Addiction

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  Google News: Addiction

• Cough Syrup, Cough Medicine Abuse, Addiction - TransWorldNews (press release)

  21 Nov 2009 | 2:38 pm

  Cough Syrup, Cough Medicine Abuse, AddictionTransWorldNews (press release)“Drug addiction can occur with many prescription and over the counter medications,” continues Ms. Rieser. “Keep track of medications, stored in the medicine

• Drug court seen valuable, but some question whether program should be widened - FOX2now.com

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:56 am

  Drug court seen valuable, but some question whether program should be widenedFOX2now.comArea prosecutors and defense attorneys alike have praised Buchanan County's system for taking a different approach to dealing with addiction. Drug court seen valuable; questions persistNewton Kansanall 8 news articles »

• Oprah Winfrey offers shows on sex-addiction rehab, heroism, Ted Kennedy's widow - Orlando Sentinel

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:11 am

  Telegraph.co.ukOprah Winfrey offers shows on sex-addiction rehab, heroism, Ted Kennedy's widowOrlando SentinelThis could be the most misunderstood addiction of all." (Lady O is pictured, in this AP/Harpo Productions photo, announcing she would end her show in 2011. Oprah's goodbye is also a helloPhiladelphia InquirerOprah Winfrey: It's good to talkBBC NewsLiberace, Cruise, Palin among Winfrey's highlightsThe Associated PressMirror.co.uk -The Week Magazine -mediabistro.com (blog)all 4,353 news articles »

• Combat gaming addiction in kids - St. George Daily Spectrum

  21 Nov 2009 | 4:01 am

  Combat gaming addiction in kidsSt. George Daily SpectrumAddicted people lie to themselves and others about the extent of their addiction. They minimize things, "I'm just going to play for a little while - this is

• Inside Sex Addiction Rehab - Oprah.com

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:20 pm

  Inside Sex Addiction RehabOprah.comAddiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky will talk about why sex addiction is the most hidden, shameful and misunderstood addiction in the United States. WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | OSU vs. Mich rivalry slideshowWTOLFans excited to witness Winfrey's announcementWTOLall 9 news articles »

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  Yahoo News: Addiction

• US Senate gears up for key health vote (AFP)

  21 Nov 2009 | 3:16 am

  AFP - President Barack Obama's health reform faces a landmark first test in the US Senate Saturday as Democratic leaders strive to lock down support for a vote that would allow them to launch a formal floor debate on the proposal.

• Ancient Egyptians knew the pain of heart disease (AFP)

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:05 am

  AFP - The hardening of the arteries associated with heart attacks and strokes is not just a modern phenomenon, according to new research showing ancient Egypt's pharaohs suffered from heart disease too.

• Single-Sex Cardiac Rehab Helps Depressed Women (HealthDay)

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:48 pm

  HealthDay - TUESDAY, Nov. 17 (HealthDay News) -- A motivational women-only cardiac rehabilitation program helped reduce symptoms of depression in women with coronary heart disease, a U.S. study has found.

• Marathon bid to part conjoined Bangladeshi twins (AFP)

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:38 am

  AFP - A risky operation to separate Bangladeshi twins joined at the head continued into the early hours of Tuesday at an Australian hospital.

• Global swine flu deaths slow as WHO toll passes 6,250 (AFP)

  13 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am

  AFP - More than 6,250 people have died in the swine flu pandemic, World Health Organisation data showed Friday, as the global death rate appeared to slow.

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  Medical News Today: Addiction

• Linking The Treatment Of Alcohol-Use Disorders And Tuberculosis

  21 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  The integration of alcohol screening, treatment and referral into primary care and other medical settings is not routinely done. Nor are there any studies evaluating the effectiveness of integrating care for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) into routine treatment for tuberculosis (TB), despite the high co-occurrence and mortality associated with these two diseases.

• An Intervention That Can Reduce Hostile Perceptions In Children With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

  21 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been linked to a wide array of developmental deficits, including significant impairments in social skills. An examination of a social- skills intervention called Children's Friendship Training found that it led to a decrease in hostile attributions or perceptions of children with PAE. Results will be published in the February 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

• A Brief Intervention That Works For Drivers Who Persist In Driving While Intoxicated

  21 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  Driving while impaired (DWI) contributes significantly to road-traffic crashes, and is involved in more than one-third of all fatalities. Many DWI recidivists - drinking drivers who re-offend - do not participate in mandated alcohol-evaluation and intervention programs or else continue to drink problematically after their licenses have been re-issued.

• AMA Urges Safety And Common Sense In Schoolies Week, Australia

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  AMA Vice President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that Schoolies Week is a traditional celebration for students after a tough year, but it is also a time of high health risk for young people. Dr Hambleton, a Brisbane GP, said the focus has been on preventing the risks of alcohol and binge drinking but students should be equally careful and cautious about their sexual health.

• Mathematical Abilities Examined In Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) have a number of cognitive deficits, but mathematical ability seems particularly damaged. Little is known about the brain structures related to mathematical deficits in children with FASD. A new study that used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the relationship between mathematical skills and brain white matter structure in children with FASD supports the importance of the left parietal area for mathematical tasks.

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  ScienceDaily.com

• Why can't some people give up cocaine?

  21 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

  Drug dependency is a recurrent but treatable kind of addiction. However, not all people who are drug dependent progress in the same way once they stop taking drugs. A new study shows that, in the case of cocaine, a high score on the so-called ‘scale of craving’, an antisocial personality type and previous heroin abuse are the factors most commonly involved in people falling back into the habit.

• Older problem drinkers use more alcohol than do their younger counterparts

  21 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Older adults who have alcohol dependence problems drink significantly more than do younger adults who have similar problems, a new study has found. The findings suggest that older problem drinkers may have developed a tolerance for alcohol and need to drink even more than younger abusers to achieve the effects they seek.

• Drug Use: Effects of ketamine (K) on users

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:00 pm

  The first ever large-scale, longitudinal study of ketamine users has been published. With ketamine use increasing faster than any other drug in the UK, this research showing the consequences of repeated ketamine use provides valuable information for users and addiction professionals alike. Heavy ketamine users were impaired on several measures, including verbal memory.

• Current cigarette smokers at increased risk of seizures

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  A recent study determined there is a significant risk of seizure for individuals who currently smoke cigarettes. This is the first prospective study to examine the potential risks associated with cigarette smoking, caffeine intake, and alcohol consumption as they independently relate to epilepsy.

• Intervention can reduce hostile perceptions in children with prenatal alcohol exposure

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been linked to significant impairments in social skills. Researchers have found that a social- skills intervention called Children's Friendship Training can lead to a decrease in hostile attributions or perceptions of children with PAE.

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  Join Together

• AMA Says Marijuana Has Medical Uses, Calls for More Research

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:10 pm

  Marijuana (cannabis) has been shown through limited research to have proven medical uses, the American Medical Association said in a new policy statement that also urges the federal government to consider moving the drug out of Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in order to facilitate clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medications.

• Drunk Drivers with Kids in Car Could Face Felonies in N.Y.

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:05 pm

  The New York state Assembly has passed a bill that would make it a felony offense to drive while intoxicated if children under age 16 are in the vehicle.

• Tolerance of Marijuana Reflected in Seniors' Use

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:30 pm

  Some members of the Baby Boomer generation not only remain tolerant of marijuana use but also continue to smoke the drug themselves.

• Experts Worry About Fading Attention to Smoking Threat

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:15 pm

  The U.S. smoking rate rose in 2008 for the first time in 15 years, and experts worry that the public has become complacent about the public-health threat posed by tobacco use.

• Mich. Employers Confused by New Medical Marijuana Law

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:03 pm

  Employers in Detroit, Mich., are struggling to make sense of the state’s new medical-marijuana law.

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  NIDA - Recent News Releases

• NIDA Stimulus Grant to Assess the Benefits of Counseling with HIV

  11/19/09

• NIDA Launches New Substance Abuse Resources to Help Fill Gaps in Medical Education

  11/06/09

• Federal Stimulus Grant Supports Crucial Study of Anti-Nicotine Vaccine

  10/30/09

• Cocaine Vaccine Shows Promise for Treating Addiction

  10/5/09

• Teleconference Discussion of Results from Cocaine Vaccine Study

  10/1/09

• 
  Addiction and Recovery News

• Tab dump

  9 Nov 2009 | 5:24 am

  Methadone maintenance therapy versus no opioid replacement therapy for opioid dependence - The metareview notes that there were few attempts to measure improvements in wellbeing. Alcohol-Induced Blackout - Are they predictive of dependence? Parity to Become Federal Law Despite Rule-Making Delay Policies to Prevent Drug Problems: A Research Agenda for 2010-2015 - Robert Wood Johnson's research agenda

• Stigma and community

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:17 am

  I read this Ta-Nehisi Coates post yesterday on domestic violence, responsibility, individual agency, community, shame, isolation and empowerment. It's really stuck with me. Very heavy, heady stuff in a very short post.It got me thinking about some of the mechanisms of addiction and stigma, and the healing mechanisms of the recovering community. He points out the empowering aspects of a community of oppressed people and the responsibility this community confers upon its members.Further along these lines, Bill White has a new paper on stigma, addiction and methadone. It poses some interesting…

• Almost impossible to ignore

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:57 am

  An interesting explanation of dopamine's function--distinguishing drive and motivation from pleasure and reward:In the emerging view, discussed in part at the Society for Neuroscience meeting last week in Chicago, dopamine is less about pleasure and reward than about drive and motivation, about figuring out what you have to do to survive and then doing it. “When you can’t breathe, and you’re gasping for air, would you call that pleasurable?” said Nora D. Volkow, a dopamine researcher and director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Or when you’re so hungry that you eat…

• Lozenge/Patch Combo Best for Kicking Butts

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:02 pm

  Encouraging findings for people trying to quit smoking:Smokers are more than twice as likely to quit if they use the nicotine patch along with nicotine lozenges—compared to lozenges or patches alone, buproprion (Xyban), buproprion plus the lozenges or placebo.  The trial was the largest study ever to compare these approaches head to head, and included 1,504 smokers.All of the treatment groups did better than placebo—but the effect was strongest for the patch/lozenge combination, 40% of whom successfully kicked the habit.  Smokers using this combo were not only more likely to quit, but…

• Gemini and Granny Growers

  3 Nov 2009 | 11:23 am

  A mini pot tab dump:Baby Boomers and retirees are plunging into the medical marijuanabusinessA short history of Gemini Dream

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  Recovery Connection

• Dual Help

  brian@recoveryconnection.org

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:53 am

  Upon entering treatment I learned that I not only suffered from drug addiction but that i was also clinically depressed. In order for me to overcome my drug addiction it was pertinent that my depression was addressed. I learned that a lot of my drug addiction was fueled by my depression.

• Bizarre Florida Case Illustrates Sex Addiction Characteristics

  joanna@recoveryconnection.org

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:58 am

  Recognizing the signs and symptoms of addiction that this story illustrates. Caught in the throes of addiction, addicts will often go to extreme lengths to get their lust fix. For example, why did this man call 911 for sex?

• Dual Diagnosis Treatment in New Jersey

  dscott

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:13 am

  Dual diagnosis treatment in Florida excels due to the comprehensiveness of care.

• Recovery Relationship Gone Bad

  brian@recoveryconnection.org

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:01 am

  Relationships in early recovery can be very dangerous. It is hard enough in early recovery to stay clean that the added pressure of a relationship can be extremely stressful. The less drama in early recovery the better off.

• Florida Christian Alcohol Recovery Program Exists

  jhutt

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:47 am

  Finally a Christian alcohol recovery program opens in Florida. THis Christian based alcohol recovery program treats addicts and alcoholics on a national basis.

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  Cliffside Malibu

• Alcohol Rehabilitation And The Steps To Long Term Recovery

  christa

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:19 pm

  Alcohol rehabilitation is an exceptionally intricate process. To be successful, it has to be administered with empathy and expertise. The practical implication, of course, is that the best alcohol rehabilitation facilities are those which employ the most qualified alcohol rehabilitation caregivers. As you explore your alcohol rehab options, it’s essential that you seek a clinic whose employees know precisely what they’re doing. Successful alcohol rehabilitation will literally change your life. All that remains, now, is for you to get help from the right people. For your own sake, for the…

• Drug Abuse Is a Serious Disease

  christa

  13 Nov 2009 | 9:45 pm

  Drug abuse is never a matter of choice. On the contrary, drug abuse victims don’t decide to be sick, and they can never simply decide to get better. The practical implication, of course, is that no addict can get sober without professional drug abuse treatment. In the end, the road to recovery has to run through a drug abuse treatment center. The good news is that there are plenty of drug abuse rehab facilities in Los Angeles. The bad news, though, is that they aren’t all equally capable of serving their clients. As you explore you drug abuse rehabilitation options, it’s essential that…

• Professional Intervention Services Will Give You The Start You Need

  christa

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:05 pm

  Intervention services can very often make the difference between the success and failure of a rehabilitation program. Addiction, after all, is a personal disease, and addiction treatment can only succeed if a patient makes a personal commitment to the healing process. That sort of commitment, in turn, can come only after an addict has been made to recognize the full extent of his problems in a successful intervention. And more often than not, the most successful interventions are those which are managed by a professional intervention specialist. The intervention process is always a traumatic…

• Alcohol Abuse: Disease or Choice?

  christa

  30 Oct 2009 | 9:25 pm

  Alcohol abuse is a devastating disease. But that devastation doesn’t have to be the end of the story. On the contrary, those alcohol abuse victims who seek help from private alcohol abuse treatment facilities really do achieve meaningful alcohol recovery. The catch, of course, is that alcohol abuse treatment has to begin with a difficult personal choice. It’s never easy to admit that you have a problem you can’t solve on your own. But only that sort of honesty can lead to meaningful alcohol abuse recovery. No one can help you if you refuse to reach out. For your own sake, for the sake…

• Start The Change Of Your Lifetime With Addiction Recovery

  christa

  28 Oct 2009 | 9:22 pm

  Addiction recovery will change your life. Whoever you are, however hopeless you believe yourself to be, the right addiction recovery program can help you heal from the inside-out. The catch, of course, is that addiction recovery centers are only as successful as the caregivers they employ. If you’re serious about getting sober, you have to get help from people who know exactly what they’re doing. There are plenty of addiction recovery facilities in Los Angeles. Some of them employ qualified experts. Some of them don’t. The difference, for you, is more important than any in the world.

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  Addiction Inbox

• The Dutch Smoke Less Pot

  Dirk Hanson

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:09 am

  One of those inconvenient truths.Government drug policy experts don’t like the numbers, which is one of the reasons why you probably haven’t seen them. Among the nations of Europe, the Netherlands is famous, or infamous, for its lenient policy toward cannabis use—so it may come as a surprise to discover that Dutch adults smoke considerably less cannabis, on average, than citizens of almost any other European country.A recent report by Reed Stevenson for Reuters highlights figures from the annual report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which shows the Dutch…

• Avoid Cigarettes and Alcohol to Avoid Depression [Guest Post]

  Dirk Hanson

  12 Nov 2009 | 2:59 am

  [From time to time, Addiction Inbox posts contributions from other bloggers. Views expressed belong to the guest poster and do not necessarily represent my own]Christine Howell is a writer who regularly writes about online health care degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, an online college directory and comparison website.While there are definite correlations between depression and the use of alcohol and cigarettes, scientific opinions vary on the nature of those correlations and to what extent alcohol and nicotine create depressive symptomology. Alcohol has long been…

• Needle Exchange in America

  Dirk Hanson

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:44 am

  AIDS/harm reduction activists press Obama.First, the good news: After 20 years, the U.S. Congress has voted to remove the funding ban on syringe exchange programs designed to combat AIDS and to bring hard drug users within the orbit of the medical health community.Now, the bad news: Conservative legislators have managed to insert a provision in the bill prohibiting needle exchange centers within 1,000 feet of schools, day care centers, colleges, playgrounds, youth centers, swimming pools—and just about any other institution you care to come up with. In short, the legislation would make it…

• The Black Market for Seroquel

  Dirk Hanson

  2 Nov 2009 | 12:27 pm

  Speed freaks, coke heads, and antipsychotics.Last week, writing on the Daily Beast web site, reporter Jeff Deeney profiled a startling underground market for the antipsychotic medication Seroquel (quetiapine). Deeney described street transactions in North Philadelphia for Quells or Suzie-Qs, as the drug is sometimes called. Seroquel, a drug developed for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has developed an additional reputation as a “comedown” drug for stimulant abusers.Seroquel, a so-called atypical antipsychotic, works by altering levels of dopamine. While some addicts…

• To Flush or Not To Flush

  Dirk Hanson

  30 Oct 2009 | 7:36 am

  tFDA lists meds for trash or toilet.A recent post here on the subject of illegal bong water in Minnesota—coupled with a perceptive comment by a reader about drugs in the water supply—got me thinking again about what gets thrown in the sink or flushed down the toilet.I was surprised to discover that, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consumers are better served by flushing some drugs down the toilet. The FDA has put up a web site dedicated to the proposition that flushing drugs is the preferred method for certain kinds of drugs—but not for every kind of drug.While…

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  Addiction Recovery Blog

• Overcome Internet Addiction

  Karen Halls

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  These days, most of us have the need to use the internet, but some people have found that they need to overcome their internet addiction. It used to be that when we thought of someone with an internet addiction that the first assumption is that they were addicted to online pornography. That is no longer the case, particularly with the rising popularity of Facebook. The internet has become a social outlet for many people. Six months ago, my father suddenly passed away and my mother found herself with an excess of time. During the hours that they used to spend watching television together, my…

• Searching For a Christian Drug Rehab Center?

  Karen Halls

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am

  The fact is that drug addiction can influence any person, and even though you may be committed in your religious beliefs with a high moral standing, you can become uncomfortable with a severe drug addiction and require the aid of a christian drug rehab center. If an individual close to you is grappling with a substance abuse, checking into one of these centers is highly advisable. A christian drug rehab center will apply medical and psychological cures, and mix them with religious counseling so as to cure the person suffering from the problem, along with his other hidden diseases. Before you…

• Alcohol - A Love-Hate Relationship

  Karen Halls

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am

  Any person who has an alcohol addiction will inevitably develop a love-hate relationship with alcohol. No one grows up thinking “I want to be an alcoholic someday”. Some people get snatched up right away by addiction because something in their brain goes off with that first drink or two and constant use in short order becomes the norm, while others it takes years to cross a line somewhere unknown that takes them from normal, social drinking, into the alcoholic zone. This can be hard to picture, but once you cross this “line” drinking is no longer a matter of choice.

• The Gambling Fix Can Be Fatal

  Karen Halls

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:02 am

  Have you got the gambling fix? Do you have that magnetic attraction to gambling that arises every time you have money? Does this attraction drive you to spend all your extra money… and your bill money? Has your phone or hydro been cut off? Did you lose your house because you spent your mortgage money on gambling? Be careful… gambling can be fatal! Gambling can lead to many unsavory things. People who gamble usually lie continuously. They lie to their spouses, their parents, their kids and their friends about how they spent their money. They will exaggerate about how much things…

• How to Stop Smoking Marijuana Today!

  Karen Halls

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am

  If how to stop smoking marijuana is a question you have been asking yourself for a while but have never found the answer then you may just be psychologically addicted to smoking pot. This is different to some other drug addictions which come with physical dependency and very painful withdrawal symptoms. Those addicted to weed often continue doing so because of a small four letter word that has crippled many people’s lives: FEAR! This can come in many shapes and sizes but they are all designed by your subconscious to keep you hooked on a habit that is inhibiting you but you still do it…

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  Suboxone Talk Zone

• Publishers, Agents, Nonprofit Owners or Accountants

  SuboxDoc

  13 Nov 2009 | 11:03 am

  I am in need of some help from the people listed in the title– so if you have connections, help me out.  I am adding this sentence to the front of this post after rambling too long, as I’m afraid that the person I need won’t get to the important part!  If you work in the areas I mentioned or have connections to someone in those areas, please read on. I’ve talked about some of the goals I have had for this site over the past couple years…  one of my ‘personal issues’ is that like most addicts, I like to take things on by myself and solve problems by…

• STZ Now on Medpedia

  SuboxDoc

  10 Nov 2009 | 6:39 pm

  Medpedia has been expanding on a number of fronts, with a ‘wiki’ approach to all things medical– including addiction.  This blog– Suboxone Talk Zone– will be included in the News and Analysis section of the site;  I also hope to submit content and contribute to our knowledge base about opiate dependence going forward. I invite readers to visit Medpedia and review my thoughts about the relationship between buprenorphine maintenance and traditional recovery.  The topic will be important as we sort out whether buprenorphine should be used as a bridge to…

• More on the generic form of buprenorphine

  SuboxDoc

  31 Oct 2009 | 6:57 pm

  Hey Doc, I went to Walgreens early this morning and they had the drug on hand. So, if there is anyone who still has doubts as to the drug being available at local pharmacies- this shows the 2nd largest drugstore chain has it available in its pharmacies. Note: the writer is referring to a Walgreens in Wisconsin. The tablets themselves are round and white with the imprint of 54 411 on one side and a blank opposite side. Really the best way to describe them, is that they are identical in every feature (minus the imprint code) as the “512 Generic Percocet” tablets. As for taste and…

• The Importance of Counseling

  SuboxDoc

  31 Oct 2009 | 10:31 am

  Not to open up a controversy or anything… but there is considerable disagreement between physicians in principle and in practice over the importance of ‘counseling’.  To define our discussion, ‘counseling’ is used to refer to everything from one-on-one psychotherapy to group therapy to twelve step programs.  I am going to try to be more pointed and brief than my usual blah blah blah style;   I would be happy to argue the point ad nauseum at someone else’s expense, but I simply have too much work to do today.  I attached my youtube video in case anyone…

• Thanks to a reader for the following info about generic buprenorphine:

  SuboxDoc

  30 Oct 2009 | 11:50 am

  Good Morning Dr. J- I just got off the phone with Roxane Labs, the only approved manufacturer of generic Subutex and the product IS available in all 50 states. It is available to pharmacies and dr offices direct from the manufacturer as well as from all major distributors. There is an ample supply available and is not on back order. Opiate addicts taking Suboxone are hoping for a drop in price with the announcement of new generic medication from Roxane Pharmaceuticals I called around to the major pharmacy chains and all three can order the drug (CVS, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart). None, at least…

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  What Winners Do

• Avoiding Isolation In Addiction Recovery… It Aint Easy

  Erin

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:40 pm

  So it has been 1 year, 5 months and some change since I entered into addiction recovery. I have overcome a lot of my bad behaviors and addictive thinking patterns but there is one huge behavior that I am having trouble shaking... isolating. We all know that active addiction and isolation are old chums and that they fit together so well. One directly feeds off of the other and eventually take over your whole being leaving you with... addiction and isolation. Well I guess I am living proof that just because you take away one, it doesn't mean that the other will follow. It seems that isolation…

• In Addiction Recovery, What Do The Winners Do?

  Erin

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:17 pm

  Do you consider yourself one of the winners? I received this question via email from someone that is just entering into addiction recovery. This person is seeking the experience from others as an aid to their own recovery. Going by the name of my site, What Winners Do, one might get the impression that I am someone with answers...I'm not. I don't think there are too many answers in addiction recovery, mainly there are questions. In addiction recovery there are certain things that would define What Winners Do: Keep sobriety their top priority Constantly work on their recovery Stay honest with…

• Fortune Teller or Fellow Recovering Addict?

  Erin

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:44 pm

  You know how you file each blog post under a category? Well I was going to post something and thought that I would make a category named "personal". Ooh, a personal category. That's where I could put all the stories about my life. Wait a minute...isn't this whole site about my life? It's personal really. Wouldn't I therefore have to put everything I wrote under personal? I guess I'll skip that category. But this did bring up a nice reminder that I would like to share with you. Everything that I'm writing about on this site really is my life. I'm no fortune teller...we're just all in the same…

• Instant Gratification Is A Huge Part of Addiction

  Erin

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:40 pm

  Our world today is based upon instant gratification. Taking into consideration all of the technology that allows us to get what we want right when we want it, it's really no wonder that we are trying to apply that standard to our emotional state. Think of all the ways that people use drugs or alcohol pertaining to instant gratification. If you are having a stressful day...pop a pill and feel de-stressed. If you are feeling a little social anxiety or lack of confidence in a situation...have a few drinks and get some liquid courage. By feeding these types of emotional needs with drugs or…

• Addiction Recovery: My Outlook On Life Has Changed

  Erin

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:10 pm

  Since being in recovery for substance abuse there have been little changes in my outlook on life that happen all the time. I can't say that I always notice them right when they happen, but sooner or later it usually hits me. I just came to the realization that I am now a person full of hope. This is quite a contrast to my outlook on life when I was actively addicted. Here is what happened. When I was an active addict as soon as my eyes would open in the morning, morning meaning about 11am, I would be filled with the feeling of dread. Another day filled with lies, sneakiness and depression was…

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  Wiley InterScience: Addiction

• The cost-effectiveness of consistent and early intervention of harm reduction for injecting drug users in Bangladesh

  Lorna Guinness, Peter Vickerman, Zahidul Quayyum, Anna Foss, Charlotte Watts, Andrea Rodericks, Tasnim Azim, Smarajit Jana, Lilani Kumaranayake

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:38 am

  Aims To assess the cost-effectiveness of the CARE-SHAKTI harm reduction intervention for injecting drug users (IDUs) over a 3-year period, the impact on the cost-effectiveness of stopping after 3 years and how the cost-effectiveness might vary with baseline human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence.Design Economic cost data were collected from the study site and combined with impact estimates derived from a dynamic mathematical model.Setting Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the HIV prevalence has remained low despite high-risk sexual and injecting behaviours, and growing HIV epidemics in…

• The impact of cigarette deprivation and cigarette availability on cue–reactivity in smokers

  Steffani R. Bailey, Katherine C. Goedeker, Stephen T. Tiffany

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:11 pm

  Aims This experiment was conducted to determine the impact of cigarette deprivation and cigarette availability on reactivity measures to cigarette cues.Participants Smokers were recruited who were 18 years of age or older, not attempting to quit or cut down on their smoking, smoked at least 20 cigarettes daily, had been smoking regularly for past year and had an expired carbon monoxide level of at least 10 parts per million.Design Smokers were assigned randomly to abstain from smoking for 24 hours (n = 51) or continue smoking their regular amount (n = 50). Twenty-four hours later, they were…

• Can hepatitis C virus prevalence be used as a measure of injection-related human immunodeficiency virus risk in populations of injecting drug users? An ecological analysis

  Peter Vickerman, Matthew Hickman, Margaret May, Mirjam Kretzschmar, Lucas Wiessing

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:11 pm

  Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreaks occur among injecting drug users (IDUs), but where HIV is low insight is required into the future risk of increased transmission. The relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV prevalence among IDUs is explored to determine whether HCV prevalence could indicate HIV risk.Methods Systematic review of IDU HIV/HCV prevalence data and regression analysis using weighted prevalence estimates and time[ndash]series data.Results HIV/HCV prevalence estimates were obtained for 343 regions. In regions other than South America/sub-Saharan…

• Evidence of a complex association between dose, pattern and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure and child behaviour problems

  Colleen M. O'Leary, Natasha Nassar, Stephen R. Zubrick, Jennifer J. Kurinczuk, Fiona Stanley, Carol Bower

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:10 pm

  Background There is a lack of evidence regarding the effect of dose, pattern and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure and behaviour problems in children aged 2 years and older.Methods A 10% random sample of women delivering a live infant in Western Australia (1995[ndash]96) were invited to participate in an 8-year longitudinal survey (78% response rate n = 2224); 85% were followed-up at 2 years, 73% at 5 years and 61% at 8 years. Alcohol consumption was classified by combining the overall dose, dose per occasion and frequency to reflect realistic drinking patterns. Longitudinal analysis was…

• Outcome of long-term heroin-assisted treatment offered to chronic, treatment-resistant heroin addicts in the Netherlands

  Peter Blanken, Vincent M. Hendriks, Jan M. van Ree, Wim van den Brink

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:10 pm

  Aims To describe 4-year treatment retention and treatment response among chronic, treatment-resistant heroin-dependent patients offered long-term heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) in the Netherlands.Design Observational cohort study.Setting and intervention Out-patient treatment in specialized heroin treatment centres in six cities in the Netherlands, with methadone plus injectable or inhalable heroin offered 7 days per week, three times per day. Prescription of methadone plus heroin was supplemented with individually tailored psychosocial and medical support.Participants Heroin-dependent…

• 
  Addiction Recovery Basics

• Facts On Addiction To Drugs And Alcohol In America

  Bill Urell

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:58 pm

  There are millions of Americans in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, improving the lives of individuals, families and communities. Faces & Voices advocates for a recovery research agenda to provide policymakers, the media and citizens with more information on the pathways that these people have taken on their recovery journeys, as well as their numbers and experiences. Taxpayers have invested millions of dollars in understanding addiction. It is time to understand recovery – so that the 21 million Americans who still need help can experience long-term…

• Only 5% Of Addicts In Recovery Make It, Baloney, Addiction Treatment Works: Here Are The Facts

  Bill Urell

  16 Nov 2009 | 3:05 pm

  I get so angry when sometimes well-intentioned people will make statements to the effect of only 5%, 10% of the people make it in addiction recovery. How disheartening for somebody who’s trying to turn their life around to statements like that. Why not focus on the fact that addiction treatment works. Just today I attended a conference and Dr. Lewis Baxter Sr was the keynote speaker. He is the president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine known in the field as ASAM. He provided some rather heartening statistics. But these have to be qualified. He was speaking of people who…

• Stop Using Alcohol And Drugs: The Easy Way, But You Won’t Like The Answer

  Bill Urell

  12 Nov 2009 | 5:05 pm

  The good news is that millions have brought their addiction to drugs and alcohol into a state of remission; the bad news is that a far larger number have been unable to do so. Why is that? What do the abstinent people do? Well I promised you a simple answer here we go: 1. They stopped using. Completely. That means all mood altering substances as well as going through the detox and withdrawal process without giving up. 2. They committed with overpowering force and determination to handling themselves and life with its ups and downs without drugs and alcohol. It is no longer an option 3. They…

• How To Change Negative Thinking In Addiction Recovery

  Bill Urell

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:10 pm

  What we think about a situation or event will determine feeling and emotions and later, behaviors and actions. In early addiction recovery, our thoughts are often not in line with what 98% of the world would think about the same event that we are thinking about. Someone is looking at me, I think they are challenging me, I feel disrespected and I say what the heck are you looking at, and I am ready to fight. Let’s challenge that thought. Ok someone is looking at me, maybe he likes my shirt and is wondering where I got it, if that is the case I certainly don’t want to fight the guy.

• Locating Local Addiction Treatment Centers

  Bill Urell

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:29 pm

  A question that I am very frequently asked is how go about locating local  addiction treatment help. In all honesty, I would not trust an Internet search because there is a lot of bad information and huge advertising budgets out there. The one solid recommendation I make is to use the addiction treatment locator provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration which is a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services. If the treatment center is licensed, or certified it will be listed here. You simply click on the map; enter a radius from your zip code…

• 
  Addiction Inbox

• The Dutch Smoke Less Pot

  Dirk Hanson

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:09 am

  One of those inconvenient truths.Government drug policy experts don’t like the numbers, which is one of the reasons why you probably haven’t seen them. Among the nations of Europe, the Netherlands is famous, or infamous, for its lenient policy toward cannabis use—so it may come as a surprise to discover that Dutch adults smoke considerably less cannabis, on average, than citizens of almost any other European country.A recent report by Reed Stevenson for Reuters highlights figures from the annual report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which shows the Dutch…

• Avoid Cigarettes and Alcohol to Avoid Depression [Guest Post]

  Dirk Hanson

  12 Nov 2009 | 2:59 am

  [From time to time, Addiction Inbox posts contributions from other bloggers. Views expressed belong to the guest poster and do not necessarily represent my own]Christine Howell is a writer who regularly writes about online health care degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, an online college directory and comparison website.While there are definite correlations between depression and the use of alcohol and cigarettes, scientific opinions vary on the nature of those correlations and to what extent alcohol and nicotine create depressive symptomology. Alcohol has long been…

• Needle Exchange in America

  Dirk Hanson

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:44 am

  AIDS/harm reduction activists press Obama.First, the good news: After 20 years, the U.S. Congress has voted to remove the funding ban on syringe exchange programs designed to combat AIDS and to bring hard drug users within the orbit of the medical health community.Now, the bad news: Conservative legislators have managed to insert a provision in the bill prohibiting needle exchange centers within 1,000 feet of schools, day care centers, colleges, playgrounds, youth centers, swimming pools—and just about any other institution you care to come up with. In short, the legislation would make it…

• The Black Market for Seroquel

  Dirk Hanson

  2 Nov 2009 | 12:27 pm

  Speed freaks, coke heads, and antipsychotics.Last week, writing on the Daily Beast web site, reporter Jeff Deeney profiled a startling underground market for the antipsychotic medication Seroquel (quetiapine). Deeney described street transactions in North Philadelphia for Quells or Suzie-Qs, as the drug is sometimes called. Seroquel, a drug developed for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has developed an additional reputation as a “comedown” drug for stimulant abusers.Seroquel, a so-called atypical antipsychotic, works by altering levels of dopamine. While some addicts…

• To Flush or Not To Flush

  Dirk Hanson

  30 Oct 2009 | 7:36 am

  tFDA lists meds for trash or toilet.A recent post here on the subject of illegal bong water in Minnesota—coupled with a perceptive comment by a reader about drugs in the water supply—got me thinking again about what gets thrown in the sink or flushed down the toilet.I was surprised to discover that, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consumers are better served by flushing some drugs down the toilet. The FDA has put up a web site dedicated to the proposition that flushing drugs is the preferred method for certain kinds of drugs—but not for every kind of drug.While…

• 
  The Last Chance Texaco

• Nothing You Can Find – Reprise

  Chris

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:14 am

  I was thinking about an old post last night, Nothing You Can Find That Cannot Be Found, and about how lucky I was, that early in recovery, to have been protected from the worst of my temptations.  A little space for a little while can be a good thing while you’re getting your sober legs.  [...]

• Oh, There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays

  Chris

  9 Nov 2009 | 11:53 am

  Last night I realized that the three most recent pictures I have of my mother . . . are mug shots. The first was taken about 22 months ago when she was arrested in her driveway for “obstructing justice.”  The police were at the house to do a welfare check on my step-dad, who had reported [...]

• Sweeping

  Chris

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:51 pm

  “Simply tell him that we will never get over drinking until we have done our utmost to straighten out the past. We are there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing that nothing worth while can be accomplished until we do so, never trying to tell him what he should do. His faults [...]

• Thin Again

  Chris

  25 Oct 2009 | 8:09 pm

  I’ve always been a skinny person.  Before my addiction to crystal meth the most I ever in my life weighed was 180 pounds.  I’m also 6′4″ so while 180 isn’t exactly underweight it is only a 32″ waist.  Call it narcissism but it’s an aesthetic I really like on me. Post crystal meth addiction I gained [...]

• Day 5 (plus 1000)

  Chris

  16 Oct 2009 | 2:50 pm

  I can’t believe it. Day 1000 passed without my noticing it. I was in Las Vegas at the time visiting my mom and dad. I spent the day hanging out with them, my great-uncle and his new wife and daughter, my aunt and two of my cousins. Watched some football. [...]

• 
  Elizabeth F. Howell, M.D., FASAM, DFAPA

• Are Psychiatrist Characteristics Associated With Postdischarge Suicide of Schizophrenia Patients?

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:44 pm

  Schizophr Bull. 2009 Jul;35(4):760-5. Epub 2008 Feb 16.Lee HC, Lin HC.Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.Information on the relationship between characteristics of mental healthcare providers, including hospitals and psychiatrists, and postdischarge suicide is scanty. This study aims to identify the risk factors for suicide among schizophrenia patients

• NIDAMED Resources for Medical and Health Professionals - NIDA

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:13 am

  NIDAMED Resources for Medical and Health Professionals - NIDANIDAMED - Screening Tools, Resources for Your Practice, Resources for Your Patients, Centers of Excellence for Physician Information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

• Georgia Bans Tobacco in All Prisons

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:09 am

  Georgia Bans Tobacco in All Prisons Georgia's Department of Corrections will start phasing out smoking and tobacco use in its 37 facilities beginning Jan. 1, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Nov. 9.

• Evidence for Genetic Association of RORB with Bipolar Disorder

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:49 am

  Casey McGrath, et al; BMC Psychiatry 2009, 9:70doi:10.1186/1471-244X-9-70Bipolar disorder, particularly in children, is characterized by rapid cycling and switching, making circadian clock genes plausible molecular underpinnings for bipolar disorder. We previously reported work establishing mice lacking the clock gene D-box binding protein (DBP) as a stress-reactive genetic animal model of

• NIDA Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research Based Guide (Second Edition)

  7 Nov 2009 | 11:53 pm

  Drug addiction is a complex illness.It is characterized by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that persist even in the face of devastating consequences. Many people do not realize that addiction is a brain disease. While the path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs, over time a persons ability to choose not to do so

• 
  A Song Not Scored For Breathing

• Schmuckety Schmuck

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:32 am

  Those Puglies are waiting for dearest one, who's been gone since yesterday morning, to come home. When it was bed time last night I went looking for the Energizer Bunny (on the left) and she was laying on the arm of the loveseat looking out the window, waiting for him. I'll be gone when dearest one comes home tonight and I can only imagine the ruckus that will ensue when they see his car come in the yard. They put their front feet on the bay window and point their noses straight up in the air and howl. Then they race up and down the hallway, trying to figure out which door he'll come in. They…

• The Darkness Does Not Own Me

  14 Nov 2009 | 6:40 am

  North of the 55th parallel the days are getting noticeably darker, earlier. I feel tired more than not. Or at least it seems that way. Up here we don't count days to Christmas, but rather days until the Winter Solstice, after which, hopes grows with every minute of increasing daylight. Yes, we count by minutes. Or at least I do.Advent will soon be here. Nearly four years ago I went on an Advent Retreat and wrote the prayer below. The shame of sexual addiction was so huge for me that day. I didn't write about what was underlying that prayer until this post. The scariest, most vulnerable post I…

• Unerring Instinct

  11 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  "...couples choose each other with unerring instinct for finding the very person who will exactly match their own level of unconscious anxieties and mirror their own dysfunctions, and who will trigger for them all their unresolved emotional pain."~ Gabor Mate

• Within Me

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:56 am

  "It sure is nice out today."That's dearest one's code language for let's talk about something else.Being in a vehicle with dearest one is one of my favourite places to be.We have the best conversations while driving.This particular morning we were getting honest about someone who rubbed us both the wrong way. As we talked I started to wonder why I was shoving all kinds of feelings off onto this person. One of those times when I slowly realized that it wasn't about the other person being who they are, but about how my reaction to them was about me. All me. It was while processing this out…

• A Form Of Prayer

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:55 am

  I light these candles often. I call them my prayer candles. The pretty blue one on the far left is lit for Pam and her family. As I light the candles I say out loud the name of the person I am praying for. Today is a day of praying mostly for people who have had loved ones die. Some I know personally, some are in the news. As I lit the last one I teared up and cried. Being teary is my least favourite vulnerable feeling. Even when I am all alone like I am this morning. Years ago a nun told me that tears are a form of prayer. You can't see it in this picture but the little bowl has the words…

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  Breaking Free

• Podcast: Battling Through Pain and Fighting For Your Faith

  Luke Gilkerson

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  Covenant Eyes Podcast - Episode 41 Today’s podcast is the last portion of our interview with best-selling author Bill Perkins. Bill talks more about King David’s “mighty men of valor.” In this segment Bill talks about Eleazar, a man who trained himself for battle, a man who serves as a model for how to fight through pain in our lives. Bill also talks about how David’s mighty men believed God’s promises of military victory, just as Christians today need to believe God’s promises to the church. Read more in his book, Six Battles Every Man Must Win. Thanks to The…

• Facing Temptation (Part 5)

  Luke Gilkerson

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:12 am

  Trusting vs. Testing The most subtle sin in my life is my lack of God-centeredness. It shows up in a thousand ugly ways. I walk through much of my day, not in a dialog with the Father, but listening to the sound of my own thoughts. I make plans to rise, eat, walk, read, talk, and sleep with little thought of what good works the Father might be planning for me. I most clearly see this underlying sin when my plans are interrupted. Sometimes it is something minor—a traffic jam that makes me late—and at other times it is something more important, such as a great loss of money, or a…

• A Kinder, Gentler Porn? - Jenna Jameson speaks on Oprah

  Mark Gaither

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:19 am

  I just finished watching The Oprah Winfrey Show, “Why Millions of Women Are Using Porn and Erotica: Lisa Ling Reports.” I’m not sure what I expected. Something more balanced, for sure. Maybe a word or two from someone like Shelley Lubben to reveal the darker side of the “adult entertainment industry.” Alas, nary a negative word. But the truth wouldn’t have made much headway. I could script the response from Oprah’s guests, Jenna Jameson and Lisa Ling: “But women’s porn—aka ‘erotica’—is different from all that icky male-oriented material.” Ms. Jameson spent…

• Facebook Fiasco - Guard your heart from cyber-affairs

  Guest Author

  17 Nov 2009 | 5:39 am

  This is a guest post from Shannon Ethridge, an internationally sought-after conference speaker and million-copy best-selling author of numerous books including the Every Woman’s Battle series. Learn more about her books and ministry at ShannonEthridge.com. I met a woman this weekend at a marriage conference (I’ll call her Hannah) who was grief-stricken over her best friend’s behavior. She had used Facebook to look up an old boyfriend, and the cyber-reunion turned into an extramarital affair. Her marriage was destroyed, her family was divided, and Hannah is aching for every single…

• Accountability Software: Active vs. Passive Participation

  Guest Author

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:47 am

  Pornography (as defined by Merriam-Webster) 1 : the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement 2 : material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement 3 : the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction Sexual addiction (as defined by Wikipedia) The behavior of sex addicts is comparable to behavior of alcoholics and addicts, where sex functions like a drug. A common definition of alcoholism is that a person has a pathological relationship…

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  Jorney of Life Recovery

• IQ of a HOUSE PLANT

  21 Nov 2009 | 6:25 am

  IQ of a HOUSE PLANTI just got off the phone with a client, and was once again reminded how complicated bright people can make life.Last night I attended a meeting, and on a board was the message “Keep It Simple”. I think it is a message most of those who read this and are going through recovery should have tattooed in neon in a visible place.We were not all created equal from an intelligence quotient point of view. Some got more than others. How it is put to use is another different subject. Most people I have met that need major life change are not short on capacity but have used the…

• FREEDOM

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:37 am

  Freedom from addiction comes through creation.Now and again I hit an article from a "friend" which I find much thought provoking and it makes a great point. I have had the privilege of freely exchanging thoughts and ideas with my friend Patrick M at www.spiritualriver.com. Both of us believe that is a huge amount of room to improve the recovery rate (arguably less than 10% today) through building on some of the proven things that work and taking key elements as a foundation. I had the opportunity to dialogue with Patrick as the Creative Theory evolved, and by adding a coaching piece to the…

• AUTHORING YOUR "LIFE" LIBRARY

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:05 am

  AUTHORING YOUR “LIFE” LIBRARYI must admit, I had never considered my life like a personal library. Them I received the following quote and reflection that made me ponder. Ever thought of things in these terms?Life is like a library owned by an author. In it are a few books, which he wrote himself, but most of them were written for him.--Harry Emerson Fosdick“In our minds there are multitudes of stored memories, knowledge, and skills. Some of these are the results of living and learning, but most are information given to us by others. Our family, friends, co-workers, teachers, and…

• REFLECTIONS

  18 Nov 2009 | 10:38 am

  REFLECTIONSI have been running reasonably hard for a while, and have not taken the time to just sit in the quiet, reflect, and put thoughts to paper.It has been an eventful period in our lives since early February; the time of a relocation of homes for us.We moved from a very urban and diversified setting to a small (17,500) rural town. I must admit, the adjustment has been a positive one for me; slower pace and people say hello (in English) and very little traffic congestion. The air is cleaner and insurance, gas, and a number of other things (including golf) much less expensive. We have a…

• MORE ON DUALITY (2 Yous)

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:09 am

  MORE ON TWO YOUS/DUALITYSince I began the process of life recovery, and particularly when I became aware that my final career-coaching others- is so spiritually focused, I became very exposed and interested in the duality that exists within each human being. This duality causes huge internal conflict within many. It sure did within me.Simple statements we all make, like "I'm mad at myself" are good example of duality at work. Think about it, who exactly is mad at whom?I loved "The Power of Now" and even more "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. Maybe too much detail but reads on duality that were…

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  Addiction Treatment Challenges

• Facts On Addiction To Drugs And Alcohol In America

  michellechallenges

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:00 pm

  There are millions of Americans in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, improving the lives of individuals, families and communities. Faces & Voices advocates for a recovery research agenda to provide policymakers, the media and citizens with more information on the pathways that these people have taken on their recovery journeys, as [...] Related posts:Drugs And Alcohol Are Present In 49 Percent Of Emergency Room Visits The latest data on drug abuse-related hospital emergency department (ED)...The Abuse Of Drugs Prescription drug abuse has become an increasingly…

• The Anabolic Steroid Controversy, Are They Addictive?

  michellechallenges

  14 Nov 2009 | 8:39 pm

  One question that a lot of people have asked is if it is possible to become addicted to steroids. The answer is, yes, some users of anabolic steroids meet the criteria for addiction and chemical dependency. They continue to use the drugs despite knowing that it has negative effects on relationships and can exacerbate physical [...] Related posts:Are You Aware Of The Consequences Of Anabolic Steroid Use? Anabolic steroid abuse has been associated with a wide range...Anabolic Steroids: What Are The Effects On Peoples Behavior? Case reports and small studies indicate that anabolic steroids,…

• What Is Drug Addiction?

  michellechallenges

  12 Nov 2009 | 1:03 pm

  Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. Although it is true [...] Related posts:Drug Addiction: How Do We Get It? Several different factors combine to influence addiction. The vast majority...How Does Drug Use Affect Your Brain? Drugs actually work by affecting your brain. Research now has...

• Relapse Trigger Identification Exercise

  michellechallenges

  10 Nov 2009 | 6:28 pm

  I have provided a large list of potential relapse triggers. The object of this exercise is to narrow the list down to the five potentially most troublesome for you. Start with quickly scanning the list, and marking any triggers that you think may apply to you. Now go back over the triggers you have marked and [...] Related posts:Drug And Alcohol Relapse Triggers: A Really Simple Concept On Relapse Prevention Do you know what a drug and alcohol relapse trigger...Drug And Alcohol Relapse Triggers: The Condensed Version The importance of understanding what a relapse trigger is cannot...

• The Principles Behind The 12 Steps Of AA, Alcoholics Anonymous

  michellechallenges

  7 Nov 2009 | 9:22 pm

  The principles of the 12 steps can be very difficult or very simple to understand. This is an effort to simplify the meaning of the principles of the 12 steps for those who may be having difficulty. These are the principles that are incorporated into our daily lives as ‘we walk the walk’. Employing each [...] Related posts:Understanding the 12 Steps Why They Are Still Important It might just be my perception, but it seems that...Addiction Treatment Principles – Podcast Here is a podcast discussing some basic principles of alcohol...

• 
  About.com: Addictions

• AMA Changes Medical Marijuana Policy

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:02 am

  Image (c) www.taatgen-fotografie.nl According to MedPage Today, the American Medical Association has changed it's policy on medical marijuana. They are asking for marijuana to be moved out of Schedule I, in which drugs considered to be unsafe, highly risky for abuse, and having no medical use are placed -- without specifying the schedule under which it belongs -- for more research to be conducted into the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, and for funding to be made available for research. Read more...AMA Changes Medical Marijuana Policy originally appeared on About.com Addictions on Friday,…

• Medical Marijuana For Kids With Autism

  18 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am

  Image (c) Hyperorbit/sxc.hu An article on controvery discussion site "Opposing Views" suggests that medical marijuana may help reduce aggressive behavior in children with autism. Although this is a complex issue, my gut reaction is negative. Here are some of the reasons why. Read more...Medical Marijuana For Kids With Autism originally appeared on About.com Addictions on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 12:30:27.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Crack Cocaine Increases HIV Risk

  15 Nov 2009 | 7:29 am

  Image (c) Charles Thompson A new study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal has shown that daily smoking of crack cocaine increases the risk of HIV infection, independently of other risk factors. The study followed over 1,080 injecting drug users who were HIV negative at the start of the study, and found that 137 had become HIV positive at follow up. The risk increased over time, and was independent of other risk factors such as needle sharing, sex work and unprotected sex. Read more...Crack Cocaine Increases HIV Risk originally appeared on About.com Addictions on Sunday,…

• New Evidence For Food Addiction

  10 Nov 2009 | 5:17 pm

  Image (c) Charles Thompson An exciting new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has demonstrated a new level of the addictive process in food addiction. The study, which induced palatable food addiction in rats, showed that these unfortunate creatures not only experienced pleasurable reward processes from overeating, but also actually experienced physiological withdrawal when the palatable food became inaccessible. Read more...New Evidence For Food Addiction originally appeared on About.com Addictions on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 01:17:45.Permalink |…

• Vaccines Protect the Whole Community

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:23 am

  The decision to get vaccinated against a disease such as H1N1 is a personal one. I've noticed this reflected in the way people talk about the decision -- whether they are in the higher risk groups, whether they mind being ill etc. Yet it is worth bearing in mind that your decision whether or not to get vaccinated may affect many more people than just you. You are also affecting everyone you could potentially pass the virus on to. And with people being contagious both before symptoms appear and after they disappear, there is a high likelihood that you will pass it on to many others without…

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  Drug Rehab Blog

• Information on Substance Abuse

  Nick Hayes

  21 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  The definition of substance abuse is the overindulgence in and dependence on an addictive substance, such as drugs or alcohol. One of the common misconceptions revolving around information on substance abuse is that drug addiction is considered a disease. This theory turns the addict into a poor sick person that can’t do anything about his addiction disease. Nothing can be further from the truth, as the addict does not have a disease; he is addicted.

• How Can I Help?

  Scott Burgess

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:21 am

  As a Counselor working extensively with the public on projects such as intervention, family consultation and drug education I come across family members or friends of addicts doing the leg work and research in locating suitable treatment for their loved one. They do this because the addict is at a loss of control to actually help themselves a lot of the time. Basically the family or friends have had enough of the addict’s behavior and are not willing to see the individual destroy him or herself any longer.

• Effects of Drug Addiction on Family Members

  Nick Hayes

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:06 am

  Unfortunately, drug abuse and addiction does not only touch the life of the addict but also everyone who is close to them. Family members may have the best intentions, but often, they get caught up in the web of drug addiction. They may not become addicts themselves but there are consequences nonetheless. Mentally and physically, a loved one’s drug addiction takes its toll on family members.

• How to Help an Alcoholic

  Nick Hayes

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:56 am

  In order to help the alcoholic acknowledge their problem, you have to acknowledge it first. Become aware of the signs and symptoms of alcoholism as well as the tricks alcoholics use to get loved ones to help them. Then you must set limits. This is often difficult for people but it must be done. Let the alcoholic know the rules in your home. Let them know they cannot drink at your home and that, for instance, you will not bail them out if they get pulled over for a DUI. How to help an alcoholic.

• Oxycontin VS Heroin

  Nick Hayes

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:51 am

  Oxycontin VS Heroin? They are so nearly the same drug, most users would take either one. Why is Oxycontin legal and Heroin illegal? Oxycontin and Heroin are both opioids, which are synthetic or real derivatives of opium. Everybody has heard of Heroin addiction, and in more recent years, Oxycontin addiction. But, just what exactly are these two drugs?

• 
  Sara Bellum Blog

• About HIV/AIDS: Inform Yourself to Protect Yourself

  admin

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:09 pm

  Image Courtesy of Susan Sermoneta When someone mentions “HIV/AIDS” what is the first thing that comes to mind? —Something you learned about in health class? —Or saw on TV? —Or recall a friend who recently got tested for HIV? —Or a celebrity who raises awareness about HIV/AIDS around the world? Here’s some of the science behind HIV/AIDS that you may not know; HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), a disease of the immune system. Currently, there is no cure, but there is treatment. The good news? HIV/AIDS…

• NIDA News: NIDAs Chat Day, More Questions on Marijuana

  admin

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:26 am

  Image Courtesy of Chris Phillips, ICF Macro NIDA’s annual DRUG FACTS CHAT DAY, held November 10, was a huge success. The computer-filled room where it happened vibrated with excitement, as more than 40 NIDA scientists eagerly tried to answer as many questions as they could. And questions they got. Teens from around the country sent in some 13,000 questions about drugs–wow, so nice to hear from you! So what was different about Chat Day this year? Well for one, there seemed to be twice as many questions on marijuana. Maybe that’s because the news lately is full of talk about…

• Let’s Talk: SBB Wants Your Feedback

  admin

  12 Nov 2009 | 7:09 am

  Good news SBB readers, each week more and more of you are visiting the blog. Because more of you are tuning in, we want to make sure we provide you with the most interesting and helpful information. We always take your comments and your messages into consideration, and you’ve already given us great insight. So, we are taking it a step further. In other words, we want more of your feedback! Here’s how it’s going to work. Each month, we’ll post a specific question on the blog asking for your feedback. The first question is: Question #1: What would you like to talk about,…

• NIDA News: What Are Teens Asking About Drugs?

  admin

  10 Nov 2009 | 9:43 am

  November 10th is NIDA’s annual DRUG FACTS CHAT DAY! In case you haven’t heard of it—more than 40 NIDA scientists and science writers sit down at computers and answer questions sent in live from high school students from all over the country. Last year, 11,000 teens sent in their questions! To actually ask a question on the CHAT your school has to register in advance. But even if you haven’t registered, there’s a lot of interesting stuff to read by just observing Chat Day, on November 10, 8 am to 6 pm EST. You’ll see factoids and quizzes (test your…

• Real Teens Ask: How Old Are Kids who Start Using Drugs?

  admin

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:02 am

  Lots of teens have questions about drugs. Each year, NIDA scientists spend a day chatting online with high school students and answering their questions. At the last Drug Facts Chat Day, soccerstar0 asked: “On average how old are kids who start using drugs?” Research shows that drug use often starts in the teen years. You might have heard that, but here’s something you may not know—the science shows that the younger you are when you start using drugs, the more likely you are to get addicted later on. Doing drugs can also cause problems with friends, in sports, and in…

• 
  The Sara Bellum Blog

• About HIV/AIDS: Inform Yourself to Protect Yourself

  admin

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:09 pm

  Image Courtesy of Susan Sermoneta When someone mentions “HIV/AIDS” what is the first thing that comes to mind? —Something you learned about in health class? —Or saw on TV? —Or recall a friend who recently got tested for HIV? —Or a celebrity who raises awareness about HIV/AIDS around the world? Here’s some of the science behind HIV/AIDS that you may not know; HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), a disease of the immune system. Currently, there is no cure, but there is treatment. The good news? HIV/AIDS…

• NIDA News: NIDAs Chat Day, More Questions on Marijuana

  admin

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:26 am

  Image Courtesy of Chris Phillips, ICF Macro NIDA’s annual DRUG FACTS CHAT DAY, held November 10, was a huge success. The computer-filled room where it happened vibrated with excitement, as more than 40 NIDA scientists eagerly tried to answer as many questions as they could. And questions they got. Teens from around the country sent in some 13,000 questions about drugs–wow, so nice to hear from you! So what was different about Chat Day this year? Well for one, there seemed to be twice as many questions on marijuana. Maybe that’s because the news lately is full of talk about…

• Let’s Talk: SBB Wants Your Feedback

  admin

  12 Nov 2009 | 7:09 am

  Good news SBB readers, each week more and more of you are visiting the blog. Because more of you are tuning in, we want to make sure we provide you with the most interesting and helpful information. We always take your comments and your messages into consideration, and you’ve already given us great insight. So, we are taking it a step further. In other words, we want more of your feedback! Here’s how it’s going to work. Each month, we’ll post a specific question on the blog asking for your feedback. The first question is: Question #1: What would you like to talk about,…

• NIDA News: What Are Teens Asking About Drugs?

  admin

  10 Nov 2009 | 9:43 am

  November 10th is NIDA’s annual DRUG FACTS CHAT DAY! In case you haven’t heard of it—more than 40 NIDA scientists and science writers sit down at computers and answer questions sent in live from high school students from all over the country. Last year, 11,000 teens sent in their questions! To actually ask a question on the CHAT your school has to register in advance. But even if you haven’t registered, there’s a lot of interesting stuff to read by just observing Chat Day, on November 10, 8 am to 6 pm EST. You’ll see factoids and quizzes (test your…

• Real Teens Ask: How Old Are Kids who Start Using Drugs?

  admin

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:02 am

  Lots of teens have questions about drugs. Each year, NIDA scientists spend a day chatting online with high school students and answering their questions. At the last Drug Facts Chat Day, soccerstar0 asked: “On average how old are kids who start using drugs?” Research shows that drug use often starts in the teen years. You might have heard that, but here’s something you may not know—the science shows that the younger you are when you start using drugs, the more likely you are to get addicted later on. Doing drugs can also cause problems with friends, in sports, and in…

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  Treatment Solutions Network Addiction Treatment Articles

• Domestic Violence as a Result of Substance Abuse

  Bethany Winkel

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:51 pm

  We know drug abuse is bad and we want everyone to get treatment so they can live a healthy, productive life. But people with drug and alcohol addictions cause problems in many other people’s lives as well as their own. A drunken father doesn’t always suffer in silence and leave his family alone. Quite often, he will commit crimes against his family, either physical or mental abuse of his wife or children. A man or woman high on drugs is likely to lash out at their partner, and many domestic crimes have been committed while one or both partners are high on drugs. The Connection Between…

• Recovering in a Luxury Drug Rehab Facility

  Bethany Winkel

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:33 pm

  Private suites, a gourmet chef, a Jacuzzi, horseback riding, and a beautiful view of the ocean. Sounds like a luxurious vacation in a warm-weather climate, doesn’t it? Actually, it is describing the latest in luxury drug rehab. Luxury drug rehab has a lot to offer for those suffering with drug addiction. Patients are given individualized care, the best accommodations, and access to many different activities and amenities. For those that can afford to go to a luxury rehab facility, transportation is often provided by private car or limousine, and once there, patients are pampered and given…

• Eating Disorder – a Dangerous Disease

  Bethany Winkel

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:26 pm

  Eating disorders are more than just a teen trend. They are dangerous and potentially fatal, and they can affect a wide variety of people. Just like with substance abuse and mental illness, there is usually a complex web of factors that cause an eating disorder. Usually, things like volatile family relationships, social pressures, and media influences can cause an eating disorder. Other factors like stress, depression, and anxiety are often found to be behind the disease. An eating disorder is a mental illness, and requires professional treatment from a group of trained physicians. Effects of…

• From the Desk of Jim Bevell: How to Save Our Healthcare Dollars

  Jim Bevell

  16 Nov 2009 | 1:15 pm

  As much as I love putting people on blast, sometimes (who am I kidding, all the time) you come across a piece of information that is so disturbing and so ubiquitous that it is impossible to direct your frustration at just one individual. Believe me, I’d love to identify one culprit for the following fact but like most staggering facts associated with addiction, we need to dig deep to find the origin of the problem. With that said, this week I found myself blown away by something other than how disturbing this whole healthcare reform is being handled. I was thinking about how this…

• Video: Boston Firefighter Pride

  Jared Moré

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:36 am

  Here at Treatment Solutions Network we have very strong ties to those who serve our communities, protecting and serving day in and day out. We are proud of these men and women and have a particular affinity for the Boston Fire Department. We were very happy when one of our friends forwarded us this video detailing the service of Boston Fire. Enjoy! To learn more about our involvement and commitment to help those who serve us please check out our testimonials page by clicking here. Related Addiction Treatment Articles (Automatically Generated)Mark Lundholm Video ClipsCertified Employee…

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  Drug Addiction Stories

• What’s Your Name?

  Nick Hayes

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:17 am

  Belinda tried not to stop and think about how life was before the drugs. She was one of those shy, studious types before she started taking meth. The only reason she started that was for a marathon study before the finals at school. She was, to say the least, very impressed with the feelings the meth gave her. As they say, one thing led to another and soon Belinda was using meth on a semi-regular basis. She did manage to get into college but over time, she started to miss classes. Pretty soon, the meth was more important than the education. That was then. Now, Belinda slept in fields, near…

• My Son is a Teenage Alcoholic

  admin

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:13 am

  Having had 3 older children, I knew how rough the teen years could be. My youngest son actually started out in adolescence on a pretty good note. I began to think he wouldn’t give me the trouble my others did. I couldn’t have been more wrong. He started to get more and more irritable but he also started acting more bizarre. At one point, when he was 15, he asked me to buy him alcohol. “No, I won’t buy you alcohol! What is wrong with you? You’re not even old enough to drink!” He told me “never mind, it’s no big deal anyway”. If nothing else, that gave me the heads-up that he…

• Till Drugs Do Us Part

  Nick Hayes

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:04 am

  I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. We had hopes and dreams and were madly in love. The wedding was small, but the reception was huge. If nothing else, I can look back on that day with fond memories. It’s a good thing because shortly after that, our lives and our goal headed down hill. For me, the drug use started when I had our first and only child. I had to have a C Section, there were some problems and the baby didn’t make it. They gave me Oxycontin for pain. After a couple of weeks, I figured out that the drug did just as much for easing my mental pain as it did my…

• Tommy’s Late Night Call

  Nick Hayes

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:28 am

  My stepbrother committed suicide a few years ago.  He had a problem with drugs most of his adult life.  Many times we tried to get help for him but he stayed in denial.  It caused psychological problems for him as well and eventually, he took his own life.  Out of that tragedy, my nephew’s life was saved. At the funeral, I hugged my nephew who I had not seen in just over a year.  I told him if he ever needed anything to call me, as my stepbrother was my brother without DNA.  A couple of weeks later, he did.  It was nearly 3 a.m. but I answered to hear my nephew say, “Aunt…

• She Still Doesn’t Remember the Party

  admin

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:13 am

  She still doesn’t remember the party to this day.  All my sister remembers is that she experienced crystal meth for the first time that night and a feeling like she was on top of the world and could do anything.  She felt aroused and beautiful and charismatic.  She is beautiful but now she seems almost like a shadow of her former self. My sister was a rarity in high school.  She was sweet and special and gorgeous and nice.  She was popular because she was so unique.  If she had a bad quality it was that she trusted too easily.  So when her new college roommate talked her into…