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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

WATCH – Listen to the Lions –

Sep. 10, 2020 –  Introducing Dr. Louis Stanger Topic: Courage, Creativity, Communication & Celebration

Host: Dr. James Flowers, PhD, LPC-S, Founder, J. Flowers Health Institute Facilitator: Robin French, VP of Concierge Relations, J. Flowers Health Institute, About Dr. Louise Stanger, LCSW, CSAT-1, CDWF, CIP

Dr. Louise Stanger focuses on strength-based solutions and invitational change. Dr. Stanger is an Ivy League Award winner (2019 Interventionist of the Year from DB Resources in London and McLean Hospital – an affiliate of Harvard), educated social worker, popular author, internationally renowned clinician, interventionist and speaker and an expert on mental health, addiction, process disorders and chronic pain. 

She gets to the heart of the matter in helping families because she’s passionate about bringing hope and healing to loved ones. When you call, you won’t have to go through any intermediaries. She will pick up the phone and talk directly with you. 

Dr. Stanger developed and refined her invitational method of mental health and substance abuse interventions using the well-established research methodology of portraiture. She has performed thousands of family interventions throughout the United States and abroad. She has received numerous awards for her years of dedication to the fields of intervention & recovery. 

In addition to her years of experience, Dr. Louise is a published author whose work covers a range of topics including mental health, substance abuse, well-being, the opioid epidemic, marijuana and other drugs, parenting, high-wealth clients, finding happiness, spirituality, failure to launch, chronic pain and pain management, family and many more. Her books Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal is available on Amazon, Learn To Thrive: An Intervention Guidebook on her website, and The Definitive Guide to Addiction Intervention: A Collective Strategy through Routledge Press and Addiction in The Family (in press, Nov 2020)

more@YouTube

The post Courage, Creativity, & Celebration with: Dr. James Flowers and Dr. Louise Stanger appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

WATCH – Listen to the Lions –

Sep. 10, 2020 –  Introducing Dr. Louis Stanger Topic: Courage, Creativity, Communication & Celebration

Host: Dr. James Flowers, PhD, LPC-S, Founder, J. Flowers Health Institute Facilitator: Robin French, VP of Concierge Relations, J. Flowers Health Institute, About Dr. Louise Stanger, LCSW, CSAT-1, CDWF, CIP

Dr. Louise Stanger focuses on strength-based solutions and invitational change. Dr. Stanger is an Ivy League Award winner (2019 Interventionist of the Year from DB Resources in London and McLean Hospital – an affiliate of Harvard), educated social worker, popular author, internationally renowned clinician, interventionist and speaker and an expert on mental health, addiction, process disorders and chronic pain. 

She gets to the heart of the matter in helping families because she’s passionate about bringing hope and healing to loved ones. When you call, you won’t have to go through any intermediaries. She will pick up the phone and talk directly with you. 

Dr. Stanger developed and refined her invitational method of mental health and substance abuse interventions using the well-established research methodology of portraiture. She has performed thousands of family interventions throughout the United States and abroad. She has received numerous awards for her years of dedication to the fields of intervention & recovery. 

In addition to her years of experience, Dr. Louise is a published author whose work covers a range of topics including mental health, substance abuse, well-being, the opioid epidemic, marijuana and other drugs, parenting, high-wealth clients, finding happiness, spirituality, failure to launch, chronic pain and pain management, family and many more. Her books Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal is available on Amazon, Learn To Thrive: An Intervention Guidebook on her website, and The Definitive Guide to Addiction Intervention: A Collective Strategy through Routledge Press and Addiction in The Family (in press, Nov 2020)

more@YouTube

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

But if drugs were legal…? –  

Sep. 22, 2020 – Mexico’s militarised crackdown on organised crime has left nearly 39,000 unidentified bodies in the country’s morgues, which are often unable to handle the volume of corpses brought in for autopsies.

A new investigation by the investigative NGO Quinto Elemento Labs found that an alarming number of people were simply buried in common graves without proper postmortems. Some were left in funeral homes and more than 2,500 bodies were given to medical schools.

“It’s possible that [medical] students are learning with bodies of persons being searched for by their families,” said an article accompanying the report, published on Tuesday. “The forensic crisis has transformed the Mexican state into a burying machine: 27,271 unidentified bodies went from the morgue to common graves – 70% of the total.” The investigation found that the number of unidentified corpses in Mexican morgues was 178 in 2006 – the year president Felipe Calderón first deployed the country’s armed forces against drug cartels.

That figure soared by 1,032% over the next 13 years to 38,891 , as the murder rate mushroomed.

Mexican morgues have routinely run out of space to store unidentified bodies, prompting some local authorities to seek makeshift solutions such as storing bodies in refrigerated trailers. In 2018, a scandal erupted in Guadalajara when the stench of decomposition led to the discovery of a trailer containing 273 corpses which had been parked in a suburban neighbourhood.

more@TheGuardian

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

Rising sober star –  

Sep. 23, 2020 –  After finding her rhythm during lockdown with her mum and girlfriend – “I took up dancing, not very well, but I realised how happy it made me” – 22-year-old Delilah returns with new single ‘Loud,’ about turning up the volume on your inner and outer confidence.

In a catch-up with Attitude, the London-based artist opens up about the confessional quality of her music, addressing her issues with addiction and writing about her relationship, the good, the bad and the ugly. Delilah assures us that her girlfriend is totally fine with it, hopefully not in a Ross-from-Friends-”I’m fine” way… Who are your biggest music influences?

Carole King and Leonard Cohen. All the classics – my parents have very good music taste. I love her melodies and his lyrics. I am also very in love with Nina Simone.

Can you remember the first single you bought?

It was McFly, ‘All About You.’ Still to this day one of my faves.

Tell us about your latest song, ‘Loud.’ What was the inspiration behind it?

Confidence. I wrote ‘Loud’ about being confident in myself and in all of my relationships – not just the romantic ones. It definitely symbolises a time of my life that I am in now of acceptance.

more@Attitude

The post Delilah Montagu on Sobriety and Writing ‘Savage’ Songs About Her Girlfriend appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

What a downer –  

Sep. 24, 2020 – “Although benzodiazepines are very helpful for short term treatment, providers need to consider the risks and benefits of prescribing longer courses of these medications,” she said. 

Stopping these drugs abruptly or reducing the dosage too quickly after a long period of time can result in withdrawal reactions such as seizures, which the FDA says can be life-threatening. Patients should speak with their health care provider to develop a plan for slowly tapering medication before stopping, the agency said.

In addition to the warning label, the FDA is also requiring changes to prescribing information on all products and existing patient Medication Guides.

“The FDA is hoping that by adding verbiage to the current warning that providers will be extra careful in not only prescribing these medications, but also to be mindful of the duration,” Amato said. 

more@MSN

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

WATCH – I hear ya –

Sep.24, 2020 – Lou finds him a sober living home for the deaf, where he begins to grapple with his new reality and what it means for the life of music he’s always known. Sound of Metal marks the directorial debut of Darius Marder, who also co-wrote the script with his brother, Abraham. Marder is best known as the co-writer of the 2012 Ryan Gosling vehicle The Place Behind the Pines, but from the looks of this new preview, he’s about to have a breakout. The movie looks utterly powerful, and with the promise of “startling, innovative sound design techniques,” it’s setting up to be one of the most captivating watches of the fall.

more@COS

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

Advice Column –  

Sep. 24, 2020 – Dear Barry, If your wife dies first, your $100,000 insurance policy will pass to the alternate beneficiaries that you named on the insurance company beneficiary form.

If you did not do so, the policy will pay to your probate estate, passing to whoever your will name as beneficiaries or your son if you don’t have a will.

If your wife survives you and gets the money, she’s under no legal obligation to spend it on your son’s behalf. But you know her better than we do.

more@NapaValleyRegister

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

Painting the town mellow –

Sep. 24, 2020 – In a nutshell, art therapy helps patients express their emotions, improve self-esteem, manage addictions, relieve stress, improve symptoms of anxiety and depression and cope with recovery.

In addition, art allows a person to convey ideas and emotions and explore issues in a way that allows that person to communicate in a non-verbal way. Many patients initially feel hesitant about exploring and addressing those issues in group therapy or in conversation.

“Everyone gets art therapy if they are in treatment here. What makes us so different from other facilities is that we offer a lot of creative process services like drum therapy, art and mindfulness,” Hanes says. “Art therapy has been used quite a bit in psychiatry and for drug and alcohol addiction. It’s now booming and being used in different ways, like in burn centers, cancer centers and for trauma recovery.”

Hanes himself discovered art therapy while studying art and art education in college. He met another student who majored in art therapy, and the subject instantly fascinated him.

more@Integris

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

Open Spaces –  

Sep. 24, 2020 – The Shadow Mountain Recovery facility in Santa Fe will be joining the organization’s other locations in Taos and Albuquerque to form a full continuum of care — ranging from detox programs to outpatient treatments. Shadow Mountain Recovery has enjoyed a great deal of success with patients at these other locations, and their experience may offer new patients insight on what they may expect at the new facility.

David Splawski writes in his review of the Taos location, “If you want to change yourself and your life, then Shadow Mountain Recovery in Taos, NM can work for you. My experience there didn’t change everything, but it put in motion a journey to happiness, fulfillment and sobriety that, without the program, I would not be on. Until going to Shadow Mountain, I really thought I could handle my addiction on my own. This city boy realized, in the mountains of Taos, that he wasn’t alone and there are people who want to help and can help. All you need is to be open to the process of healing, honesty, and positivity (“Go Deep”).”

The review continues, “It does require you to work and to be open but if you just put in a little effort you can find a new way, a new life, or just a new way of looking at the life you have now. I’d recommend treatment to anyone, addict or not. Life isn’t always easy, and reaching out for help can seem daunting, embarrassing or weak, but if you take the first step and choose a place like Shadow Mountain Recovery, someone will definitely be there to guide you. Most importantly, they’ll be there to help you with every step after the most important step you chose for yourself. Addiction is a difficult and devastating disease, but if you choose to take it on, Shadow Mountain is a great place to start. Thanks to all the staff that helped me find my way and the new friends that will forever be a part of this journey. Choose sobriety, choose yourself, choose life.”

Ervey M. shares their experience with the Ripple Ranch location outside of Austin as well, saying, “Ripple Ranch was an amazing experience for me. Day 1 was so productive, speaking with the counselors and other staff to set my plan and my goals to be accomplished during my stay. The nurses and staff were more than eager to listen to any of my concerns and needs. I stayed for 45 days and grew close to all there. I came out a new person. Overall, I definitely say Ripple’s “non 12 step” approach to my healing is one that I am greatly appreciative of in my sobriety. Thank you, Ripple Ranch!”

more@StreetInsider

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Addiction Recovery Bulletin

Stick with the Winners! –

September 24, 2020 – Grateful for all his musical achievements, Ricky is fond of saying that one of the greatest gifts he’s been given happened on Sept. 25, 1987 when he started his journey in recovery. Simply put, “it was time.” He’s been clean and sober ever since, doing whatever he can to help others recover. It’s his passion and what he’s most proud of. 

“There’s this dark hallway filled with people caught between denial and surrender,” he says. “I’ve been blessed to have this next life and because of that gift, I feel I’m responsible to turn around and wave at those people in that dark place and just go, `hey man, come on, follow me.’ ”

The starting point of Ricky combining his music with recovery began in 2012, when he co-wrote a song with his friend, Richie Supa. The two wound up writing what is now considered a recovery classic:  “Broken Is A Place,” which speaks to the inherent hole in the soul of those who continue to suffer under the great weight of addiction. 

more@AddictionRecoveryeBulletin

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