A new addiction treatment center is one step closer to opening in downtown Brooklyn. The health sub-committee of Community Board 2 unanimously voted to write a letter of support for Redemption Point, a center that would focus on helping teens and young adults.

Redemption Point is currently setting up its office in the basement of 540 Atlantic Avenue, where founder Alfred Saunders hopes to eventually provide drug counseling along with other services including sex education and couples’ counseling. Mr. Saunders and Redemption Point’s program director, Nancy Amato, a nurse he met through a program while he was in prison, said this location is the perfect place for a rehabilitation center because it’s near several subway stations, court houses and public housing like the Ingersol and Whitman Houses, where Mr. Saunders said many young people have drug problems.

“You’ve got all these projects that circle around that I can do outreach in,” he said.

Mr. Saunders told the CB2 health committee that his personal history made him uniquely qualified to run an addiction center for teens. He said grew up in the nearby Gowanus housing projects, where his involvement in drugs led to a 15-year prison sentence. He became a certified substance abuse counselor after prison. Mr. Saunders said that he sees Redemption Point as a way to help struggling teens and as a way to redeem himself.

“To give back; to make good of what I did, if that’s possible,” he said.

Mr. Saunders originally tried to win over Community Board 2 last month, but the committee said he lacked information about the administrative workings of the rehab center, such as its board of directors and where Redemption Point was planning to get funding.

“Community Board 2 has a much higher than typical ratio of social service providers, so there’s a certain sensitivity to additional providers,” said Robert Perris, CB2 District Manager, in a phone interview prior to the committee meeting.

Mr. Saunders was prepared this time around. He presented a full list of board of directors to the CB2 committee. The board will include a local minister, as well as Mr. Saunders’ brother and sister. He also gave the committee letters of support from area businesses and told the board he had begun working with a local church, a psychiatrist and a nurse to provide counseling services. This additional information and his initiative won the board over.

“I thought it was worthy because obviously they have taken their own time and money,” said John Harrison, the committee’s co-chair.

But before Mr. Saunders and Ms. Amato can officially open Redemption Point, and begin accepting insurance and receiving state Medicaid money, they will need to clear a board of the state’s Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services on Dec. 6. Mr. Saunders and Ms. Amato said they’re optimistic that will happen.

“I’m not worried,” said Ms. Amato. “Everyone involved has that same kind of passion, and the need is there.”

A therapeutic community at Surfside House is providing access for men struggling with addiction issues.

The four-month therapeutic community program for men began Sept. 26 through a partnership between the Nanaimo and District Surfside Society and the Nanaimo Regional John Howard Society.

“We’re very excited about what’s happening,” said Barry Coulson, vice-chairman of the Surfside’s board of directors, adding it’s a much larger piece of the puzzle in providing accessible and affordable addiction treatment.

France Tellier, director of programs for the John Howard Society, said it’s been going well and the program is getting a strong response and lots of referrals from other organizations, such as the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

Clients can also refer themselves to treatment, but must meet eligibility criteria. For information about the self-referral process please call the Vancouver Island Therapeutic Community at 250-758-5611.

Prior to the partnership, Surfside operated a 42-day recovery program that focused on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

The new program delves further into the recovery process by examining the underlying causes of addiction and building prevention measures. The length of the program, a minimum commitment of four months which can be extended depending on where a person is at in their recovery process, also allows men to create after-treatment plans, such as attending school or transitioning into employment.

The therapeutic program is facilitated by counsellors, has peer-support and Surfside alumni serve as mentors. Residents must abstain from substance use while living at the house.

In 2008, Surfside, like many non-profit organizations, was facing a financial pinch with less grant money to continue operations. The lean times sparked a conversation with the John Howard Society and the creation of the four-month program.

The program is modelled after John Howard’s Guthrie House, which operates at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre. Guthrie House treats up to 30 men and is a group-based residential treatment program where residents are involved in all aspects of their recovery.

Coulson said the therapeutic community program is on the cutting edge and the organizations hope it will become a template for others.

While there are private treatment facilities available, they remain financially out of reach for the majority of people who suffer from addiction issues, Coulson said.

People can donate to the program by contacting the John Howard Society at 250-754-1266 or going to www.canadahelps.org and donating to either Surfside Society or the Nanaimo John Howard Society.

reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com

A therapeutic community at Surfside House is providing access for men struggling with addiction issues.

The four-month therapeutic community program for men began Sept. 26 through a partnership between the Nanaimo and District Surfside Society and the Nanaimo Regional John Howard Society.

“We’re very excited about what’s happening,” said Barry Coulson, vice-chairman of the Surfside’s board of directors, adding it’s a much larger piece of the puzzle in providing accessible and affordable addiction treatment.

France Tellier, director of programs for the John Howard Society, said it’s been going well and the program is getting a strong response and lots of referrals from other organizations, such as the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

Clients can also refer themselves to treatment, but must meet eligibility criteria. For information about the self-referral process please call the Vancouver Island Therapeutic Community at 250-758-5611.

Prior to the partnership, Surfside operated a 42-day recovery program that focused on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

The new program delves further into the recovery process by examining the underlying causes of addiction and building prevention measures. The length of the program, a minimum commitment of four months which can be extended depending on where a person is at in their recovery process, also allows men to create after-treatment plans, such as attending school or transitioning into employment.

The therapeutic program is facilitated by counsellors, has peer-support and Surfside alumni serve as mentors. Residents must abstain from substance use while living at the house.

In 2008, Surfside, like many non-profit organizations, was facing a financial pinch with less grant money to continue operations. The lean times sparked a conversation with the John Howard Society and the creation of the four-month program.

The program is modelled after John Howard’s Guthrie House, which operates at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre. Guthrie House treats up to 30 men and is a group-based residential treatment program where residents are involved in all aspects of their recovery.

Coulson said the therapeutic community program is on the cutting edge and the organizations hope it will become a template for others.

While there are private treatment facilities available, they remain financially out of reach for the majority of people who suffer from addiction issues, Coulson said.

People can donate to the program by contacting the John Howard Society at 250-754-1266 or going to www.canadahelps.org and donating to either Surfside Society or the Nanaimo John Howard Society.

reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com

Washington, D.C. – infoZine – People addicted to prescription painkillers reduce their opioid abuse when given sustained treatment with the medication buprenorphine plus naloxone (Suboxone), according to research published in Archives of General Psychiatry and conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study, which was the first randomized large scale clinical trial using a medication for the treatment of prescription opioid abuse, also showed that the addition of intensive opioid dependence counseling provided no added benefit.

Pain medications are beneficial when used as prescribed, but they have significant abuse liability, especially when taken for non-medical reasons. This study examined whether the FDA-approved medication Suboxone could help combat this growing problem. Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine to reduce opioid craving plus naloxone, which causes withdrawal symptoms in someone addicted to opioids if Suboxone were taken by a route other than orally, as prescribed. This combination was specifically designed to prevent abuse and diversion of buprenorphine and was one of the first to be eligible for prescribing under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act, which permits specially trained physicians to prescribe certain FDA approved medications for the treatment of opioid addiction.

Most studies examining treatments for opioid dependence have been done with heroin-addicted patients at methadone clinics, so there have been little data on treatment for patients addicted to prescription painkillers, especially in the offices of primary care doctors. To help address this issue, NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network launched the Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study (POATS) in 2007, which took place at 10 treatment sites around the country.

In the study, more than 600 treatment-seeking outpatients addicted to prescription opioids received Suboxone in combination with brief standard medical management, in which physicians evaluated treatment effectiveness and recommended abstinence and self-help participation. Half of the participants also received varying intensities of addiction counseling as provided by trained substance abuse or mental health professionals.

Results showed that approximately 49 percent of participants reduced prescription painkiller abuse during extended (at least 12-week) Suboxone treatment. This success rate dropped to 8.6 percent once Suboxone was discontinued. Reductions in prescription painkiller abuse were seen regardless of whether or not the patient reported suffering chronic pain, and participants who received intensive addiction counseling did not show better outcomes when compared to those who did not receive this additional counseling.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 1.9 million people in the United States meet abuse or dependence criteria for prescription pain relievers. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that annually, more people die from prescription painkiller overdoses than from heroin and cocaine combined.

The holidays are often classified as “the most wonderful time of year,” but for those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction they can be filled with stress, fear and increasingly destructive addictive behaviors. The Recovery Place Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center suggests seeking treatment as the perfect gift during the season of thanks and benevolence.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) November 14, 2011

It is understandable to want to uphold the tradition of family togetherness and joy during the holiday season, but a household entrapped by alcohol and drug addiction is not welcomed by holiday joy, but rather shadowed with fear, dysfunction, pain and helplessness. The Recovery Place Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center fears the traditions of the holiday season will deter those struggling with addiction from seeking treatment.

The holidays are “the most wonderful time of year,” but for those struggling with addiction the exact opposite can be true. While families, friends and loved ones are gathering for holiday celebrations – a time when alcohol abuse is even more socially acceptable than usual – those struggling with addiction are at greater risk of reaching new lows in their disease.

While family togetherness is one of the highlights of the holiday season, some families and loved ones find themselves enabling addictive behaviors or deep in denial of the addiction to keep their loved one home for this special time of year.

The holiday season also brings a rise in drinking and driving, relapse rates, and depression. The Recovery Place understands these threats and seeks to educate the public about its holiday concerns, as well as counsel those in need of addiction treatment.

While putting off addiction treatment to enjoy the holiday season remains a common trend, the truth of the matter is that this is the perfect time of year to finally face this devastating disease. There is no greater gift than the gift of sobriety.

About The Recovery Place:

The Recovery Place Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center provides individualized and client-centered alcohol and drug addiction treatment with multiple programs to fit the needs of any addicted individual. Located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, The Recovery Place provides a comfortable environment with residential onsite living to ensure the best in quality treatment and long-lasting addiction recovery. Trained addiction specialists are available toll-free at (877) 581-2012.

The Recovery Place is part of Elements Behavioral Health, a family of behavioral health care programs that includes Promises Treatment Centers, The Ranch and The Sexual Recovery Institute. Elements offers comprehensive, innovative treatment for substance abuse, sexual addiction, trauma, eating disorders and other mental health disorders. We are committed to delivering clinically sophisticated treatment that promotes permanent lifestyle change, not only for the patient but for the entire family system. For more information about Elements Behavioral Health, visit http://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com.

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Dr. David Sack
Elements Behavioral Health
562-741-6471
Email Information

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State mental health officials have suspended all new admissions to a drug addiction treatment center in Dickson County.

The decision by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health freezes patient admissions to New Life Lodge, which is the largest residential drug treatment facility in the state.

New Life Lodge Regional Administrator Randal Lea said the decision was a serious error and said a letter the company received from Mental Health Commissioner Douglas Varney contained “vague and unfounded” claims.

A department spokesman said 16 patents remain at New Life, which has a capacity of 228 patients.

Two patients died last year.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

In the new Urengoe (Yamal) work is under way to establish district rehabilitation center for treatment of drug and alcohol dependency. On the 8 November told BakuToday the press service of the Governor of Yamal-Nenets.

Suffering from drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation programmes will be offered from several days up to six months. The Centre’s work is planned in such a way as to serve patients from all over the district up to 60 people per year. Treat those suffering from addictions are professional specialists-psychologists, psychotherapists, gynecologist. In addition, the participation of representatives of the Orthodox Church.

Also a new Rehabilitation Centre plans to work closely with the Dušepopečitel′skim Centre of the Holy Righteous John of kronstadt, which was established in 1996, as a place where there might be the rehabilitation of victims of the occult or totalitarian cults.

Center City, Minnesota (PRWEB) November 08, 2011

Hazelden has joined forces with the leaders in behavioral health, mental health, and addiction treatment to advance a model of integrated treatment as the solution to the growing co-occurring disorders crisis.

Focus on Integrated Recovery is a collaboration between Hazelden, the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, and Westbridge Community Services. The group has taken action to define the model for integrated treatment delivery and provide information and resources for its successful implementation across treatment organizations. Educational information, events, and resources, including the full line of comprehensive, evidence-based programs for the integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders published through the Hazelden-Dartmouth PRC joint imprint, are available on the group’s website.

Published jointly by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), The Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP) have shown that 50-75% of all clients receiving treatment for a substance use disorder are also living with a separate diagnosable mental health disorder. Of all psychiatric clients with a mental health disorder, 25-50% have also had a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.

According to the 2006 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 5.6 million adults in the United States have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and are more likely to be hospitalized, violent, incarcerated, or homeless. Traditional treatment models for mental health and addiction disorders exist separately–translating to ineffective care that is twice the cost for individuals who have co-occurring disorders.

“Here at Hazelden, just as at most every other treatment center in the country, we’re seeing a higher percentage of clients present with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Whether it’s depression, anxiety, or more severe mental illnesses that are complicating addiction, we know that our clients’ recoveries depend on our ability to treat both disorders at the same time, with the same team. We’re thrilled to be a part of this leadership group bringing a much-needed focus to Integrated Recovery,” said Marv Seppala, Chief Medical Officer, Hazelden.

Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, Executive Director of NAADAC: The Association for Addiction Professionals said, “It is vital in this new era of integrated services with addiction and mental health that our professionals are educated and informed of the technologies related to co-occurring disorders. This partnership in integrated treatment brings the best of educational technologies, resources, and outreach to addiction and other helping professionals.”

The Focus on Integrated Recovery group has taken action to define the model for integrated treatment delivery and provide information and resources for its successful implementation across treatment organizations. Educational information, events, and resources are available on their website, integratedrecoverynow.org.

Behavioral Health Evolution is sponsored by Hazelden. A private, not-for-profit organization, Hazelden helps people transform their lives by providing the best addiction treatment and recovery services as well as education, research, and publishing products available today.

Behavioral Health Evolution provides access to free webinars on interventions for co-occurring disorders. Clinicians can find free, public-domain screening tools, free educational handouts and fact sheets for clients, articles, and book excerpts. Members of the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center provide valuable insights into implementing evidence-based practices in their regular column.

###

Hazelden has joined forces with the leaders in behavioral health, mental health, and addiction treatment to advance a model of integrated treatment as the solution to the growing co-occurring disorders crisis.

Center City, Minnesota (PRWEB) November 08, 2011

Hazelden has joined forces with the leaders in behavioral health, mental health, and addiction treatment to advance a model of integrated treatment as the solution to the growing co-occurring disorders crisis.

Focus on Integrated Recovery is a collaboration between Hazelden, the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, and Westbridge Community Services. The group has taken action to define the model for integrated treatment delivery and provide information and resources for its successful implementation across treatment organizations. Educational information, events, and resources, including the full line of comprehensive, evidence-based programs for the integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders published through the Hazelden-Dartmouth PRC joint imprint, are available on the group’s website.

Published jointly by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), The Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP) have shown that 50-75% of all clients receiving treatment for a substance use disorder are also living with a separate diagnosable mental health disorder. Of all psychiatric clients with a mental health disorder, 25-50% have also had a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.

According to the 2006 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 5.6 million adults in the United States have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and are more likely to be hospitalized, violent, incarcerated, or homeless. Traditional treatment models for mental health and addiction disorders exist separately–translating to ineffective care that is twice the cost for individuals who have co-occurring disorders.

“Here at Hazelden, just as at most every other treatment center in the country, we’re seeing a higher percentage of clients present with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Whether it’s depression, anxiety, or more severe mental illnesses that are complicating addiction, we know that our clients’ recoveries depend on our ability to treat both disorders at the same time, with the same team. We’re thrilled to be a part of this leadership group bringing a much-needed focus to Integrated Recovery,” said Marv Seppala, Chief Medical Officer, Hazelden.

Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, Executive Director of NAADAC: The Association for Addiction Professionals said, “It is vital in this new era of integrated services with addiction and mental health that our professionals are educated and informed of the technologies related to co-occurring disorders. This partnership in integrated treatment brings the best of educational technologies, resources, and outreach to addiction and other helping professionals.”

The Focus on Integrated Recovery group has taken action to define the model for integrated treatment delivery and provide information and resources for its successful implementation across treatment organizations. Educational information, events, and resources are available on their website, integratedrecoverynow.org.

Behavioral Health Evolution is sponsored by Hazelden. A private, not-for-profit organization, Hazelden helps people transform their lives by providing the best addiction treatment and recovery services as well as education, research, and publishing products available today.

Behavioral Health Evolution provides access to free webinars on interventions for co-occurring disorders. Clinicians can find free, public-domain screening tools, free educational handouts and fact sheets for clients, articles, and book excerpts. Members of the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center provide valuable insights into implementing evidence-based practices in their regular column.

###

Christine Anderson
Hazelden
651-213-4231
Email Information

More than a dozen sessions focus on Aboriginal addiction issues at Issues of Substance conference

Press Release Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse On Tuesday November 8, 2011, 10:50 am EST

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire -11/08/11)- Innovative approaches to treating Aboriginal people with substance abuse issues are in the spotlight at the Issues of Substance 2011 (IOS) conference taking place from November 6-9.

IOS is the leading venue for government, not-for-profit and private sector stakeholders to discuss and exchange knowledge in research, health promotion and treatment regarding the harmful use of alcohol, drugs and other substances. Over 400 experts from across Canada and around the world are participating in this year’s meeting, which is organized by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

More than a dozen sessions at the conference address substance abuse issues, which have a disproportionate impact among First Nations, Inuit and Metis people in Canada. Participants heard that new approaches that incorporate traditional culture, Indigenous Knowledge and practice, and Traditional Healing methods are effective in helping Aboriginal people overcome substance abuse.

New approaches discussed included:

 --  Using Aboriginal traditional culture in healing from substance abuse
    (e.g., circle of life, creation stories, healing circles, smudge
    ceremonies)
--  Combining indigenous and Western knowledge to improve the treatments
    designed for-and outreach to-Aboriginal women with substance abuse
    problems. For example, using a virtual community to identify 'wise'
    approaches for substance abuse treatment as well as the prevention of
    fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among First Nations and Inuit women.
--  Using an integrated, culturally specific and client-focused system of
    supports and services for First Nations people in Canada.

“Over the years, CCSA has benefited from a strong relationship with Aboriginal people,” said Michel Perron, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. “All of us should value the knowledge and best practices our First Nations, Inuit and Metis collaborators can share with us.”

CCSA has had an Elders Advisory Council in place since 2008 to bridge the gap between community and research by providing guidance and recommendations related to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada on national substance abuse issues and policy development.

Other sessions of note included:

 --  A presentation from Elder Campbell Papequash on how Aboriginal
    traditional culture was the turning point in his healing journey from
    substance abuse;
--  A traditional smudge ceremony followed by a discussion about protocol in
    Aboriginal traditional culture and its relationship to healing from
    substance abuse; and
--  The presentation of results from a study on psychoactive substance use
    among Inuit youth, revealing their perceptions of what is being done and
    what still needs to be done to find an effective response to alcohol and
    drug abuse among Inuit.

The conference wraps up tomorrow.

Please contact the CCSA to arrange interviews with panelists or speakers, or for further information. For more information, visit the Issues of Substance 2011 web site.

About CCSA:

With a legislated mandate to reduce alcohol- and other drug-related harms, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) provides leadership on national priorities, fosters knowledge translation within the field and creates sustainable partnerships that maximize collective efforts. CCSA receives funding support from Health Canada.

Follow us @CCSAcanada on twitter #IOS2011

Follow CCSA CEO Michel Perron @MichelPerron on Twitter