Until one is committed there is always hesitancy,
the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness,
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
Raising to one’s favor all manner of unforeseen accidents and meetings
And material assistance which no man could have dreamed
Would come his way.
Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

~Goethe

Though parents can do a bit more than give good advice - they can strive to be careful, attentive role models, for instance....
And though, in fact we parents sometimes give a bit too much advice.... the spirit of Anne Frank's point is well-taken.

Kudos to my children, who have, by their own hands, formed laudable and beautiful characters.

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February 2, 2010

Research Summary

Dutch teens who were allowed to drink alcohol at home drank more outside the home than their peers and -- along with other teens who drank -- were at increased risk of developing alcohol problems, according to researchers from Radboud University Nijmegen.

The study authors tracked 428 Dutch families with two children ages 13-15. They found that teens who drank at home also drank more on their own, and vice-versa, suggesting that teen drinking begets more teen drinking regardless of setting.

<READ MORE>

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(from JoinTogether.org)

January 29, 2010

News Feature
By Bob Curley

New rules for implementing the addiction and mental-health parity law passed by Congress in 2008 are being hailed by advocates, despite their issuance three months after the law actually went into effect.

The interim final regulations (PDF) unveiled on Jan. 29 included detailed guidelines and guidance on implementing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), which took effect in October 2009. "The rules we are issuing today will, for the first time, help assure that those diagnosed with these debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disorders will not suffer needless or arbitrary limits on their care," said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The final rules will go into effect on April 5, and will be applicable to insurance plan years that begin on or after July 1. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), who along with former Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) was a key advocate for the Wellstone bill in Congress, said the rules "provide the critical guidance necessary to ensure that this landmark legislation is implemented fairly and justly, and will ensure that insurance companies are no longer allowed to discriminate against those suffering from addiction and mental illness."

Stephen Gumbley, vice chairman of Faces and Voices of Recovery, an advocacy organization for individuals in recovery from addictions, said the rules had been released "not a moment too soon."

"Some insurance companies have already put plans in place that fall short of this law's intent, severely restricting patients' access to life-saving care," said Gumbley, who cited United Healthcare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield as examples. "This needs to change, and we encourage individuals and families covered by these plans to ask them to fully implement policies consistent with this new law."

Quantitative and Qualitative Limits Addressed

The Wellstone parity law does not require health plans to cover addiction or mental illness, or any specific types of treatment, but mandates that plans which do include such benefits treat these conditions on par with other illnesses. According to the law, group health insurance plans may not limit benefits or impose higher patient costs for addiction and mental health treatment than those applying to general medical or surgical benefits.

In states that mandate certain addiction or mental-health benefits, the law now requires that they be provided on a parity basis with other health services.

Issued jointly by HHS and the departments of Labor and Treasury, the interim final rule provides an enforcement framework for the Wellstone act. The rules explicitly state that parity applies to both quantitative differences such as higher deductibles or caps on the number of days patients can stay in treatment and qualitative limits such as preauthorization requirements and medical management.

The rule breaks down benefits into six categories: inpatient in-network; inpatient out-of-network; outpatient in-network; outpatient out-of-network; emergency care; and prescription drugs. If a plan provides coverage for addiction and/or mental health services in any of these categories, it must be on par with the medical/surgical benefits provided in that category, according to the interim final rule.

The parity law applies only to public and private employer-based plans from companies with 50 or more employees; it also applies to Medicaid managed-care plans, but the interim final rule doesn't cover Medicaid. Regulations for Medicaid parity will be issued later, according to HHS.

Enforcement of the law will fall primarily on states, which regulate insurance plans, but both HHS and the Department of Labor have established compliance hotlines.

Law to Affect More than 100 Million Americans

Administration officials estimate than 150 million Americans are covered by employer-provided health plans, 90 percent or more of which currently include addiction and mental-health benefits and thus would be subject to the Wellstone law. Speaking on background, an administration officials said there was "no evidence of companies dropping their benefits in any significant way attributable to parity."

Under the law (and the interim final rule), all health plans must implement the parity rules. However, they may subsequently opt out if they can prove that parity caused their costs to rise by 2 percent or more in the first year or 1 percent or more in subsequent years. Non-federal government plans also have the ability to opt out of the law.

Rules for determining these exemptions have not been released yet; the Congressional Budget Office estimated that parity would result in a cost increase of .2 to .4 of one percent for health plans.

More than 400 comments on parity were reviewed as part of the rulemaking process. The interim final rule will be published in the Federal Register (PDF) on Feb. 2, after which consumers, insurers, providers and other interested parties will have 90 days to comment on unresolved issues surrounding non-quantitative treatment limits, drug formularies, the scope of benefits, and more. Deadline for comments is May 3.

See also: Faces and Voices of Recovery press release (PDF)

See the video. Contact your lawmaker.

(from WFXG.com)
Tobacco use produces significant health problems in teens, including an increase in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses, like asthma and bronchitis, and decreased physical fitness. Tobacco use also increases the risk for cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema and other health problems later in life. The first symptoms of nicotine dependence among 12- and 13-year-olds can appear within days to weeks after occasional use begins, often before the onset of daily smoking.

It is important to realize that kids are exposed to cigarettes from a very early age, so it's never too soon to start talking with them about the health dangers of smoking. Use any opportunity, such as movies that depict people smoking and tobacco-related situations you may see in your own neighborhood, to start the conversation about why it's important not to start smoking cigarettes or using other drugs. The following are a few tips to help your kids stay cigarette-free:

1. Roll play with your fourth- through sixth-grader about what to do if someone offers him or her cigarettes or other drugs.
2. Ask your seventh- through ninth-grader about what he or she knows about the dangers of smoking and using drugs and add to your child's knowledge on the subject.
3. Focus on the more immediate consequences of smoking, such as bad breath; smelling like cigarettes; having dull skin and hair, and yellowed nails; and being out of shape and breathless.
4. Continue to encourage your 10th- through 12th-grader for all the positive choices he or she makes.
5. Know who your teen's friends are and if they smoke or drink.
6. If your teen is looking for a job, encourage her to apply only at smoke-free workplaces.
7. Encourage your teen to get involved in team sports where your teen may be more likely to meet friends who don't smoke.
8. Make sure your child knows the rules (including no smoking) of your house and that you'll enforce them.

Remember: The most important thing is to continue anti-smoking, anti-drug use conversations as your child grows.

If your teen does start smoking, here are some tips to share to help her stop:

1. Choose a "Quit Day" in the next two weeks.
2. Use the Internet to find a reputable smoking-cessation site sponsored by credible sources, such as http://smokefree.gov of the National Cancer Institute.
3. Ask your health care professional about treatment. A number of over-the-counter products that include self-help programs are available for people 18 and over. For younger teens, ask your doctor for advice.
4. See if your school or community offers Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U.), a program of the American Lung Association (http://www.lungusa.org).
5. Consider enrolling in group or individual therapy aimed at smoking cessation.

Suggest to your teen to do one of the following when he or she feels like smoking when trying to quit:

1. Go for a walk.
2. Call a friend.
3. Drink water or juice.
4. Take a deep breath and count to five. Let your breath out slowly. Repeat five times.
5. Tell yourself, "I can quit smoking."

Sources: National Women's Health Report, American Lung Association, Tobacco-Free Kids, Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Resources:
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
1400 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20005
202-296-5469
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org
Makes available fact sheets, research information and resources on how to help teens stop smoking, as well as prevent them from starting.

Office on Smoking and Health
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1-800-CDC-1311
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco
A division of the CDC, this office provides online and print resources on tobacco research and quitting tips.

Presented by the National Women's Health Resource Center, Inc.

Dextromethorphan, also known as DXM, is a cough-suppressing ingredient found in a variety of over-the counter cold and cough medications. It is frequently abused by teenagers and preteens. When taken according to directions, products containing dextromethorphan produce few side effects and have a long history of safety and effectiveness as cough suppressants. When abused in high amounts, detromethorphan becomes a dissociative* drug that can become dangerous.

Go HERE to learn about dextromethorphan abuse

from Seattle Times

Twenty-eight students at McClure Middle School in Seattle have been suspended for allegedly bullying a classmate over the Internet.

By Linda Shaw

Seattle Times education reporter

Twenty-eight students at McClure Middle School in Seattle have been suspended for allegedly bullying a classmate on the Internet.

School administrators learned Tuesday evening about a Facebook page targeting the victim and investigated Wednesday, said Seattle Public Schools spokeswoman Patti Spencer.

The students were suspended for two to eight days, depending on their alleged level of involvement, Spencer said.

Spencer said there were no threats involved, but if there had been, the district would have contacted Seattle police. She said she didn't know how much, or what exactly, was written about the targeted student.

In addition to suspending the 28 students, school staff talked with them and their parents, and the principal plans to hold assemblies for students and meetings for parents to discuss appropriate and safe Internet use.

Lisa Fitch, a co-president of the school's PTSA, said her understanding was the incident involved a Facebook page that students were asked to sign up for if they didn't like the victim. She said she doesn't think the page was up for more than 24 hours.

>>READ MORE

In February 2008 the New York Times reported: "At least 82 children have died in recent years as a result of playing the “choking” game, a bizarre but increasingly common practice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The game, which involves intentionally trying to choke oneself to create a brief high, has been around for years, but it appears to be spreading. One theory is that the Internet has made it easier for kids to learn about the game. A search of YouTube turns up several videos warning about the practice, but also several troubling demonstrations by giggling adolescents showing how to play."

Periodically we will see teen addicts in treatment become involved in playing this "game" when substances are not available.

Here are several resources regarding this practice:

* GASP (Games Adolescents Shouldn't Play
* What Is The Choking Game
* 'Choking Game' A Deadly Trend

January 22, 2010

Research Summary from JoinTogether.org
Six percent of 8th-graders surveyed in Oregon said they had taken part in a dangerous game where kids choke each other to produce a sense of euphoria, and researchers said that adolescents with addiction or mental-health problems are among those most likely to play, the Associated Press reported Jan. 14.

The "choking game," sometimes called Pass-Out, Space Monkey, Flatliner, or Blackout, produces its desired effect by starving the brain of oxygen. The study found that it was especially popular in rural areas.

The survey of 8,000 students at 114 Oregon schools was conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reported in the Jan. 10, 2010 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

My son told me a story of a recovering guy with whom he and group of people had coffee after a 12-step meeting.

He noticed that this fellow was intently writing something on a napkin for a long period of time. As they were getting ready to leave he picked up the napkin and looked at what he had been writing. The guy had written one phrase over and over again: "These are my friends now.......These are my friends now..... These are my friends now...... These are my friends now......."

It struck me as concrete manifestation of the first three steps.

He reported he kept the napkin, eventually framed it, and gave it to his friend on the day he had a year of sobriety.

January 7, 2010

Research Summary from JoinTogether.org
Animal studies show that daily marijuana use could permanently alter serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain, raising the risk of depression and anxiety, according to researcher Gabriella Gobbi of McGill University.

The Canadian Press reported Dec. 17 that Gobbi studied the brain chemistry of 18 adolescent lab rats exposed daily to marijuana and found that they had decreased levels of mood-controlling serotonin and higher levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine.

Gobbi said that the effects were magnified because the adolescent brain is still developing. "These permanent changes in the brain are also linked to certain mental illnesses, like schizophrenia," she said. "And we showed that even if we stopped the cannabis use at the end of adolescence, the changes were still detectable in adulthood."

A future study will concentrate on adolescent marijuana use among humans.

The study was published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease.
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.

Suggested resolution: Become happy!

Supporting quotes:
>"Whoever is happy will make others happy, too."
~Mark Twain.

“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.”
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Suggested reading:

The Happiness Project book by Gretchen Rubin

“A cross between the Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love, and seamlessly buttressed by insights from sources as diverse as psychological scientists, novelists, poets, and philosophers, Gretchen Rubin has written a book that readers will revisit again and again as they seek to fulfill their own dreams for happiness.”
— Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want

Start your own Happiness Project!

Here is the message:

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

Go to CharterForCompassion.org to sign the charter for compassion.

December 21, 2009

News Summary

A group of House lawmakers in the Washington legislature is calling for legalization and taxation of marijuana, with the revenues used to support addiction treatment and prevention programs, the Tacoma News Tribune reported Dec. 17.

The bill would legalize marijuana possession and use for adults ages 21 and over. The six sponsors want to eliminate all references to marijuana in the state's criminal code and apply the state's liquor laws to the drug.

Production and distribution of marijuana also would be legalized.

California lawmakers are also considering legislation to legalize marijuana.

(Research that begins to validate some long-held assumptions in the addiction community.)

December 21, 2009

Research Summary from JoinTogether.org

The environmental factors that contribute to marijuana use and alcohol dependence differ significantly, but similar genes are involved in influencing people to drink and use marijuana, according to researchers.

WebMD reported Dec. 18 that a study of identical and fraternal twins ages 24-36 concluded that more than half of the variance in alcohol and marijuana use and dependence could be traced to genetic factors.

"We found considerable overlap between the genes that contribute to marijuana dependencies and alcohol use and dependence," said researcher Carolyn Sartor, Ph.D.

The study appears in the online edition of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
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.

Read entire article at JoinTogether.org

Of all the answers offered at a recent conference on "How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope," perhaps the one from Joseph A. Califano, chairman and founder of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA*) at Columbia University, best summed up the advice to parents.

Califano closed the Nov. 17 CASACONFERENCESM by recounting a discussion with his former law partner, Edward Bennett Williams, just days before his death in 1988. Asked the most important lesson he had learned in a lifetime spending rubbing shoulders with luminaries like Ben Bradlee, Frank Sinatra and Hugh Hefner, Williams simply responded, "Always leave a light on in the window for your kids."

In other words: "Be a parent."

Potent Marijuana Tied to Psychosis Risk
December 2, 2009

Research Summary

Marijuana bred to contain high levels of THC could raise the risk of developing psychosis, according to researchers from the U.K.

Reuters reported Nov. 30 that researchers Marta di Forti and colleagues from King's College London compared users of potent "skunk" marijuana to users who smoked cannabis resin ("hash") and found that the incidence of psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia was almost seven times higher among the skunk users.

"The risk of psychosis is much greater among people who are frequent cannabis users, especially among those using skunk, rather than among occasional users of traditional hash," said di Forti.

>>READ MORE @ JoinTogether.org