SoberBlog

What To Do for an Alcoholic:

Try to remain calm, unemotional, and factually honest in speaking about their behavior and its day-to-day consequences. Let the person with the problem know that you are reading and learning about alcohol and other drug abuse, attending Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Alateen, and other support groups. Discuss the situation with someone you trust -- someone from the clergy, a social worker, a counselor, a friend, or some individual who has experienced alcohol or other drug abuse personally or as a family member.

More: What To Do for an Alcoholic?

Next: What NOT to do for an Alcoholic

From West Hollywood to Western Kentucky, the streets run like rivers filled with white, ice, jib, glass, crystal, meth-Crystal Methamphetamine. And I think we're past the "fad" stage.

Possible Meth Lab In Forest Park
Police were called to the scene of a possible meth lab in Forest Park late Friday afternoon.

Law Officials Bust One Of The Largest Meth Labs In Recent History
A month-long investigation came to an end early Saturday morning, when law enforcement entered Coastal Toner and Service in D'Iberville, and discovered what they say is one of the biggest meth labs in recent ...

Could Meth Laws Increase Crime?
New laws restricting access to substances that can be used to make methamphetamine could have the unintended consequence of increasing crime, some Kansas officials worry.

Opposition leader wants tougher crystal meth sentences
Canada.com - Fri, 6 May 2005 14:12:08 GMT

Meth Lab Discovered In Mankato
Published Date: 03-17-2005 5:42 PM Another meth lab was uncovered last night in Mankato.

Attorney general takes aim at state's meth problem
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has made fighting meth production and addiction one of his top issues.

ANTIOCH POLICE FIND METH LAB IN HOME
Cbs5.com - Sat May 7, 07:09 pm GMT

Home with 3 children raided for meth (Reg Req'd)
Agents with the Jackson County Drug Task Force allegedly seized methamphetamine today from an Independence home.

Four arrested in conncection with mobile meth lab
Four Vincennes residents were arrested on methamphetamine charges early this morning.

Suspect In Meth Lab Jailed In Middletown
Police in Middletown have arrested a man wanted in connection with a suspect meth lab in Franklin.

Ky. Police Chief Indicted on Meth Charges
A western Kentucky police chief who had been credited by his mayor with helping combat the scourge of methamphetamine in their small town has been indicted on two meth-related charges.

Some medicines are moving behind counter to fight meth
Some popular cold and allergy medicines are moving behind the pharmacy counter in a step to crack down on methamphetamine abuse in Missouri.

Mississippi Man Treated for Burns from Apparent Meth Lab Explosion
A Vancleave, Mississippi, man remains in critical condition at USA Med Center's burn unit, after being injured in an alleged meth explosion.

Coke, Meth and Pot
The story begins like this: "A woman identified by authorities as Denise Coke was arrested after a drug-sniffing dog discovered 33 pounds of cocaine in her vehicle." Hmmm, could it be that simple? I wonder if we've stumbled onto something...

Mobile meth lab foiled by Wal-Mart employees
Three men, including a father and his 19-year-old son are in the Cleveland County Jail.

Trio arrested today on meth charges
Three people arrested this morning were all charged with possession of methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals, illegal transportation of anhydrous ammonia - both felonies - and possession of drug equipment.

Meth bill will require taking items off shelves (Reg Req'd)
Paul Davenport Associated Press May. 11, 2005 12:00 AM Legislation aimed at combating the illegal production of methamphetamine will be changed to require some cold medicines to be pulled off shelves and ...

Meth Lab Discovered At East Memphis Motel
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies who went to an east Memphis motel to arrest a wanted person not only found the man they were looking for but also found evidence of a meth lab in his motel room.

Four arrested on suspected meth charges
Four individuals were found with seven children and the makings of methamphetamine at an Emmons residence Monday.

Bill fighting meth labs advances
Get information on the current session by using these links. Some committee meetings can be viewed over the Internet.

Governor To Announce Plan To Fight Meth
Governor Pawlenty holds news conference around Minnesota today to announce a proposal for fighting the spread of methamphetamine in the state.

Police Chief Says Most Meth Is Imported Into Iowa
Despite a tough new law signed Tuesday that aims to reduce methamphetamine problems in Iowa, leaders say it's going to take much more to wipe out the problem.

NEW: Rounds launches meth awareness campaign for retailers
Gov. Mike Rounds joined law officers and retailers on Thursday to announce a campaign aimed at keeping better track of cold medicines and other products that can be used to make methamphetamine.

High Speed Chase Leads to Meth Bust
Officers from the Marathon County Sheriff's Department say it started out as an emergency medical call, and in just a few seconds turned into a chase, but that chase didn't stop there.

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Those are problems; here are some solutions:

Crystal Meth Anonymous
CMA is a relatively new twelve step program for people who are addicted to crystal meth.

Have questions or need support? Meth Madness is just the place your looking for

SoberRecovery has Information, support and treatment resources for Crytal Meth Addiction.

Somewhere, somehow, at sometime something changed. We crossed over into an area where we lost control and spent the remainder of our active addiction "chasing" that illusive glow or level of euphoria. Little did we know that the feeling would forever elude us, or that we would fall deeper and deeper into despair.

Hell on Earth.

No matter how much we did, it wasn't enough. We would stop at nothing-especially to get more. Family, friends, and everything we loved at all eventually meant less and less until they didn't mean anything at all.

If you, even on occasion, have wondered if you may have a problem, consider this: Rarely, if ever, do people who do not have a problem wonder if they do.

Is there hope? Yep. Beacuse for every addict there is a way to get, and stay, sober.

All you have to do is find your way. A way that you can live with; good day or bad.

What are you waiting for?

Title: Waismann Method Doctor Cautions Patients Against Misinterpreting Buprenorphine as Miracle Cure for Opiate Dependency; Opiate Dependency Specialist Recommends More Education for Patients Seeking Buprenorphine Treatment.

Date: 4/25/2005;

Publication: Business Wire;

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- In response to a growing number of reports touting Buprenorphine as an effective treatment for dependency to prescription painkillers and illegal drugs such as heroin, The Waismann Method, a world-renowned opiate dependency treatment, today declared that patients who are prescribed Buprenorphine are being misinformed to believe that this drug is a miracle cure for opiate dependency. According to Dr. Clifford Bernstein, medical director of the Waismann Method, "Buprenorphine is a new generation replacement therapy that may not ultimately rid users of chemical dependency." As one of only a handful of the nation's doctors who are trained and board certified by the American Society of Addiction Specialists to dispense Buprenorphine as a treatment for opiate dependency, Dr. Bernstein has seen the number of calls received from patients physically dependent on Buprenorphine increase about 150 percent since the beginning of 2005. The official statement continues:

"Buprenorphine is being touted as a miracle cure to end heroin addiction, reduce crime and prevent disease, and patients are flocking to this new medication based on an illusionary hope that it will cure them of their opiate dependencies. While it does take the place of illegal opiates and also enables repeat users of illicit drugs and prescription painkillers to avoid the shame and social stigma of public methadone clinics, Buprenorphine is far from cure. It can help patients get to the next step of recovery, but it is unfair to represent this drug as a cure when it is essentially a replacement opiate.

"Doctors are required to become certified to dispense Buprenorphine for opiate dependency treatment but are not mandated to educate their patients on the potential for dependency. As a result, patients don't realize they can become addicted to Buprenorphine for life, and that this new medication only legally and comfortably perpetuates their vicious cycle of dependency. With proper education, patients will understand the risks and may avoid the difficulties we discovered with OxyContin.

"The goal for people suffering from drug dependency should be freeing them from the physical dependency of opiates completely, but unfortunately the addiction community has embraced this strategy of maintenance therapy rather than putting an end to the dependency. Health professionals and administrators are pressuring the federal government to expand access to this drug when they should really focus on educating these individuals about their medical dependencies and helping them become drug free."

Buprenorphine, currently sold under the brand names Suboxone and Subutex, is a painkiller composed of 50 percent opiate, which has been used to treat dependency in Europe for years, and is now positioned in the U.S. as a lifesaving treatment for addictions to heroin and prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin. Only board certified doctors and medical practitioners who undergo an eight-hour training class are permitted to prescribe the drug for opiate dependency, but are limited by the federal government to treat only a total 30 patients at a time.

Many people with opiate dependencies are eager to try the treatment as an improvement over methadone, an opiate-based painkiller often prescribed at clinics through a daily dose. Because Buprenorphine can be prescribed in pill form in the privacy of a doctor's office, patients don't feel the same stigma attached to standing in line at a methadone clinic, says Bernstein.

For more information, please visit www.opiates.com.

About the Waismann Method

Drs. Clifford A. Bernstein and Michael Lowenstein use the exclusive Waismann Method of Neuro-Regulation to treat opiate dependency. Performed in a hospital intensive care unit, the Waismann Method involves cleansing the opiate receptors in the patient's brain of the narcotics while the patient is under anesthesia. During the procedure, the patient will experience no conscious withdrawal, and will be able to return home within days. Over 65 percent of the patients who are treated with the Waismann Method remain drug free after one year. The Waismann Foundation, founded by Clare Waismann, is headquartered in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Downtown Ain't No Disneyland

The corner of 6th and Gladys Street in Downtown L.A. is much like any other in our teeming city. Lots of traffic and pedestrians, quite a bit of dirt and grime.

But this corner is also very unique. A magical corner, almost. And somewhere at this intersection in both the richest and poorest city in the world is a story.

Let's see if I can tell it.

Skid Row is the common name for a six square block area of downtown that provides clothing, food and shelter for thousands of the most downtrodden residents that have chosen to call L.A. "home."

These men and women battle with alcohol and drug addictions and homelessness. Many others suffer from mental illnesses that range from simple depression to full-blown schizophrenia. The fact is that most of castaways from what we call "society" wage a daily war against a combination of all of these, if they have the strength or the resources to fight at all. "Cardboard condominiums", actual sleeping quarters made from boxes, paper and trash line the side streets, and there are many more liquor stores than places of employment.

There are more opportunities to score crack cocaine and heroin than there are for training or medical assistance. The men and women who make up the population of Skid Row are not recent immigrants, nor are most of them people who have chosen to live there. They were our neighbors, friends and schoolmates. They are our veterans. Some are our brothers and sisters.

And at this intersection of Hopelessness and Despair, the soup kitchens and detoxes are never lacking for customers. AA meetings are held each night down here at a "park." Its called a park in name only, but it's really just some concrete with a couple of trees surrounded by a high metal fence.

The far corners forming a point that becomes our magical corner of 6th and Gladys. So back to our corner. If you ever feel the need to see how the other half lives, and I hope you will, go to 6th and Gladys Street. Stand at the bus stop there and look around at what we've become.

And while you look around at the grim realities of life for those on the other side, look up. Look up and read. The bus stop sign says the MTA 460, from the corner of 6th and Gladys on Skid Row, goes directly to Disneyland. One bus, one ride. Somewhere, somehow, someone made a very big mistake.

You see the "Happiest Place On Earth" is just a faded dream down here, it's not a destination.