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Films on Addiction: Ice Age – Crystal Meth Addicts
Gulf Spill and Consequences
The BP oil spill’s gush of 2.5 million gallons a day is already threatening human faith. A charter boat captain in Alabama has committed suicide, blaming the oil spill.
Nancy Adler, a psychologist at the University of San Francisco, predicts that the Gulf spill will increase depression, domestic violence and alcoholism.
Studies made after the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989, showed that 10% of local inhabitants tested positive for post-traumatic stress disorder. Depression rates were even higher.
Also, academic research on the fall of the Soviet Union found that the economic ripples led directly to a decrease in life expectancy among men by nine years—as job losses and insecurity led to stress and alcoholism.
This and other oil spill-related issues where discussed on June 22nd and 23rd, at the Assessing the Human Health Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Workshop, hosted by the Institute of Medicine.
Recovering Through Art
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“Creativity and artistic expression can play a significant role in raising awareness of the personal toll caused by substance abuse. But they also can be vital elements in recovery. Innovators Combating Substance Abuse, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, developed the addiction art project because of its pivotal role in the education and prevention of substance use disorders (abuse and addiction). The program promotes the use of addiction art to complement addiction science in understanding, preventing and treating substance use disorders.
The Innovators Program developed a booklet for the purpose of sharing the program’s successful model of addiction art exhibitions with those interested in preventing and controlling substance use disorders in their communities and their families. Written exhibition guidelines can serve as a useful tool to ensure that all planning aspects are included and executed in a timely manner. The booklet provides “how to” information that can be modified to reduce costs for organizing exhibitions in local communities. These guidelines are presented in trust for the use, expansion and modification of this model. Cost-saving approaches to help organize exhibitions to meet the education and prevention needs of yourcommunity can also be found in the booklet.” -Source: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |
Things I’ve learned in Recovery.
Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.
-Og Mandino
Addiction Around The World: Afghanistan
Eight percent of the adult Afghan population aged 15 to 64 suffers from drug addiction, says a UN report released on June 21.
Afghanistan has one of the highest drug-use rates in the world. This rate is twice the Global Average.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime, also found that Afghanistan’s poppy fields have grown more productive in recent years, and that the sheer volume of cheap drugs in the country makes it possible for ever more people to turn to them.
“Worldwide people in stressful situations such as wars and natural disasters are tempted to dull the pain of losing their loved ones or livelihoods by “self-medicating” with narcotics, tranquilizers, or alcohol. Afghanistan, which has seen three decades of continual strife, is particularly prone to that syndrome.” says Angela Me, head of the UNODC’s Statistics and Surveys Section which prepared the report.
Read Why Has Drug Use Increased So Dramatically In Afghanistan? for more of this story.
Mindy McCready’s Appearance in CBS News
“It really did save my life,” McCready says about her stay at PRC during her Celebrity Rehab.
September is The Recovery Month
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The Recovery Month Web sites aims to promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of treatment providers, and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug disorders in all its forms is possible.
See how you can be part of this noble cause at www.recoverymonth.gov. Here are some events happening in California. BASAP is celebrating recovery month by attending an Oakland A’s baseball game. The program agenda includes lunch and positive recovery month messages on the scoreboard throughout the game. 24th Annual San Diego International Conference on Child & Family Maltreatment CAThis conference is directed to a multidisciplinary audience from the fields of medicine, mental health, forensic interviewing, child welfare, advocacy, law, investigations, family support, public policy and research, and domestic violence. The conference will bring a faculty of over 200 top scientists, clinicians, and front line professionals from around the world. It will have over 160 workshops and four plenary sessions. Contact lkwilson@rchsd.org for more information. Dr. Sinor’s newest addiction recovery book will be released to the public. AALA Roundup – GLBT CA05/27/2010 12:00 PM - 05/31/2010 3:00 PM AA/Al-Anon Conference www.southbayroundup.org Cri-Help 39th Annual BBQ and Auction CA06/13/2010 11:00 AM - 06/13/2010 7:00 PM Recovery Happens 2010 CA09/01/2010 8:00 AM - 09/01/2010 4:00 PM Walk-Away From Drugs and Alcohol Walk-A-Thon CA09/04/2010 9:00 AM - 09/04/2010 3:00 PM S.C.O.T.T. 1st Annual Walk/Run For Recovery CA09/12/2010 9:00 AM - 09/12/2010 5:00 PM 6th Annual Recovery Walk & Celebration CA09/18/2010 9:30 AM - 09/18/2010 3:00 PM |
Substance Abuse Disorders Increase The Risk Of Suicide.
5,000 Veterans Affairs (VA) patients with substance use disorders where the subject of a study examining the risk factors for violent or nonviolent suicide.
The efforts were made in hopes that doctors, friends, and family members of a someone with SUDs could improve suicide-prevention efforts in these individuals.
“To perform the study, the researchers looked at two distinct groups. They Identified 854 VA patients who died by suicide and had substance use disorders, as well as a control group of 4,228 VA patients with substance use disorders who did not die by suicide,” according to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Researchers also said that the substance use disorders and suicide are probably linked in several ways: First, people who develop a drug or alcohol addiction may already be at higher risk for suicide. Second, having a substance use disorder can cause problems at work and in relationships, which may increase suicide risk. Third, being under the influence of alcohol or drug can make someone more likely to engage in impulsive behaviors — such as a suicide attempt.
The study was published in this month’s Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Online Communities for Recovering Addicts.
What can one do after a completing a successful recovery program in a rehab Facility?
Support and human interaction can help a person through depression and substance addiction. Online groups help addiction patients share their stories and express themselves in a much relaxed manner.
Below are three excellent Communities that have helped many cope with their life in recovery.
SoberSocial is an online community for recovering alcoholics and addicts who’ve left behind the days of drinking and using illegal substances. SoberSocial also welcomes supportive family and friends who are standing by us in our sobriety.
MdJunction, People helping people hosts a Addiction Recovery Support Group, in which a community of patients, family members and friends dedicated to dealing with Addiction, together.
Words for Recovery: Doubt
Doubt
From “We Agnostics”:
“Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about God. Here difficulty arises with agnostics. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. But his face falls when we speak of spiritual matters, especially when we mention God, for we have re-opened a subject which our man thought he had neatly evaded or entirely ignored. “We know how he feels. We have shared his honest doubt and prejudice.”
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 44
