tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13019356080235478632024-03-05T19:52:57.546-05:00Sober Re-SourcesSomething New Every 24.<br/>Courtesy of <a href="http://sobermusicians.com/forums/index.php">sobermusicians.com</a><br/>
Purveyors of fine <i>spirit</i> since 2006.JL Kulakowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659436203170400230noreply@blogger.comBlogger334125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-88063549605396776942013-01-26T10:23:00.000-05:002013-01-26T10:23:04.125-05:00I forgot this space was here. No promises that it will be resurrected, but I consider it part of my inheritance, so I'll try. God knows, I'll try.<br />
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SugahJL Kulakowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659436203170400230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-35371527911877100402009-04-19T10:02:00.000-04:002009-04-19T10:03:47.413-04:00Initiative urges thinking before drinking<span style="font-weight:bold;">Web site lets people learn what type of drinker they are</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">By Mary Brophy Marcus<br />USA Today</span><br /><br />Many young adults socialize on weekends and weeknights at bars and parties where cocktails and beers flow, but most don't give much <a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/underage-drinking.html">thought to their drinking habits</a>, said Mark Willenbring, director of the Division of Treatment and Recovery Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. If they did, he said, it's likely that fewer people would develop problems with alcohol abuse later in life.<br /><br />To that end, Willenbring and other experts at NIAAA have developed a "Rethinking Drinking" Web site — Rethinking Drinking.niaaa.nih.gov — to help people who drink alcoholic beverages determine what type of drinker they are and whether they are at a risk for developing a drinking problem.<br /><br />reducing risks<br /><br />"Not everybody who drinks more than is medically healthy or recommended realizes they are doing it," Willenbring said. About 30 percent of Americans have too many drinks in one day at least once a year, he says.<br /><br />The heaviest drinkers are primarily between the ages of 18 and 30, and they are the target population for "Rethinking Drinking," Willenbring said.<br /><br />"They are a group that drinks more than is healthy, but doesn't have the health problems yet."<br /><br />Willenbring likens the interactive Web site to a prevention tool. The approach is similar to how a doctor might focus on groups at risk for heart disease — those with high blood pressure or cholesterol — but who haven't had a heart attack yet. "We're really doing risk reduction," he said.<br /><br />In any given year, about 4 percent of the population has alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, according to Willenbring. About 26 percent are heavy drinkers. "Even if these folks, the heavy drinkers, reduce their drinking, the public health impact is great," he said.<br /><br />While many associate heavy drinking with liver problems, it can also increase the risk for heart disease, sleep disorders, depression, stroke and stomach bleeding. Consumed during pregnancy, it can cause fetal brain damage, said Fulton Crews, director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. It's also linked to cancer.<br /><br />"We know if you're a heavy drinker but not alcohol dependent, your risk of oral cavity cancer and also breast cancer are increased," Crews said.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">at-risk drinking</span><br /><br />The "Rethinking Drinking" site asks if visitors know what constitutes at-risk drinking. Many might be surprised to learn what does, said alcohol-abuse expert Charles O'Brien, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.<br /><br />"A heavy drinking day is a lot less than most people think it is," O'Brien said. "We have in college and universities many who do binge drinking and they don't even realize it. When I told my students the daily limits, they laughed at me. Many said that's barely getting started — that they have a few drinks in their dorm rooms even before going out drinking for the night."<br /><br />The site provides illustrations and tables showing the amount of alcohol in a variety of drinks, including beer, wine and liquor. A calculator can help one estimate how much a typical toddy includes. Drinkers who want to make changes can find some helpful tools and resources, too.<br /><br />The site isn't meant to promote abstinence, Willenbring says. It doesn't demonize alcohol. In fact, it even points out that light to moderate drinking on a regular basis can lower the risk for heart disease for some.<br /><br />Schoolteacher, soccer mom, athlete, physician, husband — anyone who cares to find out if their drinking habits are risky or not can now do so on their own, Willenbring said.D. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-73678357585914597722009-03-10T12:26:00.000-04:002009-03-10T12:29:04.116-04:00Drug Research and Recovery Act of 2009What's in the budget for addiction scientists?<br /><br />Scientists were among the likely beneficiaries of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.<br /><br />The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is slated to receive $10 billion for use over the next two years. A yet-to-be-determined portion of the grant will end up with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).<br /><br />Here is a sampling of NIDA’s wish, or “Challenge Topics” for which the agency is seeking grant proposals. The application due date is April 27, 2009.<br /><br />--Dietary treatment of substance disorders.<br />“There is abundant preclinical and clinical evidence that suggest dietary therapies and behavioral interventions can promote neurogenesis, diminish susceptibility to metabolic and excitotoxic injury (e.g., diets rich in antioxidants), and/or counteract stress responses within the brain. Dietary regimens or supplements can be evaluated as individual treatments or as adjuncts to FDA-approved medications.”<br /><br />--Drug genetics and informed consent.<br />“Address ethical issues related to access to broad sharing and use of new genetic information and technologies for addiction research to improve treatment and prevention options for addicts.”<br /><br />--Addiction drugs combined in treatment.<br />“Network biological analysis predicts that modification of a single target by a drug is not nearly as likely to affect disease outcome as would rational combinations of drugs that target multiple, complementary mechanisms. Applications will focus on combination of medication strategies for the treatment of substance use disorders.”<br /><br />--Neurobiology of opioid addiction.<br />“There is an urgent need for research that will more thoroughly delineate the neurobiological implications of long-term opioid use. This knowledge gap is of particular concern when it comes to the developing brain - and the urgency is underscored by the fact that increasing numbers of adolescents and young adults are using opioid medications, prescribed and otherwise.”<br /><br />--Research on addiction drugs for pregnant women.<br />“Substance abuse during pregnancy often occurs in the context of complex environmental factors and poly-drug exposure, as well as medical conditions which are associated with adverse neonatal consequences. Much is known in regard to the negative effects of substances of abuse on the pregnant/post partum women and their substance exposed neonates but relatively little is known in regard to medication treatment strategies and research methodology.”<br /><br />--Internet-based prevention and treatment in rural locations.<br />“Many persons living in remote or rural locations have limited opportunities to obtain drug abuse treatment services, due to a lack of available service settings, the barrier of traveling long distances, and/or the perceived lack of private and confidential treatment options. This program seeks to develop web-based drug abuse treatment interventions that do not necessitate frequent in-person visits to a central facility.”<br /><br />--Finding new molecular targets for addiction treatment drugs.<br />“Projects may utilize techniques ranging from gene knockout technologies, behavioral evaluations, assay development, and targeted library synthesis and screening that could lead to the development of medications for drug addiction treatment. The focus may be on the identification of new molecular targets, and/or the discovery of small molecule selective ligands for previously identified targets, such as muscarinic M5 antagonists, neuropeptide Y antagonists, and neurotensin agonists.”<br /><br />For general information on the National Institute on Drug Abuse implementation of NIH Challenge Grants, contact:<br /><br />Christine Colvis, Ph.D.<br />NIDA Challenge Grant Program Coordinator<br />National Institute on Drug Abuse<br />National Institutes of Health<br />Phone 301-443-6480<br />Email ccolvis@nida.nih.gov<br />________<br />source: Addiction InboxD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-45372005376592379052009-02-20T07:38:00.000-05:002009-02-20T07:39:23.071-05:00Drunken driving connected to mental problemsStockholm (IANS): Drunken driving is not just an indication of a deeply seated alcohol problem but is also very often connected to psychological disease and chronic criminal background, says a doctoral thesis presented at the Karolinska Institute (KI).<br /><br />Psychologist Beata Hubicka has in collaboration with the Swedish traffic authority, Vagverket, and the police, carried out a nationwide study involving 1,200 drivers who were charged with drunken driving.<br /><br />The suspect alcoholic offenders, along with a research group of 786 assuredly sober drivers, were called upon to answer a questionnaire on their alcohol consumption habits. The psychosocial and psychotic health condition of some of the drunken drivers was examined too.<br /><br />"Earlier research in this area has mostly been undertaken in the US," Hubicka told IANS, after her dissertation at the KI. "However, it became essential to carry out an entirely Swedish study since we have different promille (alcohol in the blood permissible for driving) limits and different attitudes towards drunken driving compared to the US. Such variables have also to be taken into account when dealing with this problem in other countries."<br /><br />The well-received study shows that "more than a half of the suspected alcohol abusers had earlier committed criminal offences. A large number among the abusers were also found to be suffering serious psychotic problems."<br /><br />"Since such a large number have psychotic problems and a criminal background," says Hubicka, "one should not direct attention solely towards their alcohol problem in any preemptive efforts to resolve drunken driving".<br /><br />Hubicka said: "The current limit for drunken driving of 0.2 promille (in Sweden, among the strictest globally) is based on physiological studies in which it has been observed and recorded that our capacity for reaction (reflexes) is dangerously impaired with such an alcohol level (in the blood). Since alcohol abuse is such a big risk factor (cause) for drunken criminality, the result of our study should perhaps form the basis for a reconsidered alcohol limit for driving. I would rather suggest that we follow the few countries that have established zero-tolerance."D. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-28611052038652874202009-02-10T12:46:00.000-05:002009-02-10T12:47:52.560-05:00One-Third of Americans Have an Addicted RelativeNearly 1/3 of Americans have an immediate family member who has or have had an alcohol or drug abuse problem and almost half of those families have more than one member who had an addiction problem. For most of those families the most significant negative consequence of that addiction is the embarrassment or social stigma.<br /><br />These finds were part of the "Attitudes Toward Addiction Survey" conducted by the Hazelden organization.<br /><br />The telephone survey of 1,000 adults revealed some lingering stigma associated with alcoholism and drug addiction in spite of the fact 78% of those surveyed agreed that drug addiction is a chronic disease rather than a personal failing.<br /><br />According to Hazelden, when survey participants were asked to describe people who have problems with drugs or alcohol included: "sinner," "irresponsible," "selfish, "stupid," "uncaring," "loser," "undisciplined," "pitiful," "pathetic," "weak," "criminal," "derelict," "washed up" and "crazy."<br /><br />"What Hazelden's new survey brought home to me is that Americans understand addiction is a disease, yet much more work must be done to explain how effective treatment can be for addicts and to bring an end to the stigma that prevents addicts from pursuing treatment," said William Cope Moyers, executive director of Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy in a news release.<br /><br />The Prevalence of Addiction<br /><br />Here are some of the survey findings about the prevalence of addiction:<br /><br /> * Nearly one-third of Americans reported past abuse of alcohol or drugs in their immediate family.<br /><br /> * Of those households with an immediate family member who had an addiction problem, 44% reported more than one family member with a drug problem.<br /><br /> * A third of the families which reported a drug problem in their immediate family say that a majority of their family members have problems with drugs.<br /><br /> * With one in six of the respondents dealing with substance abuse in their family, every member of the family has a problem with drugs or alcohol.<br /><br /> * When asked about extended family, virtually half of Americans surveyed reported three or more family members have experienced a problem with drugs during their lives.<br /><br />Attitudes About Prevention, Treatment<br /><br />The survey also revealed attitudes about prevention and treatment efforts:<br /><br /> * 79% percent feel the War on Drugs has not been successful.<br /><br /> * 83% agree that much more should be done to prevent addiction.<br /><br /> * 83% believe that first-time drug offenders should get chemical dependency treatment rather than prison time.<br /><br /> * 77 percent agree that many addicts who complete treatment go on to lead useful lives.<br /><br /> * 71% agree health insurance should cover addiction treatment, but most have no idea if their own insurance will pay.<br /><br />As a result of the survey, Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy will launch a public advocacy campaign in Washington, D.C. and across the United States this year.<br />__________<br />source: http://alcoholism.about.comD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-23823585243192509812009-01-27T08:58:00.002-05:002009-01-27T09:01:33.967-05:00New Recovery<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwA4SMaLZ8-kxgeJ5dTWWSDKhpPYfC1heRFwVnylgyLGl9TbfD291X7YSXjdoPtO3AH5uvGUryodtai25VEUqHJpTuSP6AM1uE8-UlQnssYHb6b2pLj-oeI9I_7l3disCSXVWb5SdmJFF/s1600-h/enterhealth.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwA4SMaLZ8-kxgeJ5dTWWSDKhpPYfC1heRFwVnylgyLGl9TbfD291X7YSXjdoPtO3AH5uvGUryodtai25VEUqHJpTuSP6AM1uE8-UlQnssYHb6b2pLj-oeI9I_7l3disCSXVWb5SdmJFF/s320/enterhealth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295972960337113842" /></a><br />ALL ADDICTS ARE DIFFERENT — NOW THERE'S A TREATMENT THAT IS TOO<br /><br />As a professional experienced with alcohol and drug addiction, you know those struggling with this debilitating disease face a long journey towards sobriety – one that requires a customized, leading-edge recovery program with a personalized approach. Unfortunately, there are few programs today that go above and beyond the standardized treatment formula to improve the odds for long-term sobriety. That's why Enterhealth, a premier alcohol and drug addiction recovery center, with its proven therapeutic approaches, neurology, technology, and leading anti-addiction medications, is earning a reputation as the better way to recover.<br /><br />Here are just a few reasons why Enterhealth stands out from more traditional alcohol and drug addiction treatment programs. To learn more on how Enterhealth can help you and your clients, call 800.388.4601 or visit us at enterhealth.com.<br /><br />Reason 1: Neuro therapy. In order to help clients overcome physical trauma to the brain caused by addiction, Enterhealth utilizes neurological therapy techniques. This integration of state-of-the-art diagnostics of the brain with clinical therapies involves an MRI to assess any damage caused to the brain by alcohol and/or drug use, an EEG to assess risk level of seizure, and a written neuro-psych test to check for cognitive brain function loss. The results of this evaluation support a personalized treatment plan.<br /><br />Reason 2: Anti-addiction medications. Rather than rely on talk therapy alone, Enterhealth offers clients access to the latest, most effective anti-addiction medications such as Suboxone, Campral, and Vivitrol. This can help not only repair damage to the brain caused by alcohol and drug use, but also reduce cravings, providing them the opportunity to more fully participate and benefit from treatment.<br /><br />Reason 3: Length of stay. In contrast to most residential treatment facilities that offer a typical length of stay of 28-30 days, Enterhealth recommends a customized length of stay based on the client's unique needs and recovery progress. This better ensures the client has the tools they need to continue sobriety post residential treatment.<br /><br />Reason 4: Dual diagnosis. The Enterhealth facility is designed to diagnosis and treat both the addiction as well as other mental health disorders – which in most cases is what creates the desire for alcohol or drugs in the first place. By treating the mental disorder in tandem, typically with personalized, private therapy, the odds for relapse are greatly reduced.<br /><br />Reason 5: Wellness emphasis. Enterhealth's personalized wellness program includes individual time with a trainer as well as a dietician to address physical and dietary patterns that are recommended for balance and healthy living.<br /><br />Reason 6: Balance of group & private therapy. The Enterhealth facility is limited to 16 clients, offering an industry-low therapist-to-client ratio of 1:3. This intimate setting allows more focus to be placed on individualized, one-on-one therapy, while also supporting a menu of both small and large group therapies.<br /><br />Reason 7: Post Residential Support. As your clients transitioned back to your care from the residential addiction treatment program, Enterhealth’s online Life Care program can assist them in continued recovery through access of Enterhealth's online recovery tools 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world.<br /><br />We invite you to schedule a tour and meet our team. To learn more about what makes Enterhealth a better way to recovery and how it can help your clients, call 800.388.4601 or visit us at <a href="http://www.enterhealth.com">www.enterhealth.com</a>D. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-10981720386859429212009-01-16T09:20:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:21:41.283-05:00JOIN TOGETHER MERGES INTO CASANEW YORK, N.Y., January 15, 2009 – The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University announced today that Join Togethertm will be merged into CASA and David L. Rosenbloom, Ph.D., will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of CASA on May 1, 2009, succeeding Joseph A. Califano, Jr., the former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare who founded CASA in 1992 and has been its Chairman and President since that time. Califano will continue to serve as CASA chairman.<br /><br />“Naming David Rosenbloom CASA’s new president is the result of more than two years of work by the Board which involved an analysis of CASA’s first 16 years, discussions with 100 individuals and institutions about CASA achievements and potential, the needs of the substance abuse field, and an intensive search involving a number of qualified candidates. The Board and I are convinced that David Rosenbloom is the individual best suited to move CASA forward and increase its influence and activities,” said Califano. “Merging Join Together into CASA will greatly strengthen CASA’s ability to inform the American people of the economic and social costs of substance abuse and its impact on their lives, make CASA’s research findings and recommendations widely available to those working on the front lines to prevent and treat substance abuse and addiction, and significantly expand our nationwide advocacy capacity. The combination of CASA and Join Together will produce a total far greater than the sum of the parts.”<br /><br />Rosenbloom, 64, has been Director of Join Togethertm since he founded it in 1991. He is a Professor of Public Health at the Boston University School of Public Health. For eight years, from 1973 to 1985, he was Commissioner of the Department Health and Hospitals for the city of Boston and CEO of Boston City Hospital. For several years after that he was president and CEO of Health Data Institute, a company that pioneered the clinical analysis of medical claims data and developed managed care techniques. He received his BA from Colgate University in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1970.<br /><br />“Progress in addiction prevention and treatment is essential in order to reform America’s health care system and address most other critical social problems facing the nation. Combining the resources of CASA and Join Together creates the critical mass needed to focus the attention of our nation and its leaders on the need for effective prevention and treatment policies to achieve such progress. It blends the formidable research of CASA and the public and policy attention that CASA has attracted with the unique web based education and advocacy and tools of Join Together. I am excited by the opportunity to combine and lead these talented teams and work with Joe Califano,” said Rosenbloom.<br /><br />Join Togethertm is the leading provider of news, information and continuing education on tobacco, alcohol and illegal, prescription and performance enhancing drugs to policy makers, community leaders, parents, and front line prevention and treatment practitioners; all free of charge to more than 50,000 subscribers and 7,000 daily users of its website http://www.jointogether.org/. Its advocacy campaigns promote adoption of prevention and treatment policies and practices that research has shown to be effective.<br /><br />“CASA is the premier think/action tank in the field with the brightest group of professionals ever assembled under one roof to research and combat substance abuse and addiction. David has the right experience, talent and creativity to enhance this national asset. We are fortunate that he has accepted this challenge,” said Califano. “I look forward to working with him.”<br /><br />CASA is the only national organization that brings together under one roof all the professional disciplines needed to study and combat all types of substance abuse as they affect all aspects of society. CASA and its staff of more than 50 professionals has issued 66 reports and white papers, published one book, conducted demonstration programs focused on children, families and schools at 224 sites in 87 cities and counties in 34 states plus Washington, DC and two Native American tribal reservations, held 17 conferences attended by professionals and others from 49 states, and has been evaluating the effectiveness of drug and alcohol treatment in a variety of programs and drug courts. CASA is the creator of the nationwide initiative Family Day—A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Childrentm –the fourth Monday in September—the 28th in 2009—that promotes parental engagement as a simple and effective way to reduce children’s risk of smoking, drinking and using illegal drugs. In May 2007, CASA’s Chairman Joseph A. Califano, Jr., called for a fundamental shift in the nation’s attitude about substance abuse and addiction with publication of his book, HIGH SOCIETY: How Substance Abuse Ravages America and What To Do About It. For more information visit http://www.casacolumbia.org/. <br />________________<br />source: http://www.casacolumbia.orgD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-84324140644636910962009-01-05T09:15:00.000-05:002009-01-05T09:16:29.577-05:00States Unleash New Ignition Lock LawsStarting this month, drivers convicted of driving while intoxicated in at least six new states will face a hi-tech hurdle to repeat offenses: ignition interlocks. After a high profile national campaign, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other organizations convinced several state legislatures to pass laws mandating the dashboard installation of small ignition interlock device activated by a breathalyzer.<br /><br />“It’s amazingly inconvenient, “ David Malham of the Illinois MADD group told Associated Press. “But the flip side of the inconvenience is death.”<br /><br />Will high technology really help keep drunk drivers off the streets and highways? Malham, quoted in the Chicago Tribune, insisted that “it’s not about changing human nature, it’s about science interfering and preventing reckless behavior.” Maltham also said he is looking forward to technology that will be able to sniff a car’s interior, scan the eyes of drivers, and test sweat on the steering wheel before allowing the driver to turn the key.<br /><br />In addition to Illinois, states that passed laws requiring the use of ignition locks for drunken driving convictions of varying degrees include Nebraska, Colorado, Washington, and Alaska. Other states with similar but unevenly enforced laws on the books include South Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and Louisiana.<br /><br />Illinois is attempting to work around the program’s most obvious flaws—the convicted drinker could drive someone else’s car, or get someone else to blow into the breath-monitoring device—by instituting heavy penalties for non-compliance if the driver is caught cheating.<br /><br />Lined up in opposition to ignition lock legislation, thus far, is the American Beverage Institute, a lobby group for restaurant owners. In the AP article, the Institute’s Sarah Longwell objected to the fact that states might decide to apply the laws to people other than repeat offenders—to anyone who, on any given night, blows a 0.08 or a 0.10, the common denominators of alcohol intoxication in most states.<br /><br />Sounding a bit more like the National Rifle Association (NRA) than perhaps it intended, the Beverage Institute offered a dire vision of a slippery slope: “We foresee a country in which you’re no longer able to have a glass of wine, drink a beer at a ball game or enjoy a champagne toast at a wedding. There will be a de facto zero tolerance policy imposed on people by their cars.”<br /><br />My modest prediction: A tangle of state lawsuits and questions over civil liberties, the more so since many of the laws are first-pass efforts and subject to interpretation.<br /><br />source: Addiction InboxD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-67858493395174717142008-12-18T07:19:00.000-05:002008-12-18T07:20:26.389-05:00Marijuana Law Comes With ChallengesBOSTON — Last month, voters approved a statewide measure decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Now, wary authorities say, comes the hard part. They are scrambling to set up a new system of civil penalties before Jan. 2, when the change becomes law. From then on, anyone caught with an ounce or less of marijuana will owe a $100 civil fine instead of ending up with an arrest record and possibly facing jail time.<br /><br />It sounds simple, but David Capeless, president of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, said the new policy presented a thicket of questions and complications.<br /><br />One of the most basic, Mr. Capeless said, is who will collect the fines and enforce other provisions of the law. For example, violators under 18 will be required to attend a drug awareness class within a year, but it is unclear who will make sure that they do so. The fine increases to $1,000 for those who skip the class.<br /><br />A complicating factor, said Mr. Capeless, the district attorney in Berkshire County, is that state law bans the police from demanding identification for civil infractions.<br /><br />“Not only do you not have to identify yourself,” he said, “but it would appear from a strict reading that people can get a citation, walk away, never pay a fine and have no repercussion.”<br /><br />Wayne Sampson, executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, says he anticipates that many violators will lie about their identities.<br /><br />“You can tell us that you’re Mickey Mouse of One Disneyland Way,” Mr. Sampson said, “and we have to assume that’s true.”<br /><br />The authorities, he said, will also have to be sure that the substance they hand out citations for is marijuana, which will involve sending it to the State Police crime laboratory.<br /><br />“You’re going to appeal it and go to the clerk’s hearing,” Mr. Sampson said, “and if we don’t have an analysis from the drug lab, the clerk is going to throw the case out.”<br /><br />Mr. Sampson predicted that the law would result in de facto legalization of marijuana because it would prove too difficult to enforce.<br /><br />“I would argue that the proponents knew these complications right from the beginning,” he said.<br /><br />About 65 percent of state voters supported the decriminalization measure, which was promoted by a group that spent more than $1.5 million on the effort.<br /><br />The group, the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, said that in addition to ensuring that people caught with marijuana no longer have a criminal record, the change would save about $29.5 million a year that it estimates law enforcement currently spends to enforce existing drug laws.<br /><br />A spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, which supports the drug’s legalization and created the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy to get the ballot question passed here, said that judging from the experience of other states with civil penalties for marijuana possession, Massachusetts officials were exaggerating the challenges.<br /><br />“I can’t help but think that the real difficulty in implementing it,” said the spokesman, Dan Bernath, “is they don’t want to do it.”<br /><br />Eleven states have decriminalized first-time possession of marijuana, though in most it is technically a misdemeanor instead of a civil offense.<br /><br />In Nebraska, where possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is punishable by a $300 civil fine, the process has worked smoothly for three decades, said Michael Behm, executive director of the Nebraska Crime Commission.<br /><br />In New York, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is a noncriminal violation but is still processed through the criminal system, said Robert M. Carney, the district attorney in Schenectady County.<br /><br />“They are brought down to the police station so their identity is established,” Mr. Carney said of violators, “but they are not fingerprinted because it’s not an arrest.”<br /><br />In Massachusetts, the Executive Office of Public Safety is working with state and local law enforcement and court officials to determine how to apply the changes. Mr. Capeless said education officials were also in on the discussions because it was unclear whether public schools and universities could forbid marijuana possession under the new law.<br /><br />A spokesman for the public safety office said its legal counsel was considering “a lot of questions” as the deadline drew near. But the spokesman, Terrel Harris, would not elaborate.<br /><br />“We are just trying to make sure we have all the answers,” Mr. Harris said.<br /><br />Mr. Capeless said that in particular the department needed to address a clause in the new law that said neither the state nor its “political subdivisions or their respective agencies” could impose “any form of penalty, sanction or disqualification” on anyone found with an ounce or less of marijuana.<br /><br />“It appears to say that you get a $100 fine and they can’t do anything else to you,” he said. “Can a police officer caught with marijuana several times get to keep his job and not be disciplined in any fashion? Can public high schools punish kids for smoking cigarettes but not for having pot?”<br /><br />Mr. Bernath agreed that the law was “not completely clear” on how to handle such situations, but predicted that they would be rare.<br /><br />“I think the resistance has to do with dealing with something new,” he said. “We’re pretty confident that once this gets going and the newness of it wears off, a lot of the apprehension will go away.”<br />__________<br />source: New York TimesD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-39916610331825128892008-12-08T08:01:00.000-05:002008-12-08T08:02:44.005-05:00Florida Drug Rehab Center Now Offering Extended Stay ProgramsAmbrosia Treatment Center, a holistic-based drug rehabilitation center located in Port St Lucie Florida, now offers extended stay addiction treatment programs specifically tailored to the needs of the patient.<br /><br />When it comes to health problems, a quick and neat solution is preferred nowadays. We have pills and syrups to ease every possible symptom. Surgery procedures that can be performed the same day and leave minimal scarring. However, when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction there is no such thing as a 'quick and neat solution.' Recent scientific studies have shown that the longer the treatment, the better the recovery and the more permanent the sobriety.<br /><br />Therefore, drug rehab centers nationwide have begun lengthening their programs and making recommendations to possible patients for longer treatment stays that are still cost effective. Ambrosia Treatment Center, a world-class holistic drug rehab facility located in Port St. Lucie Florida, has begun offering both 60-90 day programs and 6-12 month programs, in addition to their shorter programs, in order to provide specialized treatment for all of their clientele.<br /><br /><br /><br />According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over forty to sixty percent of people 'will relapse after drug treatment.' Addiction experts are now proving that longer treatment where client's specific needs are taken into account will alleviate the massive weight of addicts relapsing and cycling between 30-day hospitalizations for years and years. Dr. David Lewis, director of Visions Rehabilitation Center in Malibu, says that 30-day treatment programs were originally established for the Air Force and were only scheduled in that manner for bureaucratic reasons--'men and women didn't need to be reassigned if they were away from duty for more than 30 days. Other treatment centers followed suit.'<br /><br />However, there was at the time no direct scientific evidence that showed that 30 days was adequate time for treatment. Today, we know that there are no 'magic numbers' when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse treatment and those 30 days is not nearly enough. The Ambrosia Treatment Center, as a holistic-based drug rehab facility, follows this pattern by treating the 'whole' person in order to resolve the underlying issues that may be causing the addiction in the first place. Often times, treating the 'whole' person requires more than simply 30-days.<br /><br />However, many people find that an extended stay beyond 30-days is too much for addiction treatment. People argue that they have jobs, school, families--the normal day-in-day out routine that needs attention. What they want from rehabilitation is a quick fix. Yet, as stated before, there is no quick fix for drug and alcohol addiction and abuse. Studies have shown that addiction is best analogized to a chronic disease, such as heart disease--addiction requires critical attention and perseverance in terms of treatment in order to remain healthy. The Ambrosia Treatment Center family provides strong and capable staff, each of which carry over 20 years experience treating substance abuse and addiction treatment clients from all walks of life. Their attention to detail enables them to provide each client with an individualized regiment of treatment and not necessarily 'cookie cutter' their therapy.<br /><br />At the end of the day, this is what sets The Ambrosia Treatment Center different from other rehabilitation clinics--they care. They want to see your loved ones get well. They never give up on an addicted person. And, at the end of the day, they believe that you never fail unless you just quit trying.<br /><br />For additional information on the AMBROSIA TREATMENT CENTER and drug abuse treatment please call 1-866-616-0069 or visit www.ambrosiatreatmentcenter.com.<br />__________<br />source: topix.netD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-80606813846654831532008-12-05T09:32:00.001-05:002008-12-05T09:36:55.121-05:00Drug And Alcohol Abuse Double Risk Of ICU AdmissionWhile the personal health and safety risks of drug and alcohol abuse are well-documented, a new study by researchers at LDS Hospital and Brigham Young University suggests substance dependence increases medical costs by way of the intensive care unit.<br /><br />Analysis of intensive care unit admissions at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City shows drug and alcohol abuse make a patient twice as likely to be admitted to intensive care, according to the new study, published in the December issue of Intensive Care Medicine.<br /><br />"Since these patients are admitted to an intensive care unit, which is geared to treat patients with a much higher acuity, medical costs are higher than for those admitted to a general ward in the hospital," reported Mary Suchyta, M.D., lead author and a physician at Intermountain Medical Center and LDS Hospital.<br /><br />The researchers reviewed records for 742 patients admitted to LDS Hospital's intensive care unit over a one-year period. Nineteen percent of those patients had a history of drug and alcohol dependence prior to becoming critically ill. That's twice the rate of the population served by LDS Hospital.<br /><br />"It appears that that patients with drug or alcohol dependence are at higher risk for intensive care unit admission compared to the general population, which would increase overall medical costs," said Ramona Hopkins, a psychology professor at BYU and researcher at Intermountain Medical Center and LDS Hospital.<br /><br />Patients with drug or alcohol dependence were on average six years younger than the rest of ICU patients.<br /><br />"What's alarming is that substance dependence meant that these individuals were critically ill and admitted to the ICU at a much younger age than the general population," Hopkins said. "If these individuals do not completely recover and return to work, that represents large potential societal costs."<br /><br />The new study earned praise from the editors of Intensive Care Medicine, who noted that there are significant gaps in this type of knowledge in most ICU settings and while this article did not answer many of the questions posed by these gaps, it should stimulate further research and collaboration.<br /><br />Both Drs. Suchyta and Hopkins agree that the detection of substance dependence earlier would allow doctors to address those issues and this may improve recovery.<br /><br />"Dr. Hopkins and myself have thought for many years that patients with drug and alcohol dependence were over represented in the ICU populations that we have studied over the last 10-15 years and this study suggests that we were correct," noted Dr. Suchyta.<br /><br />BYU undergrad Callie Beck is also a co-author on the new study. It's her second time publishing an academic paper alongside Hopkins. In 2006 she co-authored a study on brain imaging, a field she would like to pursue in graduate school. Beck is applying to nine graduate schools, including UCLA, Vanderbilt and the University of Maryland.<br /><br />"Callie is an amazing student," Hopkins said. "She was involved in many aspects of the research, including data analysis and writing. That level of experience will make her stand out as she applies to graduate school."<br />___________<br />source: MediLexiconD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-85541758049517757642008-12-03T12:46:00.000-05:002008-12-03T12:48:35.752-05:00Not Such A Happy Christmas For Addiction SufferersIt may be the season to be merry for most people but according to experts at the Priory Group, the UK's leading independent provider of addiction treatment services, Christmas is often the most difficult time of year for people suffering from an addiction.<br /><br />The euphoria and excitement surrounding Christmas reinforces feelings of low self-esteem and low self-worth which are common in addicts. This makes it even harder to manage their addictions during the festive period.<br /><br />An estimated two million people in the UK are believed to suffer from an addiction of some sort. The three most common addictions are also the ones that are the most difficult to cope with at Christmas:<br /><br />- Alcohol<br />- Food<br />- Shopping<br /><br />Dr Philip Hopley, consultant psychiatrist at The Priory Roehampton explains: "It can become very difficult for people to deal with the stress and anxiety caused by the financial and consumer pressures of the festive season, and by difficult family and relationship situations that often arise at this time of year. For an addict this is intensified by trying to avoid temptation at a time when the rest of the population appears to be having a fantastic time.<br /><br />"During December alcohol consumption in the UK increases by 41%. Christmas puts a significant strain on people and this often leads to people using more alcohol in a bid to relax or avoid facing issues.<br /><br />"There are a number of reasons why some people end up drinking too much at a consistent level, including the need for confidence in social situations, such as the office Christmas party. the financial strain caused by overspending; the pressure to be upbeat and act as the 'perfect host'; spending extended periods with relatives; and<br /><br />"One of the most difficult times of the year for those recovering from alcoholism is the Christmas holidays because so many people appear to be having a good time whilst drinking. The New Year can seem like a very bleak place for alcoholics facing a long road ahead. Dr Hopley continued: "Christmas is often seen as a good excuse to indulge in overeating and excess, but to people with eating disorders it can spell despair.<br /><br />"People with conditions such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa can become extremely distressed to the point of feeling suicidal because of the pressure to eat at Christmas.<br /><br />"Bulimic behaviour often peaks over the holiday period and some sufferers resort to self-harm, which can become destructive addictive behaviour."<br /><br />Christmas is also a very challenging time for those suffering from a shopping addiction, or Oniomania as it is clinically known, according to Priory addictions specialist Dr Hopley: "Shopping addiction or impulse buying is when someone gets a 'high' from spending money on goods and spends excessively on items that they want rather than need. At Christmas the shops are full of glitzy displays designed specifically to encourage people to buy.<br /><br />"One of the main implications of shopping addiction is debt. People who are addicted to shopping may spend even when they have no money to spend with, which can soon lead to debt problems. Debts can often spiral out of control and can soon become unmanageable. Other consequences are denial and desperate acts to cover up the addiction leading to the breakdown of close relationships."<br /><br />Dr Hopley concluded: "While the vast majority of people enjoy a wonderful time at Christmas there are those for whom it is a desperate time. Admitting to a having a problem and consequently seeking treatment can be the first and most important step towards being able to enjoy the festive season in the future."D. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-24642636973073277142008-12-02T09:34:00.000-05:002008-12-02T09:36:04.102-05:00Binge drinking linked to increased stroke riskBinge drinking linked to increased stroke risk. It’s well-known that binge drinking is not good for your health and a new study shows it may have an even more pronounced effect on your brain than you thought. In fact, the researchers say that making binge drinking a habit could increase your risk of a stroke.<br /><br />Binge drinking often occurs at parties or in social settings where people take in <a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/signs-symptoms.html">large amounts of alcohol</a> at one time. In this study, researchers defined it as consuming six or more alcoholic drinks for men or four or more drinks for women in one session. They looked at almost 16, 000 Finnish men and women age 25 to 64 years. They participated in a risk factor survey and were followed up for 10 years afterward.<br /><br />In that time there were 249 participants who had a first stroke. The researchers found that while average alcohol consumption did not seem to be associated with the strokes, sessions of binge drinking showed a clear link with the occurrences. The binge drinkers were 1.85 times as likely of having a stroke compared to the non-binge drinkers and 1.99 times as likely when adjusting for the risk of ischemic (clotting) stroke alone.<br /><br />The researchers concluded that heavy sessions of alcohol consumption might be an independent risk factor for stroke.<br /><br />The Heart and Stroke Foundation does not recommend that you drink alcohol for the purpose of reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke. For those healthy adults who drink alcohol, consumption should not exceed 2 drinks* a day with a weekly limit of 14 drinks for men and 9 drinks for women. Binge drinking should be avoided.<br /><br />(A standard drink is 341 ml of 5% beer, 142 ml of 12% wine, and 43 ml of 40% spirits.) *<br />_____________<br />source: On the Pulse NewsD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-78879745173362472472008-11-26T08:01:00.000-05:002008-11-26T08:03:35.532-05:00Huesik: Korean for binge drinkingA classic South Korean working day usually ends up in Huesiks, binge drinking sessions cast as social events. But behind the drunken smiles lurks an alarming variety of health <a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/binge_drinking.html">problems that stem from heavy drinking</a>.<br /><br />Night falls on Seoul as workers leave their offices. It is time for Huesiks, boozy meals shared by coworkers at least twice a week. Taking part in them is highly recommended as those who do not can find themselves quickly ostracized from the group.<br /><br />This means drinking a lot; and quickly. Part of the aim is to find summon courage to lose one’s inhibition and criticize the boss. We follow one group as they treated a client in a Japanese restaurant. They are going to talk business. But, above all, they will raise toast after toast. That's already four in less than ten minutes.<br /><br />Soju is Korean people’s favorite drink. It is made of rice, potatoes or barley, is very cheap and usually contains about 25% of alcohol. So, a few hours and several bars later, these employees aren’t exactly in professional shape anymore.<br /><br />Having left the bar, these heavy drinkers drunkenly wait on subway platforms or stumble out onto Seoul’s streets. One businessman we come across has drunk one bottle of whisky every day for the last 20 years. Despite a recent recovery from stomach cancer, he remains a heavy drinker.<br /><br />In Korea, warnings against heavy drinking are still very rare. Advertising is legal. Yet, for the local authorities, the cost of alcohol abuse is mounting. One in 10 korean adults suffers from various health problems stemming from heavy drinking. And it is not about to change as average alcohol consumption rose again in September.<br />_____________<br />source: France 24D. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-40423666938179537362008-11-24T08:45:00.001-05:002008-11-24T08:47:23.288-05:00Heroin treatment also works on cocaine: studyMethadone, a drug used for many years to <a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/methadone.html">treat heroin addiction</a>, appears to work well in cocaine addiction, too, a new Canadian study suggests.<br /><br />Psychologist Francesco Leri of the University of Guelph has been making rats addicted to cocaine, and then treating them with methadone.<br /><br />Most of the rats responded well, he says. They lost their powerful urge for cocaine, and in addition, their brains "re-set" themselves into the same pattern that existed before they first used cocaine.<br /><br />"It can be done tomorrow with humans, and should be done tomorrow," he said.<br /><br />That's because methadone -- unlike a new drug -- already exists as a tested drug, with clear prescription rules and clinical staff trained in giving it out.<br /><br />"There is an entire system that is already in place for the employment of methadone," that could be used for cocaine addicts.<br /><br />Mr. Leri said the U.S. National Institute for Drug Abuse is looking into the use of methadone -- or a similar drug such as buprenorphine -- in a clinical setting.<br /><br />The idea came up because in real life, people mix drugs.<br /><br />There's no such thing as a "pure heroin addict," he said. "The norm is people who are addicted to opiates, so heroin or prescription opiates, and they co-abuse cocaine at the same time."<br /><br />Researchers have wondered what happens to their cocaine problem when they start taking methadone for the heroin addiction.<br /><br />But it's hard to tease apart the two addictions in humans. In his Guelph lab, Mr. Leri worked on rats with a cocaine addiction, but no exposure to heroin.<br /><br />The cocaine-addicted rats in his lab didn't get a cocaine high on methadone, he said. Instead, "the methadone may be able to curb the desire that they have for that drug (cocaine)."<br /><br />In addition, methadone actually reversed changes in the rats' brains that are caused by cocaine, and are known to play a key role in addictive behaviour.<br /><br />"What's interesting is that, among the rats given cocaine and then methadone, these regions of the brain looked similar to how they appeared in the rats that were never exposed to cocaine.<br /><br />"We feel we may have the hope of re-setting the brains of some individuals to a type of normality," he said. "I think it should be tried and I guarantee you there will be some individuals -- not everybody -- who will do better on methadone, who will be stabilized on methadone."<br /><br />The study means a person who is motivated to stop taking cocaine may benefit from methadone as one tool to help, the psychologist says.<br /><br />"You cannot give methadone left and right and hope that it is going to work. You need to work with individuals who in addiction to social support, in addition to cognitive therapy, will need something to curb their desire" for cocaine.<br /><br />His study is published in European Neuropsychopharmacology, a research journal.<br />______________<br />source: The Ottawa CitizenD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-60075204793607071232008-11-21T07:35:00.000-05:002008-11-21T07:37:33.381-05:00Task force could help stem underage college drinkingColleges and universities should take lead on setting and enforcing rules on their campuses.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/underage-drinking.html">Stopping underage drinking</a> on college campuses should be a top concern of parents and academia. In recent years, there have been tragic alcohol-related deaths, and something should be done to address this issue.<br /><br />Yet, we agree with state Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer, the solution is unlikely to be found in legislation that imposes a uniform fix for the state's many campuses. As Turner said, the universities and colleges should be allowed to set and enforce their own rules. If the problem spills off campus, there already are laws to handle underage drinkers.<br /><br />Some academic leaders have proposed lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, when people are considered adult in other areas of society, such as the health-care, criminal justice and military systems. The Amethyst Initiative, a group of 134 college presidents and chancellors, favor making it legal for their 18- to 20-year-old students to drink. Most now do so illegally and colleges have proved inadequate to stop this behavior.<br /><br />Under federal law, states can set the legal drinking age for their residents, but would lose 10 percent of their federal highway funds. The federal penalty recognizes that young people too often are involved in drinking-and-driving accidents.<br /><br />On the other hand, many European countries have a much lower drinking age than the United States but balance that with much tougher drunken driving laws. Generally, there are not higher rates of alcohol-related incidents among European youths than here.<br /><br />It is an issue worthy of more study, as Turner has proposed. She and Senate President Dick Codey, D-Essex, support creating a task force to look into the issue. But lowering the drinking age probably won't be acceptable to many New Jerseyans, especially those who have lost a loved one in an alcohol-related incident. But that doesn't mean the whole issue should not be reviewed. Students, parents, educators and lawmakers need to have this conversation to figure out how to get students and others to act more responsibly.<br />___________________<br />source: Courier Post OnlineD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-31454424196454309052008-11-18T11:44:00.000-05:002008-11-18T11:45:49.144-05:00Vodka makers may have to pay for addicts' treatmentAmid criticism from alcohol producers, a bill was introduced in the lower house of the Russian parliament (Duma) according to which<br />producers of vodka and other alcoholic beverages will have to pay for the treatment of <a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/signs-symptoms.html">chronic alcoholics</a>.<br /><br />Lawmaker Viktor Zvagelsky of the ruling United Russia party has introduced the bill which will bound the producers of alcoholic beverages to bear the 'moral and financial responsibility' and pay for the treatment of chronic alcoholics, according to a report.<br /><br />Zvagelsky proposes to set a mandatory mechanism for compensation of damage to health of citizens caused by consuming alcoholic drinks<br /><br />Earlier last month, Russian interior minister Rashid Nurgaliyev had recommended to restore the Soviet-era system of forced treatment of alcohol abusers.<br /><br />According to the lawmaker, the alcohol producers will have to pay approximately four roubles for per litre of vodka produced by them into a self-regulated fund to finance the network of clinics and sanatoria involved in the treatment of alcoholics.<br />___________<br />source: Times of IndiaD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-83565051009171583862008-11-12T08:10:00.000-05:002008-11-12T08:12:15.630-05:00Avoiding alcohol's temptations in 'overwhelming' war zoneOnce each week, in a fluorescent-lit room in a stout building near the heart of Kandahar Air Field, a multinational mix of troops and civilians gather to take on a battle that can't be fought with conventional weapons.<br /><br />Sitting around a table, or on overstuffed furniture, they talk about bad days, frustrating bosses and how it is that a fellow soldier can become a drunk on a dry base in a mostly dry country.<br /><br />Called Sober in the Sand, the group is this base's own chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. For many who spend much of the year living abroad in Afghanistan, their weekly meetings have become a lifeline to staying sober far from the supports of home.<br /><br />Jennifer, a 31-year-old from Winnipeg, has been sober for 10 years. Still, when she arrived to work at the base five months ago as a civilian, she was anxious about the strain that living in a war zone might cause.<br /><br />"It's not like I'm shaking for a drink all the time," she said.<br /><br />But she added that the base, which serves as a temporary home for more than 10,000 people from dozens of countries and is the frequent target of insurgent rocket attacks, can be "overwhelming" at times.<br /><br />"It's a really crazy place."<br /><br />That craziness was tempered, though, when she walked into her first AA meeting.<br /><br />Instantly, she felt she belonged.<br /><br />"There's a base level of understanding between alcoholics. They know you, you know them. It's almost like family."<br /><br />The group operates like most conventional AA groups, meeting once a week and setting up links between new recovering alcoholics and those with more sober years under their belts. But there are unconventional elements that come with operating in a war zone.<br /><br />"Here we worry about our fellow alcoholics going out and not coming back alive, which is a little harder to deal with," said Ed, a 47-year-old mechanic from Midland, Ont.<br /><br />Typically, the group has about five regular members, but has swelled to more than 15 at different times.<br /><br />Often, the group will gather for special meetings if soldiers are coming through who are normally stationed off base at one of the smaller outposts.<br /><br />"If they need a meeting, well, darn it all, somebody should be there," said Ed, adding that those who come to the AA group for support but have to leave to work off base are usually given literature, including copies of The Big Book, a step-by-step guide to getting sober that explains the Alcoholics Anonymous tradition.<br /><br />"My book I was carrying around for 14 years went out to a forward operating base with them," Ed said. "If you have no meetings out there and guys at least have something to read, at least you have some comfort."<br /><br />John, a 31-year-old U.S. Army soldier from the Bronx, said it took some work to find the AA meetings when he arrived on base.<br /><br />At times the program has nearly faded away, largely because of the transience of people at the base. But it has always been revived.<br /><br />"People are not only coming here to talk about problems with alcohol," he said. "We come here for peace of mind. I've actually had the opportunity to help people."<br /><br />For that reason, no matter how many troops and contractors move on and off the base, the group will always exist, said Chuck, a 55-year-old civilian from Minnesota who with 26 years of sobriety, is the unofficial dean of Sober in the Sand.<br /><br />"AA is a program of principles. If everybody shipped out, the next recovered alcoholic coming through Kandahar would initiate it again.<br /><br />"This meeting will always be here after we've gone. The AA will keep reconstituting itself, just like the Taliban."<br />__________________<br />source: Globe and MailD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-69507804598119281842008-11-09T08:25:00.002-05:002008-11-09T08:31:36.667-05:00Kicking Depression: Recognize underlying disorders, tackle them, too<span style="font-style:italic;">By Christine Stapleton<br /><br />Palm Beach Post Staff Writer</span><br /><br />Oh that we could have just one mental illness afflict us at a time.<br /><br />Many of us diagnosed with one mental illness have another lurking - often undiagnosed or untreated. Doctors call it "<a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/co-morbidity.html">co-morbidity</a>." Others call it "<a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/dual_diagnosis.html">dual-diagnosis</a>." I call it "unfair."<br /><br />Two weeks ago I started sliding. Hours of feeling OK, then hours of feeling down. The OK hours slowly shrunk to OK minutes. The down hours became a day, then another and another. On the second down day the switch between my brain and stomach flicked off.<br /><br />Three days later, I had already lost 5 pounds. A trainer at the gym told me I was getting too thin. A couple of my girlfriends invited me to dinner. Another threatened an intervention. I ate a sweet potato and a little cup of chicken soup.<br /><br />My therapist calls this anorexia. I call it lack of appetite. It's not like I'm a waif you could blow over with a hair dryer. I just don't want to eat, and I weigh myself twice a day and track the numbers in my weight journal. Did I mention I don't eat wheat and very little refined sugar? What's the big deal? Apparently that's called an "eating disorder." It's just one of a few other "disorders" I deal with, like hypomania - a type of bipolar.<br /><br />My brain plays dominoes with these disorders. A bout of mania knocks over the depression domino, which knocks over the anorexia domino, which knocks over the exercise-drug-alcohol addiction domino, which goes on and on.<br /><br />It took decades for me to figure this out. It took even longer to realize that the chain-reaction that effortlessly topples the dominoes does not work in reverse. They won't automatically pop up if I manage to right just one.<br /><br />Each disorder has its own treatment. Successfully treating one will not necessarily cure the other. A bipolar drug addict who gets clean is still going to have eye-popping mood swings, bursts of energy and paralyzing depression if the bipolar is not treated, too.<br /><br />A food addict who smokes and gets treatment for her eating disorder but keeps smoking is still addicted to nicotine. Same with the alcoholic who cuts herself. She is not necessarily going to stop cutting just because she gets sober.<br /><br />Like I said, it's not fair. It is even worse because many doctors don't understand this. They treat one illness but fail to diagnose the companion disorder(s). Then we blame the antidepressants or therapy for not working and we quit. Life becomes hell, all over again.<br /><br />My solution: Surrender. Recognize the other disorders and treat them, too. I don't think of it as being a loser. I just joined the winning side. <br />________<br />source: Palm Beach PostD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-73009095816486075752008-11-07T10:40:00.000-05:002008-11-07T10:43:25.776-05:00Alcoholics Have Problems Recognizing DangerAlcoholics have trouble recognizing and avoiding dangerous situations because the area of their brain that is used to appreciate those kinds of concerns is functioning at a reduce level, stunting their ability to perceive danger. This may help explain why they do not react to the concerns of their friends and family members about their drinking.<br /><br />Previous studies have shown that alcoholics have problems recognizing facial expressions and many other studies have shown cognitive deficits in alcoholics. A new study indicates that alcoholics may also have emotional processing deficits also.<br /><br />Researchers studied 11 alcoholics and 11 healthy males and used fMRI brain imaging to track their brain-blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) responses while they were given facial-emotion decoding tasks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sensation Seekers</span><br /><br />The subjects were ask to determine the intensity of happy, sad, anger, disgust and fear displayed via facial expressions. The results showed that alcoholics were most deficient at recognizing negative emotional expressions.<br /><br />These deficits showed up on the fMRI images in the affective division of the anterior cingulate cortex -- part of the prefrontal brain area.<br /><br />"The cingulate is involved in many higher order executive functions such as focused attention, conflict resolution and decision making," said Jasmin B. Salloum, research scientist at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in a news release. "Alcoholic patients are known to be sensation seekers and are less likely to shy away from signals that suggest danger."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Findings Have a Silver Lining</span><br /><br />"Both sensation seeking and avoidance of danger are characteristic of subjects with axes II personality disorders, which many of our subjects had," Salloum said. "The findings in this study may shed some light on some of the problematic and psychopathological behaviors that are manifest in this patient group. It remains to be determined if the dysfunction of the anterior cingulate precedes alcoholism or is a result of long term drinking."<br /><br />The study did have a silver lining, according to Andreas Heinz, director and chair of the department of psychiatry at Charite – University Medical Center Berlin.<br /><br />"Now we can begin to understand why patients have problems avoiding dangerous situations and, particularly, why they may not react to the concerns of their friends and relatives: the brain area that should help them appreciate these concerns is functioning at a reduced level," said Heinz.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">But Happy Faces Work</span><br /><br />"Furthermore, we observed a normal or even increased brain response to happy faces. Our group recently made a similar observation, in that patients with strong brain responses to pleasant pictures have a reduced relapse risk," Heinz said. "So, relatives and friends may want to support alcoholic patients with positive messages that strengthen their self-esteem while being particularly careful, and even repetitive, in pointing out the dangers of alcohol and alcohol-associated environments. Otherwise, the patients may miss the message."<br /><br />The study was published in the September 2007 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.<br />_________<br />source: about.comD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-74005293194767464742008-11-05T09:38:00.001-05:002008-11-05T09:40:57.797-05:00Somewhat Better Outcomes With Longer-Term Treatment For Opioid-Addicted YouthNew research published in the November 5 issue of JAMA reveals that long-term therapy rather than short-term therapy for opioid-addicted adolescents yields better results. Those who received continuing treatment with the combination medication buprenorphine-naloxone were less likely to test positive for opioids and reported lower rates of opioid use compared to adolescents who participated in a short-term detoxification program with the same medication.<br /><br />Adolescents tend to abuse opioids in the form of <a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/opiate-withdrawal.html">heroin or prescription pain-relief medications</a>. Recent research suggests that more and more young people are abusing these types of drugs, and therefore treatment needs are rising as well. "The usual treatment for opioid-addicted youth is short-term detoxification and individual or group therapy in residential or outpatient settings over weeks or months. Clinicians report that relapse is high, yet many programs remain strongly committed to this approach and, except for treating withdrawal, do not use agonist medication [drugs that mimic the effect of opioids by altering the receptor]," write George Woody, M.D. (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia) and colleagues.<br /><br />To compare outcomes of opioid-addicted adolescents who receive either short-term detoxification or long-term treatment using buprenorphine-naloxone, Dr. Woody and colleagues conducted a study with 152 patients, 15 to 21 years of age. The long-term treatment medication consists of an oral medication that relieves symptoms of opiate withdrawal (buprenorphine) and a drug that prevents or reverses the effects of injected opioids (naloxone). Patients who were randomized to receive the 12-week buprenorphine-naloxone treatment received up to 24 mg. per day for 9 weeks and smaller amounts through the twelfth week. The remaining participants (the detox group) received up to 14 mg. per day, with doses tapering off through day 14. Individual and group counseling was offered to all participants.<br /><br />Wood and colleagues found that at weeks 4 and 8, the detox group had a higher percentage of opioid-positive urine test results. Specifically, after 4 weeks, 61% of participants in the detox group had opioid-positive urine test results compared to 26% of participants in the 12-week buprenorphine-naloxone group. The figures after 8 weeks were 54% positive in the detox group and 23% positive in the 12-week buprenorphine-naloxone group. By the twelfth week, the buprenorphine-naloxone group had been tapered off of their treatment and 43% tested positive for opioids compared to 51% of detox group patients.<br /><br />About 21% of detox group patients and 70% of buprenorphine-naloxone patients remained in treatment by week 12. Patients in the 12-week buprenorphine-naloxone group reported, during weeks 1 through 12, less use of opioids, cocaine and marijuana, as well as less injecting and less need for additional addiction treatment. Both groups measured high levels of opioid use at follow-up.<br /><br />The authors clarify that, "Taken together, these data show that stopping buprenorphine-naloxone had comparably negative effects in both groups, with effects occurring earlier and with somewhat greater severity in patients in the detox group."<br /><br />"Because much opioid addiction treatment has shifted from inpatient to outpatient where buprenorphine-naloxone can be administered, having it available in primary care, family practice, and adolescent programs has the potential to expand the treatment options currently available to opioid-addicted youth and significantly improve outcomes," conclude Woody and colleagues." Other effective medications, or longer and more intensive psychosocial treatments, may have similarly positive results. Studies are needed to explore these possibilities and to assess the efficacy and safety of longer-term treatment with buprenorphine for young individuals with opioid dependence."<br /><br />David A. Fiellin, M.D. (Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.) writes in an accompanying editorial that more evidence is necessary in order to claim any treatment is effective for opioid-addicted individuals.<br /><br />He concludes that: "The results of this trial should prompt clinicians to use caution when tapering buprenorphine-naloxone in adolescent patients who receive this medication. Supportive counseling; close monitoring for relapse; and, in some cases, naltrexone should be offered following buprenorphine tapers. From a research perspective, additional efforts are needed to provide a stronger evidence base from which to make recommendations for adolescents who use opioids. There is limited research on prevention of opioid experimentation and effective strategies to identify experimentation and intercede to disrupt the transition from opioid use to abuse and dependence."<br />___________<br />source: MediLexicon NewsD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-12732198589880701942008-11-02T07:13:00.001-05:002008-11-02T07:16:38.289-05:00Women and drug addictionThe most shocking thing about the modern drug user? That she could be someone like you. <br /><br />Andrea Mackenzie 57, a divorced mother of three from Newquay, was first prescribed valium for back pain as a trainee teacher in 1969. She became addicted and continued to take it for almost 40 years. <br /><br />When I think of the person I was before I took diazepam, or Valium as it was called back then, I don't get angry, I get upset. I was at college in London, training to teach dance and drama and I loved putting on shows. Most students around me looked forward to the holidays, but I looked forward to the start of each term.<br /><br />I went to my GP because of muscle ache in my back. He prescribed some pills and in those days you didn't ask questions, you just took them. It helped with the pain and seemed to relax me. When I went for a repeat prescription no questions were asked. For year upon year the box was just ticked. They really were handed out like sweets.<br /><br />Diazepam is probably one of the most addictive drugs there is and that doctor was prescribing me an illness. It gives you a numb feeling, blanks out your emotions so everything becomes sort of dull. If you've suffered a terrible bereavement it can calm you down, but if you take it all through life you sleepwalk; nothing touches you.<br /><br />My overriding feeling was always, 'I can't be bothered.' I qualified as a teacher but didn't work as one because I met my husband, an engineer, young and started a family. I took those tablets three times a day, as prescribed, and my life revolved around them. I had to have 'my tablets' with me all the time just to feel safe and, if I forgot them, I'd start hysterically panicking and we'd have to go back.<br /><br /> It's funny – even though I built up a tolerance, I didn't ever up the dosage or abuse them because they were on prescription. My body was craving them so I had all sorts of symptoms and went through life feeling unwell with so many non-specific things. I'd feel strange and dizzy, I'd shake, sound would be magnified, lights were too bright. I basically thought I was a hypochondriac. My family used to laugh about it.<br /><br />We had three children; I loved them, I lived for them, but I was removed from them. The best way to describe it is the way you feel when you have a hangover and you've kids to look after. I didn't crawl around on the floor playing dress-up or jump on a trampoline with them. I didn't participate at children's parties. They weren't neglected, though, and I don't feel guilty because it wasn't my fault. Thank goodness they're all happy, healthy adults. We've never sat down and talked about my addiction – though of course they must know.<br /><br />No one ever really suggested I should stop taking Valium. After my mother died of a heart attack right in front of me, I became hysterical and the doctor just put me on a higher dose. It comforted me – but stopped me grieving. When my marriage broke down, I really wasn't that bothered. People would talk about the 'trauma of divorce', the 'stress of moving home'; I didn't feel it.<br /><br />As the years passed, people became more aware of the dangers of diazepam. I read about it, realised what was happening to me – and by the time my last daughter went to university I knew it was time to come off it. It took me three years. By then I had a fantastic, supportive GP who helped me do it so, so gradually. It made me really ill – my speech was slurred, I was permanently exhausted. At one point I had to be tested for Parkinson's.<br /><br />I've been totally clear for two and a half years now and I'm a different person – the person I would have been. I don't smoke or drink alcohol or caffeine and I exercise daily on my Air Walker. I'm motivated, full of energy. I spent last week with friends at Center Parcs. My daughter joined me for a day and we rode around on our bikes – something I'd never have done when she was younger.<br /><br />The real difference, though, is emotional. I feel so much more. I'm affected by things. When my own children were born, yes, I was happy – but somehow nothing seemed to stick. When my first grandson was born seven months ago it was absolutely amazing. I couldn't believe how excited I was. I've so many activities planned for him. It's like my second chance. <br />__________<br />source: http://www.telegraph.co.ukD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-16136036579205957292008-10-27T08:21:00.000-04:002008-10-27T08:24:12.427-04:00Third of routine drinkers get potentially fatal liver damage<span style="font-weight:bold;">One third of routine drinkers sustain enough liver damage to put themselves at risk of an early death, researchers have found.</span><br /><br />A study at University College London found an unexpectedly high level of liver abnormalities among "normal working people" who consume more alcohol than average but would not regard themselves as alcoholics.<br /><br />Professor Rajiv Jalan, head of the liver failure group at University College London hospitals and one of the authors of the study, said: "These are people working in offices who we routinely encounter.<br /><br />"They are representative of working people in our society and they are at risk."<br /><br />The study looked at results from more than 1,000 men and women, mostly aged 36 to 55, who used home testing kits to measure liver damage.<br /><br />The kits measure specific enzymes in the blood, high levels of which indicate liver abnormalities.<br /><br />More than 70 per cent of those involved in the study said they regularly drank more than the government's recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol a week for women and 21 units for men, and 41 per cent of them said they drank every day.<br /><br />The results showed at least 30 per cent of the people tested had liver abnormalities.<br /><br />The worrying findings will be published this week in the medical journal Hepatology and come as the government considers the introduction of national screening to counter rising levels of liver disease.<br /><br />Up to two million people in Britain have chronic liver disease and many are unaware of their illness.<br /><br />Deaths from the disease have increased by eight times in men aged 35 to 44 and by seven times in women over the past 30 years.<br /><br />Doctors warn that symptoms of liver disease are not felt until too late and by that time patients have up to a 50 per cent chance of dying early.<br /><br />A Medical Research Council study found that intelligent people can be at greater risk of alcohol problems as they seek to cope with stressful jobs.<br />_________<br />source: http://www.telegraph.co.ukD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-51630873312090406712008-10-25T11:35:00.001-04:002008-10-25T11:37:29.640-04:00Struggling With Alcohol? Better Quit Smoking, TooOvercoming alcoholism is tough enough. That's one reason many alcoholics who smoke continue to light up even while they're in recovery from alcohol dependency.<br /><br />But new research suggests that tackling both addictions simultaneously may offer the best chance of success.<br /><br />Recovering alcoholics often admit they're <a href="http://www.treatmentcenters.com/articles/nicotine.html">using nicotine as a drug</a>, said Dr. Michael M. Miller, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.<br /><br />"They can tell you, 'I don't want to quit [smoking], because it changes the way I feel. I use it to deal with stress,' " added Miller, who's also director of NewStart, a chemical dependency rehabilitation program at Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wis.<br /><br />A study of alcoholics in treatment for their alcohol problems used brain scans to examine how performance on cognitive tests changes with abstinence from alcohol. Twenty-five alcoholics stopped drinking for six to nine months, but the 12 who smoked continued to smoke.<br /><br />"We found that the smoking alcoholics over six to nine months of abstinence did not recover certain types of brain function as the non-smoking alcoholics did," said study author Dieter J. Meyerhoff, a professor of radiology at the University of California, San Francisco. Decision-making skills, thinking speed, 3-D visualization and short-term memory were affected, calling into question the prospects of long-term sobriety, he noted.<br /><br />And while smoking and non-smoking alcoholics improved on several other cognitive tests, such as learning and remembering words, smokers' brain function, in general, took longer to recover.<br /><br />The findings were published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.<br /><br />Studies indicate that 60 percent to 75 percent of people in alcohol-treatment programs smoke cigarettes, and 40 percent to 50 percent are "heavy" smokers, consuming more than a pack a day.<br /><br />Yet treatment for tobacco dependence is not routinely included in alcohol treatment programs, Boston University researchers reported recently in the journal Alcohol Research & Health, published by the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.<br /><br />"I would say that over half of chemical dependency treatment agencies now talk about nicotine, encourage patients to stop [smoking] and provide them assistance to stop, such as with nicotine-replacement therapy or prescriptions for Zyban or Champix," Miller said. "So that's a tremendous advance."<br /><br />Oftentimes, though, smoking is excused. "What you don't see," Miller said, "is building nicotine into the treatment plan and considering tobacco use to be a relapse of addiction."<br /><br />The concern had been that addressing both dependencies concurrently would pose "too great a difficulty for the patient" and impede recovery from alcoholism, the Boston researchers noted. But studies now suggest that quitting smoking does not derail alcohol treatment -- and may even improve the likelihood of longer-term sobriety, they said.<br /><br />In fact, Miller said studies show that people in recovery for other addictions who delay smoking cessation can later relapse to their chemical dependency because of the stress of quitting smoking six to 18 months later.<br /><br />"So stopping everything at once -- getting all the psychological stress out of the way at once -- is the best way to go, and also getting all the physical withdrawal syndromes out of the way at once is the best way to go," he concluded.<br /><br />Meyerhoff agreed that tackling smoking as part of an alcohol treatment program is a smart tactic.<br /><br />"The alcoholics have shown that they are willing to change one behavior, namely excessive drinking," he said. "If they are in that mindset, it is a great opportunity for treatment specialists to also convince them of the negative effects of continued chronic smoking."<br />_______________________<br />source: U.S.News & World ReportD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301935608023547863.post-8406094720203130992008-10-24T10:47:00.000-04:002008-10-24T10:50:19.225-04:00Survey: Alcohol abuse remains problem at UConnSTORRS, Conn. --One of every four University of Connecticut students say they have blacked out from heavy drinking during Spring Weekend festivities, according to a new survey.<br /><br />The review, conducted by UConn's Center for Survey Research and Analysis, also says two of every five students surveyed say they got "severely drunk" during the annual party.<br /><br />Some UConn officials said they were shocked by the findings, especially since the university has stepped up enforcement and offers many alcohol-free recreation events. However, national experts and some students say they were less surprised.<br /><br />The survey mirrors national trends, said Brandon Busteed, founder and chief executive officer of Outside the Classroom, a company that works with colleges to fight high-risk drinking.<br /><br />"That is a very frightening statistic, but I don't think it's too far out from national statistics, which is kind of depressing," Busteed said of the 25 percent blackout figure.<br /><br />The university's Department of Wellness and Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Services commissioned the survey to gauge what students want out of Spring Weekend, and how UConn can make it safer and more memorable for them.<br /><br />The festivities, which occur just before final exams, draw up to 20,000 students and their guests each spring.<br /><br />Unsanctioned off-campus parties at nearby apartment complexes frequently generate dozens of arrests, assaults and ambulance trips for inebriated and injured party guests.<br /><br />UConn Spring Weekend events gained national attention in 1998, when a party in an off-campus parking lot led to rioting. This year, the student newspaper's editor said she was sexually accosted at one of the parties and wrote about it on the paper's front page.<br /><br />A committee examining Spring Weekend has been holding informal hearings for the past two weeks to get suggestions from police, doctors, student, apartment complex owners, Mansfield town employees and others.<br /><br />The survey results come from an online questionnaire sent in March to all of the approximately 15,000 UConn undergraduates ages 18 or older on the Storrs campus.<br /><br />The survey did not include the most recent Spring Weekend in April, since it was distributed about a month earlier.<br /><br />A total of 2,571 students responded, with 1,709 answering the question about whether they had blacked out due to substance use during a Spring Weekend.<br /><br />The survey defined "blacking out" as being conscious, but having no recollection due to substance use. It distinguished blacking out from "passing out," which was described as being unresponsive due to substance use.<br /><br />Twelve percent of students reported passing out at a Spring Weekend.<br /><br />"I agree that it's a shocking number," said Julie Elkins, assistant to the vice president for student affairs at UConn. "In some ways, it reminds me of folks who usually drink responsibly, and then New Year's Eve hits and they make choices they normally don't. I think Spring Weekend is their New Year's Eve."<br /><br />Given the level of drinking, Student Body President Ryan McHardy said, the number of blackouts reported was right on the mark.<br /><br />"Am I surprised? No, and it's unfortunate. That's the behavior I've seen in Spring Weekend," McHardy said.<br /><br />"There's an expectation that's going to happen," McHardy said. "That, to me, seems to be the No. 1 issue that needs to be addressed."<br />____________<br />source: http://www.boston.comD. Estitutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11178587293043058717noreply@blogger.com0