Call Now Toll Free 24/7
(866) 331-6779
12 Palms Recovery Center
is a private 30 client, dual-diagnosis and residential-style drug & alcohol treatment center nestled in Jensen Beach, FL. If you’ve found yourself powerless over drugs or alcohol, and consequences are proving your life to be unmanageable, call us today, 24/7. We care, and we can help.
(866) 331-6779
www.12palmsrecoverycenter.com
618 N.E. Jensen Beach Blvd. Jensen Beach, FL 34957 (866) 331-6779 www.12palmsrecoverycenter.com 2
A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Dear Readers, I welcome you to The Sober World magazine. This magazine is being directly mailed each month to anyone that has been arrested due to drugs, alcohol and petty theft in Palm Beach County. It is also distributed locally as well as being mailed to rehab centers through out the county and country. Many petty thefts are also drug related, as their need for drugs causes addicts to take desperate measures in order to have the ability to buy their drugs. Drug addiction has reached epidemic proportions throughout the country and is steadily increasing. Florida is one of the leading States. People come from all over to obtain pharmaceutical drugs from the pain clinics that have opened virtually everywhere. The availability of prescription narcotics is overwhelming, and as parents our hands are tied because it is legal. Doctors continue writing prescriptions for drugs such as Oxycontin, and Oxycodone (which is an opiate drug and just as addictive as heroin) to young adults in their 20’s and 30’s right up to the elderly in their 70”s, thus, creating a generation of addicts. Addiction is a disease but it is the most taboo of all diseases. As family members affected by this disease, we are often too ashamed to speak to anyone about our loved ones addiction, feeling that we will be judged. We try to pass it off as a passing phase in their lives, and some people hide their head in the sand until it becomes very apparent such as through an arrest, or even worse an overdose that we realize the true extent of their addiction. I know that many of you who are reading this now are frantic that their loved one has been arrested. No parent ever wants to see his or her child arrested or put in jail, but this may be your opportunity to save your child or loved ones life. They are more apt to listen to you now then they were before, when whatever you said may have fallen on deaf ears. This is the point where you know your loved one needs help, but you don’t know where to begin. I have compiled this informative magazine to try to take that fear and anxiety away from you and let you know there are many options to choose from. There are Psychologists and Psychiatrists that specialize in treating people with addictions. There are Education Consultants that will work with you to figure out what your loved ones needs are and come up with the best plan for them. There are transport services that will scoop up your resistant loved one (under 18 yrs old) and bring them to the facility you have chosen. There are long term programs (sometimes a year and longer) as well as short term programs (30-90 days). There are Wilderness programs and there are sober living housing where they can work, go to meetings and be accountable for staying clean.
To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
Many times a criminal attorney will try to work out a deal with the court to allow your child or loved one to seek treatment instead of jail. I know how overwhelming this period can be for you and I urge every parent or relative of an addict to get some help for yourself as well. There are many groups that can help you. There is Al-Anon, Alateen (for teenagers), Families Anonymous, Nar-Anon and more. This is a disease that affects the whole family, not just the parents. These groups allow you to share your thoughts and feelings. As anonymous groups, your anonymity is protected. Anything said within those walls are not shared with any one outside the room. You share only your first name, not your last name. This is a wonderful way for you to be able to openly convey what has been happening in your life as well as hearing other people share their stories. You will find that the faces are different but the stories are all too similar. You will also be quite surprised to see how many families are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Addiction knows no race or religion; it affects the wealthy as well as the poor, the highly educated, old, young - IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. This magazine is dedicated to my son Steven who graduated with top honors from University of Central Florida. He graduated with a degree in Psychology, and was going for his Masters in Applied Behavioral Therapy. He was a highly intelligent, sensitive young man who helped many people get their lives on the right course. He could have accomplished whatever he set his mind out to do. Unfortunately, after graduating from college he tried a drug that was offered to him not realizing how addictive it was and the power it would have over him. My son was 7 months clean when he relapsed and died of a drug overdose. This month he would have turned 30. Happy birthday Steven. I hope this magazine helps you find the right treatment for your loved one. They have a disease and like all diseases, you try to find the proper care. They need help. Please don’t allow them to become a statistic. There is a website called the Brent Shapiro Foundation. Famed attorney Robert Shapiro started it in memory of his son. I urge each and every one of you to go to that website. They keep track on a daily basis of all the people that die due to drug overdoses. It will astound you. I hope you have found this magazine helpful. You may also visit us on the web at www.thesoberworld.com. Sincerely,
Patricia
Publisher Patricia@TheSoberWorld.com
3
IMPORTANT HELPLINE NUMBERS 211 PALM BEACH/TREASURE COAST 211 www.211palmbeach.org FOR THE TREASURE COAST www.211treasurecoast.org FOR TEENAGERS www.teen211pbtc.org AAHOTLINE-NORTH PALM BEACH 561-655-5700 www.aa-palmbeachcounty.org AA HOTLINE- SOUTH COUNTY 561-276-4581 www.aainpalmbeach.org FLORIDA ABUSE HOTLINE 1-800-962-2873 www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/abuse/ AL-ANON- PALM BEACH COUNTY 561-278-3481 www.southfloridaalanon.org AL-ANON- NORTH PALM BEACH 561-882-0308 www.palmbeachafg.org FAMILIES ANONYMOUS 847-294-5877 Center for Group Counseling 561-483-5300 www.groupcounseling.org CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS 561-364-5205 www.pbcoda.com COCAINE ANONYMOUS 954-779-7272 www.fla-ca.org COUNCIL ON COMPULSIVE GAMBLING 800-426-7711 www.gamblinghelp.org CRIMESTOPPERS 800-458-TIPS (8477) www.crimestopperspbc.com CRIME LINE 800-423-TIPS (8477) www.crimeline.org DEPRESSION AND MANIC DEPRESSION 954-746-2055 www.mhabroward FLORIDA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE 800-500-1119 www.fcadv.org FLORIDA HIV/AIDS HOTLINE 800-FLA-AIDS (352-2437) FLORIDA INJURY HELPLINE 800-510-5553 GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS 800-891-1740 www.ga-sfl.org and www.ga-sfl.com HEPATITUS B HOTLINE 800-891-0707 JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILD SERVICES 561-684-1991 www.jfcsonline.com LAWYER ASSISTANCE 800-282-8981 MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS 800-766-6779 www.marijuana-anonymous.org NARC ANON FLORIDA REGION 888-947-8885 www.naranonfl.org NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS-PALM BEACH 561-848-6262 www.palmcoastna.org NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD 800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) www.1800runaway.org NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) www.suicidology.org ONLINE MEETING FOR MARIJUANA www.ma-online.org Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services 561-852-3333 www.ruthralesjfs.org MEETING HALLS Billy Bob Club 561-459-7432 561-312-2611 central house 2170 W Atlantic Ave. SW Corner of Atlantic & Congress Club Oasis 561-694-1949 Crossroads 561-278-8004 www.thecrossroadsclub.com EasY Does It 561-433-9971 The Meeting Place 561-255-9866 The Triangle Club 561-832-1110 www.Thetriangleclubwpb.com
4
Need Help with Your Recovery? Pregnant or don’t want to leave your children? Receive the help you need while keeping your children with you at The Susan B. Anthony Recovery Center. Our campus is a safe, nurturing residential program with 40 apartments, a state-ofthe-art child care center, group rooms, and more.
We are ready to help. CALL NOW to begin the journey. TOLL FREE (866)-641-8986 www.susanbanthonycenter.org To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
Passionate Caring Truthful Prepared 5
Stages of Change By George Stoupas, MS, RMHCI, CAP
Why do some people stop using drugs and alcohol when it becomes a problem while others do not? A person’s ability to make important changes in his or her life depends on a number of variables. These range from external factors like financial resources or social support, to internal obstacles like fear or ambivalence. While external barriers are very real and can stand in the way of recovery, they only tell part of the story. More often, internal, psychological barriers to change interact with external circumstances and result in the difficulties people experience with respect to change. Accurately assessing a person’s motivation to change is crucial. Everyone would probably benefit from making certain changes in their lives, but not everyone is ready or willing to do so. In the early 1980s, James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente began developing what would come to be known as the Transtheoretical Model to explain how people change. Initially, they were interested in how people quit smoking cigarettes. Since that time, however, this Model has been used to explain how people change a number of problem behaviors ranging from substance abuse to overeating. In their research, Prochaska and DiClemente identified five stages a person passes through in the process of change. These are Precomtemplation, Contemplation, Preparation/Decision, Action, and Maintenance.
centers, therapists, or 12 Step meetings on their own or with friends and family. They may also reassess their social lives or look for alternative employment or living arrangements. It is imperative that people spend enough time in this stage and develop plans of action that suits their needs. Those eager to make changes may rush from contemplation to action without sufficient research, and may subsequently fail in their efforts. Action Stage: As the name implies, people in this stage are actively engaged in change. They are doings the things necessary to remain abstinent from substance use, such as those listed above. As time progresses, new behaviors are cultivated and people take great care to develop safeguards against a return to problem behaviors – otherwise known as relapse. People in early recovery from substance abuse are developing a new way of being, a new lifestyle that does not include drugs and alcohol. This stage generally lasts around 6 months, but may vary depending on the extent of change needed. The important part of this stage is maintaining hope and developing alternative coping skills.
Maintenance Stage: The final stage in Prochaska and DiClemente’s Model is simply maintaining the change that was developed in the previous stages. People in this stage are not as fragile as those in the Action Stage due to their practice and experience, and exert Precontemplation Stage: This stage is similar to what is commonly referred to as “denial.” A less effort to maintain new behaviors. The primary objectives in this stage are to fine-tune person in this stage of change is not seriously thinking about changing; they may not believe a person’s new lifestyle and to increase awareness into triggers that could lead to relapse. that there is a problem to change. At this stage, people do not plan on doing things differently People may remain in any one of the above stages for different lengths of time, and some for the near future – often measured as the next 6 months. They may be seen as resistant, may never resolve their ambivalence about change and progress beyond the beginning defensive, or stubborn, but are more accurately characterized as uninformed or undecided. stages. According to this Model, it is possible to regress from one stage to a previous stage, People at this stage of change will not remain free from drug or alcohol use following such as going from Action to Preparation/Decision. This can occur when a person faces new, treatment because they have not, in fact, decided that their substance use is a problem unforeseen circumstances that produce increased stress. that requires changing. By becoming educated about the consequences of their behavior, In my work at Sunset House, it is crucial to accurately determine where a patient is on this weighing pros and cons, and increasing insight into the problem, people begin the transition continuum. I have found that many people who are in treatment have not yet made a conclusive to the Contemplation Stage. decision to stop using drugs and alcohol, but are rather prompted to enter treatment due to Contemplation Stage: Here, a person begins to seriously consider his or her problem behavior. some outside force – be it legal, social, financial, or some combination thereof. While it may People engage in an honest cost-benefit analysis and further increase their awareness of the seem like treatment will be ineffective if an individual has not formally decided to change, consequences of change, which is usually anticipated to begin within the next 6 months. At this thankfully this is not the case. For most patients, treatment itself consists of providing guidance stage, the pros and cons appear in fluctuating proportions as the person resolves his or her and support in the transition from one stage to the next in an effort to resolve ambivalence and ambivalence. Again, people will not be successful in remaining drug and alcohol free because move closer to the ultimate goal of active, self-motivated recovery. they are not yet committed to recovery. Further exploration into the benefits of change can lead a George Stoupas is a Mental Health Counselor Intern and Board-Certified Addictions person to begin making preparations to change, which is the next stage. Professional. He works as primary therapist at Sunset House, a DCF-Licensed Residential SunsetHouse 10:31 AM FL. Page 1 contact him at Preparation/Decision Stage: In this stage, a person has made a conscious decision to Treatment Center forAd_Layout men located1in 8/17/12 Palm Beach Gardens, You may change his or her behavior and plans to begin within the next month. Small, tentative steps are gstoupas@sunsetrecovery.com taking to initiate the process of change. People in this stage may begin researching treatment
Miracles DO Happen HOPE. BELIEVE. RECOVER.
Sunset House is a licensed, residential treatment program for men struggling with chemical dependency. We are committed to helping our men develop the skills necessary to lead sober and productive lives. Our goals are to safely and effectively transition our residents back into their communities with all of the tools necessary to maintain long-term,
A STRUCTURED, WOMEN--ONLY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IN DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA Millie Tennessee, Executive Director 561-302-9584
6
meaningful sobriety. Our clients are men looking for an affordable alternative to intensive inpatient treatment.
Early recovery can be a difficult experience; our program is intended to aid residents in body, mind and spirit at every step of the way.
Lisa May, Director of Admissions 606-362-6989 lisa.miraclesdohappen@gmail.com
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, call Sunset House today at 561.627.9701 or email us at darthur@sunsetrecovery.org.
www.miracles-do-happen.net
www.SunsetRecovery.org
To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
7
When It’s Time To Intervene: Tips on Selecting an Intervention Specialist By Kate Caravella, CAC, NCAC 1, BRI 1
A family intervention, when well executed, can be an extremely powerful and potentially life-saving tool. The act of coming together as a family (with friends, other supports) to discuss a person’s substance abuse or other addiction can make the difference between a person accepting help, and a person continuing their downward and often deadly spiral deeper into their addiction(s). It is not an easy decision to make and is generally accompanied by a lot of fear, stress, and anxiety. An intervention is typically something a family/support system needs to seriously consider when any of the following scenarios exist: A. The addict will at times admit that he/she needs help, but does not take action to enter treatment and/or obtain professional help. B. The addict either minimizes or denies that his/her addiction requires professional despite it being obvious to nearly everyone around them. C. The addict begins to suffer serious and continued negative consequences as a result of their addiction (legal, medical, job loss, accidents, etc) and continues to refuse to accept help.
By the time an intervention is decided upon, family and friends have typically employed various attempts at getting the addicted person into treatment to combat their addiction. Participants may feel like “what is the point” of hiring someone to help us do the same thing we are doing? It is important to know that a qualified interventionist does not just facilitate the intervention meeting with the addict and his/her family. He or she also provides ongoing participant support and familiarizes the dynamics of the family system as a whole. The interventionist collects a thorough history, makes treatment program recommendations with identified level of care, facilitates the admission process and provides some level of continued care throughout the time the person is in treatment. They serve as a source of support not only for the addict, but for the participants as well. It is equally important to be aware that since the advent of the popularity of intervention becoming an accepted and viable means of helping to get into treatment, the interventionist pool has greatly enlarged. Interventionists generally have training and education that qualify them to facilitate these important family meetings. However, not all share the same philosophies, have the same level of expertise, and/or employ the same clinical approach. It is critical for the benefit of your family intervention that you select an interventionist that is the best suited for your family. Fortunately, you have a lot to choose from. The following are things it is recommended families look for in an interventionist and consider prior to retaining one. • Currently, there is no certification or licensure which regulates the intervention industry. However, there is a voluntary registration board that interventionists can apply for. This registration is called a Board Registered Licensed Interventionist. This means that the board
8
registered interventionist is professionally qualified to facilitate interventions and that they have submitted documentation proving their experience, supervision training, licenses, peer reviews, and education requirements to the professional board. By selecting a Board Registered Interventionist to facilitate your family intervention you can eliminate the need to have to personally verify his or her qualifications (also recommended).
• Consider if your loved one has an additional or secondary issue such as an eating disorder, trauma history, or other mental health diagnoses. It is important that the interventionist you select not only has experience with these challenges and can address them appropriately, but has also received professional training in these areas as well. • Consider the age, gender, socioeconomic status, and personality make up of your loved one when choosing an interventionist. Will your female loved one be threatened by a male interventionist (or male/female); will your 70 year old mother feel comfortable with a 25 year old interventionist? These things are important. • Ask the interventionist if they are professionally aligned or affiliated with any one (or more) particular treatment programs. This can be important as one key task for the interventionist is to carefully assess what treatment program would be the absolute best for your family member. If an affiliation exists, this may color the assessment and may lead to a program that does not meet the needs of your client. • Take the time to interview (in person when possible) at least three different interventionists. Trust your gut, if something an interventionist says makes you feel uncomfortable or does not sit right with you, move on down your list. • Ask the interventionist what their typical intervention approach consists of. Some interventionists take a more confrontational tone while others utilize softer approaches. It is up the family to decide which approach may be most effective with your loved one. • Be sure to ask the interventionist for their fee breakdown, what may not be included, how finances are managed, and ensure that a contract for services is available for review before you officially sign on. Making the decision to retain an interventionist and proceed with planning an intervention need not be too complicated if you are aware of what you are looking for and who is available to you. Your interventionist will be spending a lot of time with you and your loved one, so selecting the right one for your family can make or break the experience for you. If you do choose to go the intervention route, know that many families have been very successful at convincing their loved one to accept help and many lives have been saved as a result. Good luck! Kate Caravella, CAC, NCAC 1, BRI is the owner of ICM Associates, Inc. - a Florida based firm established in 2001. She is a board registered interventionist specialist and holds the position of lead intervention specialist and lead case manager. Kate has twice been published in academic journals.
To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
9
10
To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
11
Mindful Acceptance as a Spiritual Skillset By Michael Hoffman, Dr. AD, MRAS, AAPC Think of mindful acceptance as a skill set for the practice of prayer and meditation that Bill Wilson lamented not knowing well enough in his 1958 article “The Language of the Heart” (1988, pp. 239-242). Wilson felt that he had neglected Step Eleven in favor of the conviviality of meetings and the relief found through working the preceding 10 steps. When it comes to the practice of A.A.’s Step Eleven— “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out.” —I’m sure I’m still very much in the beginner’s class; I’m almost a case of arrested development. (p. 239) Even though he said he was otherwise satisfied with his recovery, Wilson believed his journey to higher consciousness was incomplete, no matter how sane and sober he felt. But inside, we know better. We know we aren’t doing well enough. We still can’t handle life, as life is. There must be a serious flaw in our spiritual practice and development. What, then, is it? The chances are better than even that we shall find our misunderstanding or neglect of A.A.,’s Step Eleven—prayer, meditation and the guidance of God. The other steps keep us sober and somehow functioning, but Step Eleven keeps us growing, if we try hard and work at it continually. . . . I was astonished at how little time I had actually been giving to my own elementary advice on meditation, prayer and guidance—practices I had so earnestly recommended to everybody else. (p. 242) With Wilson’s statements as a starting point, we will find commonalities between ancient and modern practices of spirituality. We will encourage direct experience of mindfulness and prayer rather than accepting theoretical models that substitute for authentic and profound spiritual experience. The new ideas and conclusions drawn here serve to inform clinicians how to more effectively help patients find their own spiritual truth. Many physicians and psychologists have influenced perceptions of both 12-Step work and Eastern meditative philosophy, but their comments require clarification. Depth psychologist Carl Gustav Jung, for example, made early contributions to the spiritual element of the 12 Steps with his emphasis on higher consciousness through education, acts of spiritual grace and the importance of human community. Yet, no records indicate that he practiced formal mindfulness meditation. As we will later discuss, he discouraged the use of Eastern forms of meditation and died in the early 1960s, after exchanging a series of heartfelt letters about spiritual recovery with Wilson (e.g. Wilson & Jung, 1987). In contrast to Jung’s psychologizing spiritual semantics, emerging meditation advocacy groups like The Buddhist Recovery Network (2012) and authors such as meditation teacher Kevin Griffin (2004), Richard Rohr (1999), a Franciscan priest and the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, and dharma teacher Mel Ash (1993) characterize tens of thousands of persons worldwide who approach recovery with dedicated practice of contemplative prayer, vipassana and its close relative, Zen meditation. The 12-Step program, prayer, Buddhist meditation and Jung’s depth psychology each have distinct appeal to recovering addicts. Twelve-Step programs offer a logical roadmap and readily available social encouragement. Buddhist meditation’s neurological benefits have been validated by science. Vipassana, Zen, and Jung’s description of the archetypes of the collective unconscious have all gained popularity as alternatives to Christian religiosity. Jungian psychology provides a bridge between clinical diagnostics and exploration of the human spirit, psyche and soul. The use of mythology, symbolism, active imagination and archetypal characters in Jungian analysis bring animism to talk therapy. All these approaches have become valid with recovery communities around the world. Blending Practices A recovery model that blends all these approaches could enhance the supracognitive effect of its interventions with addicted patients and breathe new life into spiritual conversation. Little communication currently exists between these disciplines on an academic, practicum or certification level. The California State Board of Behavioral Sciences licensing exams for Marriage and Family Therapists, for example, minimize addiction expertise and include virtually no mention of Eastern spirituality, prayer or depth psychology. Reductionist interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and family systems theories dominate current educational training. Licensure and certification in California, for instance, can be achieved without any knowledge of metaphysical thought and practice. The reductionism that dominates the drug and alcohol counseling field denies patients’ spiritual rights. The 12-Step program itself does not receive the historically rich spiritual credit it deserves. Upon closer examination, we find it is a timely cultural restatement of spiritual truths and recommendations for living written millennia before the 1930s. The Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of Gautama Buddha sound remarkably like the 12 Steps. Steps Two, Three, and Eleven (A.A., 1952) recommend taking a spiritual leap of faith, just as Christ advised seeking freedom within, not in the external world. Carl Jung ’s letter to Bill Wilson (Wilson & Jung, 1987) includes the recommendation for seeking a higher power and human interaction in reference to Jung’s contact with Roland Hazzard during his struggle with alcoholism years before. Christian contemplative prayer as an ineffable spiritual experience appears in monastic writing from the 14th century, and Wilson’s 1958 article, “Take Step Eleven” is a straightforward appeal to alcoholics to return to it as an essential complement to the social interaction at meetings. A great theologian once declared: “The chief critics of prayer are those who have never really tried it enough.” That’s good advice, good advice I’m trying to take ever more seriously for myself. Many AAs have long been striving for a better conscious contact with God and I trust that many more of us will presently join with that wise company. (1988, p. 239)
12
No research shows that this 1950s endorsement of prayer resulted in a measurable increase in the number of alcoholics adopting prayer and meditation, and it is unfortunate that a lack of specific spiritual concentration occurs in 12-Step meetings today. If meeting rosters are any indication, Step Eleven meetings are in the vast minority. In Orange County, California, for instance, Step Eleven meetings by listing account for less than 5% of the total number of weekly gatherings Recovery professionals should do more than talk about spirituality. They should use structured treatment interventions that actually teach the skills of vipassana mindfulness meditation, Jung’s practice of active imagination and contemplative prayer as taught by progressive Christians like Rohr (1999) and Cistercian monk Thomas Keating (2009). Counselors will have to build strong personal skill sets of their own to accomplish this. When counselors become proficient in skills that have previously been considered nonclinical, spiritual depth will be added to recovery counseling. At this time, reimbursable treatment is often limited to interventions that state agencies and insurance companies consider clinically acceptable, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision) (DSM-IV-TR) (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) contains only one paragraph discussion of spiritual issues in its 780-page text. Fortunately, the paucity of spiritual treatment is changing with the introduction of protocols like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). The Sacred Approach Meets Science Lionel Corbett (2011), a psychiatric physician, Jungian analyst, and core faculty professor at the Pacifica Graduate Institute in California, explains the inviolable right of the patient’s psyche to be healed through spiritual intervention in treatment. This is where medicine, psychotherapy and the religious dynamic meet. Corbett agrees with psychologist Abraham Maslow (1971) who terms this confluence of treatment modalities a “resacralization” (p. 284) of the counseling experience. Corbett (2011) addresses the relationship between spirituality and surrender of ego in therapy as a strength-building intrapsychic enrichment of the individual soul. His affirmation of the importance of individual awareness reinforces the insistence on personal spiritual understanding urged in Step Three and sharing of awakenings in Step Twelve. A personal spirituality may involve the discovery of a private myth of meaning, but that does not necessarily imply social withdrawal; in fact, such a discovery could make a major difference to the way one behaves in the world. Nor is there concern that the psychotherapeutic emphasis on the development of a healthy sense of the self will deny the spiritual importance of selflessness. Indeed, with a firm sense of self that is able to tolerate painful affects, one is more likely to be able temporarily to put oneself aside in the service of others. (p. 3) Treatment based on intellectual and fundamentalist didactics lacks soul and often fails patients eager to discover the deepest spiritual meaning in the sober journey. Structured spiritual interventions must be offered now that seekers’ enthusiasm for recovery has been sparked by scientific research into the cognitive, physical, and spiritual practice. Patients and counselors need and deserve a more detailed spiritual roadmap, and clinical validations abound. Mindfulness Research Monthly (MRM), published electronically by David Black (2010) at the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California at Los Angeles reports on the most recent studies and research trials. In addition to citing test study hypothesis and factual outcomes, each edition includes “Shifting Perceptions,” a review of opinions on the application of mindfulness in clinics. Black regularly posts a “Call for Papers” to encourage both qualitative and quantitative heuristic studies. Reductions in perceived pain, reduced cerebral atrophy in the aging population, reduced menopausal symptoms and alleviation of insomnia exemplify benefits documented in the MRM. Clinical research can invigorate Steps Two, Three, and Eleven by providing the scientific benefit of practicing them. With the Steps as an original call to action and science as validation, many questions are posed for the future of spiritual recovery counseling.
• Should all counselors and sponsors pray and meditate? • How do contemplative prayer and meditation differ? • Can spiritual practice be licensed? • What insurance codes cover prayer and meditation? • Can patients take antidepressants while meditating? • Who will answer these questions?
Clinicians are challenged to bring facets of mindful acceptance into practical counseling frames. Regardless of how centuries-old traditional meditative practices are analyzed, mindfulness is best generated by meditation practice. In the perfect state of mindful acceptance, clarity of perception and engagement in moment-to-moment experience provide epiphanic flashes of wisdom about how thoughts and emotions impact quality of life. The mindful experience itself breeds mental and emotional health. There are more than enough varieties of cultural meditative techniques for clinicians to learn from. China, Japan, Tibet, Burma, The Middle East, Wiccan, Indian and Christian mindfulness practices are ubiquitous in learning centers throughout the United States. Michael Hoffman is a Doctor of Addictive Disorders and Pastoral Counselor. He is Clinical Director of Zen Recovery Path in So. Cal and uses a Jungian and Buddhist approach to recovery.
How Do Fatty Cells Hold the Key to Drug Addiction By Suncoast Rehabilitation Center Writer A question medical practitioners, family members, and society at large has asked is: Why do people relapse back to a drug after rehab? It isn’t because the addict is soft-willed or wants to harm their friends and family. It isn’t that the person is insane or trying to create a rift. It goes beyond any personal matter the addict may have. Through drug/alcohol addiction there is a physical change in the person’s body which makes the addict crave that drug again and again - even after rehab. It’s a physical phenomenon I refer to as “The Fatty Tissue Issue.” How does this happen? A person ingests a drug. This drugs moves through the system. After the “high”, it appears the person’s body is free of the drug. This is not the case. After that user took the drug, a part of it got absorbed through his or her fatty tissues. This is an old mechanism of our body, which is used with great effectiveness when we consume an excess of things which are good for us, like vitamins and minerals. They lodge into the fatty tissues so that they can be used later when the body is deficient in those vitamins and minerals. However, when it comes to drugs, all this does is store the drug until the user becomes deficient in that drug. The body has become dependent upon the drugs/alcohol. So, when the person experiences a similar physical point of stress the body is expecting the drug. If the person does not take it (like when he is in rehab or is otherwise quitting), the body dredges up the drug that was stored in the fatty tissue and releases it back into the blood stream. Of course this is only a trace of the drug and thus causes the user to crave that drug once again. This whole phenomenon goes even further: when the drug surfaces again, it can cause a chain reaction in both the mind and body and stimulate past feelings or memories related to the drug. This is a reason for both addiction to a drug, and relapse after rehab. The Narconon New Life Detoxification Program, delivered at Suncoast Rehabilitation Center, is the solution to the fatty tissue issue. The program consists of a combination of light aerobic exercise, sweating in a dry heat sauna, and a strictly controlled vitamin regimen. The steps are basically as follows:
To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
1. A fully supervised withdrawal from the drug. This is an action which is modified by vitamins and minerals and experienced staff to help the person get off the drugs as quickly and with as little discomfort as possible. 2. The person visits a licensed medical doctor to ensure physical ability to participate in the program. 3. 20-30 minutes of daily exercise. This usually consists of jogging or a fast walk either on a treadmill or outdoors. 4. Sweating for 15-20 minute intervals in a dry heat sauna with rest and water breaks. Concurrent to the above, the participant takes a specific vitamin regimen along with cold-press polyunsaturated natural oil. The oil and vitamins help free the drugs from the fatty cells and allow the body to break down and eliminate the stored drugs. The program runs for about 5 hours daily and can take between 3 - 6 weeks to complete. The program length differs person-to-person as everyone has a different drug history, weight, and medical history. Our complete program doesn’t end with detoxification. After the drugs are out of the person’s system for good, the person then does courses to help him or her address various areas of life which caused them problems in the past. This is followed up with life-skills courses to help the person anew, getting them started on the right foot in their new drug-free life. We have a 76% success rate for a reason. The reason is our extremely effective program. To learn more, contact us today at (800) 511-9403, ext. 7620. Or visit our website at www.suncoastrehabcenter.com. Source Citation: NIDA, Suncoast Rehab Center, Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology
13
Back to the Basics of Recovery - Step Three By Wally P. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. In this article, we will examine the third part of the surrender process, which is to move from a “life run on self will” to a life guided by “the vision of God’s will.” We do this by turning our ego-centric lives over to the “Power greater than ourselves” that resides inside each and every one of us. One of the earliest references to “God as we understood Him” comes to us from Reverend Sam Shoemaker, the pastor of the Calvary Episcopal Church in New York City. This is where Bill W., one of the co-founders of A.A., attended meetings from 1934-1937. At the time, Sam was one of the leaders of the Oxford Group, the organization from which A.A. evolved. He was the man Bill W. described as the teacher of “the principles and attitudes that afterward came to full flower in A.A.’s Twelve Steps for recovery.” When talking about self-will vs. God’s will, Sam would say, “Surrender as much of yourself as you know to as much of God as you understand.” Bill W. And others picked up on this concept. Instead of relying upon a God of somebody else’s understanding, they started relying upon a God of their own understanding, hence God as we understood Him. Some of the key paragraphs the A.A. pioneers used to explain and take the Third Step are: • • • •
A life run on self-will: pg. 60: 4 (1-8) Selfishness blocks us from God’s will: pg. 62: 1 (1-8) and pg. 62: 2: (1-8) A life guided by God’s will: pg. 62: 3 (1-4, 6-8) and pg. 63: (1-4) Third Step prayer: pg. 63:2 (2-8)
On pages 62 and 63 the “Big Book” authors explain how to become God directed. But, first they tell us that being self-directed keeps us separated from the spiritual solution to our difficulties. In the fourth paragraph on page 60, they explain that, when we live on self-will, we are like actors trying to control every detail of a play: “The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. . . . Each (of us) is like an actor who wants to run the whole show; is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery and the rest of the players in his (or her) own way.” In the first paragraph on page 62, the authors declare that it is our selfishness that gets us into trouble. We must take responsibility for our preoccupation with ourselves and lack of concern for others: “Selfishness—self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. . . . (W)e invariably find that sometime in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a
Back to Basics Basics--101 An introduction to the Twelve Steps of Recovery
During this seventy-five minute DVD, Wally Paton, noted archivist, historian and author, takes you through all Twelve Steps the way they were taken during the early days of the Twelve-Step movement. Experience the miracle of recovery as Wally demonstrates the sheer simplicity and workability of the process that has saved millions of lives throughout the past seventy years. Wally has taken more than 500,000 through the Twelve Steps in his Back to the Basics of Recovery seminars. He has made this “Introduction to the Twelve Steps” presentation hundreds of times at treatment centers, correctional facilities, and recovery workshops and conferences around the world. This is a DVD for newcomers and old-timers alike. You can watch it in its entirety or divide it into three segments: Surrender (Steps 1, 2 and 3); Sharing and Amends (Steps 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9); and Guidance (Steps 10, 11 and 12). The accompanying CD contains twenty-four pages of PDF presentation materials for facilitators and handouts for participants. Here is everything you need to take or take others through the Twelve Steps “quickly and often.” Wally has modified the “Big Book” passages so they are gender neutral and applicable to all addictions and compulsive disorders. In keeping with the Twelve-Step community’s tradition of anonymity, he does not identify himself, or anyone else in this DVD, as a member of any Twelve-Step program. This DVD was recorded at the Public Broadcasting Service television studio in Tucson, AZ using high definition cameras, flat screen graphics, and PowerPoint overlays. It is a state-ofthe-art production that is both instructive and enlightening. “It works—it really does.”
To order this DVD plus CD, please contact: Faith With Works Publishing Company P. O. Box 91648 ~ Tucson, AZ 85752 520-297-9348 ~ www.aabacktobasics.org DVD+CD Price: $79.95 + $11.05 (priority s/h) Total Price: $91.00
14
position to be hurt. . . . Above everything, we . . . must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without (God’s) aid.” Then in the third paragraph on page 62, the authors tell us what happens once we rid ourselves of this selfishness: “This is the how and why of it. First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn’t work. . . . Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom. Although they say the wording is optional, the “Big Book” authors do provide us with a prayer we can use to take the Third Step. The prayer is in the middle of page 63, starting with the second line in the second paragraph: “. . . ‘God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!’ ” Once we have internalized the Third Step prayer, we have completed the surrender process. But as the “Big Book” authors write on the following page, this surrender “could have little permanent effect unless AT ONCE followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us.” In the next article, we will examine some specific difficulties that have kept us blocked from the Power greater than ourselves. We will determine what these blocks are by making an inventory. About the Author Wally P. is an archivist, historian and author who, for more than twenty-three years, has been studying the origins and growth of the Twelve-step movement. He is the caretaker for the personal archives of Dr. Bob and Anne Smith. Wally conducts history presentations and recovery workshops, including “Back to the Basics of Recovery” in which he takes attendees through all Twelve Steps in four, one-hour sessions. More than 500,000 have taken the Steps using this powerful, time-tested, and highly successful “original” program of action.
To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
15
The Assessment and Case Management of Addictions: By Myles B. Schlam, J.D., CAP / CCJAP
The assessment and treatment of addictions is a challenging area for both clinicians and case managers. Many addictions are chronic illnesses with patients and their families pursuing multiple courses of treatment. A good understanding of appropriate assessment of the substance abuse patient is an integral part of the case management of this patient population. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that in 2006, 23.6 million Americans age 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem. Only 10.8 percent of this population received treatment at a specialty facility for the treatment of substance abuse disorders. Patients presenting with alcohol issues alone or in combination with another drug represented 39.7 percent of admissions to publicly funded facilities. Requests for treatment related to marijuana, heroin, crack cocaine, stimulants and other non-heroin opiates make up the majority of the remaining presenting symptoms. (NIDA, 2010) The initial assessment of a patient to determine whether treatment is needed and the appropriate level of care generally occurs on ambulatory basis, often in the setting of an outpatient office, EAP assessment or admissions unit of a substance abuse treatment program. While some patients are self-referred, many patients are referred by concerned family or friends, an employer, school or through the courts. At times, patients may present to an assessment setting or emergency department acutely intoxicated. In these situations, signs or symptoms of acute intoxication, acute withdrawal or a history of complicated withdrawal may require urgent medical assessment. Evaluation for possible medical stabilization should be the initial consideration for all patients presenting with substance abuse disorders. Certain drugs of abuse may lead to potentially lethal withdrawal syndromes. Abusers of alcohol, benzodiazepines and barbiturates in particular deserve careful attention for possible withdrawal symptoms. A history of complicated withdrawal including delirium tremens or withdrawal seizures also indicates the need for possible admission to an inpatient detoxification program. Like other levels of substance abuse treatment, detoxification can occur in a 24 hour setting such as an inpatient medically based program or in an ambulatory program. Detoxification does not constitute complete substance abuse treatment and patients will require transition to an appropriate level of care following completion of any needed detoxification. After any necessary detoxification program or the determination that no detoxification is needed, a request will generally be made for an appropriate level of care for substance abuse treatment. The initial screening interview and subsequent request for treatment should include the details of the patient’s substance use, related clinical information and other pertinent history. Dates of first and last use for all substances, amounts and frequency of use should be assessed. The patient’s medical and psychiatric history and current symptoms should be documented. The patient may have medical issues such as a history of a myocardial infarction in the context of acute intoxication with cocaine that would affect the determination regarding appropriate level of care. Additionally, a patient who has significant problems with depression, anxiety or psychosis may also require psychiatric interventions in addition to substance abuse treatment. Substance-induced mood, anxiety and thought disorders are commonly seen. The patent’s substance abuse treatment history including past involvement with community supports such as AA and NA, motivation for treatment and the level of sober support available to the patient in their current living environment should also be assessed. Presenting patients may report a failure of treatment at a lower level of care, a varying period of time since their last attempt at treatment and a range of levels of involvement with 12 step programs such as AA and NA in the community. Many treatment programs recommend that patients obtain an AA sponsor and attend meetings frequently to support their sobriety after completion of treatment. The patient’s level of compliance with these sorts of recommendations is an important factor in determining appropriate level of care. Once an appropriate assessment has been completed, decisions can be made regarding appropriate referrals for treatment by the assessing provider. Substance abuse treatment is available at many different intensities and settings. Community support groups including AA and NA are a free community support alternative utilized by many patients struggling with addiction or working to maintain recovery. The twelve step approach utilized by these groups forms the basis for the majority of substance abuse treatment. Outpatient treatment with a therapist skilled in addressing substance abuse treatment is often the initial formal substance abuse treatment. Many patients will also pursue treatment in an intensive outpatient treatment program. These programs generally meet 3 to 5 days a week for up to three hours at a time. They generally include substance abuse
16
education, the initiation of treatment, relapse prevention planning and in some cases, monitoring for sobriety with random urine drug screens. Some patients require treatment in a more extended day program, the partial hospitalization level of care. If a restrictive 24 hour care setting is required, a residential substance abuse treatment program or inpatient rehabilitation program are options. Not all treatment facilities offer every level of care and this may impact the assessing facility’s recommendation regarding treatment. Medical necessity review and case management for substance abuse treatment has evolved as the medical literature and other factors have impacted our understanding of substance abuse treatment. Historically, many patients received all of their substance abuse treatment at 28 day residential care settings. The majority of patient placement decisions and duration of treatment decisions are now made based on medical necessity criteria. Many health plans utilize their own criteria sets to make both admission and continued stay benefit decisions. Other plans rely on the American Society of Addiction Medicine Patient Placement Guidelines to make appropriate benefit decisions. The majority of criteria consider the multiple factors assessed at the time of admission to treatment in making these decisions. The ASAM criteria format these factors in a Dimension format where each aspect of the patient’s health and environment is given consideration. Making determinations regarding appropriate level of care and duration of treatment for substance abuse disorders requires a thorough and complete assessment. Interview with collateral resources including family members, particularly when the presenting patient is a minor is often an integral part of the initial assessment. This information and progress in treatment can be used in tandem with medical necessity criteria to consider requests for all substance abuse treatment levels of care. Consultation with an appropriate clinician regarding medical necessity can aid in making determinations. Ideally, cases would be reviewed by a licensed clinician. The field of addiction medicine is rapidly evolving as increasing amounts of evidence based medical literature is available to inform providers, case managers and physician reviewers as they make recommendations for the assessment and treatment of the substance abuse patient. Comprehensive Case Management is essential in assuring that patients do not “fall through the cracks” throughout the treatment process. Quality Case Management services should be performed by a clinician who is licensed in Case Management. Their job is essentially to be there for the patient-client through the entire continuum of care. He or she will link the client with all necessary and appropriate resources in the community including vocational, educational, familial, and legal issues. ASI is a private facility licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families specifically for the components of Case Management and General Intervention. Provided appropriate releases are signed by the client, we are in weekly contact with the primary treating facility and the family of the client. We specialize in criminal justice and Marchman Act cases and have attorneys and forensic experts on staff. In these cases, we are in contact with the courts and probation on an as needed basis. The usual protocol for clients in the criminal justice system is for the representing attorney to contact us to perform the evaluation of their client. The duration of our services varies depending on the type of case. For example, Drug Court clients will be monitored by ASI for a minimum of one year. DUI clients are usually monitored for six months. Marchman Act clients are usually under contract for five months. ASI works with a wide network of treatment providers who specialize in various methods of treatment. One client may be enrolled in a few different facilities while under the Case Management of ASI if it is deemed necessary in order to achieve the best results for the client and to ensure the Continuum of Care. If a client has not retained an attorney to represent them, ASI will assist with that as well. We have a network of excellent attorneys who specialize in various areas of the law. Many of our network attorneys and treatment facilities have agreed to give financial considerations to our clients who are in need. ASI has a mission above all else to provide quality assurance to the patient-client. Costs for Case Management Services are assessed on a sliding scale basis. Assessments can be performed by ASI while client is in custody or in the community but appointments must be scheduled at least one week prior to the Assessment. We can be contacted via information below and a consultation will be provided free of charge. Sincerely yours, Myles B. Schlam, J.D.,CAP/CCJAP Advocare Solutions, Inc.- Executive Director (954) 804-6888 www.drugcourtpro.com
Looking to have a good time in sobriety? 561-859-5167
Anonymous Events @eventsanonymous To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
17
Addiction: How to Make Better Choices and Live a Happier Life By Carol Bettino
Addiction is a disease. It is defined by the excessive and continued use of a specific psychoactive substance, despite physical, psychological or social harm. The increased tolerance creates occupational, social, legal and relationship problems. For an alcoholic or addict, one drink or one time is not enough, yet one drink or one time is too many. You are out of control and everyone including you knows it. While you may not have control once you take that first drink or take that drug, you do have control over the choice not to drink or use. For many alcoholics and addicts, it is a cycle of bad choices, shame, and addiction. Addiction and shame is a vicious cycle. Shame will also keep you trapped in your addiction. Shame is an inner feeling of not being good enough, worthless, and a sense of being defective and damaged as a human being. The message is, “You don’t make a mistake, you are a mistake.” It can be debilitating. We learn about shame in childhood. If you grew up in an abusive or neglected home, you learned very young that your needs and wants are not important and the person you are has no value. It is not uncommon for these children to blame themselves for the bad things that happen to them. Unfortunately, many of these children go through life feeling unloved and unwanted. As adults, they do what they can to avoid those unwanted painful feelings of not being good enough. Many choose a chemical to drown those feelings. This is not about blame and excuses. However, it helps to explain the impact and consequences of carrying shame. Recovery is about stopping cycles and making better choices. Shame is a choice that keeps you stuck in the cycle of addiction. Hiding underneath addiction is shame. When you feel guilty about your bad behavior, you feel ashamed and look to hide and avoid the pain. No surprise you engage in your addiction; unfortunately, this behavior makes you feel worse. You remain stuck in the cycle even though you want to stop. Your shame and addiction are out of control and so are you. You use to avoid feeling the emotional pain, then you feel guilty and ashamed for losing control, so you use again; hating yourself for not being able to stop. The cycle continues. In order to break an addiction cycle, you must first acknowledge the problem and recognize the pain the problem causes. Then, you must admit you are powerless over the addiction and seek help to stop the cycle. No one ever said that stopping alcohol or drugs would be easy. Rarely is something especially important in life easy. Recovery is difficult. Don’t do it alone. Become responsible for your recovery. Stop using, stay away from the people who use, seek counseling, attend AA meetings, affiliate with people who are sober and straight, who work the program, and find a sponsor. Don’t get stuck in the cycle. Shame has no healthy place in recovery. Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe in you and your recovery. If you have God in your life, this is a good time to get on your knees and pray for guidance. Make a conscious choice to change the direction your life is headed. I have created a simple acronym that will help as you begin your journey of recovery. Remember, if you make better choices you will live a better life. Make a decision to change the direction your life has been going. Think of this acronym “CHOICE” C – Choice: Life is about choices. Choose a goal of living a sober and straight life. Don’t let anyone or anything get in the way of you achieving your goal. Choose the road of recovery. Don’t do it alone. Put
18
the right people in your path. Choose the right counselor and sponsor for you. H – Honesty: Be honest with yourself and others. Avoid the pitfalls of denial. Eliminate the shame that sabotages recovery. Be aware the journey is a difficult one and you need help. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. O – Openness: Be open about your problems. Don’t let shame keep your addiction a secret. Be selective who you tell. Tell people that you know will be supportive. Be open-minded to advice. Avoid shortcuts; they are usually dead-ends. I – “I am valuable and worthy.” “I have made mistakes, but I am not a mistake.” “I will not let bad past experiences dictate my life.” Repeat affirmations daily that keep you on the right path. Take ownership of your life. Find the new you and don’t let go of your new life. C – Control: Admit you have no control over your addiction or your life when you are using. Remind yourself you do have control over the choices you make. Take charge of your choices and your recovery, by taking advice from those who will help direct you on your journey. E – Eliminate: Get rid of the old dysfunctional messages, tapes and faulty beliefs that keeps shame alive. Stay away from those who use or those who are not supportive. Don’t go to former haunts. Eradicate the unhealthy attitude and bad behaviors that got you addicted in the first place. A healthy attitude can turn your life around. Changing bad behavior and making better choices will help you live a better life. Changing your behavior begins with changing your attitude. I recommend following what I call “The ABC’s of Life”. They are the directions and foundation of good choices. ATTITUTDE • BEHAVIOR • CHOICES & CONSEQUENCES Attitude: This reflects how you think, feel, interpret and perceive things around you. If you believe recovery is possible, then it is. If you believe it is too hard and you won’t make it, then you’ll give up. Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, either way you are right.” Look at what you need to change in your attitude that will guide your recovery process. Behavior: This is how you respond, react, and interact in situations. When things become overwhelming or stressful you choose how to respond. Your attitude will have a major impact on how you react. If you feel overwhelmed, or think recovery is too hard, let shame rear its ugly head, then you’ll probably engage in a bad behavior. You must change any negative thinking or feelings in order to respond in a healthier way. Choice and Consequence: It is the ultimate decision you make in how to handle a situation or a problem. Whatever choice you make, whether positive or negative, will have a consequence. When it comes to your recovery, your choice can lead you to a path of happiness or one of misery. Think before you react. If you feel overwhelmed, stressed, angry, or hurt, your reaction and choice will reflect those emotions. Seek the help of your counselor, sponsor or a friend from the program before you make a choice you will regret. Article by: Carol Bettino, MA, LPC Therapist and author of “Better Choices, Better Life” and Directions: Your Roadmap to Happiness.” Please check out and join her blog at: directionsaroadmaptohappiness.blogspot.com/
Out-Patient • Intensive Out-patient • Day/Night Substance Abuse Treatment
Toll free (855) TRN-1212, phone (561) 822-3620 fax (561) 318-8136 www.totalrecoverynow.com
To Advertise, Call 561-910-1943
19
P.O. Box 880175 Boca Raton, Florida 33488-0175 www.thesoberworld.com
The contents of this book may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without consent of publisher. Every effort has been made to include accurate data, however the publisher cannot be held liable for material content or errors. This publication offers Therapeutic Services, Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitative services, and other related support systems. You should not rely on the information as a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health care professional because of something you may have read in this publication. The Sober World LLC and its publisher do not recommend nor endorse any advertisers in this magazine and accepts no responsibility for services advertised herein. Content published herein is submitted by advertisers with the sole purpose to aid and educate families that are faced with drug/alcohol and other addiction issues and to help families make informed decisions about preserving quality of life.
20