Addiction

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    Google News: Addiction

  • Group targets addictions - The Chronicle Journal

    7 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am
    Group targets addictionsThe Chronicle JournalA new steering committee is forming in Thunder Bay to tackle the problem of substance addictions in the city. The group was unveiled at Thunder Bay Police Committee Syndrome Delays Action on Drug StrategyNet Newsledgerall 3 news articles »

  • Look where teens are finding drugs - Virginia Gazette

    6 Nov 2009 | 11:45 pm
    Send2Press (press release)Look where teens are finding drugsVirginia GazetteChildren under 21 are particularly susceptible to drug addiction because their brains are still developing. While people who use pain killers after surgery For Immediate ReleaseNational Institutes of Health (press release)Narconon Drug Rehab of Georgia Graduate Featured on Local NewsSend2Press (press release)500 pounds of unwanted drugs collectedDesMoinesRegister.comThe Times of Trenton - NJ.com -Chicago Tribune -Wall Street Journal (blog)all 27 news articles »

  • Fuel for corruption, conflict, addiction - Boston Globe

    6 Nov 2009 | 7:32 pm
    Fuel for corruption, conflict, addictionBoston GlobeIt keeps anything but respectable company but, because of its clout and the global addiction to oil, its grip is tight. These are some of the lessons Peter

  • Google Dashboard displays your Google addiction - DVICE

    6 Nov 2009 | 12:09 pm
    Google Dashboard displays your Google addictionDVICEIs Google taking over the world? Well, now you can see how much it's taking over your world with the Google dashboard, listing each of the company's and more »

  • Steve Jobs Named 'CEO of the Decade,' China Stops Beating Web Addicts - Switched (blog)

    6 Nov 2009 | 9:03 am
    Steve Jobs Named 'CEO of the Decade,' China Stops Beating Web AddictsSwitched (blog) a Chinese teenager tragically died after being severely beaten at a boot camp that aims to curb Internet addiction while teaching kids how to use the and more »
 
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    Medical News Today: Addiction

  • Studies Geared To Improving HIV Care And Prevention Supported By Federal Stimulus Funds

    7 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am
    UCSF HIV researchers have received two NIH grants of $1 million each to study the use of web-based, patient controlled personal health records to improve health and HIV prevention outcomes for HIV positive patients. Both studies are funded through the federal stimulus bill, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

  • FDA Warns Consumers On Sexual Enhancement Products

    6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers that Stiff Nights, a product marketed as a dietary supplement for sexual enhancement, contains an ingredient that can dangerously lower blood pressure and is illegal. Over the past several years, the FDA has found

  • Campaign Launches To Sound Alarm About The Misuse Of Prescription Drugs Among Teens

    6 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and representatives from 15 nationally recognized prevention, health professional and child advocacy organizations, are launching Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do to Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse.

  • Use Of Cannabinoids (Marijuana) Could Help Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Patients

    5 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am
    Use of cannabinoids (marijuana) could assist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder patients. This is exposed in a recent study carried out at the Learning and Memory Lab in the University of Haifa's Department of Psychology. The study, carried out by research student Eti Ganon-Elazar under the supervision of Dr. Irit Akirav, was published in the prestigious Journal of Neuroscience.

  • Potential Drug Target For Alcoholism From Drunken Fruit Flies

    5 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am
    A group of drunken fruit flies have helped researchers from North Carolina State and Boston universities identify entire networks of genes - also present in humans - that play a key role in alcohol drinking behavior. This discovery, published in the October 2009 print issue of the journal Genetics, provides a crucial explanation of why some people seem to tolerate alcohol better than others, as well as a potential target for drugs aimed at preventing or eliminating alcoholism.
 
 
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    Addiction and Recovery News

  • 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

  • Recovery pandemic

    3 Nov 2009 | 11:18 am
    holy cow, it’s happening to you too.Androcles writes a nice post on the infectious nature of recovery and hope.
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    Recovery Connection

  • Residential Drug Treatment Centers and Success Rates

    dscott
    7 Nov 2009 | 5:18 am
    Be skeptical of residential treatment centers that quote success rates and guarantees that seem to good to be true.

  • Inpatient Detox Programs versus Outpatient Detox Programs

    mharmon
    4 Nov 2009 | 11:25 am
    I found out the hard way that an inpatient detox program was much easier than an outpatient detox program.

  • My Treatment for Addiction

    jhutt
    2 Nov 2009 | 8:12 am
    Which is better, inpatient or outpatient treatment for addiction?

  • Can Helping an Alcoholic or Addict Keep You Sober?

    joanna@recoveryconnection.org
    2 Nov 2009 | 6:57 am
    If you have been fortunate enough to get clean and sober then you are aware of 12 Step Programs. Both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are teaching people the way to ensure staying clean and sober is to help another alcoholic-addict that wants help.

  • Drug Addiction Treatment Programs

    joanna@recoveryconnection.org
    29 Oct 2009 | 8:44 am
    No one likes to think they live in an area that has become known for drug addiction. Cities and states are riddled with substance abuse and drug addiction. More than ever drug addiction treatment programs are becoming widely known and readily available because drug addiction is at an all time high.
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    Cliffside Malibu

  • 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.

  • Getting Personal With Alcoholism And How Alcohol Rehab Can Help

    christa
    26 Oct 2009 | 8:15 pm
    Alcoholism is a personal problem. By the same token, alcohol rehab must be a personal process. No one else has ever experienced alcohol abuse like you have, and your alcohol rehab program must be uniquely your own. The best alcohol rehabs are those which cater to the unique individual needs of their unique individual clients. In the end, nothing less than that could ever possibly be good enough. The good news is that there are plenty of alcohol rehabilitation centers in Los Angeles. The bad news it that they aren’t all equally capable of serving their residents. Before you make an alcohol…

  • Why Does Long-Term Drug Rehab Work Better

    christa
    21 Oct 2009 | 10:17 pm
    Long-term drug rehab is the only kind of drug rehab that works. The fact of the matter is that drug addiction is a resilient disease, and drug rehab programs can only be successful if they provide patients with support over the full course of the healing process. Long-term drug rehab facilities do just that—and long-term drug rehab residents will you that it makes all the difference in the world. You already know what’s at stake in the fight against drug abuse. The good news is that the right long-term drug rehab center can help you win the battle. The catch, of course, is that you have…
 
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    Addiction Inbox

  • 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…

  • Alcohol and In Vitro Fertilization

    Dirk Hanson
    25 Oct 2009 | 11:09 am
    Do drinking women face tougher odds? Everybody knows by now that it’s not safe to drink while pregnant. However, a new study of more than 2,500 couples enrolled in a course of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at a fertility clinic found that women who drank more than a single drink per day significantly reduced their likelihood of pregnancy, according to a report by doctors at the Harvard Medical School in Boston.Now, it may not even be a good idea for women to drink while trying to get pregnant. And that includes you men out there as well.Dr. Brooke Rossi presented the findings last…

  • Bong Water Illegal in Minnesota

    Dirk Hanson
    23 Oct 2009 | 11:40 am
    State Supreme Court calls it a “drug mixture.”The lesson is clear: If you live in Minnesota, and you happen to own a bong, be sure to pour out the water after each use.Bong water is now officially a controlled substance in Minnesota, according to a state Supreme Court ruling last week. An Associated Press report by Steve Karnowski in the Minneapolis Star Tribune said the decision “raises the threat of longer sentences for drug smokers who fail to dump the water out of their pipes.”The decision (PDF HERE) reverses two lower court rulings, which dropped charges in a case where a search…
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    Addiction Recovery Blog

  • Addiction - What is It?

    Karen Halls
    5 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am
    When the word ‘addiction’ is mentioned it very often stirs up an abundance of thoughts, feelings and behaviours within an individual, there appears to be a sudden change in interest and attention from people. Being an addiction counsellor and hypnotherapist I witness this when I am asked what my line of work is; from my hairdresser to the postman they all suddenly feel the need to tell me that they ‘have a friend’ who has a problem with alcohol or drugs. Addiction appears to have been in our society forever and it doesn’t seem to be leaving us either. The word…

  • How Does Marijuana Affect Me?

    Karen Halls
    4 Nov 2009 | 7:02 am
    Among nicotine and alcohol, marijuana is easily one of the most popular recreational drugs in the world today. Unlike most other drugs around the world, marijuana is still climbing in popularity. Also rising is the strength of marijuana itself. People have been constantly researching and updating ways of growing stronger weed. More THC content means stronger effects, which makes weed more valuable. This has led to new levels of potency in marijuana. Marijuana today is twice as potent as the stuff people were smoking in the 70s and 80s! When you smoke marijuana, THC enters your blood via the…

  • Overcome Addiction - The Impostor Syndrome

    Karen Halls
    3 Nov 2009 | 7:03 am
    Identity theft has become a well known topic of concern in later part of this decade, and I might add with good reason. But, I’d like to talk about a different kind of identity theft - one that has absolutely nothing to do with social security numbers or credit scores. The type of identity theft I’m referring to is personal identity, which is more widely known as the impostor syndrome. This type of identity theft is quite common in addiction. As a matter of fact, I believe it’s a core component in every form of addiction. Being subjected to patterns of family dysfunction is…

  • The Way Out of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

    Karen Halls
    2 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am
    In this commentary, we shall investigate the several techniques out of alcoholism and drug addiction. Unknown to numerous people, particularly, alcohol and drug addicts around you, there are some basic steps you can take on your own to leave this problem and this does not call for lots of your hard earned cash. These steps are necessary before you start considering the paid option to ending the problem. I encourage you to use the info discussed in this article. The first action to fruitfully stopping alcoholism and drug addiction is desire. You must have a strong desire to quit. Without this…

  • How the Families of the Alcoholics Get Affected

    Karen Halls
    1 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am
    Indulgence in alcoholism or any other type of drug addiction is a major cause of getting into complex situations. The alcoholic himself, as well as his family, suffer from inexplicable turmoil from this bad habit. An alcoholic not only brings bad reputation to his personal name and character but his entire family is, in most of the cases, victimized by the negative attitude of the society towards them. The problem is not limited to the society alone; it encompasses all major and minor areas of personal and collective lives. Alcoholism may numb the senses of a person for the time being, but…
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    Suboxone Talk Zone

  • 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…

  • Report: Generic buprenorphine in Ohio!

    SuboxDoc
    25 Oct 2009 | 5:02 pm
    I may be fanning the flames of rumor, but it was posted on Subox Forum today that generic Subutex (essentially a sublingual buprenorphine tablet) will be available tomorrow at a price of around $2.40 per tablet.    Not the cheapest drug, but a drop in price of over 50%– which would come as great relief to many people.     

  • SuboxDoc Goes Negative!

    SuboxDoc
    16 Oct 2009 | 8:39 pm
    I received a couple responses to my youtube videos tonight that are worth responding to.  For people who haven’t stumbled across the videos, you will find them if you go to youtube and search under ‘suboxone’ or ‘suboxdoc’.  They are pretty much the same thing as what you read here—a combination of my experiences in treating opiate dependence using Suboxone, education on the actions of buprenorphine, some of my personal ‘theories’ (maybe ‘opinions’ is a better word) on the relationship between sober recovery and buprenorphine maintenance (what I like to call…
 
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    What Winners Do

  • Addiction Recovery: Where Are You Along Your Road Of Recovery?

    Erin
    6 Nov 2009 | 6:38 pm
    At first, the main purpose of entering into addiction recovery was so you would stop drinking, drugging, gambling, over-eating whatever else you did compulsively. You finally realized that you had a problem and needed to stop, the next thing you did was to admit that you not only had a problem but that the problem was one that cannot be fixed on your own. The next stop along your road of recovery was realizing that since you cannot fix your problem on your own, you needed to ask for help. This was one of the most difficult things that you ever had to do in your life. Saying out loud to…

  • What Winners Do Is Proud To Introduce The Suboxone Help Spot

    Erin
    5 Nov 2009 | 6:28 pm
    It is with great pleasure that I announce the creation of The Suboxone Help Spot. This Suboxone support forum was created with the intention of providing a place for anyone associated with Suboxone to find the information and the support that they need. So who is "anyone associated with Suboxone"? This would include active addicts who are contemplating beginning Suboxone treatment, those recovering addicts who are currently in Suboxone treatment, Methadone patients who are trying to make the switch over to Suboxone treatment, and also those who have loved ones that are on a Suboxone treatment…

  • Downer Junkie Asks:How Am I Supposed to Sleep?

    Erin
    4 Nov 2009 | 6:04 pm
    One of my huge problems has always been that when I lay down to try and go to sleep...I think and think and think. Thoughts pop into my head about certain things I should have done, things I'm supposed to do, things I have no business worrying about but can't help it. If you read my story you can see that this seems to be a big part of my drug use. This was a major reason I would self medicate at night. I always wanted to just drift off to sleep without having to think about anything. I tried counting and deep breathing. But that didn't work. Drugs worked. But now what? I'm not taking drugs…

  • Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms Being Kept Secret?

    Erin
    3 Nov 2009 | 5:37 pm
    I wrote an article on how much Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms suck and I was pretty shocked at the amount of comments that are being posted from people who were going through the same exact Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms. The common theme is that no one was made aware of the Cymbalta withdrawal side effects upfront. There was an article posted over at The Discovering Alcoholic's website where he talked about Purdue Pharma's misrepresentation of Oxycontin. The top executives blatantly downplayed the dangers and the addictive properties of Oxycontin with one thing in mind...the almighty dollar. It…

  • Are You Still Keeping Secrets In Your Recovery?

    Erin
    2 Nov 2009 | 5:03 pm
    "They Say" that a huge part of addiction recovery is un-burdening yourself of all those "secrets" that you keep inside because of the fear of judgment. I guess this goes along with Step 5 of the 12 Steps. You admit to your higher power, yourself, and another human being the exact nature of your wrongs. The purpose of this step is supposed to be about openly acknowledging the positive while committing to work at rectifying your negatives. I do understand the purpose of it, I guess I'm just NO WHERE near being ready for this type of outward honesty. I'm not saying I'll never be there, just not…
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    Wiley InterScience: Addiction

  • Syringe exchange, injecting and intranasal drug use

    Don C. Des Jarlais, Kamyar Arasteh, Courtney McKnight, Martin Ringer, Samuel R. Friedman
    5 Nov 2009 | 4:01 am
    Objective To assess trends in injecting and non-injecting drug use after implementation of large-scale syringe exchange in New York City. The belief that implementation of syringe exchange will lead to increased drug injecting has been a persistent argument against syringe exchange.Methods Administrative data on route of administration for primary drug of abuse among patients entering the Beth Israel methadone maintenance program from 1995 to 2007. Approximately 2000 patients enter the program each year.Results During and after the period of large-scale implementation of syringe exchange, the…

  • Policy options for alcohol price regulation: the importance of modelling population heterogeneity

    Petra Sylvia Meier, Robin Purshouse, Alan Brennan
    19 Oct 2009 | 12:17 am
    Context and aims Internationally, the repertoire of alcohol pricing policies has expanded to include targeted taxation, inflation-linked taxation, taxation based on alcohol-by-volume (ABV), minimum pricing policies (general or targeted), bans of below-cost selling and restricting price-based promotions. Policy makers clearly need to consider how options compare in reducing harms at the population level, but are also required to demonstrate proportionality of their actions, which necessitates a detailed understanding of policy effects on different population subgroups. This paper presents…

  • Randomized controlled trial of dexamphetamine maintenance for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence

    Marie Longo, Wendy Wickes, Matthew Smout, Sonia Harrison, Sharon Cahill, Jason M. White
    19 Oct 2009 | 12:17 am
    Aim To investigate the safety and efficacy of once-daily supervised oral administration of sustained-release dexamphetamine in people dependent on methamphetamine.Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Participants Forty-nine methamphetamine-dependent drug users from Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA) clinics.Intervention Participants were assigned randomly to receive up to 110 mg/day sustained-release dexamphetamine (n = 23) or placebo (n = 26) for a maximum of 12 weeks, with gradual reduction of the study medication over an additional 4 weeks. Medication…

  • Cannabis and crime: findings from a longitudinal study

    Willy Pedersen, Torbjørn Skardhamar
    14 Oct 2009 | 9:09 pm
    Aim To examine the association between cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood, and subsequent criminal charges.Methods Data were obtained from the Young in Norway Longitudinal Study. A population-based sample (n = 1353) was followed from 13 to 27 years of age. Data were gathered on cannabis use, alcohol consumption and alcohol problems, and use of other illegal substances such as amphetamines, cocaine and opiates. In addition, extensive information on socio-demographic, family and personal factors was collected. This data set was linked to individual-level information from…

  • Alcohol consumption in homicide victims in the city of So Paulo

    Gabriel Andreuccetti, Heráclito Barbosa de Carvalho, Júlio de Carvalho Ponce, Débora Gonçalves de Carvalho, Túlio Kahn, Daniel Romero Muñoz, Vilma Leyton
    5 Oct 2009 | 4:57 am
    Aims To assess the association between alcohol use and victimization by homicide in individuals autopsied at the Institute of Legal Medicine in São Paulo, Brazil.Design Cross-sectional study.Setting Excessive consumption of alcohol is a serious public health issue and a major factor in triggering violent situations, which suggests a strong association between alcohol ingestion and becoming a victim of homicide.Participants Data from 2042 victims of homicides in 2005 were obtained from medical examiner reports.Measurements The victim's gender, age, ethnicity and blood alcohol concentration…
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    Addiction Recovery Basics

  • 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…

  • A Tale Only Addicts In Recovery Will Understand

    Bill Urell
    30 Oct 2009 | 8:41 pm
    In speaking with other addicts in recovery… I was made acutely aware of something as I was trying to get across to my father what it was like to be an alcoholic. He is not. Normal people just don’t get it. It’s not their fault, they just really can’t. I used this as an example. I said suppose you went out on your birthday and got very very drunk, ended up tipping over the table in the restaurant, banging into walls and falling down. On the way home you nearly wrecked the car, and picked a fight with your wife who should be minding her own business, as you were trying to get the key in…

  • Excuse Our Appearance

    Bill Urell
    29 Oct 2009 | 5:54 pm
    Please excuse our appearance. I am shifting to a new theme and have misplaced some fromatting and page links. We are working quickly to restore order. Bill

  • Getting Stuck Is Normal, Staying Stuck Is A Drag

    Bill Urell
    25 Oct 2009 | 6:12 pm
    Most people feel don’t feel good about themselves from time to time. In my experience though, people in active addiction and entering addiction recovery don’t feel that great about themselves a lot of the time. This is completely understandable. If we are working moving ahead on our recovery program, in all probability, we have found a certain amount of wreckage and consequences in the past and present that can generate some very unpleasant feelings. I think it is very important not stay stuck or locked into having a low opinion of ourselves. After all, isn’t our goal in…
 
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    Addiction Inbox

  • 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…

  • Alcohol and In Vitro Fertilization

    Dirk Hanson
    25 Oct 2009 | 11:09 am
    Do drinking women face tougher odds? Everybody knows by now that it’s not safe to drink while pregnant. However, a new study of more than 2,500 couples enrolled in a course of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at a fertility clinic found that women who drank more than a single drink per day significantly reduced their likelihood of pregnancy, according to a report by doctors at the Harvard Medical School in Boston.Now, it may not even be a good idea for women to drink while trying to get pregnant. And that includes you men out there as well.Dr. Brooke Rossi presented the findings last…

  • Bong Water Illegal in Minnesota

    Dirk Hanson
    23 Oct 2009 | 11:40 am
    State Supreme Court calls it a “drug mixture.”The lesson is clear: If you live in Minnesota, and you happen to own a bong, be sure to pour out the water after each use.Bong water is now officially a controlled substance in Minnesota, according to a state Supreme Court ruling last week. An Associated Press report by Steve Karnowski in the Minneapolis Star Tribune said the decision “raises the threat of longer sentences for drug smokers who fail to dump the water out of their pipes.”The decision (PDF HERE) reverses two lower court rulings, which dropped charges in a case where a search…
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    The Last Chance Texaco

  • 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. [...]

  • Exhausted . . . again. Naturally.

    Chris
    8 Oct 2009 | 11:44 am
    They’re out. They’re back in. They’re out. They’re back in. It’s exhausting. I’m afraid I have a growing prejudice against those that seem to want it but aren’t willing to ride out the discomfort in order to achieve long term sobriety. Not that I can claim anything like long term [...]

  • Back from the dead

    Chris
    27 Sep 2009 | 4:39 pm
    I am really feeling grateful for my life today.  And I’m feeling especially grateful for the time that I spent with my sponsor up in Atlanta and everything that has followed. Friday night I got to take one of my favorite people, Jill, the friend who let me detox at her house, out for dinner at [...]
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    Elizabeth F. Howell, M.D., FASAM, DFAPA

  • Stress-induced Changes In Brain Circuitry Linked To Cocaine Relapse

    6 Nov 2009 | 10:46 pm
    ScienceDaily (2009-10-31) -- Stress-evoked changes in circuits that regulate serotonin in certain parts of the brain can precipitate a low mood and a relapse of cocaine-seeking, based on mouse studies.

  • Smoking During Pregnancy May Predispose Kids to Behavioral Problems

    6 Nov 2009 | 9:55 pm
    Smoking During Pregnancy May Predispose Kids to Behavioral ProblemsWomen who smoked during pregnancy were more likely to report having children with behavioral problems, and researchers think the reason could be fetal brain damage, the BBC reported Nov. 3.

  • Report: Treatment Cuts Recidivism Nearly in Half

    19 Oct 2009 | 9:08 am
    Report: Treatment Cuts Recidivism Nearly in HalfCriminal offenders who completed in-prison and community-based treatment were far less likely to end up back in prison than those who did not get services, according to a new report from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).Shared via AddThis

  • My Medem site will go offline forever at the end of December 2009

    17 Oct 2009 | 12:25 am
    My Medem website will close forever at the end of December 2009.Due to changes in the web services provider, my Medem site will go offline at the end of December, 2009. After that time, you may reach me through this site and (in early 2010) http://www.efhmd.comI have taken down almost all the links on the old Medem site in preparation for the transition. If you are looking for some of the

  • The Why of Sleep

    15 Oct 2009 | 11:21 pm
    Brain studies may reveal the purpose of a behavior both basic and mystifyingScience NewsSpecial issue on sleep
 
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    A Song Not Scored For Breathing

  • 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…

  • Merciful God

    1 Nov 2009 | 3:24 pm
    "God, I've got a bad attitude."I'm talking to God in my head as I go about getting the altar ready for Mass.I'm feeling tired and cranky. Teary, too.I don't want to be of service today.I want to be on the receiving end only.I had dragged my sorry butt to Mass at the last minute,hoping someone else had readied the altar,had seen to all the little detailsof preparation.No such luck.So I grumbled to God and went about His business.The Mass had barely begun when tears pricked my eyes.Damn.I still wanted to curl up in a ball and cry.With only a scant handful of people presentit would be hard to…

  • Remembering Obsidian

    29 Oct 2009 | 6:58 am
    This morning I opened a kitchen cupboard and tucked the bag clips into their holder on the inside of the door.I paused and smiled to myself. Open cupboard,put things away,close cupobard.The motions become like a well worn groovea path of where we've been.Little things like opening that cupboard - the one we call the tall cupboard - and putting away the oven mitts, the bag clips, getting out the broom. The way one has to give the door that extra shoveto make it click shut.When my parents and sister were here the summer before last, they stayed in our home while we were away. Afterwards my…

  • Sharing The Journey

    26 Oct 2009 | 7:25 pm
    My blogger bud Ellie will be on Oprah tomorrow talking about her experience as a mother who drank in secret. Brave woman.

  • Self Serving?

    22 Oct 2009 | 9:18 am
    In the midst of talking in an AA meeting yesterday, the question went through my head asking if I was being self serving in my sharing. The question caught me offguard. When I reflected later I realized that yes, I had been self serving. I had to ask myself for whose benefit I share at a meeting. I am grateful that I don't recoil from those kind of questions today. Grateful that my hearing is getting better. I'm not as deaf as I once was.
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    My Journey To Recovery

  • Gunung Tahan - The Story

    23 Oct 2009 | 9:06 pm
    Surrender"By surrendering control, we gain a far greater power."When we were using, we did everything we could to run things our way. We used every scheme imaginable to bring our world under control. When we got what we wanted, we felt powerful, invincible; when we didn't, we felt vulnerable, defeated. But that didn't stop us - it only led to more efforts to control and manipulate our lives into a manageable state.Scheming was our way of denying our powerlessness. As long as we could distract ourselves with our plans, we could put off accepting that we were out of control. Only gradually did…

  • The Pride & Joy Of My Father

    11 Mar 2009 | 7:07 pm
    Our Own Recovery"The steps are our solution. They are our survival kit. They are our defense against addiction, a deadly disease. Our steps are the principles that make our recovery possible."Basic Text, p. 19There's lots to like in Narcotics Anonymous. The meetings, for one, are great. We get to see our friends, hear some inspiring stories, share some practical experience, maybe even hook up with our sponsor. The camp outs, the conventions, the dances are all wonderful, clean fun in the company of other recovering addicts. But the heart of our recovery program is the Twelve Steps - in fact,…

  • Urgent Appeal: Palestine Relief Fund

    8 Jan 2009 | 6:47 pm
    Growing Up"Our spiritual condition is the basis for a successful recovery that offers unlimited growth."Basic Text, p. 43When our members celebrate their recovery anniversaries, they often say that they've "grown up" in NA. Well, then, we think, what does that mean? We start to wonder if we're grownups yet. We check our lives and yes, all the trappings of adulthood are there: the checkbook, the children, the job, the responsibilities. On the inside, though, we often feel like children. We're still confused by life much of the time. We don't always know how to act. We sometimes wonder whether…

  • Another Giant Step

    25 Dec 2008 | 6:59 pm
    The Group"The Twelfth Step of our personal program also says that we carry the message to the addict who still suffers... The group is the most powerful vehicle we have for carrying the message."Basic Text, p. 65When we first come to Narcotics Anonymous meetings, we meet recovering addicts. We know they are addicts because they talk about the same experiences and feelings we've had. We know they are recovering because of their serenity - they've got something we want. We feel hope when other addicts share their recovery with us in NA meetings.The atmosphere of recovery attracts us to the…

  • Links for 2008-12-23 [del.icio.us]

    24 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am
    I'm Baaack! Busy, Busy, and Very BusyIt has been quite some times since my last post. I know many of my faithful readers has been wondering where the hell have I been? I was around, alive and kicking!Nowadays, wh...
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    Breaking Free

  • Podcast: Battling For Your Integrity and Holiness

    Luke Gilkerson
    6 Nov 2009 | 9:59 am
    Covenant Eyes Podcast - Episode 39 Today’s podcast is the first portion of our interview with best-selling author Bill Perkins. Bill talks about King David’s “mighty men of valor.” In this 5-minute segment Bill talks about 1 Samuel 26 and how Abishai learned about real integrity and holiness from David. Bill says this is a lesson all men must learn today. Read more in his book, Six Battles Every Man Must Win. Thanks to The Glorious Unseen for use of their music for this podcast.

  • Facing Temptation (Part 3)

    Luke Gilkerson
    5 Nov 2009 | 5:36 am
    Strength in Hunger A friend of mine decided that it was time she learned what the discipline of fasting was all about. She purposed to start her fast on a certain day as she prayed through a number of pressing issues in her life. A day or two after starting the fast I found her in one of the college cafeterias eating. I asked her why she was eating, and she informed me she tried fasting but got really hungry and assumed she must be doing something wrong. So she ate. We had a laugh about it, but that conversation made me think about the misconceptions about fasting in the church. Some, like my…

  • Farewell Dr. Paul

    Luke Gilkerson
    4 Nov 2009 | 9:11 am
    We would like to offer our condolences to he family of Dr. Paul Geisbrecht. About three weeks ago Paul was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Bakersfield. Please pray for his wife, Sheryl, and his children Sarah and Ben. Paul will be remembered for many things by his friends, church, and family, but America will also remember him for his willingness to be open and honest about his struggles with sin. Over a year ago Paul and his wife were interviewed on Good Morning America about his porn addiction. Paul served as a model of transparency for many people with this same struggle. You…

  • The 30-Day Accountability Challenge Continues

    Luke Gilkerson
    4 Nov 2009 | 7:08 am
    Michael Leahy, author of Porn Nation, is continuing his 30-Day challenge of accountability for those who struggle with pornography temptations. Go to his blog and read his latest post: “30 Day Challenge Tip #1 – The Art & Science of Finding an Accountability Partner.” You can read some of Michael’s tips on finding the right kind of accountability partner for you. Here are some of this thoughts in brief: Seek to be equally yoked - Choose someone who understands the depth and breadth of your problem with porn. Resist inviting or appointing a Moses - Don’t simply…

  • Book Review - Shepherding a Child’s Heart

    Rick Thomas
    4 Nov 2009 | 5:45 am
    Theological soundness and shelf life are two wonderful bookends for a worthy book, and Shepherding a Child’s Heart is a regular recipient of both accolades. I first read Shepherding a Child’s Heart in the late nineties as a requirement for my MA Counseling Program. This was before our current 7-year old was born. Therefore, I was reading this book because I had to, rather than reading it for immediate application. God changed my mind about the stated purpose of this book, and I began to make immediate, specific and practical application to my life. The application was not for my future…
 
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    Jorney of Life Recovery

  • READY FOR THE "BIG CHANGE" YOU NEED?

    6 Nov 2009 | 7:34 am
    READY FOR THE "BIG CHANGE" YOU NEED?Got something this morning that said something about holes and drills and that people are not looking for a drill, but are looking to fill a hole.This was a very good reminder for me; both of that hole that was in my life some 15 years ago, and what it took to fill it.I had hit a point where my frequent unhappiness finally drove me to the realization I needed a big change in my life. Relationships of a personal nature were headed south, work gave me no boost, and it was just that....work. I did not like looking at that person in the mirror. After…

  • WILL THEY FIND OUT?

    5 Nov 2009 | 7:22 am
    WILL THEY FIND OUT? (Or do they know?)I sit here today a relatively content man. That is the result of a journey to change that I found the courage to start some 15 years ago.Today, the constant worry about will they find out or even worse, do they already know is gone. What a relief!What's this all about? Is he talking about me because I can understand the question and relate.I'm glad to see issues about mental health more out of the closet than ever before and very well known personalities sharing their own experiences. A large portion of the population is/will or has suffered from poor…

  • HAVE YOU LOOKED INSIDE

    4 Nov 2009 | 7:49 am
    HAVE YOU LOOKED INSIDE? I'm sitting here on one of those real fall days in southern Ontario. This is true 4 season’s country, and they sometimes seem like they can happen all in one day! We started sunny, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped then rain to a sign of snow and now, blue shy and sun. A good day to take some quiet time and look inside; no golf today! So the question; have you looked inside? For what? You may ask and I respond; for the answers. The answers to what? Inside lies the answer to everything. Yet most don’t know where to look and how to look. I was…

  • INFO FOR SPECIAL TIMES

    3 Nov 2009 | 6:56 am
    INFO FOR SPECIAL TIMESWhile I journal frequently about the journey of life recovery, and try to help others find their own journey, this fall we are facing special times.I don't know about the area you live in, but here in Lindsay we are being overwhelmed with information, often conflicting, about the Swine Flu epidemic. I believe it is a serious health issue, am I personally will get vaccinated. I was pleased to receive these very timely preventive tips from Dr. Vinay Goyal and am pleased to share with them you.If they make sense to you; you put them into practise and continue on your…

  • KEEP THE SLATE CLEAN

    2 Nov 2009 | 6:56 am
    KEEP THE SLATE CLEANMost weeks, the weekly Idea Engineer I get from my coaching instructor and mentor Dr. Randin Brons triggers a meaningful thought within me. This is one of those weeks. Randin writes:Forgive the hurts "Forgiveness will never fail to free you." -- Jerrold Mundis"How do we forgive when we're angry and hurt?As a first step, we can be willing to truly feel our anger and hurt. Honouring our feelings by being fully present with them helps to release the feelings themselves.And it helps to remember that people only hurt others when they themselves are in pain.
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    Addiction Treatment Challenges

  • How To Change Negative Thinking In Addiction Recovery

    michellechallenges
    4 Nov 2009 | 7:06 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 [...] Related posts:Changing Negative Thoughts About Yourself Into Positive Ones You may be giving yourself negative messages about yourself. Many...Addictive Thinking: Thinking Errors And Mindset Of An Addict By Bill Urell People in active addiction or early recovery...

  • 5 Tips To Overcome Sleeplessness And Insomnia In Early Addiction Recovery

    michellechallenges
    1 Nov 2009 | 1:57 pm
    We have all suffered from bouts of insomnia at one time in our lives but for many people, sleeplessness has become the standard more than the exception. Sleeplessness causes pointless exhaustion and has some serious implications to our health that are hard to ignore. If you’ve been trying to defeat sleeplessness and haven’t had much [...] Related posts:Early Addiction Recovery: 7 Great Tips – Podcast I asked my friend Bill Urell over at Addiction Recovery...Drug Treatment Programs Teach The 5 Phases Of Early Addiction Recovery Early Recovery can be thought of as moving…

  • Addictive Thinking: Thinking Errors And Mindset Of An Addict

    michellechallenges
    29 Oct 2009 | 6:30 pm
    By Bill Urell People in active addiction or early recovery or prone to ‘Stinking Thinking’. Here is a list of addictive thinking mindsets: 1. All or nothing thinking: You see things in extremes, everything is black or white. This can be obvious or subtle for example saying ‘He is always late, but I never get angry over it’. [...] Related posts:Do You Know The Difference Between Shame And Guilt? Shame and guilt are often spoken of as if they...Addiction And Addictive Behaviors, Warning: 7 Dangerous Symptoms To think of addiction as meaning only drugs and alcohol...

  • Drug Abuse Rehab, Looking For Help?

    michellechallenges
    28 Oct 2009 | 6:30 pm
    Are you wondreing about a drug abuse rehab for yourself or a loved one? Answers to common questions. Related posts:Insurance: A Key Question For Selecting A Drug Rehab For Drug Abuse Insurance coverage is a key item to be considered when...Selecting A Drug Rehab: Are You Asking These Key Questions? The selection of an alcohol or drug rehab program may...

  • Decide What You Want Or What Needs To Change In Your Life

    michellechallenges
    28 Oct 2009 | 5:01 am
    Think about your life. What is it that you need and want for yourself? Make a list of these things. For instance, you may want to— •    get a job, or a better job •    find housing in a safe neighborhood •    take some [...] Related posts:Drug and Alcohol Relapse Prevention – Neglecting These Five Key Issues Can Lead to Relapse Maintaining sobriety from drug and alcohol use or addiction is...Can Fear Be A Block To Addiction Recovery? Before we get rolling here, I’d like ask you some...
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    About.com: Addictions

  • 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…

  • Multiple Sexual Partners Increases H1N1 Risk

    1 Nov 2009 | 3:07 pm
    For those who have multiple sexual partners, whether part of a sex addiction, or sex work, you should be aware of the increased risk of H1N1, and consider getting vaccinated. H1N1 is spread through the saliva, typically by coughs and sneezes. However, direct mouth-to-mouth contact will spread the virus even more readily. Your partner may not even look sick, as they may be contagious both before and after symptoms are present. You should be particularly concerned about the spread of H1N1 if you or your partners are pregnant, have a developmental disability, or have a supporessed immune system…

  • If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again!

    29 Oct 2009 | 7:22 am
    This old saying was never more relevant than it is to the process of overcoming an addiction. Although it is great to start the process of quitting with the attitude that you will stick to your goals 100%, the experience of relapse is so common that it is actually sometimes recognized as part of the cycle of change, for example, in the stages of change model. And approaches such as motivational interviewing will help you uncover your reasons for falling off the wagon, which can actually strengthen your chances of sucess in the future. For example, if it was cravings that cause you to relapse,…

  • Are You Ready?

    26 Oct 2009 | 4:16 pm
    When people start to experience unpleasant consequences of their addictive behavior, they often wonder why they can't just quit. Despite the popular belief that quitting involves little more than realizing you have a problem and sheer will power, quitting is such a complex process that there is actually a model, known as the stages of change model, that details the various stages that people typically go through on the road to recovery. The stages include precontemplation -- common among people in the early stages of addiction; contemplation -- common among people who want to continue with…

  • More on Medical Marijuana

    23 Oct 2009 | 7:28 am
    With the focus on the White House's shift in policy on medical marijuana, this seems a good time to provide some links to medical marijuana resources. Dr Lynne Eldridge, About.com's guide to Lung Cance, recently wrote about the pros and cons of medical marijuana. And Angela Morrow, R.N., About.com's guide to Dying, has put together a collection of articles on the topic of medical marijuana. Watch this space for more on medical marijuana from the addictions perspective.More on Medical Marijuana originally appeared on About.com Addictions on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 14:28:14.Permalink |…
 
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    Drug Rehab Blog

  • Oxycodone Withdrawal Symptoms

    Nick Hayes
    6 Nov 2009 | 6:45 am
    Whether you have been in a car accident, find yourself having back problems or you are experiencing any other type of pain, a common pain reliever prescribed by doctors is oxycodone. It has a time-releasing formula that helps a person control pain. Unfortunately, this can lead to an addiction if not handled properly. When a person who has become dependent on it tries to stop taking it, there are oxycodone withdrawal symptoms to be aware of so the person can get help.

  • Advantages of Residential Drug Treatment

    Nick Hayes
    5 Nov 2009 | 7:05 am
    Residential treatment centers are often for a period of time of 45 days or greater. There are times that people spend months at the center. It all depends on when the individual is ready to leave. One advantage of being at a residential drug treatment center is that the individual is in neutral territory. They are not among the people, places and things that may trigger drug use.

  • Five Reasons to Make Me go to Drug Rehab

    Nick Hayes
    4 Nov 2009 | 6:51 am
    There are many more than five reasons for a person to go to rehab. Sometimes, it may take a very long time to get past the first reason to go to rehab. The first step is always the hardest. The hardest step for a drug addict to take is for him to finally admit that he is an addict and that he does need help to overcome his addiction. When he has admitted that he cannot quit his drug abuse by himself, he has taken that very large, very difficult first step. After taking that first giant step, the addict has admitted that he wants the help his fiends and family are trying so hard to give him.

  • Definition of Inpatient Rehab for Drug Abusers

    Nick Hayes
    3 Nov 2009 | 6:27 am
    An inpatient facility is one that is normally run 24 hours a day and temporarily houses drug abusers in order to provide them with the treatments and programs necessary to help them overcome their drug addiction. The drug users normally reside in this facility until they either decide to leave on their own or are released due to completion of programs. Inpatient facilities provide counseling, detoxification, wellness programs as well as a variety of other lessons, programs and treatments designed to help beat the drug addiction.

  • Effects of Alcoholism on Family

    Nick Hayes
    2 Nov 2009 | 7:29 am
    Alcoholism has devastating effects on family life. Studies have shown that when one partner in a marriage is an alcoholic, the marriage has only one chance out of ten of lasting. The alcohol abuser becomes self-centered which hinders his personal relationships and even his day to day living. The effects of alcoholism on family can have repercussions which last a lifetime.
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    Sara Bellum Blog

  • 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…

  • Covering Addiction: How Common is Drug Use in College?

    admin
    2 Nov 2009 | 6:57 am
    Last February, NIDA held its first “Covering Addiction” Roundtable discussion for college journalists. Fifteen students from universities around Washington, D.C. picked the brains of NIDA scientists and professional health reporters, asking them about careers in science and health journalism. The student journalists got tips from pros who have worked for ABC News, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post on how to write about sensitive health topics like drug abuse and addiction. Overall, students said they got a lot out of the experience, but some said they would have liked…

  • Word of the Day: Cerebellum

    admin
    29 Oct 2009 | 5:49 am
    Our word for today is: Cerebellum Cerebellum: A portion of the brain that helps regulate posture, balance, and coordination during activities such as playing ball, picking up objects, and balancing. Why do I like this word so much? Say it again: “cer·e·bel·lum” (sĕr’ə-bĕl’əm)—yup, it’s my namesake! When we walk down the street or concentrate on keeping our balance, our cerebellum is guiding us. The cerebellum coordinates our voluntary muscle movement as well as our posture and balance, like a puppeteer helping us put one leg in front of the other.

  • Real Life: Student Athlete’s Battle with Steroid Abuse, Taylor’s Story

    admin
    27 Oct 2009 | 8:46 am
    Let me introduce you to Taylor-a 17-year old, high school athlete from Plano, Texas. You might be a student-athlete yourself or have friends who are student athletes, so Taylor’s story might speak especially to you. Taylor took his own life on July 15, 2003, as a result of abusing steroids. With Taylor’s death came the Taylor Hooton Foundation formed by his parents, family, and friends to honor his memory, after they became aware of the growing problem among high school athletes across the country.  Not too long before Taylor’s death, NIDA noticed a sharp increase in the…

  • NIDA News: A Bridge to Recovery

    admin
    22 Oct 2009 | 7:28 am
    Question: What happens when 10,000 people in recovery from drug abuse and addiction get together to celebrate their sobriety? Answer: Inspiration! SBB was part of the team that went with NIDA Director Nora Volkow last month to march across the Brooklyn Bridge as part of Recovery Month.  Celebrated every September, Recovery Month honors the thousands of Americans who have kicked their addictions. Recovery Month is sponsored by government and other organizations dedicated to fighting substance abuse. Image Courtesy of A&E Entertainment The event at the Brooklyn Bridge was an amazing…
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    The Sara Bellum Blog

  • 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…

  • Covering Addiction: How Common is Drug Use in College?

    admin
    2 Nov 2009 | 6:57 am
    Last February, NIDA held its first “Covering Addiction” Roundtable discussion for college journalists. Fifteen students from universities around Washington, D.C. picked the brains of NIDA scientists and professional health reporters, asking them about careers in science and health journalism. The student journalists got tips from pros who have worked for ABC News, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post on how to write about sensitive health topics like drug abuse and addiction. Overall, students said they got a lot out of the experience, but some said they would have liked…

  • Word of the Day: Cerebellum

    admin
    29 Oct 2009 | 5:49 am
    Our word for today is: Cerebellum Cerebellum: A portion of the brain that helps regulate posture, balance, and coordination during activities such as playing ball, picking up objects, and balancing. Why do I like this word so much? Say it again: “cer·e·bel·lum” (sĕr’ə-bĕl’əm)—yup, it’s my namesake! When we walk down the street or concentrate on keeping our balance, our cerebellum is guiding us. The cerebellum coordinates our voluntary muscle movement as well as our posture and balance, like a puppeteer helping us put one leg in front of the other.

  • Real Life: Student Athlete’s Battle with Steroid Abuse, Taylor’s Story

    admin
    27 Oct 2009 | 8:46 am
    Let me introduce you to Taylor-a 17-year old, high school athlete from Plano, Texas. You might be a student-athlete yourself or have friends who are student athletes, so Taylor’s story might speak especially to you. Taylor took his own life on July 15, 2003, as a result of abusing steroids. With Taylor’s death came the Taylor Hooton Foundation formed by his parents, family, and friends to honor his memory, after they became aware of the growing problem among high school athletes across the country.  Not too long before Taylor’s death, NIDA noticed a sharp increase in the…

  • NIDA News: A Bridge to Recovery

    admin
    22 Oct 2009 | 7:28 am
    Question: What happens when 10,000 people in recovery from drug abuse and addiction get together to celebrate their sobriety? Answer: Inspiration! SBB was part of the team that went with NIDA Director Nora Volkow last month to march across the Brooklyn Bridge as part of Recovery Month.  Celebrated every September, Recovery Month honors the thousands of Americans who have kicked their addictions. Recovery Month is sponsored by government and other organizations dedicated to fighting substance abuse. Image Courtesy of A&E Entertainment The event at the Brooklyn Bridge was an amazing…
 
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    Treatment Solutions Network Addiction Treatment Articles

  • Focusing on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

    Bethany Winkel
    4 Nov 2009 | 8:16 pm
    The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is awarding grants to organizations that run programs for people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. St. Louis University has received one such grant, and they intend to provide help to older children and adults that have been diagnosed with this disorder. The Cause of FASD Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is caused by a woman drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and it affects many people in our country today. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol passes from the mother’s blood to the developing baby through the placenta. The alcohol…

  • The Most Difficult Time in Addiction Treatment

    Michael Plahn
    4 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm
    When is the most difficult time in the process of addiction treatment?This is a very subjective question and depending on whom you ask and their personal or clinical experience, you may find different answers.  Certainly, if a person never gets to a treatment facility that is properly geared to treat their disease, then the chances for successful recovery from addiction are likely very poor.  However, if an addicted individual is placed at a proper chemical dependency treatment program there are many factors that affect their abstinence rates, and the quality of their lives, one year after…

  • Being Held Responsible

    Bethany Winkel
    2 Nov 2009 | 8:15 pm
    Too often, fingers are pointed when it comes to substance abuse, and it is really difficult to determine who should be held liable when bad things happen because of it. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the addict or alcoholic because they are the ones abusing the substance. Some states will hold bartenders responsible that give someone too much alcohol, and lawsuits have been filed against the family members of drug addicts that sat by and watched them get into a vehicle so impaired that they killed someone else. But we are asking for trouble when we start looking for others to blame…

  • Andre Agassi Admits to Drug Use

    Bethany Winkel
    30 Oct 2009 | 7:55 pm
    Add another loved and respected athlete to the list of those that have admitted to drug abuse. Andre Agassi shocked fans this week when he told The Times that he used crystal methamphetamine. Agassi was one of the most loved and well known tennis players in the 1990’s. His wild boy look and energetic attitude drew fans in. Tennis became a little more exciting when Agassi began to play, and many people who had never cared about the sport started tuning in. Testing for Drugs Agassi actually had a run in with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the policing entity of tennis, back in…

  • Opportunity in Recovery

    Ryan Collison
    29 Oct 2009 | 12:31 pm
    Opportunity is defined as “a favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances”. In active addiction, this usually meant some circumstance that I could exploit to continue using. It didn’t matter what consequence, spiritually, emotionally or financially that was caused, so long as I could get what I wanted out of particular situation. Getting clean provided me with a vast number of new, more positive opportunities in life. On a very basic level, when I stopped chasing the next high and spending all my money on drugs, I had a great deal more time and resources to…
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    Drug Addiction Stories

  • Can’t Get Enough of That Sweet Cocaine

    Nick Hayes
    6 Nov 2009 | 7:11 am
    Half asleep, I reached over to the night stand to grab my kit. Ahhh, there is nothing like that first line in the morning. I added a little to my regular “dose” and snorted away. As usual, the result was short but sweet. I decided to do another line when my roommate came pounding on the door. I knew she was going to complain about something so I figured I may as well be riding high when she had her little fit. “Late with rent…” yadda, yadda. I barely heard her once she got past the first sentence. It was all so routine by now. “Ok, sorry, I’ll work on that today” I mumbled as…

  • A Child Who Wasn’t But Now Is

    Nick Hayes
    5 Nov 2009 | 7:21 am
    The night my cousin’s neighbor came over to his house, I realized what a crack cocaine addict really was. It was just a regular every day person much like you and me.  At first I really did not realize what was going on.  I thought she was a gullible person who seemed very naïve as my cousin started teasing her about this and that.  When he left the room to go fix us all some coffee, she turned to me and told me the most heart-wrenching story. She said she came from a very rich family. She told me her little one had cancer and was very sick and her family would not help her out and…

  • A Friend’s Death from Heroin

    admin
    4 Nov 2009 | 7:17 am
    Funerals of family members are hard.  Funerals of young adults your children grew up with and considered close friends?  Just as hard.  As I sat there that day and watched my son and his friends carry the casket of a close friend he had cared about all through junior high and high school, I hurt for his loss and the parents of the young man. Some kids consider themselves fortunate to have one or two close friends.  My David was part of a group of seven close male friends with plenty of female close friends and girlfriends along the way.  A lot of times, Super Bowl parties and sleepovers…

  • Drugs at Thirteen

    Nick Hayes
    2 Nov 2009 | 7:41 am
    We moved to Arizona when I was thirteen.  I hated leaving my old school but my dad was in the military and when he gets orders, we move.  I did not know anyone but eventually became friends with a guy down the street.  We began hanging out at the basketball court and the base pool over that summer and eventually I started looking forward to school in the fall. One night he told me he knew where we could get something.  I asked what and he said, “You’re kidding, right?”  Not wanting to seem like a baby, I said “Yeah, dude, just messing with you.”   We went…

  • When Medication Becomes a Drug Addiction

    admin
    30 Oct 2009 | 10:35 am
    It is a story that Narconon and other rehabilitation drug centers hear all the time because it is true and it is unfortunately, easy to do.  Someone takes medication for a physical problem and before they know it, they end up addicted.  How did it happen?  When medication becomes a drug addiction, Narconon steps in to help so you can get your life back on track. A lot of times, it has to do with how our bodies deal with pain.  Truthfully, they don’t handle it in good way.  Any pain relief is seen as a godsend and the brain tells the body it wants more so that there is no hint of…
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