Addiction Treatment
Posted under Recovery
Back to Basics: Getting in the Rooms of 12 Step Meetings
An integral part of the addiction recovery process is ongoing participation in 12-step group meetings. Individuals are introduced to the 12-step philosophy and concept during the active phase of treatment and it’s recommended that they continue attending meetings for at least the first year after they’ve completed their treatment program. Many people continue to attend throughout their sobriety. Fresh out of treatment, however, many recovering addicts feel they don’t need (or want) to go to meetings and let this part of their recovery slide. That’s a huge mistake, one which may result in relapse. Let’s get back to basics and talk about getting in the room of 12-step meetings.
Posted under Addiction Treatment
NIDA Announces Vaccines for Substance Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) held its eighth annual Blending Conference in Albuquerque, NM on April 22–23, where it displayed the latest pharmaceutical discoveries for prevention treatment. The conference provided an open forum where addiction medicine specialists and clinicians could discuss the rise of new vaccines becoming available to help treat substance abuse and addiction disorders that range from nicotine, cocaine, and heroin abuse. Researchers hope that the new vaccines will help lower risk statistics among such target groups as adolescents, Native American and Native Alaskans, and veterans.
Posted under Community Programs
Drug Charity Gets Surge in Funding After Being Featured on BBC Drama
A small drug charity that was forced to lay off almost a third of its staff because of funding cuts has seen a surge in donations after being featured in a BBC drama this week.
Posted under Recovery
How Open Can You Be About Your Addiction?
The decision of if, when, and how you should tell someone else about your addiction is a personal matter – and it’s not one to be taken lightly. Naturally, you wouldn’t dream of just blabbing to the stranger in the coffee shop that you once were a heroin or meth addict, or that you had a compulsive sexual addiction. They’d likely be put off by information of such a personal nature. But you also don’t want to get too far along in a new relationship – however intimate – before you reveal some of your past. The question, then, is how open can you be about your addiction?
Posted under Lawyer Assistance Programs
Alcohol & Drug Treatment for Lawyers Part V: Success in Treating California Lawyers for Substance Abuse
An attorney can participate in California’s lawyer assistance program (LAP) for any length of time if complying with the recommendations of the Evaluation Committee. Successful completion means having maintained three years of continuous sobriety or stability, made lifestyle changes sufficient to maintain ongoing recovery or stability, satisfied the terms of a participation agreement, and participated in the Program for 5 years or as deemed appropriate by the Evaluation Committee.
Posted under Lawyer Assistance Programs
Alcohol & Drug Treatment for Lawyers Part IV: California’s Lawyer Assistance Program
In November 2000, California voters approved Proposition 36, which allowed probation and treatment for many drug addicted criminal offenders who would normally face jail time. At the same time, California state Senator John Burton proposed Senate Bill 479, which established a diversion and treatment program for lawyers who suffer from drug addiction, alcohol abuse, or mental illness. The bill was sponsored by the California State Bar, signed into law in July 2001 and became effective on January 1, 2002. The bill created the Attorney Diversion and Assistance Act which is codified in California Business and Professions Code, Section 6230 through Section 6238. The purpose of the bill was two-fold: to protect the general public from malpractice while preserving the bar cards of addicted or mentally ill attorneys by encouraging attorneys to enter addiction treatment centers or programs for rehabilitation. The result: the California Lawyers Assistance Program.
Posted under Lawyer Assistance Programs
Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment for Lawyers: Part III State Bars Offer Incentives for Treatment Centers
Studies show that roughly 20% of all practicing attorneys suffer from addiction to drugs or alcohol and roughly 30% suffer from depression; these are conservative estimates. When an attorney practices law while actively abusing drugs or alcohol, there is tremendous potential for harm to clients, the general public, or the attorney’s future ability to practice law. Continue Reading
Posted under Lawyer Assistance Programs
Alcohol & Drug Treatment for Lawyers: Part II Facts about Addiction
This is the second article in a series on addiction treatment for attorney. Read Part I on Addiction Treatment for Lawyers.
At any given moment, a typical drug or alcohol treatment center will have patients from all walks of life. Vast differences may exist in age, sex, education level, family status, job type and socio-economic status. However, the treatment center participants are all united in their addiction and the desire to get and stay sober. But, if we were permitted to take a closer look, I bet we’d find that lawyers are represented no more frequently than any other type of worker. In fact, they probably enter addiction treatment centers less often than other individuals.
Why is this bad? Why should we not applaud the fact that attorneys are not in rehab as often as everybody else? Simply put, a lawyer is twice as likely to need an addiction treatment center than a non-attorney. The fact that attorneys are not taking up their fair share of treatment center beds, and then some, should be cause for great concern.
Posted under Lawyer Assistance Programs
Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment for Lawyers: Part I an Introduction
Jane and David recently filed for divorce. They have two small children, Dylan and Maddie. Both parties have retained legal counsel and are fighting for custody of their kids. Recently, David became suspicious that Jane’s new boyfriend might be abusing the children. He phoned his attorney and demanded that the attorney seek immediate, emergency, full custody of the kids in order to protect them from the new boyfriend. The attorney sent notice to Jane’s attorney regarding a hearing and, when opposing counsel failed to show for the early-morning hearing, the judge awarded sole custody to David until further notice. Jane will have to wait at least three months in order to have a formal hearing on permanent custody status. During this time, she will not have access to Dylan and Maddie. It will be revealed that nothing improper was occurring between the new boyfriend and the children. However, we will also learn that David hits Dylan when he is angry.
Posted under Treatment for Physicians
Physician Health Programs Encourage Treatment Center Enrollment for Drug Addicted and Alcoholic Doctors
One out of every ten adult Americans will experience some sort of drug abuse or alcoholism in their lifetime. For professionals the odds of becoming a drug addict or alcoholic are higher, due in part to the enormous stress and pressure that they face every day. For doctors suffering from substance abuse, the consequences to their patients, their careers, and the general public can be catastrophic.
The Addiction Primer
Everything you need to know to help a loved one struggling with addiction, from the writers and editors of Everything Addiction.
