BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A new East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, a new juvenile services facility, a new shared public safety headquarters and a larger addiction treatment facility top a list of about $300 million in priorities a panel is sending to the Metro Council for consideration this week.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/vvTAXU ) the council is expected to discuss the public safety committee’s recommendations Wednesday. The recommendations are shaping up to what could be in a tax and bond issue for voters to consider in the spring.

The committee’s members include law enforcement authorities, a council member and Mayor-President Kip Holden, who met Monday night.

Similar to the public safety portion of Holden’s failed bond proposal, the committee’s plan could ask for funding for a new Parish Prison, $165 million; a new juvenile services facility, $45 million; and a shared public safety headquarters for City Police and the Sheriff’s Office, $102 million.

The committee also recommended the inclusion of between $2.5 million and $5.5 million to build or renovate a larger facility for the Baton Rouge Area Alcohol and Drug Center and the inclusion of at least $5 million of operational funds for the District Attorney’s Office and other unspecified operational costs for law enforcement.

The committee’s proposal for the addiction center and the operational costs are what separate the recommendations from those outlined in Holden’s public safety bond issue. Holden said he had to abstain from voting to approve the recommendations for those reasons.

The remaining committee members unanimously supported the recommendations, saying the inclusion of the addiction center was important because they want to focus on crime prevention, in addition to building facilities to better hold the current offenders. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said “99 percent” of inmates in Parish Prison have an addiction to either drugs or alcohol.

The addiction center is the only facility in the parish that does medical detox, which provides the assistance of doctors and medicine to addicts who are trying to quit heroin or other harsh drugs, said Metro Councilman Chandler Loupe who was on a subcommittee exploring funding options for the center.

The center has a capacity of 29 beds and a waiting list of 456 people, said Lisa Bailey, the center’s executive director.

The addiction center on Florida Boulevard could either move into the parish Planning and Zoning Commission’s building across the street or build on a plot of land they purchased years ago near the Baton Rouge General Medical Center Mid City, Loupe said.

The planning commission is expected to move into a different building soon and the city-parish could rent the building to the nonprofit organization for free which would quickly expand capacity to between 50 and 80 beds, Loupe said.

Additional operational funds for the nonprofit center have also been identified from the Ryan White Program, which provides funding for people with HIV and AIDS through federal funding, Loupe said.

Since 50 percent of the people who are treated in the detox center have HIV, Loupe said some Ryan White funds allocated to local programs could be used to supplement the nonprofit’s budget.

Holden said “it’s not going to be physically possible to add the number of beds being talked about so far,” because of the added operational costs, coupled with the fact that federal programs that fund the Ryan White Program are being slashed.

He also pointed out that the center also borrowed $200,000 to purchase property several years ago, and has not repaid the city-parish.

Blake McGehee, chair of the center’s board, said the nonprofit facility was in the position to pay back the city-parish immediately. He also said the organization has an extremely diversified budget to protect it if any single source of funding is eliminated.

Loupe noted that the city-parish contributes only $179,000 of the addiction center’s $1.3 million budget.

___

Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com

To: HEALTH AND NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Julia Gaynor, Affect, +1-212-398-9680 , jgaynor@affect.com

New Nationwide Survey from Caron Treatment Centers Warns of Serious Repercussions Resulting From Overindulgence at Office Parties

WERNERSVILLE, Pa., Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — With the holiday season approaching, many professionals look forward to cutting loose with co-workers at end of year company parties. These events can be great opportunities for networking with colleagues, clients and higher-ups. However, when professionals are drinking alcohol they often cross a line into appalling behavior that may irreparably damage their reputation and potentially their career, according to a national survey sponsored by Caron Treatment Centers.

Caron Treatment Centers, a nationally recognized non-profit provider of alcohol and drug addiction treatment, found that of those employed full or part-time who have attended work-related outings, more than half (52%) have seen someone under the influence of alcohol exhibit inappropriate and even dangerous behaviors during a work-related outing from flirting with a supervisor to driving drunk.

“We are living in stressful times and many people turn to alcohol at parties to reduce anxiety and escape their daily pressures,” said Harris Stratyner, PhD, a leading addiction psychologist and Regional Clinical Vice President at Caron’s New York office. “Unfortunately, many people struggle to manage the amount of alcohol they consume and put themselves into compromising situations that could permanently damage their reputation. In many cases, this behavior is a sign of a more serious problem, such as alcoholism, which requires immediate professional treatment.”

The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Caron Treatment Centers from September 13-15 2011 among 1,034 U.S. adults aged 18+ employed full or part-time, of which 870 have ever attended a work-related outing.

Of those who are employed either full or part-time and have seen someone under the influence of alcohol behave inappropriately at a work-related outing:

    --  30 percent have seen someone flirt with a co-worker or         supervisor     --  28 percent witnessed a fellow party-goer drive drunk     --  26 percent indicated a colleague or supervisor shared         inappropriate details about themselves or a co-worker     --  19 percent witnessed someone arguing or becoming aggressive         with a colleague or supervisor     --  Nine percent claimed co-workers or supervisors engaged in         sexual activity while under the influence of alcohol 

The increasing popularity of social networking has raised the stakes even higher, as embarrassing and inappropriate behavior can be captured and shared with others online. These reputation-damaging moments can be uploaded to YouTube, Tweeted or posted to Facebook within a matter of seconds and can cause long-term damage.

Furthermore, among those employed full or part-time who saw inappropriate information or photos of their co-workers or friends on social media, more than half (56%) observed repercussions for this co-worker or friend professionally or personally due to the inappropriate information or photos becoming public. In fact, 36 percent indicated that person’s reputation in the workplace was damaged and nearly 20 percent said it raised concerns with family and friends.

“Many people use social networking sites to document their lives in real-time, including work events,” said Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, PhD, a leading addiction psychologist with Caron Treatment Centers. “A one-time mistake that might have been witnessed by a few and quickly forgotten can now have substantially more consequences because a person’s behavior can be recorded and shared with others and relived with the click of a button. In a time when job security is more vulnerable than ever – I would encourage individuals to seek help for a drinking problem before their reputation is irrevocably damaged.”

For more information on how individuals or families can get help with substance abuse issues or for tips on managing holiday stress please visit www.caron.org.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Caron Treatment Centers from September 13-15 2011 among 1,034 U.S. adults aged 18+ employed full/part time, of which 870 have ever attended a work-related outing. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact kpasternack@caron.org.

About Caron Treatment Centers

Caron Treatment Centers is a nationally recognized non-profit provider of alcohol and drug addiction treatment. Founded in 1957, Caron is one of the oldest and largest facilities offering primary, relapse and extended residential treatment for young adults, adults and adolescents, as well as families affected by the disease of addiction. Caron’s treatment is gender separate and gender specific. Caron has extensive experience in the treatment of co-occurring psychological/psychiatric disorders.

Formerly the Caron Foundation, Caron Treatment Centers operates residential treatment centers in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, and Dallas, Texas. Caron also operates Caron Renaissance, an extended care treatment center in Boca Raton, Florida and has regional offices in Bermuda, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Caron will acquire the Hanley Center in 2011.

For more information visit www.caron.org or follow Caron on Twitter @CaronTreatment.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the world’s leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American and European offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what’s next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

SOURCE Caron Treatment Centers

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On Oct. 28, 2011, Elements Behavioral Health will host a professional workshop that features leading sex addiction expert Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 25, 2011

Elements Behavioral Health invites clinicians and treatment professionals to a workshop titled “Narcissism Addiction and Detachment as Tools to Emotional Survival” on Oct. 28, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Lod Cook Alumni Center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Professionals will join internationally known author, sex addiction specialist and educator Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S, for lunch and training. The workshop will provide insight into the connection between childhood abuse and adult mental health disorders, and will explore the evolving relationship between addiction and mental health treatment.

“Adults who struggle with personality disorders and addictions, whether to sex, drugs, alcohol, gambling or food, often have a history of childhood abuse or neglect,” said Mr. Weiss. “These early traumatic experiences can lead to dissociation from healthy intimacy and acting out through compulsive or addictive behaviors. By treating the underlying emotional trauma as well as the addictive behaviors, patients can develop the tools they need for recovery in all areas.”

Robert Weiss is the founder of The Sexual Recovery Institute, the Director of Sexual Disorders Services for Elements Behavioral Health, and the creator of The Center for Relationship and Sexual Recovery at The Ranch in Tennessee. A media expert to CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Network, ESPN, Dr. Drew and the Today Show, among others, Mr. Weiss also has provided clinical training and program development for the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. military and behavioral treatment centers throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

Workshop attendees will earn four CEUs. To register for this professional workshop, visit the Elements Behavioral Health events page or call Sherry Young, PhD, at (310) 956-9326.

About The Sexual Recovery Institute

The Sexual Recovery Institute is the nation’s premier outpatient program for men and women struggling with relationship, love and sex addiction. Based in Los Angeles, California, the institute offers confidential, affordable and gender-specific programs that encourage healthy sexuality and intimacy, including two-week intensives and individual, group and couples treatment. For more information about The Sexual Recovery Institute, visit http://www.sexualrecovery.com.

The Sexual Recovery Institute is part of Elements Behavioral Health, a family of behavioral health care programs that includes Promises Treatment Centers and The Ranch. 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.

# # #

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

AMHERST, N.Y. – It was a “Call To Action” for the hundreds of representatives from the law enforcement, addiction treatment, medical and educational fields.

A summit of sorts was held today at the U.B. Center For The Arts. The high-profile speakers list included Federal Drug Czar (and former Buffalo Police Commissioner) R. Gil Kerlikowske, United States Attorney William Hochul and New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. But it also featured people affected by the growing epidemic of prescription drug addiction. 

18 year old Samantha Riley of Amherst told her story of growing up, going to Sweet Home Schools, and discovering marijuana at the age of 13. She then graduated to prescription pain-killers and then finally shooting heroine. She’s one of the lucky ones though, she went through the Kids Escaping Drugs program and is now in recovery.

The main point of the conference was to exchange ideas on how to combat this growing problem. Schneiderman pointed to emergency room stats to illustrate how rapidly the problem is spreading. He said that in 2007, illegal drug overdoses accounted for twice the number of prescription overdoses. Those numbers are now even.

Here in Western New York, the abuse of hydrocodone increased at twice the state average from 2007 until 2009.

In response to this the Attorney General also outlined legislation that he has proposed in Albany. it is called the “Internet System for Tracking Over-prescribing Act” or “I-STOP”. The initiative includes establishing a real-time, on-line database to track prescriptions issued by doctors or dispensed to patients. It would also facilitate prosecution of those found to be illegally distributing prescription drugs. 

The goal is to stop “doctor shopping”, forged prescriptions and cut down on what they are calling an epidemic of addiction.  

 

The Survivors Workshop pioneered by The Meadows trauma and addiction treatment center is in the middle of their National Road Tour and seeing great success. This weeklong workshop investigates the origins of adult dysfunctional behaviors by exploring early childhood trauma that has led to various addictions, depression, eating disorders and painful relationships.

Wickenburg, AZ (PRWEB) October 21, 2011

The Survivors Workshop pioneered by The Meadows trauma and addiction treatment center is in the middle of their National Road Tour and seeing great success. This weeklong workshop investigates the origins of adult dysfunctional behaviors by exploring early childhood trauma that has led to various addictions, depression, eating disorders and painful relationships.

There was popular demand for the Survivors Workshops and requests from referring professionals to bring the successful program to their cities. The Workshop Tour started in July in Malibu, California. In August, the program moved to Chattanooga, TN on the way to New York City for two different sessions.

“As a leader in the field of trauma and addiction treatment, we’ve seen the amazing success of our Survivors Workshop at our Wickenburg facility,” said Jim Dredge, CEO of The Meadows. “We have a history of responding to the needs of our patients and referral sources; taking the Survivors Workshop on the road was just answering that need.”

The workshops are provided in partnership with local counselors who invite their clients to participate, but they are open to anyone. For the task of taking these workshops to several cities, Dredge selected Michael Cooter, MSSW, LCSW, a licensed private practitioner who also serves as a Facilitator and Director at The Meadows.

“We partner with local professionals who understand The Meadows’ model and how it can help their patients,” said Cooter. “But we’re also able to expose those patients to The Meadows’ treatment approach if they should need further, focused care.”

“Partnering with The Meadows for the Survivors Malibu was a no brainer for One to One Treatment,” said Ray Santamaria, Executive Director and Founder, One to One Treatment. “Every client we referred to Survivors Malibu gained a deeper understanding of their ‘core’ areas. They benefitted tremendously from the experiential component of the workshop and Michael’s expertise in this area.”

Critical to successful treatment of addiction is getting at the heart of the cause for those destructive behaviors. For many, the adult dysfunction stems from some sort of trauma or emotional event from their childhood. This workshop gives participants the opportunity to freely explore the event(s), process those emotions and learn to better cope with it.

“Patients basically are able to identify, process, and release the trauma; which is both eye-opening and emotionally cathartic,” explained Cooter. “Most often I hear comments from patients saying that after the workshop ‘there is a profound shift within me’ and ‘I get it, now I can connect the dots’. This is what it’s all about, helping patients get to the root of the problem in an honest, accepting, non-judgmental way.”

In this revolutionary educational and experiential process, participants learn to identify and address family-related issues that took place from birth to 17 years of age. The primary focus of the workshop is to learn to deal with the emotions that accompany any less-than-nurturing past event, and then to work on resolution of the consequential grief and anguish.

Completion of the workshop often results in a kick start to further treatment. Participants may continue that work with their local resource, or determine that they need more robust therapy.

According to Cooter, many individuals desire to attend the Survivor’s Workshop, but they cannot break away from home due to responsibilities such as work, childcare, etc. While the Survivors Workshop is an essential element of treatment at The Meadows, the road tour experience provides an opportunity for these individuals to access this small portion of holistic treatment normally offered on campus.

Speaking about one participant at the Survivor Workshop in Chattanooga, Ron Ashley, Owner of Reflections Counseling said “…before the workshop she was very reserved and had a wall around her. But, afterwards she really came out of her shell and is going into my Tuesday Women’s Group.”

Future Survivor Workshop National Tour dates are planned for Dallas in September, Chattanooga in October, and West Los Angeles in November. For more information about the Survivor’s Workshop, patients and referral sources can contact The Meadows at 800-632-6397.

For over 35 years, The Meadows has been a leading trauma and addiction treatment center. In that time, they have helped over 20,000 patients in one of their four centers or in national workshops. The Meadows world-class team of Senior Fellows, Psychiatrists, Therapists and Counselors treat the symptoms of addiction and the underlying issues that cause lifelong patterns of self-destructive behavior. The Meadows is a Level 1 psychiatric hospital that is JCAHO accredited.

###

Patty Evans
The Meadows
317-344-2922
Email Information

By John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com

A nationally recognized expert on opiate addiction treatment and prevention will be in Lake County Oct. 28 as the keynote speaker for a day-long community conference.

The event is designed for educators, school personnel, social workers, counselors, therapists, psychologists, alcohol and drug abuse counselors, case managers, law enforcement and court personnel, pastors, nurses, physicians and parents, officials said.

Dr. Ted Parran will headline the conference titled “Community Focus on Opiates Conference: Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Teens and Young Adults” hosted by Crossroads at the Radisson Hotel and Suites in Eastlake.

Parran, who is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, will give a presentation called “Substance Abuse and Addiction in Adolescents and Young Adults — The Emergence of Opioids.”

He joins other experts and panelists for the conference that will highlight current research, awareness and prevention strategies.

Kim Fraser is executive director of the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board, which will sponsor the event. She plans to speak about what officials now notice locally.

“About a year and a half ago, we developed the Opiate Task Force and as we saw the issues of opiate use rising across the state we felt we needed a local response to the issue,” Fraser said.

She said southern Ohio gets a lot of attention on the issue, but people in Lake County get sick and die from opiate use and addiction.

Rae Grady, manager of consultation, training and education for Crossroads, said opiate use is a growing issue because more people have begun to abuse prescription drugs and use heroin.

“We are really trying to give more focus to the issue as it relates to young people,” Grady said. “We hope to give people some practical information they can use.” Continued…

By John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com

A nationally recognized expert on opiate addiction treatment and prevention will be in Lake County Oct. 28 as the keynote speaker for a day-long community conference.

The event is designed for educators, school personnel, social workers, counselors, therapists, psychologists, alcohol and drug abuse counselors, case managers, law enforcement and court personnel, pastors, nurses, physicians and parents, officials said.

Dr. Ted Parran will headline the conference titled “Community Focus on Opiates Conference: Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Teens and Young Adults” hosted by Crossroads at the Radisson Hotel and Suites in Eastlake.

Parran, who is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, will give a presentation called “Substance Abuse and Addiction in Adolescents and Young Adults — The Emergence of Opioids.”

He joins other experts and panelists for the conference that will highlight current research, awareness and prevention strategies.

Kim Fraser is executive director of the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board, which will sponsor the event. She plans to speak about what officials now notice locally.

“About a year and a half ago, we developed the Opiate Task Force and as we saw the issues of opiate use rising across the state we felt we needed a local response to the issue,” Fraser said.

She said southern Ohio gets a lot of attention on the issue, but people in Lake County get sick and die from opiate use and addiction.

Rae Grady, manager of consultation, training and education for Crossroads, said opiate use is a growing issue because more people have begun to abuse prescription drugs and use heroin.

“We are really trying to give more focus to the issue as it relates to young people,” Grady said. “We hope to give people some practical information they can use.”

The event features six breakout sessions and opportunities to network.

Orman Hall, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, will be the luncheon speaker.

Conference registration is $75. The cost is $50 for registrants who work for organizations funded by the Lake County ADAMHS board, and for students.

To register, or for additional information, call 440-255-1700 or visit www.crossroads-lake.org.

The former professional wrestler who was arrested Oct. 10, accused of robbing a CVS store for Oxycodone, posted bond Thursday and is seeking treatment for his addiction, according to his attorney. “He’s very grateful for all the support he’s received from his friends, family and fans around the world,” wrote Travis Tomko’s attorney James McCune, of McCune Law. “Mr. Tomko realizes he is struggling with an addiction and with the support of his family and the WWE, he is voluntarily checking himself into an undisclosed treatment facility to receive the help he needs for a successful recovery.”

Travis Tomko, 38, of St. Augustine Beach, spent more than 10 years in the ring as “Tyson Tomko” for WWE and TNA and became an enforcer and tag partner.

A pharmacist at the CVS drug store at 175 State Road 312 said a man later identified as Tomko went into the store on Oct. 10 and demanded all the 15 mg and 30 mg oxycodone in the safe, according to St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office report. At the same time, Tomko held his hand under his shirt as if he was pointing something, the pharmacist told detectives.

Deputies found Tomko later Monday afternoon in a Chili’s restaurant bathroom, where deputies said he had needle marks and blood on his arms, according to a St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office report. He asked for a spoon from a waitress before disappearing into the bathroom for about 40 minutes.

Tomko posted his $7,500 bond Thursday and left the St. Johns County Jail.

WWE offers substance-abuse rehabilitation assistance to every “contracted talent” who has worked for the company, according to the company website. Six percent of former WWE talent have gotten help through the program since it began in 2007.

“Mr. Tomko wishes to put this incident behind him and move forward and lead a healthy and productive life,” McCune wrote. “He and his family ask for privacy during these difficult times.”

October 21

Readers have a mix of reaction to stories that bring attention to painkiller addiction.

By John Richardson jrichardson@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Joe Caron’s painkiller habit destroyed his business and drove away his fiancee.

But after reading this week about so many others who still are trapped in addiction, he feels like one of the fortunate ones.

The North Yarmouth resident took his last dose of the treatment drug Suboxone two months ago. Now he wants to start a local support group.

“I didn’t realize how bad it still is,” said Caron, who is 26. “I can tell them and give them some hope.”

A weeklong MaineToday Media series on painkiller addiction stirred a mix of reactions, especially among readers who have been directly touched by addiction.

Recovering addicts such as Caron, as well as parents, relatives and friends of addicts, said they were grateful to see attention focused on a problem they have been living through.

Providers of addiction treatment said they’re hopeful that the attention will lead more people to seek help.

Doctors and pain patients said they hope the articles and discussions will lead to better ways of treating pain and more help for physicians who are expected to be the gatekeepers, without training or support.

And some who rely on the medications to manage chronic illness and pain said they worry that the focus on abuse and addiction will make even more doctors suspicious of them and reluctant to treat them.

Some of the articles have been circulated by groups such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine and by state and local officials in Maine.

An article Tuesday that focused on Maine babies born into opiate withdrawal triggered inquiries from national media.

“The maternal one struck a chord,” said Mark Publicker, an addiction specialist at the Mercy Recovery Center in Westbrook.

Publicker got calls from USA Today and “Anderson Cooper 360,” a CNN program, seeking information about mothers and babies. He was checking with patients to ask if they were willing to be interviewed.

Eric Haram, president of the Maine Association of Substance Abuse Providers, said he’s hopeful that policymakers are committed to responding.

“With all the bipartisan support, we want to be able to work together (and) help guide policy that actually realizes a return on investment,” Haram said. Expanding treatment options is less expensive than continuing to send addicts to prison at a cost of $45,000 per year per prisoner, he said.

McAuley Residence in Portland hopes to be able to expand its services to help meet the growing demand for treatment and support. The agency provides six apartments to women who deal with addiction and other crises, and their children.

“We often have two referrals a day and just cannot even begin to respond to the need,” said program director Melissa Skahan.

McAuley Residence hopes to provide more housing in the future and in the meantime is providing what support it can.

Bob Wing of Augusta said he hopes the attention will lead to an entirely new treatment system.

Wing has a relative who has been struggling with addiction for 10 years and has been through a hospital detox program as many as four times in a year. After each detox, the relative has to go on a waiting list for treatment.

“By the time their name comes up, they can’t get in because they’ve been using again,” Wing said. So they go back to detox. “It’s a revolving door. It’s costing taxpayers millions of dollars, and it’s not saving these young kids’ lives.”

Sharon Huntington of Winslow said she hopes the publicity will lead to more options for treating pain.

Huntington was in a car accident two years ago that left her in chronic pain and unable to work. She lost her job as a medical assistant and got health insurance through MaineCare.

“MaineCare won’t pay for (physical therapy), but they don’t mind your prescriptions of morphine and oxycodone,” she said.

She ended up physically dependent on the pills. “I was just dying in the couch.”

She eventually stopped taking the pills, detoxed in a hospital emergency department and is trying to manage her pain through relaxation and other techniques.

“MaineCare calls the shots,” she said. “I just think the system is messed up.”

Dr. Peter Bridgman, a neurologist in Brunswick, said it’s common for pain patients to feel that they are treated as drug-seeking addicts.

“You have to prove your innocence when you are taking narcotics,” he said.

Bridgman wishes the attention could lead to a network of publicly financed pain clinics, so physicians could have help separating the real pain patients from abusers.

“There’s a lot of barriers to physicians getting second opinions,” he said.

Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at: jrichardson@pressherald.com

 

Back 2 Basics, a long term drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for young men that is offering a new approach offering help to prescription drug addiction help.

Arizona (PRWEB) October 20, 2011

Back 2 Basics, a long term drug addiction treatment center is offering a new approach to the treatment of young men with drug and alcohol addiction. Back 2 Basics is proud to announce another international client all the way from England. John had been in seven or eight treatment programs back home in England, a track record he chalks up to a “lack of taking it seriously. I’d get myself

patched up at prescription drug rehab and head back into battle,” he said. But heroin, alcohol and crack were daunting opponents. About a month before John landed at Back 2 Basics, he’d started another spree. Now this young man has six months of sobriety after trying Back 2 Basics new approach with drug addiction help.

“I ended up on the streets of London. I was desperate for things to change,” he remembers. He says he nearly died; at one point he was physically unresponsive. His brother convinced him to go into detox one more time. And his Dad had been in touch with the staff at Back 2 Basics folks. John was just desperate enough to give the program a try. So, John entered young adult treatment program that uses the outdoors in conjunction with drug and alcohol treatment.

He arrived at the Phoenix airport in the late spring, and he was in only marginally better physical shape than when he went into prescription drug detox. He says he had “sunken-in cheeks” and was ghostly white. “I was 20 pounds lighter. I was disgusting looking,” he added. He was also still detoxing, jetlagged, depressed and having to meet the new group of people who would be his recovery partners for the next three to six months.

“He didn’t look like he was doing too well,” remembers Samuel, another resident. “But I was told I looked awful too when I first came in.”

John said things began to turn around for him when he started working with a sponsor and taking his program seriously. Wilderness programs, young adults would seem like a vacation, but for John it was the beginning to his recovery. He struggles with how to make up for lost time, and whether to finish his stalled-out engineering degree in the States, or take his time, get a job, and focus on his recovery.

He says in England, treatment programs were hospital-based, “more like a psychiatric hospital with an addiction ward. You’re mixed in with eating disorders, bipolar people.“

He’s benefited from the change of environment in the States, and the less clinical approach at Back 2 Basics has suited him well. And he particularly appreciates the outdoor component and the opportunities to get fit; his physical condition had deteriorated in the past few years. In particular, a recent river trip in the Grand Canyon made him feel fortunate to be living across the world and participating in healthy adventures.

“It made me feel insignificant in the bigger picture of things,” he said. “It takes you out of yourself; it takes you out of self will.”

Ultimately, he says, he’s glad he took the chance to cross the Atlantic for his recovery. “I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it’s been to integrate myself over here,” he says. As for his family, “They’re pleased with the way things are going. They’re happy I’m someplace safe.”

###

Adam McLean
Back 2 Basics
(928)600-5488 (877)339-4222
Email Information

By John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com

A nationally recognized expert on opiate addiction treatment and prevention will be in Lake County Oct. 28 as the keynote speaker for a day-long community conference.

The event is designed for educators, school personnel, social workers, counselors, therapists, psychologists, alcohol and drug abuse counselors, case managers, law enforcement and court personnel, pastors, nurses, physicians and parents, officials said.

Dr. Ted Parran will headline the conference titled “Community Focus on Opiates Conference: Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Teens and Young Adults” hosted by Crossroads at the Radisson Hotel and Suites in Eastlake.

Parran, who is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, will give a presentation called “Substance Abuse and Addiction in Adolescents and Young Adults — The Emergence of Opioids.”

He joins other experts and panelists for the conference that will highlight current research, awareness and prevention strategies.

Kim Fraser is executive director of the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board, which will sponsor the event. She plans to speak about what officials now notice locally.

“About a year and a half ago, we developed the Opiate Task Force and as we saw the issues of opiate use rising across the state we felt we needed a local response to the issue,” Fraser said.

She said southern Ohio gets a lot of attention on the issue, but people in Lake County get sick and die from opiate use and addiction.

Rae Grady, manager of consultation, training and education for Crossroads, said opiate use is a growing issue because more people have begun to abuse prescription drugs and use heroin.

“We are really trying to give more focus to the issue as it relates to young people,” Grady said. “We hope to give people some practical information they can use.” Continued…

By John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com

A nationally recognized expert on opiate addiction treatment and prevention will be in Lake County Oct. 28 as the keynote speaker for a day-long community conference.

The event is designed for educators, school personnel, social workers, counselors, therapists, psychologists, alcohol and drug abuse counselors, case managers, law enforcement and court personnel, pastors, nurses, physicians and parents, officials said.

Dr. Ted Parran will headline the conference titled “Community Focus on Opiates Conference: Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Teens and Young Adults” hosted by Crossroads at the Radisson Hotel and Suites in Eastlake.

Parran, who is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, will give a presentation called “Substance Abuse and Addiction in Adolescents and Young Adults — The Emergence of Opioids.”

He joins other experts and panelists for the conference that will highlight current research, awareness and prevention strategies.

Kim Fraser is executive director of the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board, which will sponsor the event. She plans to speak about what officials now notice locally.

“About a year and a half ago, we developed the Opiate Task Force and as we saw the issues of opiate use rising across the state we felt we needed a local response to the issue,” Fraser said.

She said southern Ohio gets a lot of attention on the issue, but people in Lake County get sick and die from opiate use and addiction.

Rae Grady, manager of consultation, training and education for Crossroads, said opiate use is a growing issue because more people have begun to abuse prescription drugs and use heroin.

“We are really trying to give more focus to the issue as it relates to young people,” Grady said. “We hope to give people some practical information they can use.”

The event features six breakout sessions and opportunities to network.

Orman Hall, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, will be the luncheon speaker.

Conference registration is $75. The cost is $50 for registrants who work for organizations funded by the Lake County ADAMHS board, and for students.

To register, or for additional information, call 440-255-1700 or visit www.crossroads-lake.org.