Sober Living by the Sea Blog

Teens Using Hand Sanitizer to Get Drunk

mhurst220 — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0700

The Los Angeles Times reports that some public health officials are concerned that this could be the leading edge of a dangerous trend. To teenagers who can't buy alcohol, hand sanitizer may seem like an inexpensive and accessible alternative.

Liquid hand sanitizer contains 60% ethyl alcohol. Some of the teens extracted alcohol from hand sanitizer with salt, a technique they found on the Internet. The resulting substance resembles 100 proof grain alcohol and is far more potent than whiskey or vodka, which is typically about 90 proof. Dozens of videos about drinking hand sanitizer are available on YouTube; many show teens as they drink it and become drunk. There are also videos showing young people rubbing hand sanitizer on their skin and then lighting it on fire.

Dr. Cyrus Ragan, director of toxicology for the L.A. County public health department compares hand sanitizer to a shot of whiskey or other hard liquor. "All it takes is just a few swallows and you have a drunk teenager," Dr. Raga told the Times. "There is no question that it's dangerous and the potential for overdose is there."
Emergency rooms in New York City have also seen cases of teenagers who ingested hand sanitizers. In both Los Angeles and New York, teenagers' symptoms included:

slurred speech
a burning sensation in the stomach
dizziness
nausea and vomiting.

Although there was no smell of alcohol on their breath and they denied drinking alcohol, their blood alcohol level was elevated.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the deaths of two homeless men earlier this year were linked to a lethal cocktail of mouthwash and hand sanitizer. The New Mexico Poison Center has received 14 reports this year of people who ingested hand sanitizer. Nationwide, more than 3,700 cases of hand sanitizer poisoning are reported each year. About 2,900 of these cases are accidents involving children under the age of five.

Dr. Robert Glatter of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City believes that warning labels should be placed on hand sanitizers to alert the public to the potential risk. As more teens learn about the intoxicating effects of hand sanitizer, parents may want to consider purchasing foam-type hand sanitizers since alcohol is harder to extract from foam than from gel sanitizers.

Pfizer Launches Oxecta as Tamper-Resistant OxyContin Alternative

mhurst220 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:45:00 -0700

The misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers has been identified as an epidemic by U.S. health experts and law enforcement authorities. A new drug called Oxecta has been approved by the FDA as a replacement for OxyContin, one of the most frequently abused prescription drugs.

Oxecta, like OxyContin, is an oxycodone-based medication that is intended for the management of acute and chronic pain. Oxycodone is classified as an opioid, a group of synthetic narcotics that resemble morphine. Opioids are currently used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, but the abuse and misuse of opioids have become a major public health issue.

Developed by Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc. and commercialized by Pfizer Inc., the new drug is being marketed as the first immediate-released oxycodone that is designed to discourage tampering. (OxyContin is a time-released oxycodone medication.) Oxecta uses Acura's tamper-resistant Aversion Technology to discourage abuse of the drug.
Aversion Technology is a patented combination of pharmaceutical ingredients that are intended to discourage the following types of abuse:

• Intravenous injections – When pills or capsules are dissolved for injection, a gelatinous mixture is formed that is difficult to draw through a needle into a syringe for I.V. injection.
• Nasal snorting – Crushing or grinding pills and snorting the powder causes a burning sensation in the nasal passages that discourages further abuse.

Despite the use of Aversion Technology, Acura and Pfizer have acknowledged that there is no proof that Oxecta is abuse-proof. The safety information included with the drug includes this statement "There is no evidence that Oxecta has a reduced abuse liability compared to immediate-release oxycodone."

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, has also attempted to deter oxycodone abuse by modifying their drug's formulation. Most OxyContin abusers chew, snort or inject the drug in order to get a rush by subverting the drug's time-release mechanism. A tamper-resistant version of the drug that is more difficult to dissolve or crush was introduced in 2010. The reformulated version of the drug is marked with the letters OP.

According to Pharmacy Times, the OP version of OxyContin has reduced abuse of the drug but has led to an increase in heroin use throughout the country. It has also been reported in Internet forums that some users are microwaving and freezing OxyContin pills or dissolving them in Emergen-C Vitamin C power (which has a strong citric acid content) in order to continue to abuse the drug.

The FDA has stated that although new oxycodone formulations are a step in the right directions, there is no guarantee that they will eliminate the possibility of abuse.

Survey Reveals Shocking Amount of Drug and Alcohol Use among Teens

mhurst220 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:36:08 -0700

The survey, which has been published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, looked a sample of more than 10,000 teens between the ages of 13 and 18. Researchers interviewed teens in person and asked them about their use of drugs and alcohol. Four out of five teens said they had tried alcohol and almost half admitted to consuming 12 or more drinks in the previous year. About half of the teens also admitted to trying some type of illegal drug.

At least 15 percent of the surveyed teens could be categorized as alcohol abusers and 16 percent as drug abusers. Among adults, the rate of lifetime alcohol abuse is estimated to be 18 percent and the rate for drug abuse is 11 percent. Perhaps the most shocking aspect of this survey is the finding that the teen alcohol abuse rate is nearly the same as for adults, while the drug abuse level exceeds the rate for adults.

Most of the surveyed teens who admitted to being substance abusers said they first began using alcohol and drugs at age 14 or 15. Early substance use has been found to be one of the most significant predictors of substance abuse problem later in life. According to Joel Swendsen, lead author of the survey report, the findings demonstrate the need for substance abuse prevention programs for preteens. Early intervention well before the age of 14 could prevent some teens from experimenting with alcohol and drugs and decrease the number of teens with substance abuse problems.

The survey showed a possible correlation between race and alcohol and drug use. Caucasian and Hispanic teenagers were more likely to have tried alcohol and drugs compared to African American and other ethnic groups. Gender played some role in the rate of substance abuse. Below age 16, equal numbers of boys and girls had substance abuse issues. Among teens aged 17 and 18, boys had a much higher rate of alcohol and drug abuse.

The survey interviews took place between 2001 and 2004. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the current average age of initial marijuana use among U.S. teens is 14 while some children as young as 12 are beginning to use alcohol. Marijuana can be addictive and can also require treatment for marijuana addiction, however the main fear with marijuana is that it will lead to abuse of other more dangerous (and addictive) drugs like cocaine or OxyContin. The organization estimates that more than half of the 20 million alcoholics in the nation began drinking as teens.

Women, Addiction and the Telescope Effect

mhurst220 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:49:40 -0700

There are several fundamental differences between the sexes, including the way men and women are affected by substance abuse. Although more men have substance abuse problems, women tend to be harder hit by abuse. Substance abuse experts describe this difference as "telescoping" – women begin using alcohol and drugs at lower levels than men do, but their use escalates to addiction more quickly.

According to Dr. Marc Potenza, an addiction researcher at Yale, the telescope effect in women was first identified several decades ago in relation to alcohol abuse. More recent research has linked telescoping to women's drug abuse and gambling.

A report by University of Michigan researchers published on the National Institutes of Health website examines the sex differences in drug abuse. Adult men are 2 to 3 times more likely to have a drug dependency or addiction disorder, but women have a tendency to increase their rate of consumption of alcohol, opioids, marijuana and cocaine more rapidly. There is also some evidence that women escalate their use of heroin more rapidly and become addicted more quickly.
In general, women become addicted to drugs less often than men, but when they do become addicted the disease tends to run its course much more quickly. The reason for this difference may be rooted in psychological differences between the sexes. Women often use drugs for mood regulation and stress reduction, while men are more attracted to the risk-taking aspect of drug abuse.A comprehensive study of women and substance abuse treatment, also published by the National Institutes of Health, found that women are less inclined to seek treatment for addiction. This is often due to practical concerns about child care and taking care of their homes. Women also report that they feel there is more stigma attached to a women who abuses drugs or alcohol. Another reason many women avoid treatment is that they are too depressed to seek help. When women do seek treatment, they often have a harder time quitting and have a greater rate of relapse following treatment.
There is some evidence that the sex differences in addiction may have a biological component. Women appear to be more sensitive to stimulants like amphetamine and cocaine and to become addicted to them more quickly. Female hormones levels have been found to influence a woman's response to drugs; studies have found that women experience a heightened effect from stimulants during certain phases of their menstrual cycle.

Women's abuse of stimulants may also be tied to a desire to lose weight. The majority of people with eating disorders are women. According to the International Journal of Eating Disorders, about 4 out of every 10 women with an eating disorder is also suffering from a substance abuse disorder.

The family and friends of women who abuse drugs or alcohol should be aware that women become addicted more quickly and may have a harder time quitting. As seen in the recent tragic deaths of Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse, women can die from their addiction before they bottom out and succeed in getting help for their drug addiction.

Provigil - Amphetamine Drug that May Actually treat Cocaine Addiction

mhurst220 — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:38:04 -0700

Provigil is used for the treatment of excessive sleepiness due to narcolepsy, work shift disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. A 2009 study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that the drug stimulates the brain's dopamine centers. The drug's dopamine effect is similar to that of Ritalin, making it a potential substance for abuse.

The Poster Child for "Off Label" Drug Experimentation

In the U.S., Modafinil is only approved by FDA for the treatment of lack of sleep due to sleep disorders. However, the drug is being tried for a wide range of off-label applications, including the treatment of fatigue and depression. It has been studied as a potential treatment for fatigue symptoms of multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Provigil/Modafinil was featured in a documentary called Off Label which was about the "non approved" or "non intended" use of medications.

Cephalon, the maker of Provigil, applied for FDA approval for modafinil as a treatment for ADHD in children and teenagers ages 6 through 17. The application was denied in 2006, with the FDA citing concerns about several test subjects who were affected by serious skin rashes. Cephalon is reported to have discontinued research into modafinil as an ADHD treatment for children; there is still some potential for its use in treating adults with ADHD.

Provigil Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

Experiments have been conducted to determine if Modafinil could be an effective treatment for cocaine dependence, but the results have so far been inconclusive. Since Modafinil is a stimulant that decreases the appetite without typically increasing the heart rate, there have also been studies to see if it could be used as a weight loss aid.

Modafinil has been the subject of negative publicity due to its reported use as a doping agent for professional athletes, including sprinter Kelli White and cyclist David Clinger. In 2004, it was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances.

Abusing Provigil like Ritalin and Adderall

There is also some controversy associated with Provigil's use as a cognitive enhancer for people who are not suffering from sleep deprivation. According to Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on drug Abuse, there are currently no statistics related to the number of people who are using Modafinil as a brain booster. Dr. Volkow warns that healthy people who take Modafinil are at risk of serious adverse side effects, including psychotic episodes and suicidal thoughts.

Off Label Documentary about Non FDA Approved Use of Drugs

mhurst220 — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:25:00 -0700

“Off Label”, a film by Portland, Oregon filmmakers Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher, has been selected by the influential Tribeca Film Festival for its upcoming competition event in mid-April in the category of best documentary. The film’s title refers to the increasingly common practice of using prescription drugs in ways not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Palmieri and Mosher have interviewed “misdiagnosed patients, professional guinea pigs, recreational drug users, and soldiers struggling with PTSD”, according to the Festival’s synopsis, and “exposes the breadth of off-label drug use (in) an overmedicated, misdiagnosed, and drug-addled America.”

For instance, the drug Modafinil, developed in France in the 1970s but more widely known after 2001 as the brand name Provigil, was originally meant for the treatment of narcolepsy and other related sleep disorders. That remains its sole, narrowly-defined, FDA-approved use.

But the wide array of off-label medical uses for Modafinil include treatment of ADD, Parkinson’s, cocaine dependence, an entire subcategory of psychological conditions from depression to schizophrenia, and the treatment of symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It’s been known to be used as a sports doping agent. It’s even prescribed for jet lag. It’s evidently widely used by medical students to reduce the need for sleep. Studies suggest that it can reduce appetite effectively, and there are a half-dozen other experimental uses.

However effective and promising, though, every script written by a doctor for off-label use of Modafinil undermines the role of the FDA as gatekeeper. This means potential abuse and increased risk to patients. In the United States it is perfectly legal for physicians to prescribe medications in dosages, or for uses, which are not FDA approved. The practice of medicine is regulated by the states. The drug companies, however, cannot promote off-label use. It hasn’t escaped the drug companies’ attention that the expensive and enormously time-consuming drug approval process keeps them out of some very lucrative markets for their products. They’ve responded by breaking FDA regulations, for instance the illegal off-label marketing of Bextra and three other drugs, for which Pfizer paid a criminal fine of $1.2 billion in September 2009. This was the largest criminal fine of any kind in American history. They’ve also responded with a U.S. District Court challenge filed last October, claiming that restricting their marketing of off-label uses of their products amounts to a restriction of their right to free speech under the First Amendment.

Amazing Video of Sunset Time Lapse at Newport Pier

mhurst220 — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:45:00 -0700

If you are using a mobile device and the below doesn't work, go to the video on Vimeo.com

and you will be able to see it there.

Drugged Drivers Cause More Fatal Crashes in California

mhurst220 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:25:01 -0800

We've written about the costs of NOT quitting drinking actually being much higher than the cost of treatment.

We've also written about the incredibly strong punishment for 3rd DUI in California.

But none of this is seeming to change people's attitudes toward drinking and driving.

According to figures recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 30 percent of all drivers who were killed in accidents in 2010 in California were found to be under the influence of one or more legal or illegal drugs. Many additional accidents were probably caused by drugged drivers who survived and were not tested.

At the same time that the problem of drugged drivers is growing, the number of people killed or injured by drunk drivers is on the decline across the U.S. Experts attribute this to the campaign against drunk driving and strict laws that send repeat drunk drivers to jail. In contrast, there is limited public awareness about the dangers of drugged driving.

All types of drugs can impair driving, from illegal stimulants and narcotics to prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Despite the fact that marijuana has been legalized for medical purposes in California and several other states, it also causes serious driver impairment. Drivers who are under the influence of drugs experience impaired motor skills, reaction time, memory and judgment. Impairment is heightened when alcohol is used in combination with marijuana and other drugs.

Although statistics show an increase in traffic fatalities due to drugged driving, California lawmakers have not yet enacted legislation similar to DUI laws. This is due in part to the fact that roadside tests for drug impairment are not available. With alcohol, a breathalyzer test can quickly reveal a driver's blood alcohol level and determine if it is within the legal limit for driving. Similar tests and legal limits are not available for legal and illegal drugs.

The California Office of Traffic Safety and the Highway Patrol are teaming up to provide officers with additional training to help identify and arrest drug-impaired drivers. Local police departments are encouraged to send officers to training to become Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). There are currently more than 1,000 DREs in the state. These experts are used at DUI checkpoints to detect drivers who are under the influence of drugs. In addition, Sacramento and Orange Counties were recently given federal funding to be used for additional drug testing equipment.

In 2010, six California cities conducted roadside tests that involved drivers who voluntarily provided oral fluids for anonymous testing. The results of the tests showed that 8.4% of drivers tested positive for marijuana compared to 7.6% who tested positive for alcohol. This is one clear indicator of the magnitude of California's drugged driver problem.

The Science Behind Facebook and Twitter Addiction

mhurst220 — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:19:15 -0800

When people refer to being "addicted" to social network sites like Facebook and Twitter, they may be more accurate than they think. Two recent studies have found that online social networks can induce chemical responses in the brain that make them just as addictive as alcohol or cigarettes.

Tests completed by researchers from MIT and the University of Milan have found that the pleasurable chemical responses that are triggered during social network interaction are similar to those that occur when playing a musical instrument, creating a piece of art or engaging in other creative pursuits. Scientists have a name for the state of mind that social networking can induce – the "Core Flow State." In this state, the subject feels high arousal and positive emotions. Time seems to stand still as the subject becomes energized and focused on the task at hand. Besides keeping up with family and friends, people may keep returning to check their social network status in order to satisfy a craving for this pleasurable response.

For the test, 30 healthy volunteer aged 19 to 25 were given three-minute exposure to different stimuli, including looking at relaxing photographs, interacting on Facebook and solving math problems. The test subjects' physical and psychological responses were measured and recorded, including brainwave patterns, muscle activity, breathing and pupil dilation. The test subjects consistently showed a more positive response to Facebook than to either the photographs (which triggered a relaxed state) or the math problems (which triggered a stressful state).

The findings supported the researchers' hypothesis that the successful spread of social networks like Facebook and Twitter is associated with a positive chemical state experienced by users of these networks.

In another study conducted at the University of Chicago, 205 volunteers aged 18 to 25 were each given a Blackberry mobile device and asked to respond to questions about their desire to use Facebook and Twitter at different times over a 14-hour period. The volunteers responded that they had a strong urge to use the social networking sites more than 70% of the time. The study concluded that people are willing to forgo many cravings in order to satisfy their need to check their status on Facebook or Twitter.

Lead researcher Wilhelm Hofmann points out that unlike addictions like cigarettes and alcohol that have some cost associated with their use, the free access to social networking may make it harder to resist. Hofmann admits that social networking is less consequential than cigarettes and alcohol, but points out that it frequently steals time that could be spent on other things.

The addiction risk posed by social networks may seem harmless when compared to other substances. Although social networks don't pose the same health threats as these substances, any type of addictive behavior can disrupt relationships and cause a host of other personal problems.

Death of Entertainer, Whitney Houston, Reminds Us Of the Value of Hitting Rock Bottom

mhurst220 — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:45:00 -0800

The sudden death of 48 year old singer and actress Whitney Houston has both the entertainment and addiction recovery community’s sadly shaking their heads. The beloved world renowned entertainer spent the last decade of her life battling drug and alcohol addiction. Houston was under the powerful vice of her addictions at times having to cancel performances as large as the Oscars. Houston not only leaves behind a teenage daughter, but also her successful career in the competitive music industry. Today many wonder how successful, wealthy individuals in the entertainment industry struggle for years with addictions without finding lasting recovery.

There is a term within the recovery community called “Rock Bottom.” Rock Bottom is where an addict finds that they will lose everything they have; family, friends, career and home if they do not seek help for their addiction. If Rock Bottom doesn’t come along fast enough, families seek out the help of interventionist and therapist to cut off an addict from all financial resources and personal relationships. The problem with celebrities might be their unlimited access to financial resources and their celebrity status which creates the allusion of support and adoration. All of these elements support a co-dependent cocktail that has killed many beloved celebrities; Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and most recently Amy Winehouse.

We can no longer help Houston slay her addiction, but we can help you and your family. Sober Living is California’s premier drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Providing individualized programs for women and men suffering from different stages and types of addictions. Call today for more information on our programs and schedule a tour of our facility in Newport Beach, California. We look forward to helping your family find recovery before it’s too late CALL NOW: 866.323.5609

Seizures Like Demi Moore's Not Uncommon After Smoking Spice

mhurst220 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:59:12 -0800

The recent hospitalization of Demi Moore has put the focus on the synthetic drug known as "Spice." While it's not known for sure what the 49-year-old actress ingested, the 911 tape that was released to the press revealed that she was experiencing a seizure after smoking an incense-like substance. During the course of the call, people who were with Moore described her as having convulsions, shaking and "burning up." These are all side effects associated with a designer drug sold under a variety of names, including:

Spice
K2
Red X
Dawn
Blaze

Spice and similar products consist of plant material that has been sprayed with a chemical compound that is intended to mimic the effects of marijuana. These products are sold legally in head shops, convenience stores and over the Internet, packaged as incense with instructions that they are not intended to be smoked. This warning only serves to protect the manufacturer and retailer since the substance is definitely being purchased to smoke.

According to researchers at the University of Utah, smoking Spice can be responsible for toxic side effects not typically seen with marijuana, including:
•    Tachyarrhythmia (a dangerously elevated heart rate)
•    Increased blood pressure
•    Vomiting
•    Anxiety attacks
•    Disorientation
•    Psychosis
•    Seizures

Emergency rooms are seeing patients with no history of neurological problems who experience their first seizure after smoking Spice. Because so little is known about synthetic cannabinoids, doctors have not yet identified what it is about the Spice and similar substances that can cause seizures.

Part of the appeal of Spice is that it leaves no trace in the body. This makes it attractive to drug parolees and other people who are subject to commercial drug screens. Spice also appeals to teenagers and young adults because it is easily accessible. Despite the wide availability of these products, users are putting themselves at great risk because the chemicals used are unknown and untested. Someone who buys the product has no idea exactly what they're ingesting.
Starting in 2009, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency began to see a surge in reports related to Spice from poison control centers, hospital emergency rooms and law enforcement agencies. In an attempt to stem the use of Spice, the DEA used its emergency scheduling authority and classified five synthetic cannabinoids as schedule I drugs. This makes possession and sale of these drugs illegal in the U.S. This emergency scheduling will remain in effect until March of 2012 and may be extended.

One of the biggest problems faced by the DEA is that new Spice products containing different chemical formulas are emerging, making it almost impossible to control their production and distribution.

Sativex - Marijuana Based Prescription Painkiller Spray coming

mhurst220 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:45:00 -0800

The drug is made with raw marijuana and provides the following benefits:

analgesic
anticonvulsant
antipsychotic
anti-spasmodic
anti-inflammatory
appetite stimulation

The drug will contain the potent components of marijuana (cannabidiol and delta-9 THC).

The drug will be sued as an mouth spray and is intended to reduce pain for cancer patients.

The most common side effects are:

fatigue
dizziness
anxiety
confusion
rapid heartbeat
intoxication
depression

The drug has the potential for abuse, and we are wary after the experience of treating so many who've succumbed to addiction to other prescription drugs.

Israeli Company Teva to Join the Super Strong Hydrocone Party

mhurst220 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:14:01 -0800

We are concerned about this new drug which we first heard about as Zohydro

which Zogenix from nearby San Diego has announced plans to release.

This new version of Vicodin

will be more than 4 times as powerful, containing 45 milligrams of hydrocodone instead of 10 grams.

Guess who else is developing a version of the drug? Purdue Pharma - controversial makers of OxyContin and now OxyNEO.

The drug will be "time release" and hopefully be designed in a way to prevent tampering with this mechanism.

One thing we can be sure of - the drug will be addictive and will be found in the system of people who tragically overdose. Such is the story of narcotic painkillers.

Overtaken Filmmakers and Stars Visit our Treatment Center

mhurst220 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:10:00 -0800

We've written about 'Overtaken' before and had much anticipation to see it. Our wish was granted when the film was uploaded to Youtube last month. (click to play - on the left side bottom of this page).

On Monday, January 29th 2012, the "Overtaken" Filmmakers Jodi Barber and Christine Brant visited our treatment center to show the film to our clients and discuss the epidemic of prescription drug addiction.

Jodi and Christine address our clients and staff with Jarrod's portrait hanging in the background. Jarrod overdosed at age 19 on Opana and other drugs.

From a Grave Loss into Positive Action

The experience was very powerful and moving both for our staff and our clients. The presentation started off with Jodi and Christine discussing some of the background on the film. Jodi and Christine met when Jodi was placing posters in public spaces to warn families about the dangers of prescription drugs. She began this crusade after the tragic overdose of her son Jarrod (on January 8th 2010). Christine and Jodi then worked together on this incredibly poignant film about the young people of South Orange County whose lives have been affected by these very addictive "medications."

Today, one day after the 2 year anniversary of his overdose, Jodi stood in front of the clients and staff of our treatment center to spread a warning and a message of hope: prescription pills are addictive and deadly.

The film itself is breathtaking and moving. In my opinion the film should be mandatory viewing for all students in the United States (ages 12 and up). In fact, it should be shown to all parents as well. I simply cannot think of a better way to raise awareness about how this epidemic of addiction and overdose is quietly invading families everywhere and destroying them from the inside out.

Cole and his friend did a great job representing how great life can be after quitting using prescription drugs.

After the film was over, Jodi and Christine took more questions and introduced Cole (who is featured prominently in the movie). Cole and a sober female friend took questions and each shared their experience, strength and hope with the audience. Hearing about the lows and the highs of their addiction and then recovery reinforced that there is hope - as long as you are still alive that is. We hope that everyone who is reading this remembers this:

Prescription painkiller addiction kills. One experiment can end your life.

If you are struggling with addiction, or care for someone who may be, we strongly suggest you take action immediately by seeking professional help.

We are here to support the team from Overtaken and hope to see their cause grow to great heights. We cannot thank them enough for their visit.

View the film here:

Our clinical director Evan thanks the women behind the film Overtaken for coming and addressing our clients.

Christine hugs a client who is thanking her for sharing such a powerful film.

How Parents Can Help Teens Resist Peer Pressure

mhurst220 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:40:13 -0800

Ask the parents of teenagers what bothers them most about their teen and the answer is likely to be the constant debates and arguments. As painful as these disputes may be, they are a sign of healthy development. Teens become more independent and separate from their parents by questioning their decisions and authority.

There are a lot of signs that addiction is taking its toll on the youth, like:

New research suggests that besides helping teens to become independent, healthy disagreements with their parents may bring additional benefits in terms of peer pressure. Parents who remain calm and reasonable during arguments are setting an example that will help their children resist peer pressure.

The research, which was reported in Child Development, is based on interviews with more than 150 teens and parents. Interview questions focused on substance abuse, family interactions and relationships with friends. Researchers found that parents who avoid yelling and allow their teenagers to participate in discussions on hot topics like money, grades and friends are teaching their teens how to express themselves and politely disagree.

Data from the study indicates that teens who have learned to argue calmly and persuasively are better equipped to say "no" when offered drugs or alcohol by their peers. In fact, they are 40% more likely to avoid substance abuse altogether. In addition, parents who yell and use threats and insults to win arguments are likely to have children who are passive and who lack confidence when it comes to standing up for their beliefs. These children are also more passive with their peers and are more likely to say "yes" when pressured to use drugs and alcohol.

The findings of this new study support earlier studies that have found that parents who respect their child's input and opinions are more likely to raise children who are independent thinkers and resistant to peer pressure.

If you are the parent of a teenager, it's important to remember to listen to your teen. Even if you don't agree with what your teen is saying, you should acknowledge when he or she makes a good point. This will help your child learn how to persuade other people to see their point of view. As painful as arguing with your teen may be, if you set an example for effective disagreement you will be helping your teen avoid the problems with drugs and alcohol that are so common among this age group. Being able to remain calm and persuasive while arguing will also help your teen with personal and professional relationships throughout his or her lifetime.