Category Archives: Drug Dependency

FOUR middle-aged men sit on the back deck sucking on cigarettes - one of the few vices allowed here - and talking in staccato rhythms about drug and alcohol dependency, and photography. ''I've always felt there's a bit of creativity and artist in me which I've never really nurtured,'' says Dillon. ''To have a proper photographer with knowledge, with me being clean as well, my eyes sort of opening and my awareness coming back, and a bit of passion and spirit, it's majorly contributed to my recovery by freeing my spirit.'' Dillon, Leonard, Doc and Dave are part of a group of eight residents from Quin House, an abstinence-based supported accommodation facility for men experiencing homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction, who will be showcasing their photographs in the In Camera exhibition at a new arts space in the Collingwood Housing Estate. Since Renae Formiatti took over as community development worker at Quin House last September, she has veered from the traditional, psychoanalytical approach to rehabilitation to include a strong creative and cultural bent. ''So much of the talk all day long is about recovery and about how much time you've gone clean. So I think it's really nice to … Continue reading →

The container of candy bars sitting by the judges bench was an indication this wasnt going to be an ordinary court session. It was drug court, a once-a-week session in Sangamon County Circuit Court that can be a last-chance life preserver for drug-dependent criminals. Sangamon County started its drug court in December 2010 with the help of a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. It joined fewer than 30 other Illinois counties with drug courts there are now 31 counties where non-violent offenders may be eligible to go through an intensive program that includes frequent drug testing, education or work requirements and regular court visits. Crimes like felony shoplifting or addiction-related forgery cases could qualify someone for drug court. First-time drug offenders don't qualify. They must have an addiction or drug dependency and a pending non-violent felony, said assistant states attorney Karen Tharp, one of the members of the drug court team. Their crimes have to be associated with drug addiction. And most of them are repeat offenders. But for this chance, theyd be going to prison, she said. The grant called for 25 participants, and the idea was to build that number slowly to see how things … Continue reading →

Majority of children lifted out of poverty if one parent works 35 hours a week at the minimum wage or 24 hours if they are a lone parent, under reforms Handouts helps fuel drug addiction and welfare dependency, Ian Duncan Smith with declare Changes aimed at turning around troublesome families By James Chapman PUBLISHED: 18:32 EST, 13 June 2012 | UPDATED: 05:26 EST, 14 June 2012 Parents should get a job rather than rely on handout if they want to lift their children out of poverty, Iain Duncan Smith will declare today. The Work and Pensions Secretary will insist that employment, not a few extra pounds in welfare benefits, is the key to lifting families out of poverty, as he unveils plans to replace all other out of work benefits from 2013, with the Coalitions new universal credit. Mr Duncan Smith claims the reform will remove incentives to stay on welfare rather than moving into work. New targets: Iain Duncan Smith Mr Duncan Smith will also announce plans to tear up the method of measuring child poverty by family income, introduced under Labour, insisting that determining childrens wellbeing simply on the basis of income can be perverse. He will claim … Continue reading →

Drama seems to be the story of Amber's life, but after all of her legal problems, struggles with substance abuse and issues with her explosive temper, it looks like rehab will finally provide her with the help she so desperately needs. Once she learns to control her anger, work on her drug dependency and improve her mental health, she can focus on becoming a family again with Gary and Leah. While Amber's concerns are unique to her, drug and alcohol use is not uncommon among teens. About two-thirds of high school freshmen report having tried alcohol at least once, 25 percent of all high school students say they drink heavily on occasion and nearly four in 10 high school students have tried marijuana. Risky behavior, like drinking or using drugs, lowers your inhibitions and affects your judgment, increasing the chance of taking further risks. It should make sense, then, that teens who drink and/or use drugs are often more sexually active and more likely to take risks when having sex. Translation: They're more likely to go farther than they may have wanted and less likely to use contraception. More than one-third of teens who have had sex say that they've … Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- California residents who have been improperly denied substance abuse treatment by their insurance company now have access to a free statewide legal referral service to help them get the coverage they deserve. The program has been launched by the California Treatment Advocacy Foundation (CalTAF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving access to effective and affordable chemical dependency treatment throughout the state. Despite the fact that most health insurance policies written in California already contain some provisions for substance abuse treatment, the system clearly isnt working as it should, said Phillip Greer, executive director of CalTAF. Many insurers continue to impose unreasonable deductibles and co-payments or impose care guidelines that keep patients from receiving treatment at the level of intensity or for an amount of time that is universally accepted as necessary. Our legal referral service is there for people who have been unfairly denied treatment. Under the program an individual simply calls 1-888-8-CALTAF (1-888-822-5823) for a free consultation. This consultation includes a legal review by a qualified attorney and advice about legal rights. If an individual has been improperly denied treatment, the caller is referred to an attorney with specialized expertise in insurance claims for further consultation. … Continue reading →

Rhys Ifans drew on his knowledge of drug addicts to portray the villain in comic book blockbuster The Amazing Spider-Man. In the superhero prequel, the Welsh star takes on the part of Dr. Curt Connors, an amputee scientist who creates a serum using reptile DNA in a bid to gain the lizard-like ability to regrow limbs. Ifans insists he had an unusual influence for his role, taking inspiration from the dependency crystal meth users experience. He tells The Sun, "He is a very intelligent scientist who genuinely wants to benefit and help millions of humans - limbless humans in his case. Unfortunately, he decides to become his own lab rat and the drug he takes gives him this kind of euphoria - I guess something like crystal meth. That feeling becomes addictive to Connors and that's why he keeps returning to The Lizard. "You know, when guys are on these drugs they feel so brilliant and they want the rest of the world to feel as good as them, even though their behaviour is ultimately destructive to themselves and everyone around them." The actor also reveals he listened to drug-themed rock music to get into character, adding, "When we were … Continue reading →

Rhys Ifans drew on his knowledge of drug addicts to portray the villain in comic book blockbuster The Amazing Spider-man. In the superhero prequel, the Welsh star takes on the part of Dr. Curt Connors, an amputee scientist who creates a serum using reptile Dna in a bid to gain the lizard-like ability to regrow limbs. Ifans insists he had an unusual influence for his role, taking inspiration from the dependency crystal meth users experience. He tells Britain's The Sun, "He is a very intelligent scientist who genuinely wants to benefit and help millions of humans - limbless humans in his case. Unfortunately, he decides to become his own lab rat and the drug he takes gives him this kind of euphoria - I guess something like crystal meth. That feeling becomes addictive to Connors and that's why he keeps returning to The Lizard. "You know, when guys are on these drugs they feel so brilliant and they want the rest of the world to feel as good as them, even though their behaviour is ultimately destructive to themselves and everyone around them." The actor also reveals he listened to drug-themed rock music to get into character, adding, "When we … Continue reading →

CEBU, Philippines - Expressions most commonly heard in recovery are "If you don't take that first drink/drug, you can't get drunk/high" and "One drink is too many, and a thousand is nevert enough." Many of us when we first began to drink or drug never wanted to, or took more, than one or two drinks/hits. But as time went on, we increased the number. Then, in later years, we found ourselves drinking and using more and more, some of us getting and staying very drunk/high. Maybe our condition didn't always show in our speech or our movements, but by this time we were never actually clean and sober. If that bothered us too much, we would cut down, or try to limit ourselves to just one or two, or switch from hard liquor to beer or wine (or from Shabu to just marijuana). At least, we tried to limit the amount, so we would not get too disastrously high. Or we tried to hide how much we drank or used. But all these measures got more and more difficult. Occasionally, we even went on the wagon, and did not drink and/or use at all for a while. Eventually, we would … Continue reading →

A controversial bill that would require those applying for or receiving welfare benefits to submit to drug tests passed Michigan's House Thursday in a 71-37 vote. Under House Bill 5223, the Department of Human Services would establish a program of suspicion-based drug screening for people over the age of 18 seeking or receiving cash assistance from its Family Independence Agency program. The agency would use a substance abuse survey or an empirically-validated screening tool to determine whether a person would then be required to take a drug test. Applicants will also have to pay for their own drug testing -- if they pass. Those who passed the test would have its cost deducted from their first benefits payment. Failing the the test would make a person ineligible for cash assistance for six months or until he or she completed a substance abuse treatment program. If the bill becomes law, DHS would have to implement a trial program in at least three counties by the end of this year and have the full program in place statewide by 2015. Rep. Ben Glardon (R-Owosso), who supported the bill, said it would help welfare recipients break their cycle of dependency on drugs. "Michigan … Continue reading →

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- With prescription drug abuse near epidemic proportions and the FDAs initiative to educate medical providers on the use of opioids, EK Health Services is well ahead of the curve. A national leader in medical and disability management services, EK Health through its Next Step Medical Advisory Program has created a track record for successfully transitioning injured employees from drug dependency to recovery. The proprietary program has shown measurable success in helping injured workers reclaim functionality and a productive life, while helping payers save substantial dollars in one of the most costly components of workers compensation medical claims drug expenditures. EK Health created the exclusive program to resolve stagnating workers compensation claims, especially those that are complex, costly and involve poly-pharmacy and potentially addictive pain medication. The programs approach helps insurance carriers, employers, injured workers and medical professionals by converting patients to less costly treatment alternatives that follow evidence-based medical guidelines, including ACOEM's Practice Guidelines, considered the gold standard in effective treatment of occupational injuries and illnesses. We developed the program in direct response to clients who asked for help with claims that plateaued and showed no progress towards maximum medical improvement, permanent and stationary status, and … Continue reading →