On the surface, Oxycontin appears to be relatively harmless when you put it up against heroin. Small color coded pills with numbers indicating the dosage in milligrams look a lot cleaner and safer. Oxycontin’s appearance is deceiving, beneath the pastel colored seal surface of the pills, there exists a killer. There is a growing concern as more young people are experimenting with pharmaceutical narcotics like Oxycontin and Xanax. Teenagers and young adults are playing with a fire that will inevitably burn them. Pharmaceutical pain medications like Oxycontin and Fentanyl have the same effect on the human body as heroin does, heroin is cut with other undesirables, but, essentially all strong opiates have the potential for overdose.

Joey Rovero’s life was cut short because of drugs like Oxycontin and Xanax. Just a week before his death, Joey, drove to Southern California and paid a doctor $75 dollars. Rovero took home 90 OxyContin tablets, 30 Xanax and 90 muscle relaxants, his father said. How is that possible? What kind of medical problems would necessitate a college student being prescribed three drugs that can easily cause an overdose when mixed? It happens all the time and doctors know it, yet, they continue to prescribe these drugs to ostensibly healthy young adults.

Prescription narcotics have become an epidemic in America and doctors continue to throw fuel on the fire. Every bottle of Xanax and Oxycontin that gets prescribed to a college student is going to find its way into countless hands. Rovero sold half of his drugs to his addicted roommates before he overdosed and died. Who knows how far Rovero’s drugs traveled before they were all used up, how many people used his drugs in conjunction with other drugs potentially overdosing themselves.

Prescription medication in America needs to be addressed, we need to educate more young adults about the dangers that exist. Opiates and sedatives in any form have the power to kill and will continue to do so as long as people think that they are clean and safe.

Original post: Celebrate a New Life

Social Media has become the provider of information and news for the world, between Twitter and Facebook one can discern a lot. Just about every teenager in the United States actively uses social networks to communicate with the world; this makes social media a perfect platform for teaching kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America has teamed up with WeeWorld, to help educate teens about substance abuse prevention and the realities of drug and alcohol use or abuse. According to the PR Newswire, “this effort delivered more than 47 million viral impressions, dramatically increased traffic and tripled brand awareness for the Partnership’s teen-targeted site CheckYourself.com”.

With 36 million registered WeeMee’s visiting and expressing themselves through WeeWorld it seems like the perfect environment to educate teens. “WeeWorld.com has proven to be an incredibly effective platform for us to share messages with teens about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse”, said Partnership Digital Media and Marketing Director Hilary Baris. “These unprecedented results clearly demonstrate that teens are thirsting for this kind of information. We’ve been blown away by the quality and overall level of engagement WeeWorld has so clearly quantified and we’re thrilled to be able to embrace this technology to connect with teens”. The drive behind the campaign was a young adult recovering addict named JT. Using his WeeMee, JT visually interacted with a growing base of over 20,000 teen friends, posted messages and shared weekly scenarios drawn from CheckYourself.com.

“What an incredible inspiration this collaborative effort has been for me”, said JT. “Not only have we meaningfully interacted with tens of thousands of teens and helped educate them about the dangers of substance abuse, but we are helping these young people make smart choices about drug and alcohol use. So many people have been instrumental in personally helping me to recover from my addiction and that’s why I am so excited to have encouraged so many ‘WeeWorlders’ to achieve a positive attitude about not using drugs and alcohol”.

Through the Internet and the powers of social media, millions of people can gain knowledge about things they would have never have known without it. The Internet has proven its effectiveness in reaching kids probably more than any other one thing. Harnessing the power of social media to help guide people towards abstinence or recovery will save countless lives.

“We’re thrilled that, together, we helped build a unique ‘celebrity role model’ in JT and provided compelling content that teens eagerly integrated and shared with friends,” said Pauline Malcolm-John, VP of National Sales for WeeWorld. “And just like we do with any client, whether they are major brands, product launches or causes, we were able to quantify the massive viral effect we achieved and are proud to see the huge success of this educational social media campaign.”

The original is here: Celebrate a New Life

People from all walks of life can very easily get sucked into a life of drug and alcohol addiction. It’s not a problem that any one group of individuals is more prone to experiencing. But, have you ever thought that your own doctor could be addicted to drugs or alcohol?

Unfortunately physicians can also fall into the grips of addiction. They not only wreck their own personal lives and those of their families, but what do you think this does to their ability to effectively treat patients? Scary thought, huh? I certainly wouldn’t want a doctor who is high on drugs managing my health, especially if I was sick with a major disease that required critical thinking. And what about surgeons who are operating on patients?

There was a recent survey done that showed some pretty alarming information, most notably, that doctors are not likely to report their colleagues if they know about or suspect drug abuse. The survey found that only one in three doctors would report the problem. The reasons being that they feared retribution by the offender or that they would be getting their colleague into trouble.

In Florida, a program has been put in place for this type of scenario to be avoided. They offer a reporting program for doctors to be able to report their colleagues or themselves, with a solution to the problem being offered, rather than revoking their license and turning them away. Doctors have the opportunity to clean up. They are required stop practicing medicine and attend a drug or alcohol rehab program, but once they’re clean, they can go back to practice.

What a concept! Why is this only available for doctors? Most of the time, you not only lose your job, but chances are, you could wind up in jail if you’re doing drugs. This gives people a great opportunity to regain their lives and live sober again. I’m in full agreement and think this is a great program. Give people a chance to make the right choice!

The original post: Drug Rehab Referral

People from all walks of life can very easily get sucked into a life of drug and alcohol addiction. It’s not a problem that any one group of individuals is more prone to experiencing. But, have you ever thought that your own doctor could be addicted to drugs or alcohol?

Unfortunately physicians can also fall into the grips of addiction. They not only wreck their own personal lives and those of their families, but what do you think this does to their ability to effectively treat patients? Scary thought, huh? I certainly wouldn’t want a doctor who is high on drugs managing my health, especially if I was sick with a major disease that required critical thinking. And what about surgeons who are operating on patients?

There was a recent survey done that showed some pretty alarming information, most notably, that doctors are not likely to report their colleagues if they know about or suspect drug abuse. The survey found that only one in three doctors would report the problem. The reasons being that they feared retribution by the offender or that they would be getting their colleague into trouble.

In Florida, a program has been put in place for this type of scenario to be avoided. They offer a reporting program for doctors to be able to report their colleagues or themselves, with a solution to the problem being offered, rather than revoking their license and turning them away. Doctors have the opportunity to clean up. They are required stop practicing medicine and attend a drug or alcohol rehab program, but once they’re clean, they can go back to practice.

What a concept! Why is this only available for doctors? Most of the time, you not only lose your job, but chances are, you could wind up in jail if you’re doing drugs. This gives people a great opportunity to regain their lives and live sober again. I’m in full agreement and think this is a great program. Give people a chance to make the right choice!

Go here to see the original: Drug Rehab Referral

AP

There has been a lot of talk lately about how caffeinated alcoholic beverages are made as well as how they are being marketed. Your standard energy drinks these days are geared specifically towards younger consumers, especially those who are underage. Now with a mixture of alcohol and caffeine in one can people don’t have to mix alcohol with drinks like Redbull or Rockstar; the problem is that the cans that have alcohol look not too dissimilar from those that do not. “Democratic New York Senator Charles Schumer is asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate how flavored, caffeinated alcoholic beverages are marketed, specifically those that appear to be geared to underage consumers”, said The Associated Press (AP).

In a letter to the FTC chairman, Jon Leibowitz, Schumer wrote that energy drinks containers are meant to confuse parents and police with labeling that looks like labeling on similar nonalcoholic drinks, wrote the AP. Not only that, but these energy drinks typically have more alcohol content than your average beer. Now we have an alcoholic beverage that has more alcohol in it than a beer and it looks like the person drinking it is drinking a Rockstar. The Senator highlighted drinks such as Joose and Four Loko which contain 12 percent alcohol, nearly twice than what is found in a beer.

A Wake Forest University study showed that students who mix alcohol with caffeine “tend to be more likely to experience alcohol-related injuries versus students who drink alcoholic beverages without caffeine”, reported the AP. It works like this, too much alcohol makes you tired, caffeine keeps you awake despite the alcohol; this allows people to think that they are able to drive despite the amount of alcohol they have consumed. Last year, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, principal deputy commissioner of food and drugs said, “The increasing popularity of consumption of caffeinated alcoholic beverages by college students and reports of potential health and safety issues necessitates that we look seriously at the scientific evidence as soon as possible”.

Energy drinks with alcohol need to be addressed! They are packaged in colorful cans, come in juice flavors, and typically cost about $2.50-$4.00 per can and are stronger than beer. Drinks like these are easy to conceal from authorities and parents which makes them popular among teens. The conversation has started and now action is needed…

Here is the original: Celebrate a New Life

A California judge is fed up with Lindsay Lohan’s inability to comply with her probation requirements. Lindsay got into trouble in 2007 for a number of offenses. She drove drunk twice, had cocaine in her system and drove recklessly.

Lindsay is no stranger at this point to the world of alcohol and drugs, or the court system. She was put on probation for a three year period and has been wearing an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet since May, and well before that, ordered by the court to attend alcohol treatment classes. But, she keeps pushing her luck. She’s been caught drinking with the alcohol bracelet on and she’s missed several of her treatment classes.

Well, it looks like her luck ran out. She’s been sentenced to 90 days in jail and has to go to an in-patient drug rehab program. When the judge came down with that sentence, Lindsay started to cry and plead with the court not to do that to her, but it was too little, too late. The judge basically looked at the apology as insincere and the tears as those of a crocodile.

News has also surfaced about Lindsay being prescribed a very strong painkiller called Dilaudid. This is a drug that has been compared to morphine and even heroin. She’s also prescribed Ambien (to help her sleep) and Adderall (to combat anxiety). There are too many bright, young stars being prescribed whatever drugs they want with tragic outcomes like overdose and death.

Honestly, I think the judge is doing right by Lindsay to up the ante in terms of her consequences. So far, probation and an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet haven’t worked. And, with doctors being willing to prescribe whatever drugs she wants, coupled with the idea that she’s basically untouchable, she obviously doesn’t have a clue about responsible behavior and moral values. If she’s not willing to help herself, the law will.

Hopefully she actually dives into the drug rehab program portion of sentence and gets a clue. It would be awful if she wound up dead like so many of our favorite celebs and singers in recent years.

The original post is created by: Drug Rehab Referral

Courtesy of WKRG

It is always sad when alcoholism rears its head inside a motor vehicle. There are many alcoholics in the grips of their disease that do not hesitate to get behind the wheel. Risk assessment goes out the window whenever there is addiction; sadly, the poor choices that some alcoholics make end up taking the life of an innocent bystander. We all witnessed the horror that occurred on the Taconic Parkway with Diane Schuler; the accident sent a shock through every household in America. Theories of what went wrong on that day were talked about in most households, asking who and why and when and how this could have happened. The answer to that question is Alcoholism.

Just recently a woman lost her life while riding as a passenger in her friend’s car when a vehicle driven by a drunk driver slammed into their car. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office says that Amy Locane drove into the passenger side of another car in Montgomery, New Jersey, killing a woman who was sitting in the front seat and seriously injured the driver. You may remember Locane from the 1990′s TV show “Melrose Place” as well as the movies “Airhead” and “Crybaby”. Locane confessed to police that she had drank several glasses of wine before getting behind the wheel. Before the fatal accident occurred, the actress rear-ended another car down the road; when the other driver tried to call the police Locane fled the scene “swerving and knocking down several mailboxes” along the way, witnesses told police. A few miles down the road Locane’s life changed forever.

According to police Locane has been charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and third-degree assault by auto. Locane smelled of alcohol and her eyes were bloodshot and glassy and she was slurring her words, according to officers. Bail has not been set yet and it looks like she will face up to 10 years in Prison. Locane will have a long time to think about her life and her actions in prison, hopefully she will address some of the issues that helped get her there. Whenever “alcohol” finds itself behind the wheel, accidents are inevitable – sooner or later.

Please share your thoughts and insights in the comments…

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Source: TMZ

The original post: Celebrate a New Life

When should a person enter a detox program and what should it be drug specific?  Most people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol not only need to rehabilitate but also need to be medically detoxed as well.  If an alcoholic does not go to an alcohol detox, than that person can have seizures or other medical problems that can be life threatening.  Most of the detox centers in the country are only hospital based which means they don’t specialize in detox.  Rather, they use the detox in a medical emergency situation.  Meaning if the person is having a life-threatening situation, then the hospital will provide the detox.

If you find yourself not being able to stop than that is an indication that you may need to check yourself into a detox.  Remember, when researching drug and alcohol rehabs, make sure that if they don’t provide detox that they have one that they work with.  Try not to go to a hospital detox because many times they don’t fully detoxify you properly.

Medical care is not the only important part of detox.  Ensuring that they person is on a regimen of vitamins, minerals, and receiving a healthy diet are vital for the body to recover.  This will speed up the detox process and allow for the body and brain to recover faster.  Remember, the detox program should incorporate medical care and a health program as well.

The original post: Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment

Life’s Healing Choices offers freedom from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits through eight healing choices that promise true happiness and life transformation. Using the Beatitudes of Jesus as a foundation, Senior Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church and John Baker, who is also a pastor at Saddleback, developed the eight choices shared in this book.

The original post is created by: Celebrate a New Life

Many Christians in need of Drug Rehab also suffer from mental illness.
Sometimes individuals who suffer from mental illness develop dependence on chemical substances as well as suffering from mental illness, treatment must address the underlying medical issue as well as the addiction. Mental illnesses can cause mood swings, hormonal imbalances, and other issues from which a person seeks relief. When people find temporary emotional relief through narcotics or alcohol, addiction can set in. In our program, patients requiring medical or psychiatric attention can also find what they need with dual diagnosis and other therapeutic programs.

We have a serious commitment to helping find the root causes behind drug addiction and alcoholism. We provide treatment for people suffering from issues such as manic depression, depression, anxiety, and other neuroses.

Residential treatment is a safe environment in which addicts and alcoholics can identify issues that lead them back to self-destructive behaviors and learn how to define and deal with these issues. We encourage family members and loved ones to take part in the recovery process and support the individual who is struggling to overcome addiction or alcoholism. Every individual has unique needs and challenges—we have taken this into account, which makes our drug treatment program an option for people of all backgrounds.

Welcome to Celebrate A New Life at Hope by the Sea. We are located in the beautiful coastal communities of Southern California, in Orange County. Celebrate A New Life is a Christian residential drug rehab and alcohol treatment center, specializing in treating dual-diagnosed, (co-existing disorders) such as depressions, bi-polar, anxiety and mood disorders. Our staff, the psychiatrist, medical personal, therapist, and counselors are the very best in the industry. Our faith-focused mission is to minister the love of Jesus Christ to the least, the last and the lost. The pain, turmoil, and devastation caused by addiction needs to come to an end. Help is needed. Help is available. Today can be that day to put an end to the vicious cycle of despair and confusion. God offers hope and healing. For Imediate Help-Call Now (800) 708-3173

Original post created by: Celebrate a New Life