4th National Conference on Women, Addiction and Recovery: Thriving in Changing Times

One of the key elements to the recovery community is the community, the strong network that alcoholics and addicts use to lean on in times of struggle. Staying connected to your peers who are also working for a better life through recovery is so important; how well one stays connected to the community will make or break one's success. Within the 12 Step community there are a number of ways one can reach out on top of one's daily or weekly meetings that can help strengthen one's recovery and help give back to the community that has helped them. Every year countless conferences are held all over the world that bring hundreds and thousands in recovery together.

Thriving in Changing Times will be the theme of this year's National Conference on Women, Addiction and Recovery. It will happen at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, Magnificent Mile, on July 26-28, 2010. "The conference is grounded in the principles of recovery and gender-responsive, trauma-informed care", according to JoinTogether.

The conference offers opportunities to explore a wide array of topics such as the following:

• family-centered treatment
• health policy affecting women's treatment
• women and the criminal justice system
• co-occurring mental and health conditions
• comprehensive recovery support for women
• using technology in innovative ways
• culturally responsive approaches
• workforce development strategies

Speakers include:

Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., Stephanie Covington, Ph.D., Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., Carol McDaid, Lisa Najavits, Ph.D., Francine Ward, J.D., Hon. Pamela S. Hyde (invited), Hon. R. Gil Kerlikowske (invited), Hon. Richard M. Daley (invited), Ijeoma Achara, Ph.D., Hortensia Amaro, Ph.D., Aida Giachello, Ph.D., Nancy Young, Ph.D. among others!

Sponsored by:
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in partnership with Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC).

Co-Sponsored by:
NASADAD Women's Service Network; The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare; and State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS); in partnership with SAMHSA's Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network.

Zookeepers Have Sent a Chimpanzee to Rehab in Russia

The word "addiction", is a word that once could only be applied to human beings. The thought of an animal becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol is something hard to believe and is almost comedic. Unfortunately, those animals that are not far down the evolutionary ladder from humans are just as susceptible to developing habits and addictions. Chimpanzees have commonly been used for drug experiments over the years. In one experiment, a chimpanzee was taught to hit a lever in his cage, when hit, a dose of cocaine would be administered. The scientists would gradually change the amount of times the chimp would have to hit the lever to get a single dose. The study was finally canceled when the chimpanzee was witnessed hitting the lever 12,000 times to get one dose of cocaine. Other experiments have been done that allowed the animal a choice between a lever for water and a lever for a morphine solution, as you might guess, the lever for water saw little activity. It's pretty clear that brain chemistry in animals is not too dissimilar from human beings. The main difference between a chimpanzee becoming an addict and human beings, is a matter of perception; no one would ever say that an animal that has become addicted to a substance is : attempting to be different, a rebel, a criminal, from a bad family or the product of socioeconomic disasters. Therein lays the key point about addiction that it doesn't matter where you are from or what you have been through; addiction makes no exceptions for the person you are, it is a disease that countless people are born with.

The Moscow Times recently reported that zookeepers have sent a chimpanzee to rehab in Russia after the chimp named Zhora began begging visitors for booze and cigarettes. Zhora, picked up smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol while performing in the circus. Zhora has been at the whim of visitors to the zoo who find it funny to see her smoke cigarettes and stumble around drunk inside the cage. I fail to see the humor in all this, when an animal is an addict it's "funny", yet, when a human is an addict it is pathetic. Nevertheless, wild animals in captivity are subject to whatever we put them through, if you give a substance to an animal like alcohol repeatedly, dependency is bound to develop.

Now, Zhora is in treatment fighting off the demons that the audience gave her with a smile on their faces - hilarious, right? Animals have little business in captivity to begin with, they have enough environmental stress day to day inside of their cages; to think that humans would work to shorten a life already shortened by giving them drugs. Sad!

Parents Have Started To Crack Down On Universities

Drinking on college campuses takes place every day, in the dorms or at house parties alcohol can be a regular part of collegiate life. Millions of young adults are unleashed upon the world and most parents are aware that their children will probably par take in some illicit activities at some point during their college years. The reality is that some students while partying will get caught, resulting in the campus administrators having to punish the students by making them attend a class or two about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Punishment is not very harsh and there is probably no need for it to be. In the past, parents were rarely informed about their children's extracurricular activities.

Due to privacy laws, when speaking with parents, universities are really only allowed to talk about tuition unless the student is underage and received an infraction. Interestingly enough, schools have had this authority for more than a decade and rarely exercised it unless there were multiple offenses or drugs were involved. It seems pretty clear that campus authorities worry a lot less about alcohol than they do drugs. College drinking is on the rise according to researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism most recent figures. Between 1998 and 2005, the report showed increased binge drinking, drunk driving, and alcohol-related deaths.

Parents have started to crack down on universities, demanding to know when their child has been drinking so that signs can be spotted before things get out of hand. "This semester, Virginia Tech joined a growing list of colleges that notify parents every time a student younger than 21 is caught drinking, drunk or in possession of alcohol. George Washington University also tightened its notification policy last year after a student died of alcohol poisoning", according to the Washington Post. A college campus can be the perfect environment for unknown addictions to spread their wings if they go unchecked, the need for universities to communicate with parents is crucial. Campuses work hard to curb drinking but their programs are relatively ineffective.

The vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech, Edward Spencer made a valid point: "Students are more concerned about their parents being notified than they are of the legal consequences". Parents are concerned and they have a right to be, students may be adults, but, it's usually parents paying the tuition. Parents can help colleges with their anti-drinking campaigns; parents can have a huge effect on the habits of their children.

Heroin Drug Abuse Among Teens and Young Adults

Heroin has been sweeping through the suburbs of New York City and is becoming a fast growing trend throughout the northeast. Despite the introduction of cutting agents, chemicals that dilute the strength of the drug providing a bigger yield, toady's heroin happens to be stronger and cheaper than it once was. People are struggling to figure the cause of this new wave of heroin drug abuse among teens and young adults, heroin is commonly thought of only being used by the "low of the low"; this misconception has allowed teen drug habits to progress unchecked, heroin is just such an unbelievable drug for teens to be experimenting with.

Bags of heroin for street purchase are usually marked with a skull and cross bones or words like "Kiss of Death" and "R.I.P". "A bag of heroin can sell for $5 to $25 and induce a six- to eight-hour high, according to officials and former users. Cocaine, by comparison, can cost $40 to $60 for a 30-minute high, while prescription painkillers like Vicodin or OxyContin sell for upward of $40 a pill on the street. The heroin available in the Northeast these days is purer than the kind that ravaged New York City in the 1970s, experts say, and almost certainly as lethal, if not more", according to the New York Times. It is thought that the lethality of the drug plays a large role in teenagers' attraction to it; the idea of cheating death and a sense of invisibility among teens draws many to the drug. According to Bridget G. Brennan, New York City's special narcotics prosecutor, "recent drug raids of so-called heroin mills have yielded hundreds of thousands of bags at a time, up from several hundred bags a year ago".

People are overdosing and dying all over the northeast, many times before anyone even knew they was an addiction problem occurring. In Nassau County, Long Island 25 people died of overdoses just in the first 6 months of 2009; it appears that the number of heroin related overdoses has been doubling every year, making clear the heroin should be a major concern amongst parents, even those in upper-middle class suburbs. Once the hand of heroin addiction grabs a hold of someone, it unfortunately takes repeated pain and suffering before the addict will even consider the remote possibility of seeking out recovery. Very few people have ever managed to "kick" heroin on their own, treatment is usually the only route to freedom with such a powerful drug; often heroin addicts end up checking into treatment multiple times in their life before sobriety sticks to them.

Patrick Kennedy Will Step Down

Congressman Patrick Kennedy with his late father, Senator Ted Kennedy

"Going forward I will continue many of the fights we waged together, particularly on behalf of those suffering from depression, addiction, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder," Kennedy said in a quote drawn from the video by AFP.

Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, will step down and not seek a ninth term in the House of Representatives. Patrick Kennedy is an ambitious statesman who made the suffering his first priority; his work set the ball in motion for serious health care reform. Patrick struggled for years with drugs and alcohol as well as being diagnosed with a debilitating bipolar disorder. When Patrick found sobriety four years ago he made it his personal mission to completely reform health care in America. Kennedy thanked Rhode Island voters for their continued support despite his dealings with addiction. "When I made missteps or suffered setbacks, you responded not with contempt, but compassion. Thank you for all the times you lifted me up, pushed me forward and filled my heart with hope".

In 2008, Kennedy founded and heads up, the Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus; he worked hand and hand with Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici in the creation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Kennedy, in short, has become the voice of the addiction community in a number of ways; he has battled to help the disenfranchised at every opportunity.

Retired Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), commented on Kennedy's decision to step down, "a huge loss for people with mental illness and addiction, as Patrick Kennedy was their greatest champion in Washington". Ramstad co-sponsored the House version of the parity bill; he understands better than most the caliber of statesmen that Rhode Island and the whole nation will be losing. There are many United States citizens that suffer from the disease of addiction, in many ways, it takes an addict to understand an addict; there are not many politicians who have the back of the addicted and mentally disabled. During his career, Patrick Kennedy fought for reforms in: health care, juvenile justice, the parity bill, and he secured the channeling of more federal funding for addiction programs.

"Patrick's courageous admissions of his own struggles with bipolar disease and alcoholism have helped reduce the stigma of these diseases, and his personal recovery has been a great inspiration to many people. Were Patrick Kennedy's uncle, President Kennedy, still alive and were President Kennedy to write a sequel to Profiles in Courage, his nephew Patrick would occupy a full chapter", said Ramstad.

"Substance Abuser" or "Substance Use Disorder"

The labels society place on people or groups could directly affect one's life. At times, the perception peers place upon people greatly impacts one's decision making process, sometimes dissuading them from seeking help. The words we use to name and help us describe everything in life can bring negative connotations along with them, changing how we perceive and react. When I say that someone is clever it is one thing, but, to say someone is a con is completely another. The same idea applies to labeling someone an alcoholic as opposed to labeling them a drunk, naturally the latter has a more negative stigma attached to it. How we choose to describe those suffering from addiction can have an effect on one's willingness to enter treatment. John F. Kelly of Massachusetts General Hospital, the leader of a new study, noticed that health professionals' answers to survey questions about a hypothetical patient varied depending on the patient being described as a "substance abuser" or as "having a substance use disorder". The UPI reported, "only 10 percent of those who misuse alcohol and other drugs seek treatment. The stigma against addiction problems is often cited as a major reason for not seeking treatment".

"We found that referring to someone with the 'abuser' terminology evokes more punitive attitudes than does describing that person's situation in exactly the same words except for using 'disorder' terminology. Reducing the use of such stigmatizing terms could help diminish the shame, guilt and embarrassment that act as barriers, keeping people from seeking help", stated Kelly. This study is making public that which many in recovery and the treatment industry have known for a long time; how addicts are described or termed changes societies' view of them, thus keeping them trapped in a class of people that are less-than.

The study which is scheduled to be published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, distributed surveys to more than 700 mental health professionals who were at two mental health conferences last year. The study participants that were given the paragraph that labeled the individual as a "substance abuser" were, as you might have guessed, much more likely to agree that the individual should be punished for not following their treatment plan. "Our results imply that these punitive attitudes may be evoked by use of the 'abuser' term, whether individuals are conscious of it or not", said Kelly.

How society views alcoholics has come a long way with the advancements in mental health and our understanding that addiction is a disease that needs to be treated - not punished. Kelly's new study has shown us that we still have a long way to go, people still have very negative views of addicts and in a lot of ways view them as criminals. That modality has to be smashed!

Mainer Gets Seven Years After Tenth DUI

What happens to a person who cannot keep from driving while they are intoxicated? The answer is they get a DUI and have to pay several fines and attend alcohol information classes which require a certain amount of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Unfortunately, sometimes that is not a big enough deterrent and people drive drunk again; the second DUI and third DUI are not as fun, usually requiring jail time, loss of license and very expensive fines. Sadly, people still continue to risk their life and the lives of others and are not concerned about their DUI history. A man from the State of Maine was sentenced to seven years in prison for driving drunk for the 10th time, operating after the revocation of his driver's license for the 11th time and for violating his probation. Stephen F. Faulcon, 51, "told Superior Court Justice William Anderson that he needed long-term in-patient treatment for alcoholism and counseling, not more time in prison. He asked to be released to Derek House, a faith-based, in-patient treatment center associated with Manna Inc. in Bangor after he serves his prison term. He also asked that his probation be continued", according to the Bangor Daily. Faulcon is clearly an alcoholic that needed help a long time ago for his addiction, treatment would be the right place for him but he cannot get out of his sentence.

Faulcon will have to serve at least five years before being released to a treatment center could even be considered. The State of Maine passed a law in 2006 named after Tina Turcotte, who died in an accident caused by a driver who had 63 prior driving convictions and had been in a fatal accident before he killed Tina. The Tina Turcotte Law is a great law and definitely helps keep the streets safe from repeat offenders. Faulcon had three DUI's in the last ten years which is completely unacceptable and hopefully seven years in prison will change his behavior in the future. The hope is that he finds a 12 step program in prison that will help him change his life for the better.

NYC Funded a Guidebook for Heroin Users

New York City funded a guidebook for heroin users that gives detailed instructions on how to prepare drugs for injection and how to limit risks of infection. The guidebook has the DEA all up in arms about the "Take Charge Take Care" guide; the DEA special agent-in-charge John Gilbride commented on the handbook to the Associated Press, claiming the handout was a "step-by-step instruction on how to inject a poison". This revolutionary guidebook will certainly set precedence for any other state health agencies to get approval for similar handbooks. The DEA must think that giving instruction on safe injections will further addiction, ultimately leading people down a worse road than they were already on.

However, the NYC guidebook "Take Charge Take Care" will help facilitate in the battle of infectious diseases. Not to mention the amount of taxpayers' dollars that will be saved by helping avoid infection, thus keeping addicts away from emergency rooms. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene printed about 70,000 copies of the controversial guidebook with the hope saving lives. The combination of needle exchanges and the new guidebook will certainly show positive results. Assistant Commissioner Daliah Heller said to the AP, instructions on how to perform injections were included because there's "a less harmful way to inject." Education is the greatest weapon against drug addiction despite how contrary it may seem at times.

Addicts caught in the depths of despair often feel like there is no option available and that they will die at the hands of their addiction. Providing addicts the opportunity to acquire clean needles, instruction on injecting, and free HIV tests will help facilitate many addicts in finding treatment. That is the ultimate goal of the creators of the new guidebook - help people help themselves!

I encourage you to watch the short video below. The video echoes some of the common misconceptions about heroin users. The fact is that many heroin users do not know how to correctly inject drugs which causes terrible health issues both short and long term. There are a lot of people damning Mayor Bloomberg's decision to approve the guidebook; but, in the end this guidebook will do more good than harm.

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Brittany Murphy May Have Followed The Same Path As DJ AM And Michael Jackson

Actor Brittany Murphy, who got her start in the movie Clueless, died of cardiac arrest at her L.A. home Dec. 20 at the age of 32. The original autopsy was finished on December 21st and concluded that Murphy had died of natural causes; however, an investigator's notes in the coroner's office stated that there was a staggering amount of prescription drugs inside Murphy's LA home. "The investigator's notes reveal that Murphy "had been complaining of shortness of breath and severe abdominal pain" for 7 to 10 days before her death", reports the Examiner. A prescription drug overdose is what investigators are now trying to determine as the cause of the cardiac arrest. It will take 4-6 weeks before a toxicology report is completed. What's strange about Murphy's life and death is that she claimed that she never had tried hard drugs and prescription drugs were too powerful, "I am way too high-strung to do drugs. I can't even take a Sudafed. Can you imagine? My God. I think my heart would explode", according to the Examiner. It appears that Brittany Murphy may have followed the same path as DJ AM and Michael Jackson; three, possible prescription drug overdoses amongst stars in 2009.

The investigators' notes stated that the nightstands at the Murphy residence contained large amounts of prescription medications with Murphy's name on the bottles. There were a lot of empty prescription bottles in Brittany's husband, mother, and unidentified third parties' names. Yet, she never used or had a drug problem, she was perhaps able to hide her addiction problems from everyone. The drugs that Brittany had prescriptions for were:

• Topamax (anti-seizure med)
• Methylprednisolone (anti-inflammatory)
• Fluoxetine (depression med)
• Klonopin (anxiety med)
• Carbamazepine (treats diabetic symptoms and is also a bipolar med)
• Ativan (anxiety med)
• Vicoprofen (pain reliever)
• Propranolol (hypertension)
• Biaxin (antibiotic)
• Hydrocodone (pain medication)

It is clear just from that list of drugs that there was a tragedy unfolding in Brittany's life and it inevitably killed her. A beautiful, 32 year old star lost perhaps to the grips of addiction. Prescription medications are just as dangerous and life threatening than drugs that can be found on the street; 2009 has been a year that reminded us that prescription drugs are a clear and present danger. In the next few weeks there will be more developments that come to the surface, we will have a better understanding as people come forward - someone had to be aware of Murphy's addiction problems.

Measure To Legalize Pot May Be On California's November Ballot

California residents may find that they are casting their vote in November regarding the legalization of marijuana. The original consensus was that marijuana advocates would wait until 2012 to put it on the ballot, but, 680,000 people signed a petition in favor of legalization causing the timeline to speed up. Marijuana buzz is sweeping the country, as more and more states tarry with the idea of medical marijuana programs; it seems like with every passing month the snowball increases it size and moves faster towards all out legalization. These are big times in the United States, nothing like this has happened since Roosevelt's New Deal; when a country hits hard financial times then it is time to legalize something in order to bring in revenue. Or at least that has been the American way in the past, to make money on the addiction and suffering of others. On the surface it seems like California and America are heading in the right direction: smaller prison populations, less crime, generates tax revenue, pharmaceuticals, hemp, oil, paper, etc... The pros listed are certainly worth agreeing with, it is clear that marijuana does have benefits and could be utilized in number of ways. However, California may be heading down a slippery slope and could possibly bring the whole country with it.

Richard Lee, the measure's main proponent, said to the LA Times, "It was so easy to get them, People were so eager to sign". Richard Lee has already invested over a million into the campaign, he owns a dispensary and a marijuana college called Oaksterdam in Oakland, California. "The initiative would allow cities and counties to adopt laws to allow marijuana to be grown and sold, and to impose taxes on marijuana production and sales. It would make it legal for anyone who is at least 21 to possess an ounce of marijuana and grow plants in an area of no more than 25 square feet for personal use", according to the LA Times. Medical marijuana has completely shifted how we look at marijuana in the United States, opening the door to all out legalization talks such as this; it appears at this point that the pro-marijuana campaign is having more success than those against it.

We are still a year out from the polls and naturally a lot will take place between now and then. It is still anyone's guess! What we can be certain of is that money will end having the final say in this debate. As with most political battles, those who spend the most have the best chance of passing something - even if it is the worst possible thing. In many people's eyes marijuana is already legal because it is so easy to get a recommendation to use cannabis. If this trend keeps up, marijuana and alcohol will be in the same class. My only hope is that addiction is considered in the debates and the public is made aware of the implications of legalizing an illicit drug.

California Medical Marijuana Is Doping Our Youth

Marijuana is being used to help treat Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with children in California, has medical marijuana gone too far? This is one of those things that is a question of ethics and certainly needs to be addressed before there is a catastrophe. In 1999 California voters passed a law which allowed doctors to recommend cannabis for medical use, including minors. A seventeen year old with leukemia is a far cry from a twelve year old with ADHD. In California Marijuana can be recommended "for any ... illness for which marijuana provides relief". It has been known for a long time that marijuana inhibits focusing and motivation, how marijuana could be considered useful for ADHD is beyond me; the Washington Times reports, "ADHD is described as a neurological disorder that prevents children from focusing on a specific task. In essence, people with ADHD have difficulty with self-regulation and self-motivation, owing to problems with distractibility, organization and prioritization".

In the United States we are guilty of over-medicating our children and as a result our children suffer. With 14 million Adderall prescriptions last year it is obvious that we are too quick to medicate. Now we are drifting into the world of alternative medications like marijuana to fix our problems with out doing all the research. There needs to be a certain level of digression by doctors when recommending marijuana, otherwise we will be fueling addiction throughout our youth. "What they don't realize is that marijuana use during childhood and the early-teen years produces significantly different effects than marijuana use later in life. The behaviors exhibited by introducing tetrahydrocannabinol -- the active ingredient in marijuana -- to the brain are similar to those demonstrated by alcohol consumption", reports the Washington Times.

We need to start getting real with ourselves regarding the benefits of medical marijuana. Its uses are limited and do not apply to everyone, it has side-effects that have no place in a child's life. If marijuana is going to be legal it needs to be treated like every other prescription drug and be held up to the same scrutiny. We wouldn't give Oxycontin to a child for a hang nail!

U.N. Calls For A Tougher Anti-Opium Fight

Afghanistan is the center of the world-wide opium trade which continues to flow across its borders virtually unchecked. With the opium comes large amounts of heroin as well as all other illicit activities that can be thought of. U.N. Offices on Drugs and Crime Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said in a UPI report, "The Afghanistan-Pakistan border region has turned into the world's largest free trade zone in anything and everything that is illicit -- drugs of course, but also weapons, bomb-making equipment, chemical precursors, drug money, even people and migrants". Afghanistan has become a state of chaos which adversely affects everyone of its neighbors eventually and eventually the drugs find their way into: Europe, Russia, India, and China. 900 tons of opium and 350 tons of heroin annually cross Afghanistan's borders via Balkan and Eurasian drug trafficking routes. The U.N. calls for a tougher anti-opium fight in the region in order to curb the unbelievable amount of drugs crossing the border.

Afghanistan's opium is directly responsible for increased drug addiction as well as a bump in diseases that can be transmitted intravenously, like HIV. The money incurred from the sale of Afghan opium trickles down to the terrorist organizations in the region, similar to how drug profits fund the Mexican cartels continents away. A UNODC report published by the UPI states, "The report from the U.N. Offices on Drugs and Crime said Afghanistan produces almost all the world's opium, from which heroin is made. The global opium market is estimated at $65 billion and the number of addicts is estimated at 15 million, with an annual death rate of 100,000". It is very clear that action needs to be taken if there is any chance in curbing the devastating problem. Current efforts to stop the flow have produced minimal results, only about 2% of all the opium harvested is seized by authorities because of corruption and lawlessness in Afghanistan and its uncontrolled borders.

Afghan opium is not anything new, that region of the world is premium real estate for growing the drug. Nevertheless, the majority of drugs grown in Afghanistan have a hard time staying within Afghan borders. The time has come for the world to step up and try and fix the growing problem; entire nations are susceptible to the Afghan deadly poison which holds entire families in bondage. Small children are becoming addicted to opium and heroin on a daily basis which has become completely unacceptable. People will sell anything to get one last fix and before they know it they have nothing left. A plan needs to be devised by the U.N. to stop the problem before it gets out of hand more than it already is.

Mary Bono Mack Will Take Drug Addiction Right To Washington D.C.

Health Care reform in America seems to be a heated debate these days. What to include, what not to include and just how do we go about real change in the health care system. California Representative Mary Bono Mack will give a speech on Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Riverside Community College District's Moreno Valley Campus. She will be discussing her son's struggle with drug addiction . Mack believes that addiction prevention should be one of the main topics in the health care debate. Unfortunately, her son Chesare, began abusing pain medication shortly after his father, Sonny Bono, died in a ski accident in 1998. What started as Oxycontin abuse, progressed as most opiate addicts do, to using harder opiates such as heroin. Chesare went to two drug treatment centers before the recovery process began to take hold. Mary Bono Mack will take drug addiction right to Washington D.C..

Mack, according to The Press Enterprise, "began speaking out after she and her son, Chesare, went public in a People magazine story in February about his struggle with drug addiction and recovery". Since that article she has become, by default, a voice for the drug and alcohol community to help shed light on the disease of addiction. We can no longer keep the subject of addiction in the closet, we need to open the conversation so there can be a solution found in a health care system that does not currently understand addiction. "In Washington, D.C., Bono Mack is set to testify Thursday about narcotics trafficking during a House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere meeting. She also said she's pushing for tighter Food and Drug Administration controls on Oxycontin", stated The Press Enterprise. Bono Mack has opened her ears to the countless families that have loved ones addicted to drugs, she feels that it is necessary to step up and speak out.

There needs to be more courageous people like Bono Mack who are willing to go as far as it takes to get the information out there regarding the dangers of prescription medications. The longer we ignore what drugs like Oxycontin do to people, the longer families will continue to be devastated. Prescription drugs are just as addictive as illegal drugs and have the ability to ruin just as many lives - if not more. "A lot of parents don't know prescription pills are a dangerous substance," she said. "They need to educate themselves about what's out there. It's a tough battle", reports The Press Enterprise.

If you are interested in participating in this discussion, here are the details:

Substance Abuse Conference
What: Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, as well as public and mental health officials will speak during the conference aimed at youths, young adults and parents.
When: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Riverside Community College District Moreno Valley campus, 16130 Lasselle St., in Student Services room 101
Cost: Free and no reservations needed
Information: 951-571-6100

Vaccines For Drug Addictions Are Showing New Promise

The disease of addiction is a biological disorder in the brain that affects the award system and is in no way a moral failing by any means. Science has shined a new light on addiction and has given us the ability to understand what is operating in the human brain. Addiction is inherited and is not something that anyone asks to have, new developments in science have shown us that it may be possible to create a medical solution to the disease. Vaccines for drug addiction are showing new promise; it may not be long before we have a vaccine for all addictive substances. A report in the LA Times stated, "Vaccines to help people recover from such addictions as nicotine, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines now appear scientifically and medically achievable after doctors reported Monday that a vaccine to treat cocaine dependence had produced a large enough antibody response to reduce cocaine use in 38% of addicted individuals". 38% is an amazing number and one that reaffirms the promise of these kinds of scientific pursuits.

A vaccine for addiction will not work the same way as normal vaccines. If you are born with a hereditary disposition towards drugs and alcohol there is no way to reverse it. However, a vaccine could potentially keep drugs that enter the body from reaching the brain thus preventing the high from ever being experienced. The vaccines stimulate the body's immune system to create binding antibodies that will attach themselves to the drug preventing them from ever reaching the brain. Unfortunately, creating vaccines does not equate to dollars for pharmaceutical companies to create these vaccines. They can make a lot more money from addiction maintenance than they could off a vaccine. This problem makes it very hard for certain studies to take place because of the lack of much needed funding which is in the 100's of millions. An ethical dilemma is clearly visible and I am sure will be addressed in the coming years.

Studies with the goal of creating a vaccine is a huge step in modern science and shows us that with understanding we can treat the most baffling of diseases. In the coming years we will see what role vaccines for drug addiction will have around the world and whether the pharmaceutical companies will set greed aside and hop on board. I encourage you to watch a Dr. Nancy Snyderman video on the subject:

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Prison System Falls Short In Treating Drug Addiction

The United States is literally sick with the disease of addiction. Every day countless numbers of people are sentenced to jail when they belong in drug treatment facilities. The U.S. prison system does not appropriately address the needs of people withdrawing from drugs and people are put through what could only be described as a form of torture. It is estimated that a quarter of a million people that are addicted to heroin are imprisoned each year in the United States. That number is only a fraction of all the people incarcerated that are addicted to various narcotics. Sadly, very few state run prisons offer, let alone provide, any form of detoxification or any type of treatment. A recent Science Daily article addressed this problem and had many interesting facts worth noting. Simply, the U.S. prison system falls short in treating drug addiction.

The Miriam Hospital at Brown University and their affiliated Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights did a study and their findings are almost hard to believe. "Just half of all federal and state prison systems offer ORT (opiate replacement therapy) with the medications methadone and buprenorphine, and only in very limited circumstances. Similarly, only twenty-three states provide referrals for some inmates to treatment upon release from prison. These policies are counter to guidelines issued by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which say prisoners should be offered ORT for treatment of opiate dependence". There is no doubt that providing inmates with the option of ORT and referring prisoners to drug treatment centers, upon release, would dramatically decrease recidivism and ultimately would give people a chance at starting a new life. In turn this would make the streets safer for everyone and this would reduce the taxpayers' burden by keeping addicts from returning to jail over and over.

"Opiate addiction, like all forms of addiction, causes long-term changes to the structure and functioning of the brain, which is why it is classified as a disease. Addiction requires treatment just as other chronic diseases, like diabetes and cancer, do. Unfortunately, there is a large gap between the number of prisoners who require addiction treatment and those who actually receive it," added senior author Josiah Rich, MD, MPH, co-director of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights at The Miriam Hospital and Alpert Medical School. If an inmate were diagnosed with cancer they would receive proper medical treatment for the disease and the same goes with any illness. Why, then, is the disease of addiction overlooked and thrown under the bus time and time again? The science is clear and the facts have been posted on the wall, but, nobody wants to read them - let alone believe them.

"In spite of overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrating that pharmacological treatment for addiction has greater health and social benefits than abstinence-only policies, many prison directors are philosophically opposed to treating substance use. Most prisons also do not provide referrals for substance use treatment for prisoners upon release. These trends contribute to high re-incarceration rates and have detrimental impacts on community health. Our interviews with prison medical directors suggest that changing these policies may require an enormous cultural shift within correctional systems", stated Amy Nunn, ScD, the studies lead author and an assistant professor of medicine (research) at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. It is hard not to see Amy Nunn's point, real change and the destruction of the social stigmas that come along with addiction are ever so important. If prisons continue to view the disease of addiction as a question of willpower of weak moral fiber, then there will always be hundreds of thousands of people returning to prison as repeat offenders. Over 10 million people go to jail in America every year, most of which have or have had a substance abuse problem. The tools are available for curbing those numbers; however, we are failing to utilize them.

Baby Boomers and the Elderly have been Binge Drinking

Binge drinking has always been considered a problem with teenagers and young adults, but, studies now show that this phenomena may not always be limited to the younger age groups. Researchers are finding that more and more baby boomers and even the elderly have been binge drinking. This trend goes relatively unnoticed because many people in those age groups do not tell anyone how much alcohol they are consuming; even doctors are misled by patients about the amount they drink and the way in which it is consumed. Duke University scientists, who researched and analyzed data of nearly 11,000 middle-aged and elderly adults from the 2005 and 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, report in the American Journal of Psychiatry that:

* 14% of men and 3% of women 65 or older admit to binge drinking -- defined as quaffing five or more alcoholic beverages on a single occasion within the past 30 days.

* Among 50-64-year-olds, 23% of men and 9% of women admitted to binge drinking

* Bingeing and at-risk alcohol use was more common among people 50 to 64 than those in the older group.

* Among males, binge drinking was associated with higher income, being separated, divorced, or widowed while being unemployed.

* Among women, non-medical use of prescription drugs was associated with bingeing.

* Bingeing also was associated among all those studied with the use of tobacco and illicit drugs.

* Men in both groups are more likely than women to binge drink.

This trend indicates that as time goes on more baby boomers and elderly people will begin binge drinking, according to researchers studying problem drinking. Moreover, studies show that those who binge drink are 14 times more likely to get behind the wheel, as reported about Diane Schuler a mother who drove the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway killing herself and seven others. Her husband swears that Diane was not an alcoholic and that he never saw her drunk. But, when a mother of two gets in a car, drinks the equivalent of ten drinks and apparently smokes marijuana with her kids and her three nieces in the car, there must be a problem. Binge drinking is a clear sign that a person is in the grips of addiction and more times then not, help is necessary if this problem is to stop. There is no age restriction on being an alcoholic; the disease affects children as well as grandparents.

I encourage you to watch a short video that ABC did about this same problem, called Binge Drinking in Middle Age. It makes some interesting points and is worth watching. Please send me your thoughts on the subject.

Two Dozen Teenage Girls Have Gone Missing In Juarez

On top of the all the drug related violence throughout Mexico's border cities there is a new problem rising up. Two dozen teenage girls and young women have gone missing in the turbulent border city Ciudad Juarez in the last year and a half. Nobody seems to have an answer to this mystery, according to the Chicago Tribune "Monica Alanis, an 18-year-old college freshman, never came home from her exams. That was nearly six months ago. Across town, 17-year-old Brenda Ponce didn't return from a job-hunting trip downtown. That was a year ago." The families of the missing girls do not believe that they would just pack up and leave Mexico without telling anyone. This problem has families with young daughters left scared, "There is no theory. There is no hypothesis," said Ricardo Alanis, Monica's father.

There are many possibilities but no certainties when comes to this situation. The girls could be caught up in the ramped sex trade that has become an international problem; girls are kidnapped, forced into sexual slavery, and forced to use drugs in order to get hooked. That way once they are addicted they can't run away even if they wanted to, it's a vicious cycle. This problem seems to be something new; it does not resemble what happened in the 80's when more than 350 women were killed during a 15-year period. The 350 who were killed back then were from all over the country and their bodies were eventually found, usually with evidence of sexual abuse and even signs of torture.

In this case though, none of the young women have been found which leads people to believe that they are still alive and being used in the sex trade. Some of the families believe that the same cartels responsible for all the violence have stolen their children and brought them into the United States to be used in prostitution rings. That seems like a very plausible scenario for the fact that this kind of activity goes on all over the world with very little out there to stop it. The families continue to search for answers, but, unfortunately most of the time girls caught up in the sex trade are never found or heard from again.

If you follow our blog on a regular basis, you may wonder why we chose to discuss this story today. Our goal is to bring you topical information about addiction and recovery and while today's post may appear to be about kidnapping and prostitution, the bottom line is addiction and drugs more than likely plays a role in controlling these young women. We welcome your thoughts...

Whole Family has become Addicted to Opium

In war torn Afghanistan Opium is about the only drug that people can get their hands on. Opium is used for medicine in Afghanistan, after decades of struggle between the Russians in the 80's and the United States beginning in 2001 the country is left in the dark when it comes to medical aid. What was once used for medicine has now become an epidemic much like China in the 18th and 19th centuries, where whole villages have become hooked to Opium. National Geographic just interviewed the Beg family in the village of Sarab which has a population of fewer than 2,000, and half are already addicts. "I started taking a smoke until I got addicted to this (opium). I lost my property, I lost my strength, my bravery and now I am laying here with an empty stomach", says Islam Beg age 65. His whole family has become addicted to Opium and his one-year old grandson has already started taking the drug, the family's argument is that there is no other medicine - all they have is Opium.

Islam Beg once was the owner of much of the land in his village along with many animals, but now, he has nothing other than the pipe, as he and his family sold everything in order to keep it filled. Islam Beg is ashamed of the person that he has become and there is not much help out there for people in his position. The country of Afghanistan has few drug treatment facilities available, with less than 200 beds for drug rehab nationwide it is not surprising there is such a staggering number of addicts. Afghanistan's chief export happens to be Opium which is sold to pharmaceutical companies around the world for pain medication; and the opium that is not exported legally to pharmaceutical companies is exported illegally as the raw ingredient for heroin. Millions of dollars pour into Afghanistan, purchasing the drug for use in nations around the world. The United States in 2004 gave 4.4 billion dollars in aid for infrastructure, which I highly doubt much or any of that money went to heath care in a nation that has an estimated 150,000 opium addicts and a further 50,000 heroin addicts. Without support directed towards the addiction problem, many people will have little choice but to die an addict.

Islam Beg is "hopeful that his grandchildren will escape his fate, he believes they're not yet addicted", but, when you start using Opium at the age of one it is hard to see any other path. People will give up anything for the drug and without drug education and medical alternatives it is not surprising. Corporations make billions of dollars at the hands of a country in the grips of addiction. Villages in Afghanistan are in desperate need of relief in the way of drug treatment facilities; without foreign aid I do not see how children have any other fate away from the Opium pipe. "Decades of war and poverty have instilled a sense of hopelessness in many people here, making narcotics an easy destructive way to deal with an often grim reality."

Your thoughts?

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The Battle Continues over the "Marijuana Question" in California

The battle continues over the "Marijuana Question" in California, which will decide whether legalization will do more harm than good. Next year's election in California will be centered on whether a 14 billion dollar a year black market drug will be legalized. Ballot measures are already being put forward by different groups as well as a bill by Assembly Member Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat, that would legalize and tax the drug. In the coming months there will be a heated battle between the "right" and "left"; there is a good chance that the Mexican cartels will not stay out of the fight for the fact that they have a lot to lose if marijuana is legalized.

Federal drug czar Gil Kerlikowske, who is against legalization, said a few weeks ago, "We will wait for evidence on whether smoked marijuana has any medicinal benefits - those aren't in." Just last week in Fresno Kerlikowske made the statement that, "Marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit." It would seem that the drug czar has more of a complaint regarding the method in which marijuana is used, rather than whether it is used at all. This brings up an important point, how marijuana in used makes a big difference with regard to heath risks; anything foreign that human beings inhale will have negative side effects. I do not think it is possible for the state to regulate the manner it which weed is used!

Medical marijuana started about ten years ago in California for people with disorders and sicknesses, now, pot-activists want it to be legal for everyone in the state. All of this is starting to look like a recipe for disaster; if marijuana is legalized for adults over the age of twenty one what will be in place to stop children from getting the drug? It will be easy to get for children and teenagers, which without a doubt will ultimately lead to a rise in drug addiction state-wide. It does not seem like this problem can be helped, if 14 billion is being made under the government's nose already, it's pretty clear that once they legalize it they won't be able to control it. Sure some extra money might be made in taxes which obviously wouldn't hurt, but, it seems that everything is moving too quickly for this plan to be put into practice effectively. The country is in need of revenue and this has led to a number of poorly thought out plans to make that happen. I am looking forward to seeing which way this battle goes and I am curious about your thoughts regarding the subject.

Mexico's Drug War is Worsening

The Mexican government is sending out 45,000 troop to conflict areas throughout the country, more troops than the United States has in Afghanistan, as a result of the 11,000 dead in just under three years. Mexico's drug war is worsening and it does not seem like much can be done to curb the cartels and their bloody war over smuggling routes and government control according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "attacking offices, killing investigators, and threatening citizens who speak out".

The hot spots where most of, but not all, the action is taking place are in border cities where the drugs come one way and American guns and money go back the other way. In the U.S. guns are sold to private citizens that are often more high-powered than most government officials have throughout Mexico. Again, according to the San Francisco Chronicle: "This month, Mexican President Felipe Calderon ordered more soldiers into Ciudad Juarez, a major border town and drug entry point opposite El Paso, to quell the violence. Closer to Mexico City, he faces trouble from an upstart gang in his native state of Michoacan, where the bodies of 12 federal agents were dumped on a back road, all of them tortured and shot in the head. In response, he sent 5,500 troops to the region".

The cartels are certainly a major factor in this war, but, Americas never ending thirst for drugs is the driving force. This is a war over money, and not just any money - American money. The cartels in Mexico control all the drugs coming out of South and Central-America and it appears that Mexico has become the new Columbia. Back in March, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated our nation's responsibility. The violence is caused by "our insatiable demand for illegal drugs."

Next month, President Obama is due at a North American summit in Guadalajara, Mexico. Obama needs to make this war one of his top priorities otherwise it will only get worse. Better attempts at drug education here in America need to take place because as long as we demand the drugs Mexico will continue to fight to supply them. Furthermore, better gun policies need to be enacted; Mexicans killing with our guns makes us partly liable. Mexican drugs are the gasoline that fuel America's engine of addiction.

Michael Jackson Doctor's Office was Raided as Part of a Manslaughter Investigation

Yesterday, LAPD and DEA agents arrived at the Houston, Texas, clinic of Dr. Conrad Murray; who was Michael Jackson's personal physician and was with him when he died last month. Michael Jackson's doctor's office was raided as part of a manslaughter investigation in search of his medical records. According to one source, "The search was conducted by members of the DEA, two Robbery-Homicide detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department and Houston police officers. The search warrant authorized law enforcement to search for and seize items, including documents; they believed constituted evidence of the offense of manslaughter."

Miranda Sevcik, a representative for Dr. Murray's lawyer Chernoff, said: "This raid was unexpected to us. All this drama is just not necessary, this is how we feel. Ed's not dismayed about it. He's just trying to figure out what's going on. But he's not worried about it." It is believed that the warrant was tied to the findings of Michael Jackson's preliminary autopsy report and the prescription drugs found in his system. Everything is still pretty vague regarding what the pop star was abusing and what happened prior to Jackson's death. At this point it is no secret that Jackson, with the help of others, was severely abusing prescription drugs and was addicted without a doubt.

The investigation is focused on one particular drug, Propofol according to reports; Propofol is used to put people to sleep before surgery, it is a very strong anesthetic not to be used outside a hospital setting. Sources say, "It is Conrad Murray they're looking at. They are looking for Propofol, along with anything else they find. But Propofol is the big one." Murray was in Nevada when officials raided his office, but, despite his lawyer saying that Jackson's doctor is not worried it is probably fair to say that that is not true.

The truth will come out whether or not Dr. Murray is liable for Jackson's death soon enough. It is fair to say that Dr. Murray is not the only doctor prescribing medications that are potentially fatal despite warnings by the FDA. The fact of the matter is that some doctors have become more concerned with their pocket books than the lives of their patients. Saying no to Michael Jackson was probably a very hard thing to do when you are blinded by money. Life is worth more than money and unfortunately not everyone sees it that way. I am interested in your thoughts as to whether the doctor (pusher) or the addict (patient) is responsible for the ultimate death?

Jackson's Family Attempted Drug Interventions

Sources say that Jackson's family attempted drug interventions over the last four years. We are being told that on at least two separate occasions interventions were attempted by Michael Jackson's friends and family, but every time Jackson would go ballistic and refuse to get help. According to an ABC news report of July 10, 2009: "Police have confirmed a laundry list of drugs were found inside the Los Angeles rental home where Jackson died June 25, revealing to the public what his family has known for years -- Michael Jackson was a drug addict."

ABC News reports that "The Web site TMZ is reporting that the 2003 police raid on Jackson's home, Neverland Ranch, revealed painkillers, sedatives, vials and syringes." So it is pretty clear, despite having the coroner's report yet, what was going on with Jackson. Ultimately, Jackson's death was directly related to his serious addiction to pain medicine and sedatives. There was nothing that anybody could do about his problem, he had to be the one who wanted help with his substance abuse problem. It has been reported that virtually everybody who tried to get in between Jackson and his drugs was "pushed away" or simply fired.

In 1993 Jackson said that he would be entering treatment to deal with his addiction to pain killers that he had become dependent on after sustaining burns to his scalp which he had extensive surgery on. Jackson's doctors have cooperated by releasing the performer's medical records, according to the Los Angeles coroner's office; this should help them determine the cause of death and whether or not there was any contributory negligence.

It may be many more weeks before we know the whole story of Michael Jackson's death; however, you may want to watch this ABC news report and an interview with an interventionist to learn more about the disease of addiction.

My hope is that Jackson's untimely death will strike a chord with people all over the world about the dangers of prescription medications. Maybe this will cause people to want to seek out help for their own addictions. The help is always available when one is ready to accept that they have a problem and can't beat it on their own. If you have a problem or you know someone that does please contact us at Whiteside Manor.

Michael Jackson's Memorial Service on Tuesday

Michael Jackson's Memorial Service on Tuesday was certainly a sight to behold. It was a spectacle with golden casket onstage and the eulogists including Brooke Shields, Magic Johnson and Queen Latifah, to name a few. All of Jackson's brothers were wearing sunglasses and a glove on one hand emulating Michael's iconic style. Jackson's life was so chaotic, yet his funeral seemed rather calm; seems rather ironic that it ended that way.

I feel that a lot of people are in denial about everything, denial about what has been going on with Michael all these years. Everybody said a lot of nice things about him, but nobody wants to talk about the truth. Jackson was in denial about his addiction, and his family was in denial about the seriousness of his disease. Jackson's former medium Uri Geller and ex-bodyguard Matt Fiddes were interviewed by the Associated Press and stated that they tried again and again to help Jackson help himself. They were powerless to stop him, no matter what they did to halt his problem some one else would be right there to give Jackson what he wanted.

Regardless of what could have been done or was done, the fact remains that Michael Jackson made his own choice and was responsible for his own actions. Other people could only do so much for Jackson. He was a tortured soul and his drug addiction fueled his underlying problems. The cause of death has been "deferred" until all the results are in, but the the truth is out there.

Today as we ponder Michael Jackson's life and death. We might ask why didn't he ask for help. I share with you a video of Jennifer Hudson singing "Will You Be There?" This song was written by Michael. As you listen to it, particularly the closing verse...we might ask ourselves "was anybody really listening to his words?"

The lesson for us all is this: when your loved one reaches out for help it may not be in spoken words, but song, actions, or just a look. Take the time to listen.






In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tribulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I'll Never Let You Part
For You're Always In My Heart

Michael Jackson's Family Betrayal, No Intervention!

Michael Jackson's family betrayal, no intervention! America seems to be at a loss for words regarding the late Michael Jackson and his supposed drug addiction and reclusive nature. The writing is clearly written on the wall, but no one who is part of his network wants to blow the whistle. Everyone is trying to protect Michael, as if the people who enabled him while he was alive are continuing the behavior after his death. I guess old habits are easier to come by than they are to break! Who and why, what and how?

Last week I wrote a little bit about intervention, and I thought, with all the talk about Michael Jackson (with respect to any one person trying to intervene) it was worth writing about. It seems to me that everyone who was close to Michael is trying to sweep his addiction under the rug. They would like America to believe that they are doing this to protect his good name, but I, like many others believe they are doing this to protect themselves. Perhaps they're afraid they will be cut out Michael's estate? Or, maybe they don't want to catch ridicule from America if the truth gets out?

Whatever their motives may be for lying or being negligent is irrelevant, the evidence never lies. A 50 year old man that is 5'10'' and ways 110 pounds clearly has some issues; furthermore, Michael Jackson had access to America's best doctors. There is no way that the coroner's report won't state that his premature death was caused by anything other than years of drug addiction and a serious eating disorder, which stressed his heart to the brink. I am a firm believer of the old saying, "The Truth Will Set You Free", a saying that I believe many of the people involved in what has now become a scandal (in my opinion) should adopt.

Everyone lost something special the day Michael Jackson died, let's be serious, Michael Jackson was as American as Apple Pie. We should let Michael Jackson's death be something we all can learn from, in order to help prevent more tragedies like this. Bonnie Hunt said some very interesting things that I feel are pertinent to quote,"... I'm not judging, but I am wondering... I don't hear any reports of attempts by any of these knowing friends of their having tried an intervention, not only because of Michael's need for it (he would only be sober if he made a choice to do so for himself), but I'm talking about the needs of his children. Why wouldn't anyone, any single person, friend or employee, or doctor -- someone -- at least consider the fact that the children were reclusively in the care of a drug-addicted person?" I feel the same way that Bonnie Hunt does, and like her, I feel that if no one asks these questions than Michael's death will be in vain.

Tonight as you watch the news coverage of Michael Jackson's memorial service, take time to spend with your family. Is there someone who needs an intervention, before it is too late? "The truth will set them free and might help others as well. Acknowledging his addiction does not erase his enormous creative contribution. He was one of the most talented creative artists of our generation. That is solid. Now the truth about how he suffered such an early death can add to his legacy in an educational way, not in a negative way." -Bonnie Hunt-

David Sheff's "Beautiful Boy" and Nic Sheff's "Tweak" Books On Addiction

David Sheff's "Beautiful Boy" and Nic Sheff's "Tweak" books on addiction, compliment each other in a revolutionary way. "Beautiful Boy" is a father's take on his son's addiction to Heroin and Methamphetamine, whereas "Tweak" is Nic Sheff's autobiography about his own struggles. Both sides of the gun, you might say, are revealed from the view of two amazing writers!

In October of 2008 I had the opportunity to hear David and Nic speak about their books. Naturally, I was very excited about this opportunity; having read their books and felt their pain, both emotional and physical, I wanted to see where they stood now. I showed up a little bit early, and to my surprise the two of them were sitting outside the bookstore talking. I walked up and introduced myself and we started talking, I had the occasion to look them both in their eyes; it was an emotional experience to say the least. After we finished talking, it was time for them to begin their talk about their books.

Each of them spoke for about a half hour about their own book and then they fielded questions. I had no questions for them as I already had the opportunity to meet them privately. With every word that they spoke I could see and feel the pain in Nic's eyes. It was as if Nic were reliving his nightmare over and over at each book-signing/reading event that they did around the country. I do not believe that David knew how painful his words were for Nic; it wasn't how David spoke or what David said that I think affected Nic, rather it was the fact the Nic would never be able to move forward, that he would have to fight his demons forever.

I'm not a doctor, but I know that what I saw was not healthy! Deep down inside I had the feeling that as long as Nic continued doing book tours he would be drawn back to the drugs. An addict and the parents of the addict have to find a way to move forward with their lives, at first talking about the experience with each other is a healthy way to recover. But, at a certain point families need to move on and start a new chapter in their lives. I wish both David and Nic the best and I hope that together they can find a way to grow together and not apart.

The connection that families make in their journey towards recovery is ever so crucial for success. Family Programs are perhaps the most intricate part in a successful recovery. Once again I encourage anyone to read "Beautiful Boy" and "Tweak", and may they do for you what they did for me.

"Beautiful Boy" A Father's Struggle With His Son's Addiction.

"Beautiful Boy" is a real life account of a father's struggle with his son's addiction. It is by no means a how-to book on dealing with a child who has been caught in the grips of addiction; rather, David Sheff shared his experience so he could better understand the process of his son's addiction and possibly it would help other people in similar situations. He makes it clear that his way may not have been the best and at no time was it easy. There are many accounts of an individual's addiction; but, for whatever reason there are not that many accounts from parents. Maybe it is too hard for most families to relive chaos by putting it on paper, or perhaps words cannot describe the hell they had to endure over and over.

There are choices we make at a very young age that can forever alter the path we move along; decisions, which on the surface appear to be small and insignificant, but actually are the first steps on a hard road of chaos, pain, and destruction. I think as human beings it is natural to envision a life of happiness, one overflowing with achievement and respect. Nobody wakes up one day and says, "I want to be a failure, I want to be the source of pain for every person that walks into my life". Furthermore, it is impossible for a child to foresee terrible and unforgettable turning points in their life; traumatic events like divorce, disease, and death are the last thing on a child's mind. Sadly events like those happen, turning children upside down with nothing to hold on to.

Nicholas Sheff was one of those children, a child barely aware of the odds of existence; faced with his parents' divorce, his father's philandering, and the death of particular role models. Nic was a child whose brilliance was off the charts; a writer, musician, and an athlete who excelled at what ever he put his mind to.

Underneath his exterior exists a world of sorrow, his mind drowning in isolation and existential thoughts; his family was completely unaware of what was taking place inside of Nic, until it was too late. At the age of twelve Nic's addictive gene became triggered by alcohol, while on a family trip to Lake Tahoe. That was the point when he began climbing down the ladder of drugs, with the first rung being pot. He slowly graduated to Methamphetamine and Heroin; drugs became "the pinnacle of his existence", a full time job with the potential for early retirement.

There is no right way of looking at things when dealing with any kind of -ism, especially when it is your own child. A parent wants nothing but the best for their children; they want to shield them from all external nightmares that live around every corner. Unfortunately, it is the internal nightmares that can cause the most heartache; there are not any kinds of markers or red flags that can signal a parent and warn them that their child has the disease of alcoholism or drug addiction. Most parents believe that using drugs and alcohol is choice, and if someone cannot stop they are lacking will power. This mind set only makes things worse and further alienates a child who already feels inadequate and different than their peers.

"Beautiful Boy" deals with the different stages a parent goes through when they find out the news that their child has a problem. David Sheff went to any length to investigate the nature of Methamphetamine (Nic's drug of choice). A parent will look at a loved one's addiction and make it their own. They ask them self "if only" or "why" did this happen to me; the more they ask the questions the further they get from the answer. After countless nights of not knowing where your child is, whether they are alive or dead, and countless treatment facilities and overdoses; David came to the realization that "our children will live or die without us", that other peoples fates are out of your hands.

"So many times in the past decade I made mistakes out of ignorance, hope, or fear. I've tried to recount all as and when they happened, in the hope that readers will recognize a wrong path before they take it. If they don't, however, I hope they may realize that this is a path that they can't blame themselves for having taken." -David Sheff-

The family dynamic of addiction is powerful. Whiteside Manor 'believes that family involvement in substance abuse treatment is crucial for recovery; therefore, Whiteside Manor has developed a family program to meet these needs. The goal of our Family Program is to introduce participants to the principles of recovery along with providing necessary social and emotional support. It also assists the client and family members in understanding the complicated disease of addiction and its impact on the family.'

I encourage you to read David Sheff's "Beautiful Boy", inquire about Whiteside Manor's Family Program and let me know what you think.