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Is it okay to smoke some weed

 

JoeHerzanekQ Is it okay for a recovering addict
to smoke pot?


A. No


This has also been referred to as the “marijuana maintenance plan.”
Regardless of what a person’s past drugs of choice were, smoking pot
during recovery is a very bad idea.

Many people who have tried this have ended up with one of two results:
the same lack of control and abuse problem with smoking pot, or a return to their drug of choice.
Drug users tend to make poor choices while under the influence
of any mind-altering drug. Good intentions fly out the window when
any use begins.

This is actually just an attempt to continue using something—
anything—rather than remain substance free. In order to set the record straight and make this simple, below are questions I am asked over and over, and I’ve included the answers I give over and over.
Our persistent attempts to find a loophole can be quite
humorous at times!

 

JoeHerzanekQ Is it okay to smoke some weed once
in a while?


A. No


 

JoeHerzanekQ If I was a heroin addict and I quit that drug
completely, is it okay to just smoke some weed?


A. No



 

JoeHerzanekQ If I’m a recovering alcoholic, is it okay to
smoke some weed?


A. No


 

JoeHerzanekQ I’m in recovery, but since weed is found to
grow naturally in many places, is it okay
to just smoke weed?


A. No


 

JoeHerzanek

Q Since weed is not really a drug, is it okay to
smoke some weed?


A. No


 

JoeHerzanekQ I heard about a guy in recovery that smokes
weed. Do you think I might be able to?


A. No


 

JoeHerzanekQ There is an organization called NORMAL.
If a group like this is able to get marijuana legalized,
do you think I could just smoke weed?

A. No


 

JoeHerzanekQ I’ve heard about smoking “medical marijuana” for people
with health problems. What’s up with this?


A. This is one really bad idea.

 

Supposedly for pain relief, it is now possible to get a medical marijuana
(MM) card. The typical MM card-holder is a twenty-three-year-old
male. Even if it were true that we have high numbers of young males
with chronic pain—smoking marijuana for “medical reasons” is still a
mistake. First of all, it is very easy to just extract the active ingredient,
THC, and use it in pill-form. Why inhale the smoke into the lungs, other
than to get the quicker rush, or “high” the drug produces?

Secondly, this is one more way of throwing our hands up in the air and saying
“People are just going to get stoned and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Do we, as a nation, want to make it easier for young people to get stoned? Personaly, I don’t think so. Lastly, marijuana addiction is number three on the list of reasons people seek treatment. The first is alcohol, second is for
opiates (pain meds) and then marijuana. After these three, come cocaine, and methamphetamine.

“We owe it to the people we serve to speak out
about the unintended consequences legalization (of
marijuana) would have and the toll it would take on the
health and safety of our communities.”
“Over the course of my career, from St. Petersburg
to Seattle, I learned a lot about the damage drug abuse
does to the fabric of our society—and about the terrible
toll it takes on individuals, families and communities
across this country,” Kerlikowske told his former peers.
“I’ll never forget the rage and despair I felt when I
worked undercover and I saw a drug dealer take a hit of
marijuana—and then blow the smoke in the face of his toddler.”

~Gil Kerlikowske, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy
(comments from a speech given at the International Conference of Chiefs of Police Annual Convention, October 23, 2009).

 

Why Don't They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery." by Joe HerzanekThis “Q & A with Joe” is excerpted from Part 5 of “Why Don’t They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.”

 

NEED HELP NOW?
Affordable Phone Counseling for Families Dealing with Substance Abuse

MORE ASK JOE:
>How can I know if my addicted friend or loved one is telling the truth?

>”I need help because I’m not able to deal with my live-in Fiance’s need to get drunk every night.”

>Should my husband “back off?”

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okay for recovering addict to smoke pot okay to smoke pot okay for recovering addict to smoke pot
okay to smoke pot okay to smoke weed

 

 

February 16, 2012 by jherzanek | 5 comments

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Pain Meds Cause More PainPain Meds Cause More Pain! The new silent epidemic.

This article excerpted from the award-winning book “Why Don’t They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.” by Joe Herzanek

Technology is wonderful—up to a point. The medical and pharmaceutical industries have made huge advances to help those suffering from all sorts of diseases. Most of these advances are genuine lifesavers.

Americans are enjoying longer and higher quality lives—so much so, that we have come to expect many things as normal (diseases cured, symptoms gone and less pain for those suffering the debilitating affects of certain health problems).

Much Too Popular
One class of drugs—opiate painkillers, has become much too popular. These meds will not only relieve physical pain but will also give the user a pleasant euphoric effect at the same time. For a significant and growing number of people this euphoric state of mind is becoming more and more difficult to let go of (similar to the popularity of Valium in the 70′s—which by the way, has been recently increasing as well).

So how and why is this happening? How do pain meds cause even more pain? Let me start by saying that these drugs are very necessary for genuine pain—such as pain experienced after a surgery, broken bones, dental work and more. When used as prescribed, for short periods of time these drugs make life manageable. In some very rare cases they may be appropriate for extended periods of time—especially when a person has a terminal disease. A very small percentage of people fall into this category. Thank God for these medications.

The majority of people who take these medications do not fall in this group. Here is where the problem starts. Rarely does anyone start out to become dependent on opiate pain meds. It happens slowly without being noticed. This is an insidious process. Usually, there comes a time when a person’s physical pain is gone. With regular use of painkilling drugs, the central nervous system has come to expect the drug and the sedative affect it produces—as normal.

Withdrawal
When a person stops using the drug, the body revolts. This is called withdrawal. It’s normal. Much less extreme, but nonetheless similar, a heavy coffee drinker who suddenly quits drinking coffee altogether will experience headaches for a few days. This is because their central nervous system has become accustomed to regular jolts of caffeine throughout the day. Withdrawal from caffeine is usually short-lived and not too difficult. Stopping opiate pain meds is similar, but much, much more intense. The withdrawal symptoms are often very painful—so much so that the person will start to think that their pain is not really gone and they must get and take more pain meds.

A Vicious Cycle
Not only is the body expecting this drug, but a person who is taking pain medication is also building a tolerance to it. Their body is requiring more, sometimes lots more—to feel better. This is a vicious cycle that feeds on itself and only gets worse over time. The person taking theses drugs will also become much more sensitive to all pain—as the normal ability to handle mild pain with over-the-counter medications is now diminished.

I’ve recently watched this problem arise close to home, as a family member needed surgery. He had been regularly taking large amounts of pain meds for back pain. While in the hospital for knee-replacement surgery, he found that he required a much larger dosage of pain meds than a normal person would need. After he was given the maximum safe dosage—excruciating pain still persisted. One feels helpless in these situations.

To ensure that this doesn’t happen, pain meds really should only be used when truly needed. Otherwise, when the time comes that a person genuinely needs them—these pain-relieving drugs may not work at all.

How large is this problem really? In 2007 there were a total of 3.7 billion prescriptions written in the United States. 182 million were for pain meds*! I have double-checked these numbers because I thought they couldn’t be correct. Pain meds are second only to prescriptions written for lowering cholesterol (192 million prescriptions). Anti-depressant prescriptions came in third with 158 million.

If you subtract people aged 21 and under from these numbers—that leaves 230 million adults. According to these calculations, over 15 million people are taking opiate pain medications every day. This is 5% of the entire adult population.

Do all these people need opiate pain medication every day? The only way to know for sure is to quit, go through withdrawal and see how you feel after a few months—drug-free. More and more people are unwilling to go through this process. Today, addiction to opiate pain medications is one of the main reasons people are checking into rehab centers.

So how does one avoid becoming dependant on pain medications? And once a person has become dependant on them, how do they learn to safely quit?

Return from Pain Meds Cause More Pain! The new silent epidemic to Drug Addiction Help Now Home

RELATED ARTICLES:
Opiate Pain Meds: Avoiding Opiate Prescription Drug Addiction in Recovery

Read more about this topic—chapter 27, Why Don’t They JUST QUIT?

Effects of Addiction


* IMS Health Services (2007 Research Statistics)

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February 12, 2012 by jherzanek | 6 comments

Love First Intervention: How Do I Intervene?

February 7, 2012 by jherzanek | No comments

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Eye on Addiction Radio
Show #3
January 28, 2012
Eye on Addiction Radio
630 KHOW “Denver’s Talk Station”

 

Love First Intervention:
How Do I Intervene?

Guest: Jeff Jay
Interventionist and co-author of, love first

Jeff Jay, Love First

• Do interventions work?
• What are some different ways of intervening?
• What to do when the addict finds out about the intervention in advance?
(The answer may surprise you).

Joe and Jeff discuss different methods for intervening and the ways family can prepare for a successful intervention and what to do when the addict finds out about the intervention in advance. Listen to this one-hour show, including questions from listeners.

Listen Now

LISTEN NOW

Joe Herzanek and Jeff Jay
discuss these questions, answer calls and more.

Love First Website

Visit the Love First all-new website


 

 

 

Eye on Addiction Radio website and more details

RELATED:
> Intervention: The Solution for Families Held Hostage by Alcohol and Substance Abuse
> Interventions: Believe it or not, you do them all the time
> Baby Boomers and Older Adults (excerpted from the book Love First)

If you missed any of our other shows, listen now on our
Show Archive

Like us on FacebookPlease “Like Us” on Facebook! Thanks.

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RETURN: from Intervention: How Do I Intervene?, to Blog Home

TO PURCHASE: “Why Don’t They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery”

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Vicodin Abuse and Dangerous New Painkiller Worries Experts

December 26, 2011 by jherzanek | 2 comments

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Vicodin Abuse and Dangerous New Painkiller Worries Experts

Zogenix Headquarters

Zogenix headquarters, San Deigo, CA where work is underway to formulate a purer, more powerful version of the USA's second most-abused medicine, hydrocodone. Experts fear this new painkiller could trigger a brand new round of abuse. /Lenny Ignelz/Associated Press

There are a few medications available today that help some people with the initial quitting phase. However, I strongly advise anyone in recovery to consult with a trusted doctor before taking anything.

The following article addresses Vicodin Abuse and a dangerous new painkiller—a pure, more powerful version of the nation’s second most-abused medicine. 

One of the more difficult groups of substances for an addict to stop using is pain medication—mainly, the opiate drugs like Vicodin, Percocet, heroin, and OxyContin.
~Joe Herzanek

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By Chris Hawley/Associated Press

NEW YORK — Drug companies are working to develop a pure, more powerful version of the nation’s second most-abused medicine, which has addiction experts worried that it could spur a new wave of abuse.

The new pills contain the highly addictive painkiller hydrocodone, packing up to 10 times the amount of the drug as existing medications such as Vicodin. Four companies have begun patient testing, and one of them — Zogenix of San Diego — plans to apply early next year to begin marketing its product, Zohydro.

If approved, it would mark the first time patients could legally buy pure hydrocodone. Existing products combine the drug with nonaddictive painkillers such as acetaminophen.

Critics say they are especially worried about Zohydro, a timed-release drug meant for managing moderate to severe pain, because abusers could crush it to release an intense, immediate high.

“I have a big concern that this could be the next OxyContin,” said April Rovero, president of the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse. “We just don’t need this on the market.”

OxyContin, introduced in 1995 by Purdue Pharma of Stamford, Conn., was designed to manage pain with a formula that dribbled one dose of oxycodone over many hours.

Abusers quickly discovered they could defeat the timed-release feature by crushing the pills. Purdue Pharma changed the formula to make OxyContin more tamper-resistant, but addicts have moved onto generic oxycodone and other drugs that do not have a timed-release feature.

Oxycodone is now the most-abused medicine in the United States, with hydrocodone second, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s annual count of drug seizures sent to police drug labs for analysis.

The latest drug tests come as more pharmaceutical companies are getting into the $10 billion-a-year legal market for powerful — and addictive — opiate narcotics.

“It’s like the wild west,” said Peter Jackson, co-founder of Advocates for the Reform of Prescription Opioids. “The whole supply-side system is set up to perpetuate this massive unloading of opioid narcotics on the American public.”

The pharmaceutical firms say the new hydrocodone drugs give doctors another tool to try on patients in legitimate pain, part of a constant search for better painkillers to treat the aging U.S. population.

“Sometimes you circulate a patient between various opioids, and some may have a better effect than others,” said Karsten Lindhardt, chief executive of Denmark-based Egalet, which is testing its own pure hydrocodone product.

The companies say a pure hydrocodone pill would avoid liver problems linked to high doses of acetaminophen, an ingredient in products like Vicodin. They also say patients will be more closely supervised because, by law, they will have to return to their doctors each time they need more pills. Prescriptions for the weaker, hydrocodone-acetaminophen products now on the market can be refilled up to five times.

Zogenix has completed three rounds of patient testing, and last week it announced it had held a final meeting with Food and Drug Administration officials to talk about its upcoming drug application. It plans to file the application in early 2012 and have Zohydro on the market by early 2013.

Purdue Pharma and Cephalon, a Frazer, Pa.-based unit of Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals, are conducting late-stage trials of their own hydrocodone drugs, according to documents filed with federal regulators. In May, Purdue Pharma received a patent applying extended-release technology to hydrocodone. Neither company would comment on its plans.

Meanwhile, Egalet has finished the most preliminary stages of testing aimed at determining the basic safety of a drug. The firm could have a product on the market as early as 2015 but wants to see how the other companies fare with the FDA before deciding whether to move forward, Lindhardt said.

Critics say they are troubled because of the dark side that has accompanied the boom in sales of narcotic painkillers: Murders, pharmacy robberies and millions of dollars lost by hospitals that must treat overdose victims.

Thousands of legitimate pain patients are becoming addicted to powerful prescription painkillers, they say, in addition to the thousands more who abuse the drugs.

Prescription painkillers led to the deaths of almost 15,000 people in 2008, more than triple the 4,000 deaths in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last month.

Emergency room visits related to hydrocodone abuse have shot from 19,221 in 2000 to 86,258 in 2009, according to data compiled by the Drug Enforcement Administration. In Florida alone, hydrocodone caused 910 deaths and contributed to 1,803 others between 2003 and 2007.

Hydrocodone belongs to family of drugs known as opiates or opioids because they are chemically similar to opium. They include morphine, heroin, oxycodone, codeine, methadone and hydromorphone.

Opiates block pain but also unleash intense feelings of well-being and can create physical dependence. The withdrawal symptoms are also intense, with users complaining of cramps, diarrhea, muddled thinking, nausea and vomiting.

After a while, opiates stop working, forcing users to take stronger doses or to try slightly different chemicals.

“You’ve got a person on your product for life, and a doctor’s got a patient who’s never going to miss an appointment, because if they did and they didn’t get their prescription, they would feel very sick,” said Andrew Kolodny, president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing. “It’s a terrific business model, and that’s what these companies want to get in on.”

Under pressure from the government, Purdue Pharma last year debuted a new OxyContin pill formula that “squishes” instead of crumbling when someone tries to crush it.

But Zogenix, whose drug is time-released but crushable, says there is not enough evidence to show that such tamper-resistant reformulations thwart abuse.

“Provided sufficient effort, all formulations currently available can be overcome,” Zogenix said in a written response to questions by The Associated Press.

At a conference for investors New York on Nov. 29, Zogenix chief executive Roger Hawley said the FDA was not pressuring Zogenix to put an abuse deterrent in Zohydro.

“We would certainly consider later launching an abuse-deterrent form, but right now we believe the priority of safer hydrocodone — that is, without acetaminophen — is a key priority for the FDA,” Hawley said.

FDA spokeswoman Erica Jefferson said the agency would not comment on its discussions with drug companies, citing the need to protect trade secrets.

Drug control advocates say they’re worried the U.S. government is too lax about controlling addictive pain medications. The United States consumes 99 percent of the world’s hydrocodone and 83 percent of its oxycodone, according to a 2008 study by the International Narcotics Control Board.

One 41-year-old loophole in particular has fed the current problem with hydrocodone abuse, critics say. The federal Controlled Substances Act, passed in 1970, puts fewer controls on combination pills containing hydrocodone and another painkiller than it does on the equivalent oxycodone products.

A Vicodin prescription can be refilled five times, for example, while a Percocet prescription can only be filled once.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration have been studying whether to close this loophole since 1999 but have made no decision. Congress is now considering a bill that would force the agencies to tighten the controls.

“This is a problem that is fundamentally an oversupply problem,” said Jackson, the drug-control advocate. “The FDA has kind of opened the floodgates, and they refuse to recognize the mistakes made in the past.”

Pure hydrocodone falls into the stricter drug-control category than hydrocodone-acetaminophen medications, meaning patients would have to go to their doctors for a new prescription each time they needed more pills. But Jackson said that’s no guarantee against abuse, noting that dozens of unscrupulous doctors have been caught churning out prescriptions in so-called “pill mills.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration, which enforces controls on medicines along with the FDA, said it could not comment on drugs that have not yet been approved for sale.

However, Zogenix has acknowledged the abuse issue could become a liability.

“Illicit use and abuse of hydrocodone is well documented,” it said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission in September. “Thus, the regulatory approval process and the marketing of Zohydro may generate public controversy that may adversely affect regulatory approval and market acceptance of Zohydro.”

Return from Vicodin Abuse and Dangerous New Painkiller Worries Experts to Drug Addiction Help Now Home

RELATED ARTICLES:

Pain Meds Cause More Pain! The new silent epidemic

Opiate Pain Meds: Avoiding Opiate Prescription Drug Addiction in Recovery

Chronic Pain Management & Pain Pill Addiction: What to do?

Read more about this topic—chapter 27, Why Don’t They JUST QUIT?

Effects of Addiction


 

________________________________________
Vicodin Abuse,  New Painkiller, Painkiller addiction

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Phone counseling for families of substance abusers

December 17, 2011 by jherzanek | No comments

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The Flame, First Pres Boulder, Dec. 2011

Changing Lives Foundation is supported by generous individual donors and several churches. As a way to “give back” to members of supporting churches, we offer No-Fee Phone Counseling for friends and family of someone struggling with drug or alcohol abuse.
We were recently featured in the December issue of First Pres. Boulder’s newsletter, The Flame (one of our supporting churches).
Click here for a PDF file of the December issue of The Flame

 

 

 

 

Joe and Judy Herzanek

Joe and Judy Herzanek

New Family Resource Available at First Pres – Counseling for Families of Substance Abusers

~By Russ Teets

Editor’s Note:
Joe Herzanek is the president and founder of Changing Lives Foundation. As a certified addiction professional in Colorado he spent over seventeen years working in the criminal justice system as the Chaplain at the Boulder County Jail. His credentials include being a Colorado State Certified Addiction Counselor and a Board Certified Biblical Counselor.  Joe is the author of the book “Why Don’t They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery” which won the Best Self-Help Book award in 2008. Joe’s wife Judy is the Director of Creative Development and Marketing for Changing Lives.

In 2010, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 22.1 million persons (8.7 percent of the population aged 12 or older) in the U.S. were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year.  15.0 million had dependence or abuse of alcohol, 4.2 million of illicit drugs and 2.9 of both.  For drugs, marijuana is the number one drug of abuse and prescription painkillers are number two.

For each substance abuser there are an estimated 10 other people who are directly affected. Family members and friends are the ones who suffer the most as they watch their loved one continue down the road of self-destruction. They desperately want to help the abuser but their actions often make the situation worse.

Joe and Judy Herzanek founded Changing Lives to help families and friends of substance abusers.  First Pres has supported Joe’s work for over seventeen years, beginning with the Boulder County Jail Chaplaincy and now in his work with families struggling with alcohol and drug abuse.

Joe says: “We are passionate about what we do and know that we are making a difference in people’s lives—both in the now and in eternity. The families we work with are in crisis. They feel extremely hopeless and lost not knowing what to do. With all of our experience, both in our lives and the lives of our family members, we offer real solutions, encouragement and hope—and hope, when you are desperate, is a priceless commodity.

“Substance abuse is growing exponentially and is impacting all people groups—even in the Christian community. I’m convinced that this is also an important and often overlooked issue for many of our families at First Pres. Most Christian families feel a sense of shame and are reluctant to seek help or talk about it. They continue to live with the problem or try to ignore it—often till a crisis develops, or when it is too late.”

“Judy and I strongly feel that we/Changing Lives—a local, church-sponsored resource, will best serve the First Pres congregation by offering no-fee phone counseling to members. Due to the poor economy, more families are stretched to the breaking point financially. This is a way that we will partner even more with First Pres to help serve these members in their time of need.

“Counseling over the phone has many advantages:  it is an anonymous, no risk and easy way for church members to get clear guidance for their family.  We can envision this turning into a possible family group meeting at First Pres at some point down the road.

 Here is what some of Joe’s clients say:

We appreciate the convenience of being able to call. I don’t know if my husband would have participated otherwise. I also appreciated very much that you talked to us about faith. Just prior to the events over the last few weeks I received your email regarding this service. It kept coming to my mind. I feel that it was God’s direction to call you.  Thanks for making yourself available. ~Patty B., Rutland, VT

Joe’s advice was very helpful & got me thinking realistically about the situation. I really feel as though Joe cares about the people he is trying to help. Some of the other people I talked to felt more like salesmen, trying to sell me on their program. ~Gina N., Foristell, MO

We felt so alone for such a long time, and when you reached out that gave us peace and strength that we can all get through this. Thank you so very much, God Bless you and your family. ~Trish & John, Colorado Springs, CO

 

Do you have a family member caught up in this cycle?  Please take advantage of this great resource for families. Call Joe Herzanek at 303.775.6493 to schedule a time or get more details or contact him at jherzanek@gmail.com.

To view our First Pres. local missions website page

More info on Changing Lives Phone Counseling

 

 

 

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Suboxone: Switching from one drug to another.

November 7, 2011 by jherzanek | 5 comments

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Jaywalker Lodge

Jaywalker Lodge

“Suboxone does get us on the road to recovery, but don’t confuse the the on-ramp with the destination.”

~ Bob Ferguson
Founder/Director, Jaywalker Lodge, Carbondale, CO

“Say what you will, the truth is that people, LOTS OF PEOPLE
—millions have quit all alcohol and drug use.
Methadone and suboxone users are users.”

~ Joe Herzanek
President, Changing Lives Foundation
Author, Why Don’t They Just Quit?

Quite a heated discussion regarding the article
Roxane Labs Generic Suboxone Hits the Market

 

Read all the comments below.
To follow the original discussion, click here on “Dad on Fire” blog

November 6, 2009 at 3:59 pm
It seems to me that way to many have bought into the idea that some people just won’t/can’t quit. Sad. Switching from one drug to another. At least now they can be strung out on a legal drug. Harm reduction is a joke. I’m sure the pharmaceutical companies are happy though.
Joe

November 6, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Point accepted. However, what is an affordable alternative? I would really like to know. I have watched a lot of young opiate addicts trip over recovery and rehab for years–over and over again. My own son; one of them. Even residential rehab wasn’t the answer to many. Initially, the intense withdrawals stops most of them from continuing–so comes replacement drug therapy. The big Pharmas do profit off it. That’s another issue. If an addict accepts suboxone or methadone for that matter without trying to use street opiates, they can regain much of what they lost physically and mentally and when stable, they can wean off of either of these. The problem with weaning off of suboxone is the issue of micro-dosing. Its a powerful drug. 1 mg is equal to 20-30 mgs. of methadone. Micro doses and time release implants are available in Europe just for that purpose; not here yet. Methadone is easier to wean off in that respect. the problems is timing. Being a craving addict doesn’t go away that soon enough–and then there is Methamphetamine of which physical and mental restoration is even more questionable. I think residential rehab is a better answer for that.
dadonfire

November 6, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I think this is good news. I am curious if Joe from the above comment has overcome heroin addiction. Suboxone DOES help addicts get off opiates. It may be addicting but it does NOT get you high, it does not ruin your life, it does not land you in jail or the grave. Therefore, its somewhat of a miracle drug. My insurance company covered it and we got it at a reasonable cost. I am all for it.
Barbara

November 6, 2009 at 6:44 pm
This is a really important discussion. I’m glad you brought it up. Suboxone and methadone are both controversial. But then again, so is rehab. I have known numerous families who have spent thousands of dollars (sometimes their child’s college fund) for one rehab after another and no lasting results. As parents we would do just about anything to help our children overcome their addiction problems, but in reality there’s not much we can do. I think Suboxone is one option, but my son ended up selling his doses to pay for heroin. Bottom line is they have to want to stop. Jail seems to be working for my son, he’s got 76 days clean now. The fear is when he gets out. There is NO easy answer.
Barbara

November 6, 2009 at 6:58 pm

As one recent story contributor put it “it is love and love alone that will help you and your family thru this nightmare. Tough love mostly.” I would add everything the experts can offer, sheer human will and a more compassionate world of recovery. Some 22 million drug addicts and alcoholics can’t be wrong. No easy answers is right. Someone I love dearly who fought opiate addiction for a decade and a half views jail as a rescue. I still want to see drug policy reform as part of a growing nation of compassion, acceptance and recovery.
dadonfire


November 6, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Wow, seems like a bit of a hornet’s nest. I spent sixteen years lost in addiction to alcohol and drugs. Heroin and opiate pain meds were some of my favorites. I now have a few decades of total abstinence. Say what you will, the truth is that people, LOTS OF PEOPLE, millions have quit all alcohol and drug use. Methadone and suboxone users are users. They have just switched to legal dope. They have convinced you that they are unique and they just can’t quit. Which is a bunch of crap from a bunch of cry babies.
Regards, Joe

November 7, 2009 at 8:30 am
I have to agree with Joe, millions of folks have recovered, myself included. Barbara, I also see the value of suboxone as a detox protocol–it’s a safe and effective bridge from active opiate use to chemical abstinence. But too many times, the addict and their caregivers get stuck on that bridge. Reducing the damage and consequences of active addiction through harm reduction is an intoxicating notion for weary addicts and their families. Often i have seen cases where active opiate addicts on the road to ruin will “behave themselves” once they start on suboxone. Harm reduction in that sense is effective, insofar as it goes. Many treatment providers LOVE this drug because it makes disruptive patients act compliant. But make no mistake, harm reduction + compliance does NOT equal sobriety. These folks are NOT sober–the pupils are pinned, they have a flat personal affect, and reaction times are off by at least a beat or two. What’s worse, they have switched from an unacceptable chemical dependence to a more socially acceptable drug dependence, and deep down, they know that. This stunts their self-esteem and blocks them from the freedom they are seeking. Sobriety is an onerous, difficult deal and involves a commitment to change and usually, some level of personal and physical discomfort. The notion that you can make lasting and profound personal change without experiencing any personal discomfort or sacrifice whatsoever–that is what the drug companies and their representatives are selling. It’s an intriguing, intoxicating notion, isn’t it? Suboxone does get us on the road to recovery, but don’t confuse the the on-ramp with the destination. The real work begins when patients and their doctors summon the courage to go from “less”chemicals to no chemicals.
Bob Ferguson

November 7, 2009 at 10:36 am
I may have been a bit harsh in my last comment. I tend to do that at times. Using suboxone for a brief period during detox can be helpful. Beyond that and the person has simply decided to use the drug rather than find another coping skill. Talk therapy is the key ingredient in long term total abstinence. 12 Step programs are the best place to turn for this long term help.
Joe

November 7, 2009 at 10:49 am
Joe, Thanks for your comments. I mean that sincerely. For me, what former addicts have to say on these subjects is very valuable because you are the only ones who actually know, first hand, what its like. The rest of us are striving to understand and willing to do just about anything we can to help our loved one, but what we learn over and over is that the addict has to be ready, they have to do it themselves. I hear that 12 Step is the way to go and am praying that my 18 y.o. will open his mind to it when he gets in rehab. You give me hope that anyone can do it – when they are ready. A lot of us just pray that our loved ones are ready sooner than later because we feel helpless as we watch them waste precious years. Thanks again.
Barbara

November 7, 2009 at 11:13 am
Thank you for your kind words Barbara. I didn’t start this yesterday for any other reason than it just makes me mad that SOME, not all, rehab places want to just put people on another drug to FIX their current drug problem. I also didn’t start this to sell books but having said that I am an author and have written a very helpful book on this topic. If you are interested in looking at it just google my name from the first comment.
Regards, Joe

November 10, 2009 at 11:13 am
I was really excited reading the posts. Especially from Bob–one of the best I’ve read in a long time. Gotta admit though I lost that excitement when I clicked on a suboxone link that brought me to a site sponsored by Reckitt.
Jay

November 10, 2009 at 11:13 am
Jay–I encourage you to stay linked with this site. Appreciate your comments a lot. We don’t support Reckitt’s recent actions, as their interest is to sustain profit from a drug (suboxone) that was developed to bridge addiction to recovery and has an expired patent. I say that because they are fighting generic status. We also do not typically support the long term use of drug replacement therapy. Both Suboxone and Methadone are difficult enough for an addict to manage initially. A lot to say about that later. These drugs usefulness is the bridge they provide to an ultimate full and sober recovery. I have to defer to Joe’s comments above for a good description of what they really are in a lot of cases. Legal replacement drugs have their “place”. If it stops an addict on a dangerous steep downhill slope, or pulls him or her out of an abyss; its difficult for addiction doctors in the therapy community to discount their use.
dadonfire

November 10, 2009 at 11:13 am
Great follow-up dad. Nothing wrong with a little help to get started in recovery. Then the real answer can begin, which in my opinion is talk therapy. This applies to more than substance dependent people. Almost anyone can benefit from a mentor of some kind.
Joe

* Have you “tried everything?” To learn about affordable phone counseling with Joe Herzanek  click here.

 

Suboxone addiction quit suboxone  Suboxone addiction quit suboxone  Suboxone addiction quit suboxone

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Alcoholic Gummy Bears. What Next? Alcoholic Gummy Worms!

October 19, 2011 by jherzanek | No comments

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Alcoholic Gummy Bears

Newest Teen Alcohol Trend: Alcoholic Gummy Bears (and alcoholic gummy worms)

Just in time for Trick or Treat.
Alcoholic Gummy Bears. What Next?

It’s good for everyone to be “up on the latest” concerning dangers to our kids. The latest trend that our creative youth has invented is Alcoholic Gummy Bears (soaking Gummy Bears in Alcohol). I did a test and searched for “Alcoholic Gummy Bears” online and got 78,500 results, added the word recipe (“Recipe Alcoholic Gummy Bears”) and got 217,000 links to teach kids how to make these Alcoholic Gummy Bears. Nice.

Here’s what The Huffington Post has to say about Alcoholic Gummy Bears (and Alcoholic Gummy Worms):


Underage Alcohol Usage: Soaking Gummy Bears In Alcohol Is Newest Trend For Teens

October 19, 2011  One of the scariest things about raising teens is the possibility that they might be influenced to drink. You can warn them of the dangers and consequences until you’re blue in the face, but sometimes, peer pressure gets the best of them. The American Academy of Pediatrics found that more than four million adolescents drink alcohol in any month.

And what’s more frightening, is how clever they’ve become about hiding the act from parents. Once upon a time, teens stole alcohol from their parents, so keeping a close watch on your own liquor cabinet was a fine way to curb the problem. But today, their creativity puts the old trick of refilling bottles with Sprite to shame. And the latest trend in undercover drinking is especially savvy – especially around Halloween time.

Teens are using gummy candy (bears and worms to be exact) to get drunk. They soak the candy in alcohol, Keloland.com

Alcoholic Gummy Worms

Alcoholic Gummy Worms

reports.

Darcy Jensen from Prairie View Prevention Services in South Dakota works with school districts to prevent teen drinking as part of the “Parents Matter” campaign. She sent out a warning to schools last week to warn them about the trend. It’s important for parents to be aware so that they can spot if their teen has tried it, she says.

“Maybe someone has offered the candy and they didn’t even know. So telling the kids ahead of time this could be something to be aware of is important,” Jensen said.

And though it’s hard to see the positive side of teens becoming sneakier when it comes to something as dangerous as underage drinking, a trend like this can be used to open communication on the topic.

“It’s a good conversation starter to talk about the whole issue of alcohol and underage drinking and the hazards,” Jensen said.

 

RELATED:
Typical YouTube “how to make” video

Drug czar warns against taking ‘bath salts’ drugs

Teens Under the Influence

Specialty “Bath Salts” Linked to Hospitalizations, Suicides

Warnings and Threats

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Melanie Griffith speaks about her addiction to pain pills

September 27, 2011 by jherzanek | 1 comment

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Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas. — Photo by AP


melanie Griffith talks about her husband’s support (or lack of it) regarding her recovery from addiction to pain pills.

“I went away to rehab for three months; it took 10 days just to detox. I wish he would go to a meeting with me or to Al-Anon, but it’s very foreign to him.”

This article below illustrates the fact that anyone can feel “all alone” (even being married to a sex symbol), addiction strikes people from virtually all walks of life, and that we all need support and understanding.

by: Meg Grant | from: AARP The Magazine | November 2011 issue

Q: What first attracted you to Antonio?

A: Everything, really. His way. He’s very funny. The first thing he asked me was my age. I said, “That’s the rudest thing anyone has asked me first.” But there was something about him. Still is. I just love him.

Q: Is it hard to be married to a sex symbol?

A: No — not any harder than being married to any man.

Q: How do you keep your marriage going?

A: We’re willing to change with each other, let old things die and new things be born. But it’s a constant endeavor.

Q: How is Antonio as a dad?

A: If the kids need him, he’s there. But he has a different parenting style. He can talk to them deeply about things they won’t talk to me about, because I’m the one saying, “You’re supposed to be doing this right now. It’s your responsibility.” I’m the disciplinarian; he’s the understanding, philosophical one. We balance each other.

Q: Antonio and I talked about the recent news of men being unfaithful. What do you think of these guys?

A: I would feel so hurt. I don’t know if humans were meant to be with only one person. I don’t think so. But I don’t believe Antonio could tolerate my being with someone else, just as I couldn’t tolerate his being with someone else.

Q: He said that you all participated in your rehab a few years ago, and it welded you.

A: I’m sorry to say, that’s in his mind. I started on pain pills when I hurt my knee skiing and just kept taking them. The kids knew; Dakota and Stella called me on it. Antonio was in London at the time. I went away to rehab for three months; it took 10 days just to detox. We had two family weeks there, but we didn’t follow through. Antonio was supportive to the extent that he can be, but if you’re not an alcoholic or drug addict, and you find out that your wife is a bad one, it’s hard to deal with. As long as I’m okay, he’s okay. I wish he would go to a meeting with me or to Al-Anon, but it’s very foreign to him. Addiction runs in my family but not in his.

Q: So it’s been your journey alone.

A: Yes. And I don’t mean that against him. I would like him to do more, but it’s a difficult thing to have happen in any family, and in that way he has been totally by my side. He really is the greatest guy.

 

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Recovery Book Review: Running Away From Me

September 21, 2011 by jherzanek | 1 comment

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Running Away from Me

Running Away From Me

~By David Allan Reeves

The Best True Story Of Addiction and Recovery I’ve Read In A Very Long Time

~Review by Judy Herzanek

I’ve read quite a few books on addiction and recovery over the past years. Once in a while there is one that just “hits me” in a special way. This is one of those books. I didn’t want it to end. And I certainly want to follow David as he continues his amazing journey of recovery.

The thing that really hit home to me was the way David’s story began . . . no abuse, no trauma, no neglect or divorce. His story, like that of many others illustrates the insidiousness of addiction and how it creeps into a person’s life and takes hold with a vengeance.

“I can never sit back and say that I’ve completely recovered from my addiction. It has been with me for so long that it now defines who I am.” ~David Allan Reeves

Written with brutal honesty and passion, David illustrates the reality of how strong this obsession can be. The way it completely takes over a person’s entire life. . . mentally, physically and spiritually is mind-boggling. The reader follows him from his casual use, to resorting to actions that would previously have been unthinkable.

As we journey with David we learn firsthand of his struggles and life-lessons.

On the circle of addiction:
“More pain equals more drugs equals more pain equals more drugs, ad infinitum.”

On his many relapses:
“What is wrong with me? Do I have a split personality or something? Am I Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? I’m a walking contradiction . . . I’m strong and I’m weak. I’m smart, but I act stupid. I want to quit and I want to use. I have a demon and an angel on my shoulders, and they take turns controlling my thoughts and actions.”

On Jail:
“There is a smell in these places, a mix of sweat, piss, and disinfectant that gets in your skin and stays there. If you get a whiff of it years later, all those feeling and emotions come back and slap you in the face. It’s the smell of condemnation.”

“I was spineless and pitiful. I was tough enough to take a gun and stick it in people’s faces to get what I wanted, but the thought of even a few days in prison had me whimpering and whining.”

On learning to deal with life:
“I was incapable of dealing with life on life’s terms. Life is a series of ups and downs, and I reached for the highs and was unskilled to deal with the lows. There is no above without a below, no light without darkness, and no good without bad. I had to learn to accept it and deal with it.”

On hitting bottom:
“For the first ten years I didn’t think I had a problem and saw no reason to quit. For the second ten years I knew I had a problem. But even after several attempts to quit, I couldn’t do it. For the first ten years, drug use was fun and exciting. For the second ten years it was pure hell on earth. For the first ten years, I could have quit if I wanted to. For the second ten years, it was too late.”

I believe this book is perfect for those looking to really understand what it is like to be in the grip of addiction—particularly for family members and friends of an alcoholic/addict.

I would caution that giving this book to your addict to read may not be the best idea. The graphic description of drug use, thoughts and feelings before, during and after using are so well-written, vivid and real—too real for a recovering addict to read.

Lastly, the best thing about this story is that it gives families and friends hope. David says it best:

 “That small sliver of hope has grown into a volcano of joy, and if I can rebound from the pit of hell I was in, I believe anyone can. Saying I was hooked is inadequate; I was impaled and could not get loose without becoming self-destructive.”

“If it is really the darkest before dawn, then the sun must be about ready to come up.”

 

David will celebrate 7 years clean and sober on October 15, 2011

 

 

“A wonderful companion book to “Why Don’t They Just Quit?, by Joe Herzanek”

~Judy Herzanek
Dir. Creative Development and Marketing/Changing Lives Foundation
Book: Why Don’t They Just Quit?
90-Minute DVD:Why Don’t They Just QUIT? DVD Roundtable Discussion: What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.
New DVD: The 10 Toughest Questions Families and Friends Ask About Addiction and Recovery.
Kindle Edition: Why Don’t They Just Quit?

 

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Joe Herzanek Celebrates 34 years.

September 21, 2011 by jherzanek | 2 comments

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Joe Herzanek with Lewis and ClarkMY HUSBAND JOE
IS CELEBRATING 34 YEARS
CLEAN AND SOBER TODAY!

Way to go Honey!
Love ya,

~Judy, Lewis & Clark

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Explore our Changing Lives
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Archive

Sign up for our Free Monthly eNewsletter here

Click on each title to find:

 HELP WITH HAVING “THAT MOST DIFFICULT CONVERSATION”

 IS IT OKAY TO TAKE OPIATE PAIN MEDICATION IN RECOVERY?

12-STEP RECOVERY AND “THINGS OF GOD” –A PERFECT MATCH 

DAN’S STORY: A MOTHER’S PAINFUL LESSONS LEARNED 

DETACHMENT. HOW CAN I?

WE CAN’T AFFORD TREATMENT. WHAT NOW?

WILLPOWER: ISN’T ADDICTION JUST A WILLPOWER PROBLEM?

SIBLINGS: THE FORGOTTEN ONES

POWERLESS OVER ALCOHOL

“YES, YOUR KID IS SMOKING POT” (What every parent needs to know now.)

INSIDER TIPS ON ADDICTION RECOVERY DURING A RECESSION

PAIN MEDS CAUSE MORE PAIN

METH: “THE DEVIL’S DRUG” (Can Meth addicts really recover?)

THE ACCIDENTAL ADDICT

“MEANEST MOM”

INTERVENTIONS
(Believe it or not, you do them all the time!)

WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH STRESS?

HOLIDAY PROBLEMS?

RELAPSE. IT HAPPENS 

 

Joe & Judy Herzanek

Joe and Judy Herzanek


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September 5, 2011 by jherzanek | 1 comment

Addiction Intervention Radio Interviews with Joe Herzanek

September 4, 2011 by jherzanek | No comments

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Recovery Now! Radio Show

Recovery Now! Radio Shows on Intervention


with Joe Herzanek, author of “Why Don’t They Just Quit?”

Show #1 (September 2, 2011):
Addiction Counselor and Interventionist Joe Herzanek discusses the basics of addiction intervention, why it works and when it doesn’t, this week on Recovery Now!
LISTEN TO JOE NOW (CLICK HERE, THEN SCROLL DOWN)

Show #2:
Joe takes us through an actual addiction intervention on this weeks show. What happens before, during and after–to make the intervention successful.
LISTEN TO JOE NOW (CLICK HERE, THEN SCROLL DOWN)

LISTEN TO ALL OF JOE’S RADIO SHOWS ON ADDICTION AND RECOVERY

 

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Time to wake up to the alcohol and drug addiction epidemic

August 3, 2011 by jherzanek | 3 comments

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Joe Herzanek, Addiction Counselor and Interventionist

Joe Herzanek, Addiction Counselor and Interventionist

So what have Joe, Judy and Changing Lives been up to lately?

We continue to learn and adjust our activities concerning how to best help with the ever-expanding alcohol and drug addiction epidemic. After leaving the Boulder County Jail last October I have been counseling with families who have this issue in their lives (actually counseling with both the family members as well as the addict).

I receive calls–lots of calls, from those who have come to their wits’ end trying to help someone close to them. I offer guidance on how the family, friends, employer, can best handle alcoholism or drug addiction–how to help the loved one see the light, have an epiphany, and begin recovery.

The biggest problem concerning this drug addiction epidemic (which has rapidly grown over the past year or so) is with men, women and yes, children–using a combination of alcohol and opiate pain medications. I’ve gone back into the jail several times recently to counsel with and visit certain inmates–when a parent tells me their son or daughter is there because of substance use and abuse.

I have also spoken with doctors, nurses, and even pastors who are addicted or have a family member in trouble. What I try to teach the family is that they have more power than they realize and the friends/family members need to start using it. My hope is that they (the family/friend/employer) will confront the person, intervene in their life and use whatever leverage they have, to get the person to begin the journey of recovery.

Sadly what I’m finding out is that many of the people I talk to do not follow through. Knowing this has led me to complete some training on Family Interventions. I have also been greatly encouraged by some in the field who also believe there is a tremendous need for this (family intervention) service amidst our out-of-control alcohol and drug addiction epidemic. Local treatment facilities are often looking for an interventionist to meet with the family. Churches have already contacted me in the past for help in this area. Time will tell but Judy and I both believe we should move in this direction.

Society’s laissez-faire attitude toward recreational alcohol and drug use is actually a subtle condoning of substance abuse. Almost half of the states in the USA have a form of legal, sometimes called medical marijuana use for their populace. this drug used to be a person’s first step to addiction. For many it still is. That is changing.

A recent study now states that illicit use of prescription meds has become the young person’s first choice at drug experimentation (after alcohol of course). Adolescents are getting opiate pain meds and tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax from medicine cabinets–and not just in their own homes, but their friends homes as well. Please keep this in mind if you have teens living at home. Being vigilant and staying informed it the best we can do for now. Please forward this to a friend if you think they might benefit from this information on our nation’s ever-growing alcohol and drug addiction epidemic–and how YOU can make a difference.

Grace & peace,

~ Joe & Judy Herzanek 

Joe & Judy Herzanek

Joe & Judy Herzanek


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Elderly couple in support group

Elderly couple in support group

Participants in a support group for older adults at the Hanley Center, an addiction treatment and rehab center in West Palm Beach, Fla. say a prayer. A remarkable shift in the number of older adults reporting substance abuse problems is making this scene more common. Between 1992 and 2008, treatment admissions for those 50 and older more than doubled in the U.S. That number will continue to grow, experts say, as the massive baby boom generation ages. Photo: Wilfredo Lee / AP

___________________________________________________________

An increasing number of Baby Boomers and elderly Americans are seeking treatment for substance abuse–and this number is growing rapidly. According to The Associated Press, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that treatment admissions doubled in adults age 50 and over between 1992 and 2008.

It is widely predicted by experts that this wave will continue–as baby boomers who developed drug addiction problems 30 to 40 years ago continue to age. Older adults are more likely to abuse alcohol than illicit drugs, the article states. According to the AP, treatment professionals state that there are many older adults with substance abuse issues who are not seeking treatment.

Currently, there are few treatment programs specifically designed for older adults (with more and more coming on the scene each month). The article notes that seniors in mixed age groups may have a hard time relating to younger participants and may end up mentoring younger participants instead of focusing on their own issues.

___________________________________________________________

Big spike recorded in older drug, alcohol addicts

MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press
Updated 02:39 a.m., Wednesday, May 18, 2011

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — They go around this room at the Hanley Center telling of their struggles with alcohol and drugs. They tell of low points and lapses, brushes with death and pain caused to families. And silently, through the simple fact that each is in their 60s or beyond, they share one more secret: Addiction knows no age.

“I retired, I started drinking more,” one man said. “I lost my father, my mother, my dog, and it gave me a good excuse,” said another.

A remarkable shift in the number of older adults reporting substance abuse problems is making this scene more common. Between 1992 and 2008, treatment admissions for those 50 and older more than doubled in the U.S. That number will continue to grow, experts say, as the massive baby boom generation ages.

“There is a level of societal denial around the issue,” said Peter Provet, the head of Odyssey House in New York, another center offering specialized substance abuse treatment programs for seniors. “No one wants to look at their grandparent, no one wants to think about their grandparent or their elderly parent, and see that person as an addict.”

All told, 231,200 people aged 50 and over sought treatment for substance abuse in 2008, up from 102,700 in 1992, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Older adults accounted for about one of every eight seeking help for substance abuse in 2008, meaning their share of treatment admissions has doubled over the 16-year period as other age groups’ proportions shrunk slightly.

The growth outpaces overall population gains among older demographics. Between 2000 and 2008, substance abuse treatment admissions among those 50 and older increased by 70 percent while the overall 50-plus population grew by 21 percent. Experts say that’s because boomers have historically high rates of substance abuse, often developed three or four decades ago, that comes to a head later in life.

“The baby boom population has some experience with substance misuse and is more comfortable with these substances,” said Dr. Westley Clark, director of SAMHSA’s center on substance abuse treatment.

Treatment professionals believe the actual number of older people with substance abuse problems is many times larger than the amount seeking help.

While the number of older people with substance abuse problems is booming, relatively few facilities offer treatment programs specifically for their age group. Most pool people of all ages together; many divide by gender. Those that do offer age-specific programs say it helps participants relate to one another and keeps them focused on themselves, rather than mentoring younger addicts.

Provet said some have questioned whether it’s worthwhile to target efforts at seniors, who generally have fewer years left to benefit from treatment than younger people. He dismisses that reasoning, comparing it to arguing that a cancer patient should be turned away from chemotherapy or radiation treatments simply because they’re 65.

Besides, older participants at Odyssey House have the highest completion rate — 85 percent during the last fiscal year.

“It’s almost as if they say, ‘This now is my last shot. Let me see if I can get my life right finally,’” he said.

Among those taking that approach is Henry Dennis, who at 70 has used heroin for the past 50 years. He came to Odyssey before, relapsed and was arrested for drug possession. Dennis says he’s seen at least a dozen friends die of drug use, but it wasn’t enough to make him stop.

Now in his eighth month of treatment, he says he finally has the resolve to quit.

“I’m going to get it right this time,” said Dennis, who has worked a variety of odd jobs. “I don’t want to die, not just yet.”

Dennis’ treatment is paid for by the state of New York. Many pay out of pocket. Medicare offers some coverage for outpatient treatment but generally doesn’t cover inpatient programs.

Experts have observed a rise in illicit drug use, while treatment for alcohol has dropped even though it remains the chief addiction among older adults. The 2008 statistics show 59.9 percent of those 50 and older seeking treatment cited alcohol as their primary substance, down from 84.6 percent in 1992. Heroin came in second, accounting for 16 percent of admissions in that age group, more than double its share in the earlier survey. Cocaine was third, at 11.4 percent, more than four times its 1992 rate.

Surveys show the vast majority of older drug addicts and alcoholics reported first using their substance of choice many years earlier, like Dennis. That lifelong use can lead to liver damage, memory loss, hepatitis and a host of other medical issues. A minority of people find comfort in drugs and alcohol far later, fueled by drastic life changes, loneliness or legitimate physical pain.

Don Walsh, a participant at Hanley’s support group, falls into the latter category. He is among 19 men and women who gather on this day in the room with pale blue walls and the calming whir of a fish tank. One comes in a wheelchair, another with a walker; one dozes off during the session.

Walsh, a 77-year-old lawyer, says he didn’t develop a problem with alcohol until he retired a year ago. His relentless schedule of 12- to 14-hour days disappeared into a series of leisurely lunches and dinners where the wine flowed freely. One day, he blacked out in his garage. Had it happened while he was driving home, he thought, he might have killed himself and others.

After six weeks of treatment, Walsh says he no longer craves alcohol.

“I have a new lease on life,” he said.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Read about Al-Anon: The Critical Role of Al-Anon in Family Addiction Recovery

Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Recovery Resources for Friends, Families and Employers

Children of Alcoholics, Live in the middle of Life

Return from Baby Boomers and Elderly Seek Drug and Alcohol Treatment, to Changing Lives Foundation HOME

May 19, 2011 by jherzanek | No comments

Get help right now, with our new Instant Download DVD.

February 24, 2011 by jherzanek | 1 comment

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$5.95 Instant Download DVD Button

$5.95 Instant download DVD

Twenty-three professionally-produced high-quality, ‘jam-packed’ minutes with Addiction Family Therapist Joe Herzanek (a professional who personally understands the powerful grip of addiction).

  1. How can I tell …if a person is addicted or just a heavy user?
  2. How do I confront this person?
  3. How to handle adolescent use and abuse?
  4. How do I show my love without enabling?
  5. Does treatment work?
  6. We can’t afford treatment. What now?
  7. How do I handle relapse? Will this ever stop?
  8. What if they just can’t quit?
  9. I’ve tried it all. Nothing is working. What now?
  10. How do I get MY life back?

“A wealth of information. A valuable tool to use when
you don’t have time to wade through volumes of material.”

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Illegal Bath Salts“Just because something is not illegal does not mean it’s safe”

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske warned people Tuesday against taking the newest synthetic drugs, often marketed as “bath salts” and being sold legally on the Internet and in drug paraphernalia stores.

The powdered drugs are sold under such brand names as “Ivory Wave” or “Purple Wave.” Kerlikowske said synthetic stimulants in them have made hundreds of users across the country sick already this year. A Mississippi sheriff’s office has said the drugs are suspected in an apparent overdose death there.

“They pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of young people and anyone who uses them,” Kerlikowske said in a written statement. Read the entire article: Drug czar warns against taking “bath Salts” drugs

Also read:
Specialty “Bath Salts” linked to hospitalizations, suicides

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February 7, 2011 by jherzanek | 3 comments

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Arizona, the 15th State to legalize, Oooops, I mean to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in their State projects $40 million in tax revenue.

Doing the math on that means they expect sales of marijuana to be slightly over $600 million each year.

I guess Bob Dylan was right, at least concerning Arizona, “Everybody must get stoned.”

This would be funny if it weren’t such a tragic and stupid mistake.  )-:

~ Joe Herzanek


MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO BE TAXED IN ARIZONA

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona soon will be taxing a new product — medical marijuana.

The tax on medical marijuana will be the same as taxing any other product in the state, whether it be candy or furniture.

Read entire article: Medical Marijuana to be taxed in Arizona.

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February 4, 2011 by jherzanek | No comments

Help with drug addictions . . . or “spreading the hate”?

January 31, 2011 by jherzanek | No comments

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Help with drug addictions

Changing Lives received the following “interesting” email recently. We thought it was “interesting” enough to post—along with Joe’s response—in the hope that some of you will also share your comments.

Although the writer does not let us know exactly what she is responding to, we assume it is to Joe’s comments on our blog post “Cocaine vaccine shows promise in mice. Promise for whom?” or “The effectiveness of Suboxone in the treatment of Opicate Addiction.”

Really, Joe?
You are criticizing people who provide methods of making society safer and provide opiate dependent people a chance to make positive changes in their lives because “someone” is making money? AND you are doing that while selling your book and your method? You need to do some research if you want to have credibility. You are exactly what you are criticizing.
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE: Help with drug addictions . . . or “spreading the hate”?

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Cocaine Vaccine Shows Promise in Mice. Promise for whom?

January 27, 2011 by jherzanek | No comments

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Shows promise for the pharmaceutical industry to make lots of $$$ like they currently do with Suboxone.

One more pill or potion to “help” addicts switch to a new drug

“Additional testing of the cocaine vaccine will be needed on mice, rats, and donkeys before it can be tested on humans. “This looks terrific but humans are not big mice,” he said.”

“but humans are not big mice” good catch.
~Joe

Cocaine Vaccine Shows Promise in Mice
An experimental vaccine tested on mice appears to nullify the effects of cocaine addiction by keeping it from affecting the central nervous system, CNN Health reported Jan. 5.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), about 1.1 million Americans abused cocaine in any form in 2008. When smoked, injected, or snorted, the well-known addictive substance causes euphoria and a heightened sense of energy in users. It can also dangerously accelerate heart rate and increase blood pressure.

The new cocaine vaccine, developed by a team of researchers led by Dr. Ronald Crystal at Weil Cornell Medical College, is a combination of “an inactive common-cold virus with a chemical that imitates cocaine,” according to CNN Health. It works by stimulating the auto-immune system to create antibodies that prevent cocaine from “passing through the blood-brain barrier.”

In the study, vaccinated mice injected with cocaine showed no reaction. Unvaccinated mice “went crazy,” Crystal said, becoming agitated and hyperactive. He said the results were “very promising.”

Crystal hopes the vaccine can be tested on humans in about two years. He said that if the vaccine works on humans, it might be adapted for use with nicotine, heroin, and other addictive substances.

Additional testing of the cocaine vaccine will be needed on mice, rats, and donkeys before it can be tested on humans. “This looks terrific but humans are not big mice,” he said.

The study, “Cocaine Analog Coupled to Disrupted Adenovirus: A Vaccine Strategy to Evoke High-titer Immunity Against Addictive Drugs,” appeared in the Jan. 4, 2011 issue of Molecular Therapy.

This article summarizes an external report or press release on research published in a scientific journal. When available, links to the sources are provided above.

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Specialty ‘Bath Salts’ Linked to Hospitalizations, Suicides

January 24, 2011 by jherzanek | 3 comments

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Illegal Bath Salts

Illegal Bath Salts

January 24, 2011
News Summary

Alarming numbers of adolescents and others are ending up in emergency rooms and mental hospitals after using ”fake cocaine” — a powder legally sold as bath salts, The Sacramento Bee reported Jan. 18.

The so-called bath salts are not common brands, but instead specially-made powders that are sold in convenience stores and specialty shops in half-gram bottles for about $25 to $30. Users snort them, smoke them, or inject them like cocaine to experience euphoria.

However, they can cause “paranoia, chest pains, and irregular heartbeats,” the Bee reported.
Continue reading Specialty ‘Bath Salts’ Linked to Hospitalizations, Suicides . . .

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