Make A Donation to Support National Recovery Month September 9, 2009
Posted by community in : Addcition, In the Rooms, Recovery, Worldwide , comments closed
As many in the recovery community already know, September marks National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery month. During the month-long festivities, the recovery community tries to engage addicts, recovering addicts, potential addicts, and families to raise awareness about the realities of addiction and the possibilities of recovery.
Many organizations, nationwide, have planned events that include charitable walks, outdoor concerts, guest speakers, and much more. One such event will take place on September 12, in Miami, Fl; it is the 2009 South Florida Rally for Recovery. The goal is to raise money, through a charitable walk, to be able to gift recovery scholarship to recent recovering addicts.
With only a week left, the 2009 South Florida Rally for Recovery has not yet met its goal, but is calling upon people in the recovery community worldwide to help out and donate anything they can. For more information, please click the following link: Make a Donation.
Lastly, we’d just like to mention that the online social-networking recovery site, IntheRooms.com, is hosting the “Rally for Recovery.” IntheRooms is one of the biggest international sites dedicated to connecting people in recovery worldwide for support. ITR has 45,000 members with more than 131,000 years of combined recovery time.
September Marks National Recovery Month June 5, 2009
Posted by roberte in : Addcition, Alcohol, Recovery, Recovery Centers, United States , add a comment
Every September, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) and CSAT (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment) sponsor National Recovery Month across the US. The goal is to educate the public on the benefits of recovery treatment. As part of this year’s initiative, SAMHSA and CSAT have teamed to update the official website with the most comprehensive reporting on National Recovery Month.
The official website can be found at: www.recoverymonth.gov. There, anyone can find information covering a wide range of topics including: Community Events; Press Release Information; Mailed Publications, etc. I recently visited the site and found a couple of new updates since last time I’d visited.
The first update noted that SAMHSA and CSAT are offering downloadable flyers that outline the national campaign, right from the official National Recovery Month website. The second update gave a full report that outlined the details of the 2008 National Recovery Month campaign. More specifically, it outlines details that pertain to community awareness raised, and statistical information on addiction and recovery treatment.
Check back to A Global Recovery often for the latest details on National Recovery Month. Also be sure to click on the link above to take you to the official website.
New Addiction Recovery Website launches in Bangor, Maine June 3, 2009
Posted by roberte in : Addcition, Online, Recovery, United States , add a comment
The Bangor Area Recovering Community Coalition (BARCC) has launched a new addiction recovery website. BARCC is a community addiction recovery organization located in Bangor, Maine.
The website offers a variety of resources, such as recovery support, which includes online self-help links, 12-step recovery information, and means through which to access licensed professionals. Bruce Campbell, chair of BARCC, states that the website will provide information and communication.
One of the main intents behind this online addiction recovery tool is to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with substance abuse, and to highlight the positive aspects of addiction recovery.
The new BARCC website is:
http://sites.google.com/site/bangorrecovery/
Malaysia Looking to Eradicate Drugs Indefinitely by 2015 May 28, 2009
Posted by roberte in : Addcition, Asia, Drug Laws and Regulations, Narcotics, Substance Abuse, Worldwide , add a comment
Malaysia recently made headlines when it undertook an aggressive initiative to eradicate drugs by 2015. The program is known as, “Rakan Anti-Dadah (Rada)” and was introduced by the country’s National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada). So, how exactly does Malaysia “realistically” intend to complete it goal? Well, with the help of the 100,000 volunteers it is actively seeking to join the effort.
According to NADA Director-general Datuk Abd Bakir, the ides is to have youth members join the effort and serve as the eyes and ears of the movement; the ideal target would be rural youths. NADA believes the higher concentration of drug use and crime in rural areas can be curbed and eventually eradicated by youths, as they easily infiltrate and blend in. The goal is that they report the drug-related activities to authorities.
Bakir said that the Malaysia National Anti-Drug Agency has been sending its officers to meet with students and trainees at local at local branch offices of the national service camps across the country, in order to meet the goal of 1,000 newly registered members from each of Malaysia’s providences.
Addiction to New Drug (Yabaa) Affects Laos May 23, 2009
Posted by roberte in : Addcition, Asia, Drug Laws and Regulations, Narcotics, Substance Abuse, Worldwide , add a comment
A large portion of the Laos population is suffering from addiction to a new drug known as “yabaa”. “Yabaa”, which translates to “crazy drug”, is an amphetamine that is easily acquired due to its low price and high availability. The elevated consumption of “yabaa” in Laos is being attributed to the highly addictive property of the drug.
The United Nations’ office of Drug and Crime (UNODC) has estimated that of the 6 million inhabitants of Laos, approximately 40,000 of them are dealing with an addiction to “yabaa”. The UNODC has also pointed out that, currently, the Laos government does not have the means or resources necessary to deal with this new problem.
When it comes to drug related issues in Laos, the legal system generally takes on a punitive approach; for example, drug dealing is punished with life in prison or a death sentence. However, due to lack of funds, a new approach with a rehabilitation-focus is being taken. The new director of the Somsanga Center for Rehabilitation and Treatment, Sisuphanh Boupha, has implemented several changes to help addicts rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.
Chinese Pop Singer Man Wenjun Arrested for Drugs May 21, 2009
Posted by roberte in : Addcition, China, Drug Laws and Regulations, Europe, Narcotics, Substance Abuse, United States , add a comment
According to the Beijing Times, Chinese pop singer Man Wenjun was recently arrested for possession of drugs; what kinds of drugs exactly, has not been confirmed at this time. The report also noted that Man Wenjun was arrested by Beijing police after a tip-off led them to a nightclub where they found illegal drugs in his VIP room.
The report also noted that Wenjun was partying with friends and wife, for her birthday, all of whom were also arrested on similar drug charges. Additionally, it was noted that apparently Man Wenjun was given a drug test, which produced a positive result for drugs in his system.
Man Wenjun, now 40, is considered by many to have a distinct style within China’s often lavish pop scene. He broke out in 1996 with his big hit “I Understand You All the Time.” Just last year he was awarded China’s esteemed “environmental ambassadorship” award for producing environmentally conscious songs.
National Institutes of Health to Study “Party Drugs” in Brazil May 19, 2009
Posted by Ernesto in : Addcition, Drug Laws and Regulations, Narcotics, Recovery Centers, South America, Substance Abuse , add a comment
The National Institutes of Health recently awarded a $117 million dollar grant to the University of Delaware to conduct a study on “Party Drugs” in Brazil. The study would be the first of its kind in Brazil. The study will take place in Porte Alegre, Brazil and will be conducted with the aid of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil).
The term “Party Drugs” is most commonly used to refer to drugs that are be used frequently in the club scene; more specifically, Ecstasy, Crystal Meth, LSD, GHB, etc. These Party Drugs are considered especially dangerous because they are often used to commit date rapes. 200 participants, between the ages of 18-39, will have their histories examined and their behaviors monitored as part of the study.
The proposal submitted to National Institutes of Health stated that the study aims to: “distribute ‘harm reduction’ literature at club events and that is positive.” Additionally, the immediate goal of the study is to produce literature on local treatment centers in the native Brazilian Portuguese.
IntheRooms.com Officially Announces “South Florida Rally For Recovery” May 14, 2009
Posted by Ernesto in : Addcition, Alcohol, In the Rooms, Online, Recovery, Substance Abuse, Worldwide , add a comment
Just this week, the social networking site especially dedicated to people in addiction recovery, In the Rooms (intherooms.com) announced that on September 12th of 2009 they will be hosting the South Florida Rally For Recovery in honor of the 20th Annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Sept). The official In the Rooms Rally for Recovery charity walk logo is located above in black.
Thus far, In the Rooms (ITR) has announced that the recovery rally will take place around Biscayne Bay in the Downtown area of Miami, FL and will consist of the following segments (the following is quoted directly from intherooms.com):
1) The Walk – Show your support for recovery and stand up for what you believe in! Be an advocate and walk with us to show what recovery is, that today we are healthy and productive members of society!
2) The Festival – All day in Bicentennial Park, we will have wonderful food, great speakers, recovery music, exhibits, special guests and surprises.
3) The Concert – At the end of the day, we will be having Richie Supa perform his PRISM Award winning song, In The Rooms; in addition we are also having a special surprise guest, so stay tuned!
For further updates on South Florida Rally For Recovery, please check back often.
Switzerland Passes Legislation for Legal Heroin Program May 13, 2009
Posted by Ernesto in : Addcition, Drug Laws and Regulations, Europe, Narcotics, Recovery, Substance Abuse , add a comment
The overwhelming majority of Swiss citizens have voted to make their comprehensive heroin program permanent. The program, which began in 1994, is composed of 23 centers to which heroin addicts may attend and get two daily doses of heroin. The doses are carefully administered with clean needles under the supervision of a nurse and the heroin used is produced in government laboratories.
Even though the addicts selected to receive these services have been previously unresponsive to therapy, the heroin program also provides psychiatric and counseling services.
The program has been praised for its reduction of “out in the open” heroin users in Switzerland, as well as reducing crime and improving the health and lives of addicts.
Trial programs modeled after the Swiss one are being put into effect or being considered on countries all over the world, including Spain, Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada. Still, some United Nation countries have criticized the program saying it may encourage drug use.
Tennis Player Richard Gasquet Tests Positive for Cocaine & Faces 2 Year Ban May 12, 2009
Posted by Ernesto in : Addcition, Drug Laws and Regulations, Europe, Substance Abuse, Worldwide , add a comment
French tennis player Richard Gasquet has admitted that a recently taken drug screen came back positive for cocaine; However, Gasquet is claiming he’s innocent. According to the AP, two urine samples were taken from Richard Gasquet on the same day, last month during the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fl, and both revealed positive test results for cocaine use. Nonetheless, Gasquet told reporters, “I am gathering together proof of my innocence and I will choose an appropriate moment to express myself.”
Not surprisingly, Gasquet quickly pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fl, after have taken the tests. Gasquet claims that his withdrawal was due to a right shoulder injury. The governing bodies of world-wide tennis, the WTA and the ITF, along with the World Anti-Doping Agency are still reviewing Richard Gasquet’s case. The French Tennis player faces up to a two-year ban from international play as a result of testing positive for cocaine.
Despite the current controversy that surrounds 22-years-old, Richard Gasquet, he has definitely proven his skills in the past when he made it as a semi-finalist in the Wimbledon by beating Andy Roddick; also, he had a former world ranking of #7 and currently hold the ranking of 23rd in the world.
