Walter Ginter to Receive Vernon Johnson Award

Faces and Voices of Recovery and Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy invite you to join us at an evening reception recognizing the outstanding contributions of Walter Ginter, Project Director of the Medication-Assisted Recovery Services (MARS) Project. He is the leading face and voice of medication-assisted treatment and recovery in the US.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Carnegie Institute for Science

1530 P Street NW

Washington, DC 20005

Emmy-award winning reporter and anchor Pat O’Brien, who will be one of the hosts of the 2012 Olympic Games, will be joining us as we salute the extraordinary contributions of the country's most influential recovery community leaders to the growing movement to promote the reality of recovery from addiction.

Host Committee Co-Chairs*
Fmr Congressman Patrick Kennedy Co-Chair One Mind for Research	Carol McDaid Capitol Decisions
Host Committee Members
Johnny Allem DC Recovery Community Alliance	Franni Frankin Aquila Recovery
Ann Barnum The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati	Christopher Kennedy Lawford Author
Tim Cheney Chooper's Guide	Former Congressman Jim Ramstad
Tom Coderre Rhode Island State Senate	Mike Sime Hazelden Foundation
Laurie Dhue Veteran Broadcast Journalist Founder of Laurie Dhue Media, NYC	Stuart Smith Foundation for Recovery RICAREs
* Organizations listed for identification purposes

Faces and Voices of Recovery and Hazelden’s Center for Public Advocacy have joined together to host America Honors Recovery honoring the legacies of Joel Hernandez, Vernon Johnson and Lisa Mojer-Torres. All contributions to the America Honors Recovery awards event will go to Faces & Voices. To find out more about this year’s honorees, please click here.

NAMA-R Announcement 6/4/2012

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery

435 Second Avenue

New York, NY 10010

http://www.methadone.org/

Download America Honors Recovery Press Release

Download NAMA-R Announcement

In My Own Words Essay Contest Winners

NAMA Recovery is proud to announce the 3 winners of the MAT In My Own Words Essay Contest.

The winners were:

1st Darlene DeMore (PA)
2nd Louis Buchhold (CA)
Ian Christenson (MN)

The winners will receive: 1st-$500, 2nd-$250, 3rd-$100.

We are proud to announce that a recordbreaking 128 individuals
from across the US and the UK submitted essays.

And even more proud that so many of you bravely shared your story.

Here Are the Essays

First Place
MEDICATED ASSISTED TREATMENT
A New Beginning
Darlene DeMore, Pennsylvania

Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT) has supported my recovery from addiction in ways I never expected. Early in recovery my only concern was not feeling sick and having a place to sleep other than the ground or a park bench. When I became pregnant, I was terrified that I would not be able to take care of my child. MAT allowed me to become well, function normally and raise a beautiful, healthy daughter.

I am commonly asked why I have been on methadone maintenance for 14 years and my reply is because it works for me. Sadly MAT is misunderstood and stigmatized in our communities. What most people do not realize is that my medication is only a fraction of what my recovery is about. As with anyone in recovery, I needed therapy, family support, positive people and finding my passion in life. MAT is just that, assisted treatment. It’s a medication I take to treat my disease of addiction. Using drugs was only a symptom of other things I needed to learn how to cope with to be successful.

I continue to be committed to recovery because when I allowed myself to be open to the process and accept my disease I was free. Free to be a loving mother of two, free to contribute to my community, free to share my recovery experiences and free to be a woman I am proud of, honored to be, and will continue to become.

# # #

Second Place
ATTC Essay
Louis Buchhold, California

I’ve been sober for 11 years/6 months. I could have never imagined I could experience even one day free from alcohol/drugs back then. In 8-long years I have never been able to get longer than 30-days sober, being in/out of AA, therapy, and having tried to kill myself. Then I met a psychistrist who saw past that homeless, unemployable, degenerate hope-to-die alcoholic – to a person gripped by a terrible disease with a medical solution.

At that time in 1999 Naltrexone was new. I had tried all the other clearly non-effective recovery methods, what harm could a trial be? MAT moved me for the first time to stop dissociating when triggered. I found myself being completely present, able to stop the addictive process. I got 60-days, after which, like an alcoholic/addict, my self-will tested this MAT by drinking/using. The medication worked. I stayed present and able to be recovery-committed since, knowing it is possible.

I continued taking Naltrexone for 2-years. I went off when I had built enough behavioral tools and support to ensure my ongoing recovery. I continue to live each day only 24-hours at a time, knowing thay I can return to drinking and using tomorrow. If it wasn’t for MAT I would not be here to tell my story. I am grateful that there are medical options to help oeople struggling when all else has failed them.

# # #

Third Place
IN MY OWN WORDS…
Medication Assisted Treatment (Buprenorphine / Suboxone)
Ian Christenson, Minnesota

Suboxone saved my life. I’ve been clean and sober since that day 5 years ago when I walked into my doctor’s office beaten down by my addiction and finally asked for help.

At 30 years of age, after 15 years of drug addiction I started Suboxone. I had been attending 12 step groups but after years of heroin and pill addiction, numerous drug treatments, and chronically relapsing I had to do something different. The decision was difficult. Suboxone is controversial and I feared the judgments of others in recovery.

Medication-Assisted Treatment is a BIG part of my recovery but staying sober depends on more than just medication. I do service work, go to meetings, stay away from drugs/alcohol, and surround myself with supportive people.

Medication-Assisted Treatment is the best decision I had made in a long time. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help from my doctors and the MAT program.

Suboxone has stopped my cravings and preoccupation with getting high. My life is no longer controlled by being high, lying, feeling miserable, then starting the cycle again.

I’m 100 % committed to my recovery. Even though some days are still hard I know I can make it though the tough times. I now have a good job, a house, and a family. Besides all that, I now have something I never thought I could, sobriety and true happiness. I owe a lot of that to MAT.

# # #

Download MAT Essay Book

Download Press Release

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT OF 2011

(S. 507)

BILL SUMMARY

PROBLEM: LACK OF EDUCATION

Solution: Provider Education

• Background: Currently, there are no specific education or certification requirements for practitioners to fulfill before prescribing methadone or other opioid pain relievers. Linking education to the existing Drug Enforcement Administration registration system would help ensure that physicians get the education and support they need to safely prescribe these powerful drugs.

• Proposed Change: Require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a mandatory and comprehensive practitioner education program for methadone and other opioids, in collaboration with relevant professional societies. Completion of this education program will be required as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) current registration process used to authorize practitioners to prescribe, dispense and administer controlled substances.

• Reason for Change: Under the Controlled Substances Act, the DEA must register practitioners who prescribe controlled substances like methadone or other opioid pain relievers. However, there is no federal education requirement for those who prescribe these drugs. For example, methadone stays in the body after its pain relieving effect has worn off – resulting in a greater risk of overdose. It is necessary for practitioners to be properly educated about the complicated nature of methadone and other opioid pain relievers so that they can properly and safely prescribe these powerful drugs.

Solution: Consumer Education

• Background: There is a knowledge gap about the dangers of prescription pain relievers and how to avoid diversion and misuse. Forty percent of teens believe that prescription drugs, even if they are not prescribed by a doctor, are “much safer” to use than illegal drugs. Sixty-four percent of teens (12-17) who have abused pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives, often without their knowledge.

• Proposed Change: Provide competitive grants to states and community organizations to educate consumers and communities about safe and appropriate use of prescription pain relievers, including methadone.

• Reason for Change: Consumers need to know how to understand the dangers of prescription drug misuse as well as how to safely use controlled substances when prescribed for them. For example, methadone has a long half-life of between 8 - 59 hours, however, the analgesic effect is usually only felt for between 6 - 12 hours. This long half-life coupled with a significantly shorter analgesic effect means that is possible for dangerous levels of methadone to accumulate in the body as consumers take additional methadone seeking pain relief. High levels of methadone can lead to respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmia and even death.

PROBLEM: LACK OF WIDESPREAD CLINICAL GUIDELINES

Solution: Controlled Substances Clinical Standards Commission

• Background: There is widespread agreement that prescribers need better information and guidelines for safe prescribing of controlled substances including methadone and other opioids, and that health care professionals face significant challenges when trying to balance the need for legitimate pain relief with the need to prevent misuse of opioid pain relievers -- yet widely agreed-upon clinical guidelines are not in use.

• Proposed Change: Create the Controlled Substances Clinical Standards Commission to establish patient education guidelines, appropriate and safe dosing guidelines for all forms of methadone, benchmark guidelines for the reduction of methadone abuse, appropriate conversion factors for transition patients from one opioid to another, guidelines for the initiation of methadone for pain management, and consensus guidelines for the treatment of pain management with prescription opioids. In creating such guidelines, the Clinical Standards Commission would be required to collaborate with outside experts, health care professional societies, patient representatives, and others.

• Reason for Change: As the number of methadone prescriptions has significantly increased in recent years, so has the number of methadone related deaths. A standards commission will compliment the current oversight structure by providing evidence-based information to improve guidance for the safe and effective use of opioid pain relievers as well as methadone for both pain management and opioid addiction treatment.

Solution: National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER)

• Background: Currently 38 states have enacted legislation requiring prescription drug monitoring programs (PMPs), and many states were able to fund these initiatives in part from grants available through the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. A second program created in 2005 through the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER), would provide even more assistance, but has only recently been funded with $2 million in each of FY2009 and FY2010.

• Proposed Change: This legislation would appropriate $25 million a year for NASPER to establish interoperable prescription drug monitoring programs within each state.

• Reasons for Change: The Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program allows states to establish their own requirements with regard to controlled substances monitored and information shared between states. NASPER goes a step further in mandating that all state prescription drug monitoring programs submit data for Schedule II, III, and IV drugs and requires interoperability between states to reduce diversion and doctor shopping across state lines.


PROBLEM: NO UNIFORM REPORTING SYSTEM FOR OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS

Solution: National Opioid Death Registry

• Background: There is no comprehensive national database of drug-related deaths in the United States, nor is there a standard form for medical examiners to fill out with regard to opioid-related deaths.

• Proposed Change: Create a National Opioid Death Registry to track all opioid-related deaths and related information. Also, establish a standard form for medical examiners to fill out which would include information for the National Opioid Death Registry.

• Reasons for Change: Since there is no comprehensive database of methadone-related deaths, the number of deaths may actually be underreported. In order to truly reduce the number of methadone-related deaths, quality data must be collected and made available.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

• Improving Patient Safety: Opioid treatment programs will be required by law to make acceptable alternative arrangements for the safe distribution of methadone for patients who are not permitted take home doses on days where the clinic is closed.

• Moratorium on 40-mg Methadone Diskettes: For two years, no provider may prescribe and no pharmacy or opioid treatment clinic may distribute 40-mg methadone diskettes unless the prescription or dispensation is consistent with DEA policy.

• Annual Report on Effectiveness: No later than September 30, 2012 the Secretary will report to Congress the effectiveness and evaluate the success of efforts to reduce opioid addiction and methadone-related deaths including the impact of health care provider and patient education.

Download Legislation

Download FACT SHEET

Help Identify What Patients Do To Make Recovery Work

February 28, 2010

Stabilized patients who have been in methadone maintenance for more than one year (with negative urinalysis tests for all illicit substances except methadone).

Have you ever considered your status as a long term methadone patient, AKA elite methadone patient to be an achievement worth celebrating? I do and so do many others. And, it is! One problem is that fewer patients remain in methadone maintenance for longer periods of time. It took me several episodes of treatment before I began to understand and distinguish the differences in value between the medication (methadone); the modality (methadone maintenance); and the way methadone is dispensed (the methadone program or clinic system). So, I became an advocate for better and more information to patients about how methadone maintenance works and involved on several levels in improving the way methadone is dispensed; the clinic system.

About me:

My name is Lisa Mojer-Torres and I have been a patient for 20 years. I tried to withdraw from methadone maintenance three or four times before learning about its pharmacology. Since stabilizing on my optimal dose, I have become a practicing attorney, (admitted in NY and NJ) and an advocate for methadone maintenance as a modality and methadone patients as victims of stigma and discrimination. I have a life that includes rewarding employment, a beautiful family, and our own home.

This project:

Currently, I am writing an article with leading recovery expert that analyzes methadone maintenance as a legitimate path into and through “recovery” from active addiction to heroin and other opioids. There are several uses for methadone and even different stages within methadone maintenance pharmacotherapy. However, once a patient and his/her doctor identify the patient’s optimal dose of methadone (the particular dose that affords the patient the maximum benefits methadone offers in managing the chronic disease of opioid addiction), the patient remains on that dose with the exception of a rare taper. The patient has achieved “optimal dose stabilization”. Without the distractions of withdrawal symptoms, or the obsessive cravings for opioids (and an opioid blockade as well) the patient is in the strongest position to leave the life of active opioid addiction behind, transitioning from treatment to recovery. It is this transition that I am interested in documenting.

Why I am reaching out to you:

In order to document the transition from treatment to recovery, I believe it is imperative to go directly to the source and seek information from those patients who’ve succeeded with methadone maintenance about how they succeeded. I am also interested in learning what resources would have made your experience easier. I am interested in learning what and whether you think achieving optimal dose stabilization has played any role in your life and/or the lives of other patients. The three-part article will conclude with a statement that opioid addicts who achieve optimal dose stabilization with methadone are on an equal par to alcoholics who stop drinking and others who stop using, etc. Mostly, I am interested in learning the various skills you used in overcoming ignorance about methadone and how you managed to sustain recovery.

Confidentiality:

I don’t need to know your name or any other identifying information for this project. At any rate I am restricted by confidentiality laws. Your treatment program was kind enough to cooperate in allowing this notice to be posted in the OTP, but no one is under any obligation to respond. However, unless and until the public becomes aware that there is a significant population of stabilized in methadone maintenance patients in recovery, we will continue to be defined by those still struggling with active addiction. I would be grateful if you would spare a few moments of your time to participate in this anecdotal survey. I promise your time and effort will not be wasted and I will do my best to create a resource that speaks directly to the current generation of opioid addicts who, still stuck in the grips of active addiction have not been unable to maximize methadone’s full potential. It’s my hope that by offering to share our experiential jewels of information, others will believe a life in recovery is possible, even for them.

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN AN E-MAIL EXCHANGE OR A PHONE INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT ME, Lisa Mojer-Torres VIA E-MAIL @ rtorres605@aol.com OR TELEPHONE at my home/office @ (609) 671-1995 either 7AM-9AM weekday mornings or 7PM-9PM weekday eves. (I work during the day). Call any time over the weekend; I will do my best to hang around the house over the next couple of weekends. But, in the event you reach our voice mail, PLEASE either leave a message providing instructions about how to reach you OR call me back. My goal is to complete interviews by March 7th, latest, so please try and act upon this ASAP. If you wait, we all lose.

Sincerely,

Lisa Mojer-Torres (Using Google, you can check out more information about my advocacy efforts on the national level)
Email: RTORRES605@AOL.COM
Telephone: (609) 608 671-1995
.

Profiles of Recovery Advocacy in Action

Advocacy for Medication-Assisted Recovery

An interview with Walter Ginter by Bill White

"In June of 2009, I interviewed Walter Ginter about the work he and others have done in advocating the legitimacy and effectiveness of medication-assisted recovery. Walter is one of the most skilled recovery advocates in the United States."

Check out the rest of the interview at the FAVOR website.

New Education Series "Making Methadone Safe"

A new Education Series (Number 11) Making Methadone Safe has been developed to help patients -- both addiction treatment patients and pain patients -- keep their methadone safe.

Increase in Methadone Related Deaths by 390%

Methadone related deaths have increased dramatically, from 1999 through 2004 there was a 390 percent increase. Other deaths attributed to opioids have also increased but only by 90 percent, however they constitute a much larger percentage of the total for opioid-related deaths. A SAMHSA report found that the majority of methadone-related deaths involve abuses that were prescribed for pain management. Methadone deaths attributed to Opiate Treatment Programs (OTPs) have not increased.

Unfortunately it is the OTP deaths that make the news and methadone programs have particularily become targets because they are easy to blame.

It is important that all persons taking methadone keep there medication safe and this Education Series was developed to provide resources and ways to keep methadone safe.

You can download the new Education Series at our website.

Rokki's NewTube Message

See our President Rokki Baker's NewTube message about Drug Policy.

The message was taped at the IDUD 2008 Meetings hosted by NAMA’s Danish Affiliate, BrugerForeningen (BF).

Check out Rokki's Talk at YouTube.

SAMHSA Awards $9.8 million for Peer to Peer Recovery Support Services

Date: Sept 6 , 2006
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press
Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA Awards $9.8 million for Peer to Peer
Recovery Support Services

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the award of seven Recovery Support Services grants totaling $9.8 million over four years. These grants to community-based organizations are designed to deliver and evaluate peer-to-peer recovery support services that help prevent relapse and promote sustained recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders.

"Peer recovery support services are expected to extend and enhance the treatment continuum," said Assistant Surgeon General Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H., SAMHSA's Acting Deputy Administrator. "These grants will help prevent relapse and maximize the opportunities to create a lifetime of recovery and wellness for self, family, and community. And, when individuals do experience relapse, recovery support services can help minimize the negative effects and if needed make sure there is an appropriate referral to treatment."

The seven awards in five states are funded up to $350,000 per year in total costs. Continuation of these awards is subject to the availability of funds as well as the progress achieved by the grantees. Total funding for year one is $2.4 million.

The Recovery Community Services Program grantees are as follows:

Arizona

Pima Prevention Partnership, Tucson -- $350,000 to recruit and train a 10-member core group of peer leaders in recovery, who will develop and implement the service infrastructure in four months. Recovery Services will be offered at the partnership's Learning Center and offer peer-led emotional, informational, instrumental and affiliation support services five afternoons/evenings per week, including Saturdays.

Tohono O'odham Nation, Sells -- $350,000 to implement a comprehensive peer-to-peer system to support individuals in recovery with a full range of recovery support services provided locally in the 11 districts that make up the federally recognized tribe, which has one of the highest rates of substance abuse among all populations in the United States .

Georgia

Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, Inc. -- $350,000 per year to provide peer-led support services that help sustain Atlanta's inner city addiction recovery community. The program will provide a recovery center offering more than 40 weekly 12-step, faith-based, health-specific (HIV and Hepatitis C, a liver disease), gender-specific and family-specific support groups.

New York

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates, Inc., New York City -- $349,998 per year to provide peer-to-peer recovery support services to patients of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs. The overall goal is to create a climate for recovery among a population usually neglected by the larger recovery community.

Center for Community Alternatives, Inc., Syracuse -- $350,000 per year to develop a network of peer-lead community services for individuals in recovery and who also have past criminal justice involvement. The project will extend services into two additional cities, Rochester and Albany.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma CART System, Oklahoma City-- $350,000 per year to implement Sister to Sister, the states first model of peer-driven substance abuse recovery support services for women in Oklahoma County. This project expects to serve over 580 women in all stages of recovery and their children.

Texas

El Paso Alliance, Inc., El Paso-- $350,000 per year to enable the Recovery Alliance to improve existing services and support the development of new ones through a peer recruiting and retention system.

SAMHSA, is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions, treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY Call for Papers

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY

Special Issue
Women and Harm Reduction: Spanning the Globe

Guest editors:
Susan Sherman, Adeeba bte Kamarulzaman and Patti Spittal

Outline abstracts or other short descriptions (not exceeding 400
words) are invited for contributions to a forthcoming special issue of The
International Journal of Drug Policy on “Women and Harm Reduction:
Spanning the Globe.”

The issue aims to examine:
Ø the unique factors (e.g. cultural, relational, legal or economic) that contribute to women's use of psychoactive drugs (licit and illicit);
Ø the stigma associated with women's drug use;
Ø proximal and distal effects of drug use on the lives of women
drug users as well as drug users’ female sexual partners;
Ø examine patterns of use and consequences of different types of
drugs (e.g. ATS, alcohol, opiates);
Ø to explore the effects of different types of drugs;
Ø to examine gender-related policies regarding harm reduction
services and treatment; and
Ø to examine innovative programs targeting women drug users.

The issue aims to include work representing a range of geographic
regions (e.g. former Soviet Union, Middle East, South Asia, Southeast
Asia, Africa, Europe/North America).

Papers must be relevant to harm reduction and policy.

We invite several types of contribution:

Scientific review papers (max 8,000 words)
Original research papers (3,000 – 7,000 words)
Short research reports (up to 1500 words)
Descriptions of interesting (positive or negative) programmes or
policies (2,000 – 5,000 words)
Descriptions of problems (e.g. structural barriers) in gaining
access to needed services or programmes (2,000 – 5,000 words)
Policies and/or historical analyses (3,000 – 7,000 words)
Commentaries (max 4,000 words)
Editorials (1,500 - 2,500 words)

The deadline for outline abstracts is September 23, 2006.

Outline abstracts should be sent to ssherman@jhsph.edu. If selected
for submission, the deadline for completion of draft contributions will
be in December, 2006. Submissions will be made on the Elsevier on-line
electronic submission system and will be subject to peer-review.

Susan G. Sherman, ssherman@jhsph.edu
Pattricia Spittal, pspittal@cfenet.ubc.ca
Adeeba bte Kamarulzaman, ADEEBA@ummc.edu.my

Curwensville DH Closing

Announcement

June 26, 2006

Program Closing Curwensville Pennsylvania

The Discovery House Program at Curwensville is closing at the end of the month of June.

Evidentally it is near an historical path and such a facility can not be located near it. A great decision for a great democracy.

The courts may allow the program more time to move but we all know how difficult it is to find a site for a program. This is the only program in the area.

Now available: 2006 Edition of Confidentiality and Communication Book

Announcement

June 6, 2006

Now available: 2006 Edition of Confidentiality and Communication Book

And LACs First-Ever Online Confidentiality Courses are now available.

Friends:

As you know, most health care providers must comply with both the federal confidentiality regulations specific to alcohol and drug programs (42 C.F.R. Part 2) and HIPAA privacy requirements. The Legal Action Center can help you and your staff make sense of these complex laws with the 2006 edition of our highly acclaimed Confidentiality and Communication: A Guide to the Federal Alcohol & Drug Confidentiality Law and HIPAA and our first-ever Online Courses.

The 2006 edition of our most popular book, Confidentiality & Communication: A Guide to the Federal Alcohol & Drug Confidentiality Law and HIPAA, explains everything you need to know about 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and HIPAA, with critical new information about recent rulings about HIPAA, updated model forms, and new sections on consent forms, use of modern technology, and many other topics.

Learn about confidentiality and get CEUs from the comfort of your homes or offices with the Legal Action Centers first-ever self-paced online training courses. The 2 hour Introduction course and 4 hour Advanced course explain what you need to know about both 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and HIPAA. They satisfy HIPAA training requirements and provide continuing education credits for users who pass the automatically-graded self-tests. You can start and stop the courses whenever you want, at your convenience.

The Legal Action Centers lawyers are the nations leading experts in confidentiality of alcohol and drug treatment and prevention records. Take advantage of that expertise and buy Confidentiality & Communication 2006 and our online courses today! Both are available at http://www.lac.org.

Buy the book online for just $89.99, $10 off the regular price, or take advantage of our bulk rates and receive even greater discounts. (You can also download and print an order form to order at regular prices.)

The Introduction to Confidentiality online course is just $40 per seat, and Advanced Confidentiality is $75. Get a 10% discount by buying 10 or more seats!

Dont delay! There are no better ways to ensure compliance with the HIPAA privacy requirements and also 42 C.F.R. Part 2 than by purchasing Confidentiality and Communication 2006 and the on line courses. We guarantee you will learn how "to comply" with both laws, and you can have a full refund if you dont agree.

Sincerely,

Paul N. Samuels
Director/President
Legal Action Center

Updated Directory of Drug, Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Available

Updated Directory of Drug, Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Teddi Fine 240-276-2130

May 30, 2006
www.samhsa.gov


The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available. The guide, National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs 2006, provides information on thousands of alcohol and drug treatment programs located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and four U.S. territories.

The directory, a nationwide inventory of nearly 11,000 drug abuse and alcoholism treatment programs and facilities, is organized and presented in state-by-state format for quick-reference by health care providers, social workers, managed care organizations, and the general public. It lists both public and private facilities, all of which are licensed, certified, or otherwise approved by substance abuse agencies in each of the states.

The directory is designed to quickly provide the reader with key information not only about the location of specific facilities, but also about the nature of the programs and services provided, including level of care offered and areas of service specialization, such as programs for adolescents, persons with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders, individuals living with HIV/AIDS and pregnant women.

The 2006 directory identifies both long and short-term residential treatment facilities and facilities that provide residential beds for clients' children.

The updated directory is a paper-based complement to SAMHSA's internet-based Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator Service. The continuously-updated internet-based service provides driving directions to the nearest treatment facilities, as well as descriptions of services available, and contact information, including addresses and telephone numbers. By following simple instructions available on-line through this service, users can locate public and private substance abuse treatment facilities in any state, city or community anywhere in the nation. The direct website link is http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov.

To obtain a free copy of the National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs 2006, contact SAMHSA's Clearinghouse or call (800) 729-6686.

###

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health service delivery systems.

Buprenorphine Advocacy Newsletter

Announcement

May 26, 2006


The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment - NAABT publishes an advocacy newsletter.

To add yourself to the mailing list, please either write or send an email to: subscribe@naabt.org

Website: http://www.naabt.org/

A Critical Review of the Evidence for Policy Makers

Announcement

May 26, 2006

A Critical Review of the Evidence for Policy Makers
Join Together

A review of hundreds of studies examining substance abuse treatment found that treatment is not only effective in reducing alcohol and drug use, it also helps lower crime and healthcare costs. The report offers a helpful resource for coalitions looking to demonstrate the value of treatment to their community or for coalitions looking to enhance their treatment capacity.

Download Here

Download: 380K; Publication Year: 2005

Publisher

Alcohol & Drug Problem Association of North America
307 North Main
St. Charles, mo 63301
Phone: 314-589-6702
Website: http://www.adpana.com/

NAMA Restores Medicaid Transportation Checks to NYC Patients

Announcement

May 20, 2006

Re: Medicaid, New York

Last December NYC had a Transit Strike and Medicaid patients received their transportation checks as usual. Or at least until Medicaid realized that patients were being paid for subway transportation that did not exist for 3 or 4 days. Medicaid viewed the error as fraud. It did not matter that many patients had to take cabs which cost them more than a subway fare. The only consideration was that patients were being paid for something that was not there.

In their great wisdon Medicaid stopped all transportation checks. Patients began to complain that they had not received their checks. Four dollars a day is a lot for someone with a fixed income. But Medicaid was not understanding and continued to stretch the whole affair out.

Then the expected thing happened: a patient was arrested for jumping the turnstile. That was it! Walter Ginter at this point called the Medicaid offices and read them the NAMA Riot Act. And within hours programs were being notified that the checks were being released. So much for procrastination.

By the end of May all Medicaid Transportation should be up to date.

Methadonia Video Will Include NAMA Advocates

Announcement

May 20, 2006

Methadonia Video Will Include NAMA Advocates

In spite of the harm that "Methadonia" has done to patients. The film producer Michael Negroponte in an error to try and make things better will be including with the video package additional interviews that include Walter Ginter and Lisa Torres discussing methadone, stigma and advocacy.

While this can not undo the damage that was done it is a serious attempt to at least show that the patients in the film were not typical. Showing of the film can't be taken back so this addition to the film will at least give persons who have not seen it another view.

Short Summary ATTOD and International Harm Reduction Conference

May 20, 2006

Short Summary

ATTOD and International Harm Reduction Conference

As in the past 2 conferences the CMA Training went well with close to 100 new or recertifying CMAs.

The workshop presentation was excellent with Sharon Dembinski, Paul Bowman and Donna Schoen all presenting on different aspects of advocacy. Rokki Baker chaired the workshop.

This years Advocate of the Year Award went to Sharon Dembinski for her work with the MOM Program.

In addition to the Advocate of the Year Award three NAMA advocates were honored with lifetime achievement awards. Donna Schoen chair of NAMA's oldest chapter was given an award for the contributions she has made and for just hanging in! John and Barbara Finger were also honored for the work they have done often being the only help for patients in the Southwest.

Vancouver 2006

The International Harm Reduction Conference this year had NAMA advocates just about everywhere. Joycelyn Woods, Rokki Baker and Becki Ballard all presented. Bill Nelles formerly of The Alliance in the UK helped with organizing the conference this year and was recipient of the Rolleston Award. Congratulations Bill!

There was also 2 historic meetings at the conference. First NAMA had the very first Affiliate Organizational Meeting similar to the chapter meeting at ATTOD. Following what we usually do at ATTOD and International Advocate of the Year Award was given to Bill Nelles for his work in Canada and a Lifetime Achievement to Joergen Kjaer.

Congratulations to all our recipients of awards we think you are pretty special!

Finally a meeting was organized to create a Canadian group that will be based on the structure and beliefs of NAMA primarily to deal with methadone issues in Canada. Bill Nelles asked everyone to attend including NAMA and BF because we will be helping them along so they can function as an organization as soon as possible. The Canadian methadone system is not friendly and patients are abused consistently with no where to turn for help. Enters NAMA and the new organization to change things.

So in all these were some very productive weeks. And after a rest we will have some work ahead of us this summer.

PREMIER HEPATITIS C AND HEPATITIS C/HIV TREATMENT OFFERED AT THE WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL CENTER FOR THE METHADONE MAINTAINED PATIENTS

Announcement

May 8, 2006

PREMIER HEPATITIS C AND HEPATITIS C/HIV TREATMENT

OFFERED AT THE WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL CENTER

FOR THE METHADONE MAINTAINED PATIENTS

The methadone maintenance program of the Weill Cornell Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital in collaboration with the Hepatology Department is now offering the highest quality hepatitis C treatment to methadone patients who reside in New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the New England States. Patients who are dually infected with HIV will also be eligible for treatment. This unique program, the first of its kind in the United States, integrates methadone treatment with Hepatitis C and HIV medications and psychiatric care. Treatment is provided by a prestigious medical and social work team affiliated with this world renowned institution.

The methadone maintenance program is one of the most progressive in the country offering to qualified patients, methadone medical maintenance. In this program qualified patients see their physician in a private office and obtain a month's supply of methadone from a neighborhood pharmacy. There is no observed ingestion of methadone in this program. Patients will also be treated by medical specialists at Cornell for Hepatitis C or for both HIV and Hepatitis C. If patients are not eligible for medical maintenance, they will receive methadone treatment in a new modern clinic with a concerned professional team consisting of internists, psychiatrists, nurses and social workers. The medical and psychiatric care for the treatment of Hepatitis C and HIV in either venue will be of the same high quality.

Payment for treatment will be assessed on an individual basis. Medicaid and Medicare are accepted. Forms for private insurance will be completed for reimbursement to the patient.

Ann B. Beeder, M.D., Medical Director

For further information, please call:

Dr. Eugenia Curet, Administrative Director Tel. 212-746-1252
Mr. Kim Alexander, Clinic Supervisor Tel. 212-746-1276
Mr. Hector Rodriguez, Clinic Supervisor Tel. 212-746-7744

6th National Harm Reduction Conference

Announcement

April 18, 2006

6th National Harm Reduction Conference

Drug User Health: The Politics and the Personal November 9 - 12, 2006 Oakland, CA Oakland Marriott City Center For more information please visit: www.harmreduction.org/6national

European Association of Addiction Therapy (Conference)

Announcement

April 18, 2006

European Association of Addiction Therapy

Second Annual Conference

6 – 8 July 2006
London, UK

We are very proud to announce the 2nd Annual EAAT conference, chaired by Professor Michael Gossop.

The meeting is taking place at the historic Central Hall Westminster, which is located opposite to the Houses of Parliament.

Call for Speakers, Posters, Registrations and Sponsorship

The conference topics and streams are as follows:

Stream 1: Genetics, Aetiology, Epidemiology, Neuroimaging and Underlying Neuronal Mechanisms

Potential Topics:
fMRI Scanning and Gambling Tasks
Neuroimaging of Drug Dependence
Pathways and Neurotransmitters
Relating Neurotransmitter Activation to Behaviour
Interactions between Genes and the Environment
Neurobiology of Addiction – what have we learnt?
Using Molecular Genetics to Understand Addiction

Stream 2: Treating the Clinical Consequences 1: Alcoholism

Potential Topics:
Best practice in Treating Alcoholism in the community
Treatment options for Alcoholism in the private institution
Optimising Drug Treatments for Alcoholism – how to achieve results

Stream 3: Treating the Clinical Consequences 2: Drug Dependence

Potential Topics:
Best practice in treating Opioid Dependence
Combination Therapy for Treatment of Drug Addiction
Methadone Substitution Treatment
Drug Drug Interactions
Evaluating Buprenorphine’s Impact
Schools and Adolescent Issues
Pharmacotherapy for Cocaine Dependence
Marijuana, Psychoses and Dependence: to Treat or not to Treat?

Stream 4: Nicotene, Society and the Accepted Addictions

Potential Topics:
Impact of Addiction and Best practice in Treating Smoking Cessation
Mechanisms underlying Smoking Addiction
Societal Schemes for Addiction Control (eg. WHO)
Interactions across the specialities
The Rising Use of Recreational Drugs and Societal Acceptance – MDMA amphetamine
Disorders of Excessive Motivation – Reward Mechanisms, and how to help sufferers cope

Stream 5: Dual-diagnosis

Potential Topics:
Summary of Common Co-morbidities with Addictive Personalities
ADHD and Substance abuse
Borderline Personality/Personality Disorders and abuseSmoking and Psychoses
Addiction and Affect – how to help with disorders of decreased motivation
Harm Reduction and Addictions Treatment
Alcohol as an Anxiolytic – treating the anxious patient
Pregnancy and Addiction – issues and treatment
Crime and Punishment – Institutional Drug Abuse

Stream 6: Late Breaking News, Case Studies, Culture and History

Please visit http://www.eaat.org/ for more information or to register for the meeting.

EAAT Scientific Secretariat
Nottingham, UK
www.eaat.org
info@eaat.org
Tel: +44 (0) 115 969 2016
Fax: +44 (0) 115 969 2017