Archive for July, 2008

Russia has had a dramatic increase in 2 things: heroin addiction and HIV. The two are obviously linked because 66% of the new HIV cases in 2006 were acquired because of intravenous, or IV, drug use. There has been a lot of public support to get these addicted Russians into drug rehab but the controversy only starts here.

A common practice in the treatment of those with heroin addiction is to administer methadone, which is a synthetic form of opium. Methadone treatment is taboo in Russia because many feel that it is simply replacing one addiction with another. In fact, even bringing up the topic can provoke serious legal sanctions.

Posting studies that show the effects, both positive and negative, of methadone treatment are illegal also. In fact, charges are often brought up against doctors that post these findings on their websites. Because methadone treatment is difficult to get in Russia, many find that the detox is ineffective and once they leave the drug rehab program, they use again.

Celebrities are always in the news for their drug and alcohol abuse. In fact, many times these people seem to parade their addictions in front of the camera for the sake of publicity. Even when stars take the first step and check into a drug rehab, they many times seem to be doing it because they know they will get their names in the tabloids.

What kind of message is this sending to our youth? Drug and alcohol abuse is serious and most people do not have the monetary resources that celebrities have to check into an exclusive drug rehab. But for many, there are long term drug rehab program that are affordable. And the longer the treatment, the greater the success rate for sobriety after treatment.

The thing for parents to realize is that talking to their children, especially teenagers and young adults, about how the abuse many celebrities display is not something to copy is very important. Another benefit of talking to children, teens and young adults is that it shows them that they are still being watched and their safety is still important – even as they mature.

Heather Locklear’s ex-husband Richie Sambora (who struggled with alcoholism) called her daily during her recent four-week stint in rehab for depression and anxiety, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. (The paper claims she also may have been treated for prescription drug issues.) It is among the revelations a source at the clinic tells the paper. The source says that Locklear, 46, told the other …

Read More at US Weekly…

NASHVILLE, July 24 (UPI) — Mindy McCready’s publicist said the U.S. country music singer has checked herself into rehab.

Read More at UPI…

Hats off to our public schools! Your drug testing will protect the innocent and help straighten out the guilty for the good of both now and in later life when they will appreciate it most — particularly outside of prison or rehab.

Read More at Alamogordo Daily News…

Mindy McCready remains in a substance abuse rehab center after being taken to the emergency room of a Nashville hospital last week.

Read More at cmt.com…

The United Nations recently released its report of world-wide drug abuse with both positive and negative findings. Overall, it appears that the global epidemic of drug abuse is starting to stabilize. This could be a fluke but it is something to be hopeful of when there are 25 million people in the world using drugs and in need of a drug rehab program.

And though cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamine use seems to be stabilizing, opium production is up because of the new growth in Afghanistan, cocaine use in Europe is up and trafficking in Africa is up. The bright side of this report, at least from an American prospective, is that cocaine use by teenagers is at 2.3% versus Spain where it is at 7.2%.

It is apparent that all of the drug and alcohol prevention is starting to pay off and getting users into drug rehab is the key to helping those that are addicted. Though the world-wide drug abuse rates are stabilizing, preventative efforts must be continued and addicts must get into drug rehab treatment programs.

GAUTIER (WLOX) — Joe Bayless is no stranger to battling against addiction, but he recently found a ministry that is making that fight a little easier.

Read More at WLOX-TV Biloxi…

Actress Heather Locklear has ended her rehab stint early, completing just 14 days of a month-long treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, it has been reported.

Read More at Stuff…

Claim: “Use your Flex Abdominal Toning Belt for just 30 minutes a day, five days a week and in just weeks, your abs could be firmer, stronger and more toned.” Cost: About $200, www.slendertone.tv or Amazon.com Facts: The Food and Drug Administration regulates electrical muscle stimulators; however, most stimulators are intended for use in physical therapy and rehab.And yes, it is …

Read More at Fort Worth Star-Telegram…

The federal government is reviewing the country’s most innovative anti-drug programs, including Winnipeg’s Drug Treatment Court.

Read More at CBC…

Criminal Court Judge Don Poole on Monday said allowing Steven Tyler Frizzell to get out of jail and attend a Madisonville church rehab program “raises a tremendous fear that he would once again behave erratically.”

Read More at The Chattanoogan…

Thank goodness for a judge (Don Poole) with a true concern for the public welfare. Mr. Frizzell is a major threat to everyone as he has proven time and again that, although he is barely of legal age, he has nothing to show for his short life but DUIs and other drug-related activities.

Read More at The Chattanoogan…

ASHTABULA ? Ashtabula County Sheriff?s Department detectives arrested a 46-year-old Ashtabula man Thursday night at the Downtown Motel on various drug charges.

Read More at Star Beacon…

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That didn’t happen the last time Antonio Alonzo Baker was sent to prison for 25 years. The Pasadena native managed to talk his way into a drug treatment program after serving less than 11 years on armed robbery charges.

Read More at The Capital…

The release of “The Dark Knight” has spurred wide praise and talk of a posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger for his chilling performance as The Joker.

Read More at The Star-Ledger…

Photo By Mike Schenk For those who ask John Scharf how he overcame an addiction to drugs, he says, ?(I) went to God and told him my problem. That?s where my strength came from.?

Read More at The Daily Record…

18 July, 2008 – If everything goes according to plan, Bhutan will have its first fully equipped rehabilitation centre this year under the umbrella of Youth Development Fund (YDF), after Rewa, the rehab centre closed down in February.

Read More at Kuensel…

Mary Horne of Pardeeville had to spend months in physical rehab after having a stroke. She walks with a cane.John Schroeter of Stoughton left the hospital five days after his stroke. He promptly returned to work and the golf course.Horne didn’t get to a major hospital until almost eight hours after her stroke started ? too late to prevent most damage.Schroeter received a clot-busting drug in …

Read More at Portage Daily Register…

A Marshall County woman who allegedly posed as a doctor?s office employee in a scheme to obtain prescription drugs has been ordered to enter rehabilitation pending a district court appearance.

Read More at The Daily Ardmoreite…

The Russian waitress whom Ronnie Wood was seeing before he entered rehab this week says she loves the married British rock musician.Woods, the 61-year-old guitarist for the Rolling Stones, is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict.He is said to have spent more than a week in Ireland drinking with 20-year-old Ekaterina Ivanova before he returned to England and checked himself into rehab.I love …

Read More at Moldova.org…

Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler was arrested for alleged drug possession in Los Angeles around 4 a.m. on Friday.

Read More at MTV Music Television…

Bolivia | Eric Rabello doesn’t like to talk specifics about his drug addiction – he doesn’t want to be that person anymore.”I’m ready to stay sober and clean,” he said sitting in the Brunswick County courthouse a little more than an hour before the first drug treatment court session began Thursday night.

Read More at The Wilmington Star-News…

PORTSMOUTH and#8212 Hammer assault suspect Maxwell Rome was sent back to jail Tuesday after a judge rejected his plan to fly to Boca Raton, Florida to check into a drug rehab facility.

Read More at Portsmouth Herald…

Mary Horne, of Pardeeville, had to spend months in physical rehab after having a stroke. She walks with a cane. John Schroeter, of Stoughton, left the hospital five days after his stroke. He promptly returned to work and the golf course. Horne didn’t get to a major hospital until almost eight hours after her stroke started ? too late to prevent most damage. Schroeter received a clot-busting drug …

Read More at Wisconsin State Journal…

Brunswick County’s first session of drug court will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the courthouse.The goal of drug court is to rehabilitate offenders and get them functioning again in the “real world.”It will target nonviolent offenders and drug users – not dealers.

Read More at The Wilmington Star-News…

AMY WINEHOUSE’s mother JANIS wants her to go to rehab – in late comic FRANKIE HOWERD’s house. The owner is selling the Somerset, England property – and is considering …

Read More at ContactMusic…

Amy Winehouse’s mother Janis wants her to go to rehab – in late comic Frankie Howerd’s house.

Read More at world entertainment news via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News…

Amy Winehouse may undergo rehab in the home of late comic Frankie Howerd.

Read More at Digital Spy…