refuses to do anything about it, my advice to you is to pack your bags and leave... especially if you have children in your care. You may be saying to yourself "it's not that easy". It is. Think about the alternative - a life of continued fear and insecurity, or worse.

Have you ever heard of the "battered wife syndrome"? The victims are usually people who have been in an abusive relationship for so long, the person feels they can no longer leave, they have forgotten what "normal" is. Substance abuse is usually a feature in these relationships.

Read the papers.... "Father of four slays family"

Alcohol and other drugs greatly impair areas of the brain that deal with memory, reasoning, inhibition and aggression....the longer the abuse, the more the damage - the worse the behaviour.

So fellow addicts, what to do?

Suicide is an option if you don't wish to get help - but make it quick, the suicide through drug abuse is long and drawn out for everyone. Also, suicide is a bit harder than what people imagine. I have tasted the cold steel of a rifle barrel in my mouth - I didn't pull the trigger. I do know others that did. After all their years of drug abuse, they left one final gift for their family and friends - their corpses. How thoughtful. Another mess that others have to clean up on your behalf.

But there is another way, it's called recovery. A total stranger introduced it to me....

There are many strangers who can show you it too....

Pick up a telephone directory and look under "Drug and Alcohol". Almost everyone country in the world has a section for it. There you will find numbers for groups of people who have been to hell and back, who know just what you are going through. While I am aware that many countries in the world do not offer free detox services, these community based groups will assist you with detoxing and have "contacts" that can help you through the dangerous time of physical withdrawal.

Please, never try to withdraw on your own....

Life can be different for you - positive, energizing, peaceful

Or haven't you had enough of your addiction.....yet?

Michael Bloch
michael@worldwideaddiction.com

Anger Junkies

2008-01-11T17:09:00.000-05:00

At the age of 3, Steven Stosny was rushed to a hospital emergency room with a roof shingle lodged in his skull. In a burst of angry rage, his father had thrown it at Stosny after the toddler poked a stick into wall plaster that was still damp. Along with a permanent hole in his head ("Do you want to feel it?" he asks), Stosny was left with a vivid experience of the deadly potential of uncontrolled anger. Today, the 55-year-old Stosny—a Ph.D. and clinical psychologist practicing in the Washington, D.C. area—has become a multimedia guru of anger. He has turned his intimate understanding of the emotion and its roots into an unconventional treatment method that's gaining both widespread popular attention and the notice of other psychologists. Most anger management programs are based on cognitive-behavioral therapy and the premise that our rational thoughts shape our emotional responses. If you can think before you explode and use relaxation techniques to calm your physiological response, the theory goes, you can control your anger and its potentially messy aftermath.

But research has shown that conventional anger management doesn't work very well. Domestic violence treatment is even less effective. These programs can help the highly motivated—but most people with problem anger don't think they have a problem and don't seek out treatment. Besides, merely controlling the impulse to lash out doesn't get to the root of long-term resentments. At the heart of problem anger, believes Stosny, are severe feelings of shame and guilt as well as a lack of empathy for self and others—or at least an inability to recognize and express it. Rather than merely teaching tactics to control anger, Stosny asks his clients to look at their emotional core and make a truly revolutionary shift: trade bullying for compassion. Instead of confronting angry people with their failures, he provides a way for them to adhere to their own internal values and meet their own best standards. Once that person recognizes his or her own best qualities, it becomes easier to substitute kindness and compassion for violence and hostility. "If you show people a way to change," says Stosny, "they do."

Anatomy Of Anger

Anger is not a popular subject of study. It's not fun to be around, and angry people are difficult to treat. Inevitably, studying anger also involves taking on the conundrum of domestic abuse, a sensitive subject dominated by what Raymond DiGiuseppe, a professor of psychology at St. John's University in New York City, calls a "politically correct view" focused on sexual inequality.

There is no consensus on anger's roots or definition, and academics debate whether persistent anger, which usually accompanies depression or anxiety, is an emotional disorder in its own right. Nor is there agreement on how to help people deal with anger. Many consider "anger management" an empty buzzword. "I hate the term," says DiGiuseppe. "It implies that we can keep anger under wraps. It doesn't imply therapy or treatment for a problem."

As a culture, we're ambivalent about anger. On one hand, there is a hip righteousness associated with flipping the bird at a driver who cuts you off; or, if you are a professional athlete, barreling into the stands to pummel the fan who has thrown a paper cup at your head. At the same time, we wring our hands in fear that anger is corroding civil society. But a moderate amount of anger, expressed under the right circumstances, plays an important role in healthy psychology. It saves us from predators, literal and figurative. Anger can motivate us to take on unpleasant tasks, like confronting a bully; it can maneuver others into attending to our needs. Besides, feeling anger doesn't always mean acting on it. Only 10 percent of anger is followed by aggression, points out Howard Kassinove, a psychology professor at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. "For a lot of us it's 'anger in,'" he says. "It's usually not shown."

Nonetheless, anger's provocations can be overwhelming and pervasive. More typical than physical aggression is the coworker seething with disappointment and resentment. Even everyday hassles like commuting or struggling with an automated phone system can cause anger that manifests as stress, hostility, depression or physical illness. Stosny's lesson is that once the root of anger is identified, a person can learn to be less responsive to these petty frustrations—and gain control over what seems to be an uncontrollable reaction.

How Anger Junkies Are Made

"Most people with real anger problems think that something outside of them controls what they think and feel," Stosny explains in an interview at A.M.E. Reid Temple in Prince George's County, Maryland, where he is preparing to teach a class. "They see themselves as just reacting to their environment. I want them to learn that there's something in them that regulates their emotions, regardless of what other people do."

This night is the third meeting of Stosny's 14-week workshop. It's a larger group than normal—his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show have brought many new clients. Stosny began his workshops in 1990 treating Maryland maximum security inmates, and since then, referrals from the criminal justice system have made up the bulk of his practice. Tonight's participants saunter into the fluorescent-lit basement classroom. About 25 of those present, mostly African-American men, have been ordered by a judge to attend, many on domestic violence charges. Few talk. There is little eye contact.

Stosny, dressed in pressed slacks, a blue collared shirt and black sweater, is a slight man with a low-key presence and a vestigial New Jersey accent. Initially, it is hard to imagine that this unimposing white guy, who appears not to have suffered an angry day in his life, could have much to offer this group.

Tonight's lesson: HEALS, Stosny's acronym for the five steps in a process that replaces feelings of anger with feelings of compassion. It will be learned through repetition—what Stosny calls "emotional conditioning"—to be practiced at least 12 times a day for the next 12 weeks.

His method has been shaped by John Bowlby's attachment theories and the teachings of Silvan Tomkins, who believed that all emotion is expressed physiologically. In his book Treating Attachment Abuse, Stosny explains that "a natural and healthy function" of shame or guilt is to help us maintain our attachment to loved ones: parent, lover, child. If we are threatened with loss of that relationship, guilt and shame motivate us to reestablish the bond, often through angry behavior. The problem is that anger is a turnoff, pushing the attachment figure further away, and making us angrier still.

"I've worked with more than 4,500 court-ordered DV offenders and child abusers, and I never met one who didn't feel like a powerless victim," he says— "No matter how victimizing they are, they see themselves retaliating against an unfair relationship or an unfair world." In this way, we learn from early relationships to blame our unpleasant feelings on others. So as adults, when we feel shamed or disregarded in situations that have nothing to do with loved ones—say, in the hierarchical workplace or in rush-hour traffic—our reaction is to get angry, targeting the person who made us feel that way. At the same time, we get a neurochemical rush from anger that relieves anxiety and provides a physiological boost. The nasty cycle turns many into what Stosny calls "anger junkies."

Psychology Today Magazine

Frustration Inc.

2008-01-08T11:15:00.001-05:00

Frustration - for all of humanity it is an annoying, physically and mentally draining state of being that negatively affects our health.

For the recovering addict, chronic frustration is a one way ticket to "busting" and all the implications of it. "Busting" simply means using or drinking again. And the next bust may be the one we never recover from.

Frustration affects recovering addicts quite profoundly. Up until recovery we are used to dealing with frustration by turning to our substances of choice for relief. Suddenly it is no longer there to calm our thoughts and to numb the senses. We are left with random thoughts spinning in our minds until our brains feel as though they will escape our bodies via our eardrums.

So exactly what is frustration? It really is another word for stress. Stress is the feeling of a lack of control, but stress can also be a positive thing. There are two main types:

Distress - Anguish of body or mind. (Think of the word "DYSentery - A disease attended with inflammation and ulceration of the colon and rectum, and characterized by gripping pains and a constant desire to evacuate the bowels"). I think that describes it perfectly!!! ....in other words, things become a pain in the butt and situations give you the s....!

Eustress - The euphoric state induced by meeting a particularly challenging situation and emerging victorious.

Unfortunately, our modern lives seem to be plagued more with distress than eustress opportunities. But some of this frustration can be traced back to situations that we actually have control over. We just need to examine how we ended up in the position in the first place and learn not to repeat it. Any situation that we have appropriate control over decreases the chances of distress and increases the probability of eustress.

As addicts, we excel in getting ourselves into nasty situations. Our expertise falls down in getting out of them - this usually required the intervention of others. So while we are on the road to recovery, we need to take a serious look at our approaches to life situations. How are we dealing with them? If we are utilizing techniques from our dark days, such as sweeping things under the carpet or lying our way out, we are in trouble. Thought precedes action. I remember a cliché from my initial days of recovery that helped me out - "Stinkin' thinkin' leads to drinkin'. Okay, so it's Pollyanna rhetoric...but it worked for me; I used a mental library of these little quotes to help me through the tough days!

Being clean and sober is not just about abstaining from substances, but also changing our attitudes and defense mechanisms.

Dealing with frustration may mean that we need to learn to assert ourselves effectively, to allow people to know that they are "treading over the line" and giving them the opportunity to step back. There is a very fine line between assertion and aggression. Being assertive is to defend your rights and ideals without infringing on another's. Being aggressive is to attack another person. If we assert ourselves properly, there is less likelihood of being caught in situations we find frustrating.

Instead of allowing our frustration to build to a point that we lose control of our emotions, we need to recognize when events are piling up on us and take some affirmative action to clear our headspace.

We can get so bogged down in the day to day stuff of life, that we forget to nourish the person within. Recovered addicts have a tendency to be very hard workers, making up for lost time I guess. Hard work is good and rewarding, but can sometimes make us lose sight of the big picture. So we must take the time to "stop and smell the roses"....whatever the "rose" may be. And yes, mum and dad, if you are reading this I know exactly what you are thinking.... the term "hypocrite" springs to mind? ;-)

Also, it would seem by our very nature that we are easily frustrated people - it's written into us from the day we are born, part of the "Addictive Personality" (more on that in another article). We need to accept that things won't always move at the pace we wished, including our recovery, that the bus won't always be on time and people won't always see things our way....even when we are right.

When we had rid our bodies of the substance that had ruined our lives, we were left with the legacy of deeply ingrained inappropriate behavioral responses. They are the demons we must face at some stage of our recovery. There are many of these little demons tucked away in the corners of our minds and low frustration tolerance is but one. I'll examine more aspects of what I will term "Legion" in future articles. "Legion" relates back to a biblical story of a man who was possessed by demons. They were commanded to identify themselves. They replied "Legion, for we are many!". I am not a religious person, but that line always sent shivers down my spine. I see many parallels between addiction and the ancient concept of possession.

"Keep the demons down
And drag the skeletons out
I got a blind man following me in chains"

(Guns & Roses - Use Your Illusion Album).

Michael Bloch
michael@worldwideaddiction.com
http://www.worldwideaddiction.com

Warning Symptoms

2008-01-07T12:11:00.001-05:00

Like millions of Americans, you enjoy drinking. You drink often but can hold your liquor, although once in a while you have too much to drink.

Certainly, you believe you're not an alcoholic or in danger of becoming one. After all, you are not a skid row bum who has lost his family, job and self respect because of drinking.

Since you drink, there is always the danger of your becoming an alcoholic. Only three percent of the alcoholic population fits the stereotyped category of the skid row bum. The successful business person can be an alcoholic also even though few realize it.

As a predictable, progressive disease, alcoholism follows a sequence through certain stages from normal, social drinking to dependency, and from dependency to addiction and possible premature death. The day comes - usually but not necessarily after years of drinking - when some people drink not because they want to or enjoy it, but because they must. They have developed a physical addiction to alcohol.

There are early warning symptoms of alcoholism that every drinker should know:

* A history of alcoholism in you family which could genetically predispose you to become an alcoholic.
* A history of heavy drinking. You began drinking as an adolescent and usually have five to six drinks every night or every weekend. Any amount beyond two drinks when you imbibe could eventually lead to problems.
* Any problems caused by drinking - arrests, ill health, fights at home that become worse because you're drunk, complaints of friends, spouses or children, absenteeism at work - are all indications that drinking may have already become a problem for you.
* Inability to stop or cut back on your drinking when you've promised yourself or someone else you would.
* Loss of control. You planned to have only two drinks and wound up having too many. The bottom line question about alcohol is, Do you control it or does it control you?"
* Blackouts or an inability to remember events while drinking. This is one of the more serious symptoms of alcoholism.
* Denial that there is a drinking problem despite repeated confrontations by concerned others. This is another serious symptom of alcoholism. Your vigorous attempts to deny you have a drinking problem is, ironically, a good sign you do.

At this stage of the disease, alcohol has become increasingly important to you. Any criticism of your drinking represents a threat to something that has become central in your life. Your denial of a problem is your way to defend against this threat.

There are certain myths about alcoholism you may use to deny you have a drinking problem. You may try to convince yourself that since you only drink beer, or drink periodically, or can out drink most other people, you can't possibly be an alcoholic.

But these rationalizations do not hold up under the light of experience. Beer drinkers do become alcoholics; people do develop alcoholic behaviors even if they abstain for months; and an increased capacity for drinking is a symptom of the disease.

One of the most erroneous myths about alcoholism - one that is held by the family and friends of the alcoholic - is that he has to hit bottom and ask for help before he can stop drinking. To believe this myth is to do nothing but watch while the alcoholic's drinking becomes worse.

But this intervention requires considerable knowledge and skill, so it should be done in consultation with an alcoholism expert. The best thing family or friends can do for the alcoholic, and themselves, is contact an Al Anon group or alcoholism professional.

Drug Treatment Courts-Canada

2008-01-04T12:05:00.000-05:00

Drug Treatment Courts

Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) aim to reduce crime committed as a result of drug dependency through court-monitored treatment and community service support for offenders with drug addictions. They also aim to reduce the burden of substance abuse on the Canadian economy, which has been estimated at $9 billion annually for areas including law enforcement, prosecution and incarceration.

As part of their structured outpatient program, DTC participants attend both individual and group counselling sessions, receive appropriate medical attention (such as methadone treatment) and are subject to random drug tests.

Participants must also appear regularly in court, where a judge reviews their progress and can then either impose sanctions (ranging from verbal reprimands to expulsion from the program) or provide rewards (ranging from verbal commendations to a reduction in court appearances).

DTC staff work with community partners to address participants’ other needs, such as safe housing, stable employment and job training. Once a participant gains this social stability and can demonstrate control over the addiction, criminal charges are either stayed (meaning a judgement is suspended or postponed) or the offender receives a non-custodial sentence (meaning restrictions other than jail, including house arrest). If unsuccessful, an offender will be sentenced as part of the regular court process.

There are now 6 DTCs operating in Canada: Toronto (December 1998), Vancouver (December 2001), Edmonton (December 2005), Winnipeg (January 2006), Ottawa (March 2006), and Regina (October 2006).

Drug Treatment Court Funding Program

Funding is provided through the Drug Treatment Court Funding Program, managed by the Programs Branch of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme at the Department of Health.

The objectives of the DTC Funding Program are as follows:

* To promote and strengthen the use of alternatives to incarceration with a particular focus on youth, Aboriginal men and women and street prostitutes;
* To build knowledge and awareness among criminal justice, health and social service practitioners, and the general public about drug treatment courts; and
* To collect information and data on the effectiveness of DTCs in order to promote best practices and the continuing refinement of approaches.

For more information:

* Health Canada - Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme
* Department of Justice – Programs Branch
* Toronto Drug Treatment Court
* Regina Drug Treatment Court
* Winnipeg Drug Treatment Court
Source: http://www.nationalantidrugstrategy.gc.ca/comm-coll/dtc-ttt.html

Tips for identifying the symptoms of alcoholism

2007-12-31T07:23:00.000-05:00

As we approach the New Year, it is important to step back and assess our holiday celebrations. New Year's Eve celebrations include parties with great food and alcohol. The New Year should not be escorted in with tragedies, so it is essential to monitor alcohol intake -- especially if someone is driving. Let's revisit some issues with ongoing abuse of alcohol.

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is the inability to control alcohol intake. A person might suffer constant preoccupation with drinking, which can lead to personal, medical, professional and financial problems. Impairment can range from intermittent loss of control to substantial physical and mental impairment or death.

About 18 million people suffer from alcoholism, and about 100,000 people die from alcohol-related medical problems each year in the United States. Half of all traffic deaths are related to alcohol.

Not a shift passes in the emergency department without me treating a patient for alcohol-related complaints. The most difficult situations for me to deal with are alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

What are the symptoms?

Routinely drinking alone, consuming alcohol at all times of the day, becoming angry when drinking habits are questioned and persistent drinking leading to loss of memory or blackouts can be signs of a problem. As alcoholism progresses, a person can lose interest in family, friends and hobbies; eventual problems with employment might occur. Altered personality, shaking, irritability, sweating and seizures are all signs of withdrawal.

What are the causes?

Research shows alcohol addiction is a physical problem. Genetics play a strong role. Drinking at an early age also places one at risk for becoming an alcoholic, as does gender: Men have a greater risk of alcoholism than women.

What is the treatment?

Identifying the problem can be difficult because patients with alcohol problems tend to deny their intake. In some cases, withdrawal only becomes evident when alcohol is unavailable, such as hospitalization.

Outpatient counseling and abstinence might work for people without underlying medical problems. Support groups are quite effective in maintaining sobriety.

Patients with other medical problems might need to be hospitalized. Doctors can treat potentially life-threatening withdrawal with medications; once medically stabilized, a patient may choose to pursue an inpatient detoxification program; the length might vary depending on the problem's severity.

A recent study indicated the anti-seizure medication gabapentin might help with alcohol abstinence. Other medications also work to help severe alcoholics who relapse.

As you celebrate the new year, please drink sensibly. And, as always, never drink and drive because the consequences may be with you for a lifetime.

source: Dr. Randal F. Wojciehoski (also known as Dr. Wojo) is a Stevens Point native and an emergency medicine department physician at Saint Michael's Hospital.

Modified Protein May Lead to First Cure for Cirrhosis

2007-12-28T14:50:00.000-05:00

ScienceDaily (Dec. 28, 2007) — University of California, San Diego researchers have proven in animal studies that fibrosis in the liver can be not only stopped, but reversed. Their discovery, to be published in PLoS Online on December 26, opens the door to treating and curing conditions that lead to excessive tissue scarring such as viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, scleroderma and burns.

Six years ago, the UC San Diego School of Medicine research team discovered the cause of the excess fibrous tissue growth that leads to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and developed a way to block excess scar tissue in mice. At that time, the best hope seemed to be future development of a therapy that would prevent or stop damage in patients suffering from the excessive scarring related to liver or lung disease or severe burns.

In their current study, Martina Buck, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine at UCSD and the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, and Mario Chojkier, M.D., UCSD professor of medicine and liver specialist at the VA, show that by blocking a protein linked to overproduction of scar tissue, they can not only stop the progression of fibrosis in mice, but reverse some of the cell damage that already occurred.

In response to liver injury -- for example, cirrhosis caused by alcohol -- hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activated by oxidative stress results in large amounts of collagen. Collagen is necessary to heal wounds, but excessive collagen causes scars in tissues. In this paper, the researchers showed that activation of a protein called RSK results in HSC activation and is critical for the progression of liver fibrosis. They theorized that the RSK pathway would be a potential therapeutic target, and developed an RSK inhibitory peptide to block activation of RSK.

The scientists used mice with severe liver fibrosis -- similar to the condition in humans with cirrhosis of the liver -- that was induced by chronic treatment with a liver toxin known to cause liver damage. The animals, which continued on the liver toxin, were given the RSK-inhibitory peptide. The peptide inhibited RSK activation, which stopped the HSC from proliferating. The peptide also directly activated the caspase or "executioner" protein, which killed the cells producing liver cirrhosis but not the normal cells.

"All control mice had severe liver fibrosis, while all mice that received the RSK-inhibitory peptide had minimal or no liver fibrosis," said Buck.

Buck explained that the excessive collagen response is blocked by the RSK-inhibitory peptide, but isn't harmful to the liver. "The cells continue to do their normal, healing work but their excess proliferation is controlled," Buck said. "Remarkably, the death of HSC may also allow recovery from liver injury and reversal of liver fibrosis."

The researchers found a similar activation of RSK in activated HSC in humans with severe liver fibrosis but not in control livers, suggesting that this pathway is also relevant in human liver fibrosis. Liver biopsies from patients with liver fibrosis also showed activated RSK.

The study expands on work reported in 2001 in the journal Molecular Cell announcing that a team led by Buck had found that a small piece of an important regulatory protein called C/EBP beta was responsible for fibrous tissue growth, or excessive scar tissue following injury or illness. When normal scarring goes awry, excessive build-up of fibrous tissue can produce disfiguring scars or clog vital internal organs and lead to serious complications. Buck and colleagues developed a mutated protein that stopped this excessive fibrous tissue growth.

"Six years ago, we showed a way to prevent or stop the excessive scarring in animal models," said Buck. "Our latest finding proves that we can actually reverse the damage."

Worldwide, almost 800,000 people die from liver cirrhosis each year, and there is currently no treatment for it. Excessive tissue repair in chronic liver disease induced by viral, toxic, immunologic and metabolic disorders all result in excessive scar tissue, and could benefit from therapy developed from the UCSD researchers' findings.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs and UCSD's Medical Research Foundation. Buck is the recipient of a Howard Temin Award from the National Cancer Institute.

Adapted from materials provided by University of California - San Diego.

We are all paying the price for cheap alcohol

2007-12-26T12:27:00.000-05:00

By JACK LAW
ALCOHOL Focus Scotland believes urgent government action is required to address the ridiculously low price of alcohol.
Once again, in the run-up to Christmas and New Year, supermarkets are promoting a "booze bonanza" where beer is cheaper than water.

Tesco is offering 60 440ml cans of lager for £20 – just 33p per can – and the most prominent image on the home page of the Asda website is a special offer of three bottles of wine for £10 and two bottles of spirits for £18.

Such promotions are blatantly designed to sell more alcohol.

Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity like tins of soup or loaves of bread. It is a drug which causes increasing harm in our communities. Is it ethical to promote a product so cheaply which has the potential to wreck lives?

The vast majority of alcohol sold for drinking at home is through just six supermarket chains. Supermarkets

need to stop hiding behind arguments that they are responsible merely because they are committed to preventing under-age sales and have signed up to voluntary codes of practice.

The effect of price on alcohol consumption is one of the most researched areas of alcohol policy. The evidence from many international studies is that an overall price increase leads to a reduction in sales, in turn, leading to a reduction in alcohol-related harm. Alcohol overall is now 62 per cent more affordable than in 1980. We are most concerned about drinks that are designed to be drunk quickly or that are particularly strong, such as white ciders.

We are not calling for blanket tax increases but rather additional tariffs on some types of products and an end to the common supermarket practice of below cost sales. Ireland has successful experience of both.

When it removed the tax advantage on cider compared with beer, there was an almost immediate downturn in cider sales. A similar approach could be taken in the UK.

Some say there'
s no reason why responsible drinkers should be prevented from getting a "bargain". But harmful alcohol use is rarely an individual problem – the drinker's behaviour impacts on their children, partner, friends, colleagues and society as a whole.

Others argue that alcohol is cheaper in countries such as Spain or Italy, yet they don't experience the same problems of drunkenness as us. This must be considered in the context of our very different drinking cultures.

The low cost and widespread availability of alcohol in the UK is set against a long-standing culture of social acceptability of drunkenness.

We support Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's intention to end cheap price promotions.

At a cost of over £1 billion per year and rising, Scotland can no longer afford to pay such a high price for our drinking culture.

Jack Law is the chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland
source: http://news.scotsman.com/

Remembering the homeless with a vigil

2007-12-23T07:25:00.000-05:00

NASHUA – Shivering in 18-degree air on the steps of City Hall on Friday night, Peter Kelleher struggled to light a candle.

"It gives you an idea of how difficult it is to do something in the cold," Kelleher, the president and CEO of Harbor Homes Inc., told the 10 or so other people who were also attempting to light candles in honor of National Homeless Person's Memorial Day.

Information gathered from area agencies that work with the homeless population shows that at any point in time an average of 500-600 homeless people are living in the Greater Nashua area.

"In the 26 years I have been doing this, I have see a lot of people come and go," Kelleher said prior to the start of the half-hour-long vigil.

The vigil, mostly attended by those who work with the local homeless community, featured prayers and a reading of the names of 141 deceased New Hampshire residents known to have struggled with homelessness at some time in their lives.

The vigil began with a moment of silence for the local homeless population and the nine Nashua residents, some homeless or formerly homeless, who died this year.

Among the recently deceased was Ray Larocque, 39, a father of three who died Nov. 11 of a drug overdose. Larocque participated in last year's vigil, breaking into tears when he read the name of Dan Lessard, a homeless friend of his who died in 2005 at the age of 28.

Like many of the chronically homeless, Larocque's periods of homelessness stemmed from his battle with drugs and alcohol.

Following the 2006 vigil, Larocque, who was three months' sober at the time, explained the struggle of trying to land a job without a permanent address, phone number or even clean clothes for an interview.

"People just don't understand," Larocque said.

"It's the way society looks at you."

It's a sentiment that Ken Lewis, program director of Connections, can relate to on a personal level.

Lewis, 47, who works with the homeless through the Harbor Homes' program, estimated he had spent a quarter of his life homeless due to a drug and alcohol problem.

"I was living in an old burned out house," Lewis said, describing his worst day as a homeless person in Nashua in 1994.

"I had nothing to eat, and I just remember being cold and hungry . . . I broke down crying. I didn't want to live like that anymore."

For Lewis, help came with a bed at Keystone Hall, a local substance abuse treatment program where he was able to detoxify his body of drugs and alcohol while living among other addicts who were trying to improve their lives.

"I was lucky," Lewis said.

"Nowadays, you don't have that many beds," he said, describing how homeless addicts in the same situation today often spend weeks waiting to get such help.

Even for those without chemical addictions, shelter is scarce.

Local shelters admit people between the hours of 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., Lewis said, and often end up turning people away, directing them to call city welfare, which closes its doors at 4 p.m.

Lewis said he often directs people to go to city welfare before 3 p.m. to get assistance in getting a spot in the shelter, and if that is not possible, a room for the night, as is required.

There are still people spending nights on the streets, however, and some, despite the recent snow, are spending those nights tented in the woods, he said.

Mark Vallee, 48, a self-described alcoholic who has been homeless since 1985, has lost at least one homeless friend to the elements and even had a close call of his own once.

"I think God was looking out for me that night," Vallee said of a night he spent in a tent in weather that was below zero in the double digits.

"I had one blanket. I got up in the morning, and I couldn't walk. I felt paralyzed," he said.

Vallee was one of three homeless people who showed up to the vigil. Also attending was Dan Kovich, 47, who is going on his third year of chronic homeless in the city.

Kovich, who was planning to spend the night in a nearby shelter, said he was making more than $33 an hour when he lost his job two and half years ago.

Kovich, who has had a prosthetic leg for most of his life and said he suffers from major bi-polar disorder and panic attacks, credits his "street survival skills" for getting him through the hardest days and nights.

"Knowing how to get a free meal, sleeping in laundromats," he explained.

Panhandling is an act of desperation, Kovich said, since people often ignore it.

Like many of the participants of the vigil, Kovich said the city needs more programs to help the homeless and the conditions that often cause homelessness.

The brief vent of frustration prompted Kovich to expel a deep sigh.

"The name of the game is survival," he said. "It's hard being homeless."

source: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
By STEPHANIE HOOPER, Telegraph Staff
shooper@nashuatelegraph.com

SoberCircle Celebrates One Year Connecting the Online Addiction Recovery Community

2007-12-22T09:35:00.000-05:00

SoberCircle (http://www.sobercircle.com), the world's largest social networking Web site specifically designed for the addiction recovery community, marked its first anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 15. In just one year, more than 18,500 members have joined SoberCircle, which was created by DDM, a Nashville-based behavioral health care company.

The site features interactive member profile pages, member-created blogs, special interest groups, forums and chat rooms, among other features. Resources include directories with contact information for thousands of treatment centers and interventionists, an events calendar listing recovery-related events and an online store sells books, CDs and other recovery-related merchandise.

SoberCircle has seen rapid growth since its launch, and has attracted a loyal member following.

"People are so grateful to have a place to come to find others they can easily relate to -- others who are sober or who are seeking sobriety. We have several members who have taken the initiative to organize daily online 12-step meetings," said Chris Ennis, co-founder and lead developer for SoberCircle. "It's so fulfilling to know that our members have a place they can go at any time, day or night, to get support and interact with others who share their same struggles with addiction."

source: http://www.pr-usa.net/

Staying Sober

2007-12-20T12:51:00.000-05:00

For a chemically dependent person, staying sober is a long-term process involving
body, mind and spirit. It’s important to repair as much as possible of the damage
done by old habits, build new and healthier habits and use the time formerly taken
by drinking or drug-taking for constructive ends.
If you or someone you know is recovering from a chemical habit, here are some
suggestions that can help maintain sobriety.

Taking Good Care of Yourself
First of all, do your best for your body. It probably suffered some setbacks during
your drug-taking days. Get plenty of rest, eat a nutritious diet and exercise regularly.
Rest, food and exercise all affect our moods, as well as our physical well-being.
The best diet is one that’s high in fresh vegetables and whole grains and low in
fats, sugar, additives, red meat and caffeine. Exercise can be of any type that appeals
to the person who’s doing it. It’s safest to increase the amount of exercise gradually
from a gentle beginning, rather than starting out with a strenuous regime.

Learning and Doing
Chances are, your old way of life had many destructive aspects. The more you
understand how old habits of thought and action contribute to dependency, the better
chance you’ve got to change those habits. Perhaps you were always setting yourself
up to fail by making your goals unreasonably high, or you didn’t know how to
have fun or relax, except by getting intoxicated. Maybe you had trouble being honest.
Or your ways of communicating with others were ineffective.
The best way to start the process of change is by trying something new. Learning
and doing are great ways to feel better about yourself and your life. Set yourself a
goal you know you can reach, sign up for a class in something you’ve always wanted
to learn, practice telling yourself the truth about how you feel or try meditation as a
nonchemical way of managing stress. Find out about communication workshops,
see a counselor or attend a meeting of Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous. Think
about the person you’d like to be and the life you’d like to lead. Take one small step
today.

Your Highest Priority
Above all, make staying sober your highest priority. Think of the situations that
result in your drinking or taking other drugs, and avoid those situations, as well as
any “old friends” who don’t support you in sobriety. Cultivate a spiritual life in
whatever faith you choose. When faced with a decision, ask yourself which option
will be most helpful in staying sober.
Attend 12-step program meetings regularly. You can get referrals to local groups
from your employee assistance program or the telephone directory. In general, put
your time and your strength into activities and relationships that help you stay
sober. You, and everyone around you, will benefit in the form of happier and
healthier lives.

Binge drinking behind sexual health 'epidemic'

2007-12-19T08:27:00.000-05:00

Binge drinking among women is causing an epidemic of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, doctors have warned.

Research has found that almost nine in ten women who attended a sexual health clinic admitted binge drinking - an average of two and a half bottles of wine in one sitting.

Doctors blame binge drinking among women for "epidemic" in STIs and unwanted pregnancies

Three quarters said they had unprotected sex because they were drunk.

Women who were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection drank 40 per cent more than those who did not, showing a much stronger link between risky behaviour and alcohol consumption than previous thought.

The researchers, based in Southampton and Portsmouth, said the Government must tackle the issue of cheap alcohol and called for condoms to be provided for free in pubs, clubs and taxis.

Abortion clinics are already bracing themselves for a post-Christmas boom in unwanted pregnancies after one charity reported a record month in January this year.

The family planning service Marie Stopes International performed almost 6,000 abortions in January - a rise of 13% on the previous year.

The first detailed UK study carried out in sexual behaviour and alcohol questioned 520 people who attended one genito-urinary clinic in a city in the south of England.

A third of women in study (92 women), who attended the clinic reported a pregnancy and 41 of them had undergone a termination. Half said of those who were pregnant said it was unwanted and more than a quarter of those said they had been drinking before having unprotected sex.

The paper published in the International Journal of STD and AIDS said: "The UK has a specific problem with binge-drinking that is not seen elsewhere in Europe, and it seems highly likely that this binge-drinking culture is a risk factor for all forms of sexual risk, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs)."

Linda Tucker, one of the main authors of the study and a consultant nurse in sexual health and HIV, said: "The link between sexual risk and drinking too much is not the most original idea in he world but we now have clear scientific evidence of the relation ship. The Government needs to reflect this link both in their sexual health and alcohol strategy - which at present seems not to link alcohol and sexual risk behaviour.
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"Politicians need to tackle the issue of cheap booze and to have properly funded early intervention and treatment programmes in place."

They also found that women who binge-drink have more sexual partners than those who don't.

For men the results were not as clear-cut but the more they had drunk the less likely they were to use a condom.

The authors argue that, as the UK moves inevitably towards a 24 hour drinking culture, it is vital that the infrastructure needed to keep these drinkers safe keeps pace and is adequately funded.

A spokesman for Alcohol Concern said: "These new, and much higher figures suggest that risky sexual behaviour and binge drinking are far more bound up with one another than previously thought.

"We need also to ensure that staff working in sexual health clinics are trained to identify problem drinkers and know where to refer them for specialist advice, if they want help to bring their consumption down to safer levels".

source: The Telegraph

New DUI weapon unveiled

2007-12-17T08:05:00.000-05:00

BELLEFONTE — Centre County's first DUI court could be up and running in the first quarter of 2008 as a pilot program designed not only to punish offenders but to treat the underlying addiction that led to their arrests, Centre County Judge Bradley P. Lunsford said.

Armed with studies and firsthand experience that show “warehousing” repeat DUI offenders in prison doesn’t work, planning is almost completed for the pilot program that will target third-time DUI offenders who have the highest tier of blood-alcohol contents — at least a .16 percent.

The announcement of the DUI court comes as the State College Police Department gets close, for the second consecutive year, to setting a dubious record.

Borough police have arrested 460 people for DUI as of Friday and are on pace to easily beat the record 484 DUI arrests in 2006, said State College police Lt. Dana Leonard.

At the same point in 2006, officers had made 436 DUI arrests, he said.

It’s an even worse picture countywide, according to statistics compiled by the office of Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira. Last year, Madeira’s office prosecuted a record 850 DUIs.

“We’re on track for 1,000 DUIs for 2007,” Madeira said. “So yes, we have a problem.”

While police attack DUI on the streets of Centre County, Lunsford, Madeira and a team of others in the justice system say the county’s first DUI court will fight the potentially deadly crime in a new way — with both punishment and rehabilitation.

“We welcome any innovative strategies, and this DUI court would be one of them, which would address these underlying issues, which would be addiction to alcohol or any other substance,” Leonard said.

The effort led by Lunsford would create a court that would not simply jail then release offenders but provide them “with the tools to maintain sobriety through judicial intervention, intensive supervision and substance abuse treatment,” according to the effort’s mission statement.

Rather than spend a mandatory year in jail, third-time offenders would do 90 days in jail and then undergo in-home detention and intensive monitoring along with counseling aimed at ending their substance abuse and addiction.

But this program will be much more difficult for offenders than serving a year at the correctional facility, Lunsford said.

“This is a much different program than going to jail and getting work release,” Lunsford said. “It’d be far easier to do the jail time. This is a very vigorous program, with intense therapeutic intervention and intense supervision.”

The pilot effort will operate early next year if federal, state and local funding comes through as county officials expect, Lunsford said.

The annual cost of the DUI court is estimated at $275,000, which would include hiring an additional probation officer for the program and cover counseling and therapeutic costs. Federal and state grants are available — both governmental levels advocate such courts — and costs also will be offset by fees imposed upon participants, the judge said.

The current practice of jailing third-time DUI offenders for a year doesn’t seem to be working, experts said.

“Essentially what we’re doing is warehousing these people in the Centre County Correctional Facility for a cost of about $60 per day,” Lunsford said. “And we’re not doing anything to address the underlying problem. This will really be one of the first attempts by a justice system to address the underlying problem, rather than just punish for the offense.”

The judge cites studies that show recidivism rates for third-time DUI offenders is about 85 percent. By comparison, the likelihood of repeat offenses by people who have gone through a DUI court is about 15 to 25 percent.

Madeira said the court likely will handle about 30 of 1,000 DUI offenses. His office does not keep statistics on how many third-time offenders are dealt with in a year, he said, but added DUIs overall make up at least a third of his case-load.

“They’ll have to do a whole lot more than sit in a jail cell,” Madeira said. “They’ll have to make changes.”

Plans still being finalized call for the DUI court offenders to spend 90 days in jail, followed by nine months of in-home detention. During that time, the offenders not only will have to wear ankle bracelets to monitor their movements but will be required to take in-home breathalyzer tests at specific times. The results of the tests, along with a photo taken of the offender as he or she takes the test, will be instantly transmitted back to a monitoring center, said Tom Young, chief probation officer for Centre County.

After the period of home detention ends, the offender will be required to wear an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet, which monitors for alcohol use around the clock, Young said. There also will be requirements for counseling, treatment and frequent random drug and alcohol tests, all tracked by the court.

While this may be a therapeutic court with reduced jail time, Lunsford and Madeira stressed it will be far more difficult for offenders to go through, as it will force them to face and overcome their addiction.

“I’m not in this for a feel-good social response,” Madeira said. “I want to identify those who could harm someone because they have a problem. If it prevents another criminal case, another death ... that’s a step in the right direction.”

Young said the DUI court should prove a success, so long as it is staffed accordingly. His office, as it currently is staffed, could not handle a DUI court.

“It needs to be properly staffed because it is an intensive program,” Young said.

It’s also, he said, a program with great potential. There is a reason the court will start with three-time DUI offenders, he said.

“We want to start slow so we can do it right,” Young said. “Then we’re going to work back toward the second-time offenders. We can go wherever we want with this as far as expanding it.”

Centre County Chief Public Defender David Crowley also provided input for the creation of the DUI court.

“It’s at least worth a look, a pilot program, and see where we are a year from now,” Crowley said.

Pete Bosak can be reached at 235-3928.

source: centredaily.com

Hope for the Holidays

2007-12-16T13:56:00.000-05:00

Holidays rough but there is hope

As if the calendar wasn’t enough, the phone calls and e-mails are telling me that the holidays are upon us.

Maybe it’s the approach of a new year and the desire to wipe the slate clean, to start over and make a resolution to do better in the next year. Maybe it’s the desperate attempt to clean up in time for Christmas, to give the family something more than busted promises and disappointment.

Whatever the case may be, addicts and alcoholics often find themselves in dire straits during the holiday season.

I remember well a few of my own — trying heroin for the first time on Christmas Eve, sitting in an acquaintance’s apartment with a couple of using buddies and a drug dealer who eyed us all with a mixture of greed and contempt, never in my life having felt more alone and desperate and certain that I was about to cross a line from which there was no coming back.

Shopping for presents, paltry and meaningless, and angry with the loved ones for whom I was buying them because I would rather be spending the money on Oxycontin, and then hating myself for feeling that way.

Getting up on Christmas morning, not from the excitement of holiday magic or the desire to fellowship with family, but to sneak into the bathroom before anyone else awoke so I could shoot up and make it through the day without feeling sick from withdrawal.

Truth be told, every day is a rough one when you’re in the grips of addiction and/or alcoholism. But the pressure of the holidays and all of the expectations on us — to be social, to be kind, to care about others more than we care about ourselves — goes against the self-centered nature it takes to survive as an addict.

We’re anti-social, we don’t like spending our money on anything but what can get us high and we despise who we are and what we’ve become — being around other people, buying them gifts, taking stock of ourselves like most people do as a new year dawns; all of those things make us more aware than ever of the train wreck that our lives have become.

For some, such increased awareness leads to more feelings of hopelessness and desperation. That’s why suicides among addicts increase during the holidays; sometimes, death seems a preferable alternative to facing the disappointment in the faces of those we’ve let down. Others go all out for the last few weeks of December, resolving to stop using and turn our lives around come Jan. 1.

Still, others want to put the brakes on immediately and discover just how difficult it can be getting into treatment in time for a clean and sober Christmas.

There is hope for the holidays, however.

There’s no magic pill, no instant cure-all, that will make addiction and all of its problems go away. Addicts trying to get clean need to realize that they didn’t become addicted overnight and didn’t wreck their lives overnight; therefore, they’re not going to clean up and straighten out all of their problems overnight, either.

Recovery takes time, and it’s a rocky road at first. It takes willingness and commitment and acceptance, and sometimes those with a drug problem have more of one than another or a little of all three but not what it takes to stop getting high.

The hardest step is that first one — the one where we look in the mirror and realize we can’t go on like we have been. Once we take that step and resolve to do anything it takes to get better, the next get a little easier.

Whether it’s calling around to treatment centers or finding a 12-Step meeting or calling a minister or getting into therapy, there are baby steps those in active addiction can take to putting their lives back on track and salvaging what remains of this holiday season. Like I said, it won’t make everything go away. There won’t be any Christmas miracles that get us out of debt or repair the emotional and spiritual damage we’ve done to our family members. There won’t be an overnight cure where we wake up on Christmas morning and find ourselves rid of the obsession and compulsion to get high.

But there will be hope. I’m living proof, and so are hundreds of others in recovery like me, that addiction can be arrested and that a new way of life can be found. It’s never too late and it’s never too early to stop looking for it, whether it’s Dec. 25 or June 25. The holidays don’t have to be bleak, and they don’t have to be meaningless.

Any addict can lose the desire to use and find a new way of life, if they’re willing to put as much effort into staying clean as they were into getting high.

That’s the promise of recovery, and that’s the message I hope those affected by addiction — the addicts and the families and the friends and the loved ones — get from these words.

Steve Wildsmith is a recovering addict and the Weekend editor for The Daily Times.

Holiday Blues Trigger Increased Alcohol, Drug Use

2007-12-13T08:09:00.000-05:00

Better Tomorrow has seen a 50 percent increase in requests for drug and alcohol interventions across the country since October, a spike clinic therapists attribute to the holiday blues.

"Families are usually the biggest stressors around the holidays because mental health problems often have their roots in difficult family relationships," said Dan Chapman, director of A Positive Outcome Intervention Services at A Better Tomorrow in Murrieta. "People use more alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism, and that sets the stage for a crisis. We see this happen every year as we approach the holidays. It's a good thing people are calling, of course, because this means more people who need help are getting into treatment."

Addicts usually deny that they have a problem, even when their addictions are tearing apart their families or leading them down a path toward unemployment or financial ruin. Addicts typically will not listen to advice from their families, either. That's why a professional interventionist is often needed to convince the addict to seek professional counseling and treatment.

A Better Tomorrow provides professional intervention services as well as residential and outpatient treatment programs for alcohol abuse as well as addiction to illegal and prescription drugs.

"People often try to minimize the significance of marijuana addiction as if it's less damaging than cocaine or methamphetamines," Chapman said. "But marijuana addiction still leads to employment problems, alienation from family members and other mental health problems."

Addiction to prescription painkillers is also becoming an increasing problem, Chapman said, citing A Better Tomorrow's clinical experience as well as a recent statistics compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which found that nonmedical use of prescription drugs among young adults had increased from 5.4 percent in 2002 to 6.4 percent in 2006.

source: emaxhealth.com

Online Recovery Meetings

2007-12-11T20:24:00.000-05:00

Recovery Meetings on the Internet
There are many different ways that members of support groups can gather together online from email discussion groups, real-time chat rooms, message boards and now voice chat.

With the phenomenal growth of the Internet in the past few years, as millions of new users logged on for the first time, many of them were members of various recovery groups. Naturally they began to find ways of gathering together for mutual support.

The following is a description of some of the ways online "meetings" are conducted, how they work, and how to find them.

Email Groups
One of the most popular methods of holding topic discussion over the Internet are email discussion groups. The main advantage to email groups is that the meetings are conducted 24 hours a day seven days a week, but members can join in the meeting at any time that is convenient for them.

Typically, members of the group send messages to a single email address which is then forwarded to all members of the list.

Usually someone "leads" the meeting by introducing a topic and then other members share their experience, strength and hope on that topic.

When members are "ready" for a meeting, all they have to do is check their email and "shares" on the topic are downloaded into their in-boxes, which can be read at any time. If members wish to share on the topic, they can just click on the Reply button and add their comments.
Real-Time Chat Meetings
Many people prefer attending real-time chat meetings online because they "feel" more like face-to-face meetings. The meetings take place in "real time" meaning that as soon as participants type a line on their screen and hit the Enter key or the Send button, their message is seen immediately by everyone else in the chat room.

Chat meetings are also like face-to-face meetings in that a lead or chairperson introduces a topic and others in the room take turns sharing on the topic. At some meetings, the chairperson will also "read" the opening and closing statements, just like at a face-to-face meeting, by copy-pasting the text files.

Unlike email meetings however, participants do have to be at a certain web site and a certain time to join the meeting, but those participants may be joining the meeting from locales across the globe.

Message Boards
Message boards or bulletin boards are one of the oldest methods by which members of the recovery community first began to gather together on the Internet. Like email meetings, participants can join in any time, even weeks or months after the topic was first introduced.

Although message boards or "forums" are probably less like face-to-face meetings than any other methods discussed here, they do have the advantage of carrying the message long after messages are first posted. Anyone can begin a discussion by starting a "thread" on the board to which others can reply.

A thread begun today in which participants discuss a particular topic or situation they are dealing with now, can help and support others who visit the board months or even years from now. Although the are becoming less popular than they once were, there are still many still active. Here are two examples:

oice Chat and Video Chat
The advent of new technology has now brought about "voice chat" meetings in which participants can actually hear each other share on the meeting topics. In the "virtual" world of the Internet, these meetings may be the closest to the "real thing" that we have available thus far.

With the use of a microphone and speakers, participants can talk and listen to others in the room, who may be from all over the world. Even those who do not have microphones can share by typing their messages to the screen.

Although "voice chat" meetings are relative a new addition to online recovery, they have become very popular.

Technology has also brought about the ability to hold video chat meetings, which allow participants to see others in the meeting via Web cameras, or cams.
Source: http://alcoholism.about.com

Warning Signs of Alcoholism

2007-12-10T11:29:00.000-05:00

You regularly use alcohol as a way of coping with feelings of anger, frustration, anxiety or depression.

You regularly use alcohol to feel confident.

You get hangovers regularly.

Your drinking affects your relationships with other people.

Your drinking makes you feel disgusted, angry or suicidal.

Other people tell you that when you drink you become gloomy, embittered or aggressive.

You need to drink more and more to feel good.

You stop doing other things to spend more time drinking.

You start to feel shaky and anxious the morning after drinking the night before.

You drink to stop these feelings.

You start drinking earlier in the day.

IF YOU NEED HELP NOW PLEASE JOIN US AT The Sober Village where you do not need to be sober to join, just the desire to some day do so!