Category: From Addiction Recovery Bulletin

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

EMR MATTERS –

October 2024 – The challenge is that many in the behavioral health space aren’t actively looking for AI solutions yet. Our role has been more about introducing these technologies. We ensure our products are HIPAA compliant by not using generalized language … I’ve worked with AI in every decade since the 80s, and I’ve always been fascinated by its potential. The launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 was a turning point because this was the first time that the public had access to a large language model in a way that showed them its incredible abilities to perform tasks beyond human capabilities. As an engineer, this inspired me to create products that leverage AI to solve real-world problems, especially in areas like behavioral health where the need is great but the resources are limited.

The challenge is that many in the behavioral health space aren’t actively looking for AI solutions yet. Our role has been more about introducing these technologies. We ensure our products are HIPAA compliant by not using generalized language models like ChatGPT. Instead, we’ve built our own database and system to maintain privacy and security, ensuring that no data is stored or accessible to anyone. This gives agencies peace of mind knowing that their data remains confidential and secure.

As we began testing various AI applications in behavioral health, we quickly learned that a key need for therapists was in the creation of notes. At a high level, our system is similar to ChatGPT in that it can summarize discussions that occur between therapists and their patients. However, we go further by tailoring the AI to specific sessions, such as therapy or group meetings, and generating precise notes like SOAP notes or session progress. These notes can then be integrated into an EHR for easy use. And we also use feedback from clinicians to continuously improve the system, ensuring it meets their needs without compromising security.

CONTINUE@FosterCareTech

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

VIDEO – ACTIVE RECOVERY –

Dec. 9, 2024 – Getting outdoors, hiking, climbing and even gardening has been helping those with a substance use disorder stay away from drugs and alcohol. The Phoenix, a nonprofit, promotes an active lifestyle for individuals recovering from substance abuse.  

CONTINUE@Fox

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE –

Dec. 6, 2024 – 16,346,294 views 11 days ago #1 on Trending for music

CONTINUE@YouTube

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

NOT JUST IN PENCILS –

Dec. 8, 2024 – Americans born before 1966 experienced “significantly higher rates of mental health problems as a result of lead, and likely experienced changes to their personalities that would have made them less successful and resilient in life.” Lead is “neurotoxic” and can erode brain cells and alter brain function – therefore, there is “no safe level of exposure at any point in life.”  Young children are especially vulnerable … Lead study author Aaron Reuben, PhD, based in North Carolina, wrote in a statement that humans are “not adapted to be exposed to lead at the levels we have been exposed to over the past century.”

He added, “We have very few effective measures for dealing with lead once it is in the body, and many of us have been exposed to levels 1,000 to 10,000 times more than what is natural.”

The researchers analyzed historical data on childhood blood-lead levels, leaded gas use and U.S. population statistics, determining that more than 170 million Americans had “clinically concerning levels” of lead in their blood as children as of 2015.

Lead exposure resulted in greater rates of mental disorders like depression and anxiety, but also more “mild distress that would impair quality of life.”

“We saw very significant shifts in mental health across generations of Americans…

CONTINUE@NYPost

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE? –

Dec. 19, 2024 – Assembly Bill 56 (AB 56) proposes a mandatory ‘black box warning’ on social media sites during a user’s first time on the platform. The message would appear for at least 90 seconds, and would reappear every week. The warning itself would alert users to the risks associated with excessive social media use and the impact on mental health.

Experts have warned about a worsening youth mental health crisis linked to social media. Studies have shown correlations between increased social media use and rising rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges in people everywhere, but particularly among teenagers.

CONTINUE@Yahoo

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

AND STOPPED DIGGING –                                                                                        

Dec. 4, 2024 – In a new interview with The Times, published over the weekend, the singer recalled that her drinking caused a turbulent moment following her divorce from her first husband, Sam Cooper. “I drank myself into oblivion,” she told the outlet. “I went over to his house and started screaming at him, woke the kids up, you know, really distressed the children.”

She added that her daughters Marnie, 11, and Ethel, 13, “remember that”; “they know that [she] was under the influence then and that it’s important that Mummy avoids getting into those situations.” Now that she’s been five years sober, Allen attends 12-step meetings on a regular basis. For her, it’s important that her children “feel safe.” She added, “That’s the main thing for me. I felt very unsafe in my childhood, and my kids feel safe.”

CONTINUE@MSN

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

NOT JUST IN PENCILS –

Dec. 8, 2024 – Americans born before 1966 experienced “significantly higher rates of mental health problems as a result of lead, and likely experienced changes to their personalities that would have made them less successful and resilient in life.” Lead is “neurotoxic” and can erode brain cells and alter brain function – therefore, there is “no safe level of exposure at any point in life.”  Young children are especially vulnerable … Lead study author Aaron Reuben, PhD, based in North Carolina, wrote in a statement that humans are “not adapted to be exposed to lead at the levels we have been exposed to over the past century.”

He added, “We have very few effective measures for dealing with lead once it is in the body, and many of us have been exposed to levels 1,000 to 10,000 times more than what is natural.”

The researchers analyzed historical data on childhood blood-lead levels, leaded gas use and U.S. population statistics, determining that more than 170 million Americans had “clinically concerning levels” of lead in their blood as children as of 2015.

Lead exposure resulted in greater rates of mental disorders like depression and anxiety, but also more “mild distress that would impair quality of life.”

“We saw very significant shifts in mental health across generations of Americans…

CONTINUE@NYPost

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

AS SUCCESSFUL AS EVER –                                                                                        

Dec. 3, 2024 – Family Affair actor Johnny Whitaker looked nearly unrecognizable as he was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles on Monday during a solo errand run.    

The star, 64 – who got candid about his drug and alcohol addiction earlier this year – was seen stopping by an ATM while sporting a dark navy sweatshirt as well as a pair of black shorts. Whitaker added a gray, printed cap on top of his head and was seen strolling towards his next destination during the daytime excursion.

The actor is known for starring in the CBS sitcom, Family Affair, which aired for a total of five seasons from 1966 through 1971. 

He also took on small roles in Gunsmoke, Adam-12, Green Acres and The Littlest Angel. In 1969, he played Jack in an episode of Bewitched titled Sam And The Beanstalk alongside Elizabeth Montgomery and Erin Murphy. He notably began his career at the age of three and starred in a number of commercials for the company Mattel Toymakers. 

And in the CBS series, Family Affair, Johnny joined other cast members including Kathy Garver, Anissa Jones, Brian Keith, as well as Sebastian Cabot. 

CONTINUE@DailyMail

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

ALANON Plus –

Dec. 7, 2024 – A high percentage of treatment failures occur due to “user error.” In other words, the treatment team delivers the message, but the client—and often the family—doesn’t fully understand or follow the instructions. When a loved one enters rehab, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, powerless, and fearful about whether the treatment will work.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Address Misconceptions Head-On

“I’m not as bad as everyone else here.”

The Educated Consumer Checklist identifies common gaps that lead to treatment pitfalls.

Statements like “I’m not as bad as everyone else here” or “I’ll quit the hard stuff but still smoke pot” reflect common misunderstandings about recovery.

Instead of trying to explain recovery concepts yourself, hold your loved one accountable for what they are learning in treatment. For example:

When they say: “Get me out of here. I’m not as bad as everybody else here.”

You say: “You need to be treated for your substance use disorder.”

Or, when they say: “I’ll quit the hard stuff, but I can still smoke pot.”

You say: “Please explain the risks of cross-addiction to me.”

This approach shifts the responsibility back to your loved one to reflect on the education they’re receiving in treatment. The only reason they would say things like this to you is if they think you don’t know it. That’s the gap!

CONTINUE@JimSavage

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

AUDIO – A GIANT IS GONE –                                                                                        

Dec. 10, 2024 – Nikki Giovanni, the poet, author, educator and public speaker who went from borrowing money to release her first book to spending decades as a literary celebrity who shared blunt and conversational takes on everything from racism and love to space travel and mortality, has died. Subject of the prize-winning 2023 documentary “Going to Mars,”she passed with her lifelong partner, Virginia “Ginney” Fowler, by her side.

The author of more than 25 books, Giovanni was a born confessor and performer whom fans came to know well from her work, readings and other live appearances and her years on the faculty of Virginia Tech, among other schools. Poetry collections such as “Black Judgement” and “Black Feeling Black Talk” sold thousands of copies, led to invitations from “The Tonight Show” and other television programs and made her popular enough to fill a 3,000-seat concert hall at Lincoln Center for a celebration of her 30th birthday. n poetry, prose and the spoken word, she told her story. She looked back on her childhood in Tennessee and Ohio, championed the Black Power movement, addressed her battles with lung cancer, paid tribute to heroes from Nina Simone to Angela Davis… 

CONTINUE@APNews

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