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Increased risk of Parkinson's disease in methamphetamine users, study finds

Increased Risk of Parkinson's Disease in Methamphetamine Users, Study Finds

ScienceDaily #July 26, 2011# — People who abused methamphetamine or other amphetamine-like stimulants were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who did not, in a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health #CAMH##

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The researchers examined almost 300,000 hospital records from California covering 16 years. Patients admitted to hospital for methamphetamine or amphetamine-use disorders had a 76 per cent higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease compared to those with no disorder.

Globally, methamphetamine and similar stimulants are the second most commonly used class of illicit drugs.

"This study provides evidence of this association for the first time, even though it has been suspected for 30 years," said lead researcher Dr. Russell Callaghan, a scientist with CAMH. Parkinson's disease is caused by a deficiency in the brain's ability to produce a chemical called dopamine. Because animal studies have shown that methamphetamine damages dopamine-producing areas in the brain, scientists have worried that the same might happen in humans.

It has been a challenge to establish this link, because Parkinson's disease develops in middle and old age, and it is necessary to track a large number of people with methamphetamine addiction over a long time span.

The CAMH team took an innovative approach by examining hospital records from California -- a state in which methamphetamine use is prevalent -- from 1990 up to 2005. In total, 40,472 people, at least 30 years of age, had been hospitalized due to a methamphetamine- or amphetamine-use disorder during this period.

These patients were compared to two groups: 207,831 people admitted for appendicitis with no diagnosis of any type of addiction, and 35,335 diagnosed with cocaine use disorders. A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease was identified from hospital records or death certificates. Only the methamphetamine group had an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

While the appendicitis group served as a comparison to the general population, the cocaine group was selected for two reasons. Because cocaine is another type of stimulant that affects dopamine, this group could be used to determine whether the risk was specific to methamphetamine stimulants. Cocaine users also served as a control group to account for the healt

via www.sciencedaily.com

5k | Running | Charity Event | Benefit Run | Recovery Month

  Saturday September 17, 2011 at 9:00am
                                                Tarleton State Rec Center 
Rome St# Stephenville, Texas 76401

The Run For Recovery 5K is a benefit run/walk to heighten community awareness about those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction and to raise funds to support the local STAR Council# The STAR Council #Solution Towards Addiction Recovery# has been quietly providing needed services to those families suffering from substance abuse challenges# STAR Council is a 501c3 charitable organization, primarily funded by contracts from Department of State Health Services #DSHS# and matching funds from United Ways of the supported counties# Run or walk this scenic 3.1 mile loop around 
   

via www.summerskysrunforrecovery.com

Treatment Statistics - InfoFacts - NIDA

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration�s (SAMHSA�s) National Survey on Drug Use and Health,¹ 23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009 (9.3 percent of persons aged 12 or older). Of these, only 2.6 million�11.2 percent of those who needed treatment�received it at a specialty facility.

SAMHSA also reports characteristics of admissions and discharges from substance abuse treatment facilities* in its Treatment Episode Data Set² (TEDS). According to TEDS, there were 1.8 million admissions in 2008 for treatment of alcohol and drug abuse to facilities that report to State administrative data systems. Most treatment admissions (41.4 percent) involved alcohol abuse. Heroin and other opiates accounted for the largest percentage of drug-related admissions (20.0 percent), followed by marijuana (17.0 percent).

By Drug: Admissions to Publicly Funded
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, 2008

Percentage of Admissions** Substance or Drug 23.1 Alcohol only 18.3 Alcohol + another drug 17.0 Marijuana 14.1 Heroin 8.1 Smoked cocaine (crack) 6.5 Stimulants*** 5.9 Opiates (not heroin) **** 3.2 Nonsmoked cocaine (e.g., cocaine powder) 0.6 Tranquilizers 0.2 PCP 0.2 Sedatives 0.1 Hallucinogens 0.1 Inhalants 0.4 Other drugs 2.2 None reported

About 60 percent of admissions were White, 21 percent were African-American, and 14 percent were Hispanic or Latino. Another 2.3 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native and 1 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander.

By Race: Admissions to Publicly Funded
Substance Abuse Treatment Pr

via www.drugabuse.gov

if you or someone you know is suffering from a drug or alcohol Addiction please call Summer Sky, we can help 888-857-8857

http://www.kwtx.com/centraltexasvotes/localheadlines/Bill_Outlawing_Salvia_In_Texas_Dies_In_The_House_122604344.html

http://www.kwtx.com/centraltexasvotes/localheadlines/Bill_Outlawing_Salvia_In_Texas_Dies_In_The_House_122604344.html.

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Summer Sky's Run for Recovery addiction can be managed effectively when the entire community supports those who suffer from this treatable disease. The Run For Recovery 5K is a benefit run/walk to heighten community awareness about those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction and to raise funds to support the local STAR Council. The STAR Council (Solution Towards Addiction Recovery# has been quietly providing needed services to those families suffering from substance abuse challenges. STAR Council is a 501c3 charitable organization, primarily funded by contracts from Department of State Health Services #DSHS) and matching funds from United Ways of the supported counties. Run or walk this scenic 3 mile loop around Tarleton State University; see the growth and progress of this beautiful campus. September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Recovery Month celebrates the positive impact of treatment for addiction in communities throughout the nation. September is set aside to recognize the strides made in treatment and to educate the public that addiction is a treatable public health problem that affects us all. This vital observance lets people know that addiction can be managed effectively when the entire community supports those who suffer from this treatable disease.

via www.active.com

You can now donate to the STAR Council through this site!

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If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction give Summer Sky a call today, we can help! 1-888-857-8857

5k | Running | Charity Event | Benefit Run | Recovery Month

Saturday September 17, 2011 at 9:00am
                                                Tarleton State Rec Center 
Rome St# Stephenville, Texas 76401

The Run For Recovery 5K is a benefit run/walk to heighten community awareness about those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction and to raise funds to support the local STAR Council# The STAR Council #Solution Towards Addiction Recovery# has been quietly providing needed services to those families suffering from substance abuse challenges# STAR Council is a 501c3 charitable organization, primarily funded by contracts from Department of State Health Services #DSHS# and matching funds from United Ways of the supported counties# Run or walk this scenic 3 mile loop around 
    Tarleton State University; see the growth and progress of this beautiful campus# September is National Alcohol and
     Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Recovery Month celebrates the positive impact of treatment for addiction in communities
     throughout the nation. September is set aside to recognize the strides made in treatment and to educate the public that
     addiction is a treatable public health problem that af

via www.summerskysrunforrecovery.com

Florida Targeting 'Pill Mills' - WSJ.com#articleTabs%3Darticle

By ARIAN CAMPO-FLORES

MIAMI—Florida's legislature passed a bill that aims to crack down on the notorious "pill mills" that have made the state the epicenter of illegal prescription-drug sales in the country.

The bill, which passed both the House and Senate unanimously on Friday, stiffens penalties for doctors who overprescribe medication and for individuals who improperly set up pain-management clinics. It also tightens reporting requirements to a soon-to-be-created drug-monitoring database.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who had been lambasted by critics in and outside of the state for his opposition to the database, plans to sign the measure into law, said spokesman Brian Burgess.

"To demonstrate his commitment to fighting the pill-mill problem," Mr. Burgess added, the governor made an appearance in the House chamber as lawmakers debated the bill on Friday night.

Pill mills—dubious storefront operations that dispense painkillers like oxycodone without conducting medical examinations of buyers—have proliferated in Florida in recent years. Law-enforcement officials say the problem has stemmed in part from poor regulation.

The bill bars physicians from dispensing painkillers in their offices or clinics, though certain exceptions were carved out, including for surgeons and hospices. And it shortens the deadline to report prescriptions to the drug database to seven days from 15.

Mr. Scott had previously called for canceling the database, citing concerns with patient privacy and the potential for it to require state funding (though such funding is prohibited under the 2009 law that set up the program). His opposition triggered withering criticism from officials in Appalachian states that say they are getting flooded with illegally bought pills from Florida.

Partly to address the governor's privacy worries, lawmakers inserted language in the bill requiring that database administrators undergo FBI background checks. In addition, under the 2009 measure, law enforcement can only access the database as part of an active investigation.

Mr. Scott "still has concerns about the database but believes his rule-making authority and oversight will help avoid problems," Mr. Burgess said.

The prescription-monitoring program is expected to start functioning on Aug. 28, according to Greg Giordano, chief legislative assistant for Republican state Sen. Mike Fasano, who sponsored the 2009 law and the current pill-mill legislation. He said $1.3 million in private funds has been raised for the database—enough to cover its setup costs and 18 months of operation.

That program, coupled with the enforcement measures in the new law, will help Florida begin to stamp out its pill mills, said Republican state Attorney General Pam Bondi. Her message to the people running them: "Pack your bags and get out of our state, or you're going to prison."

In March, she and Mr. Scott announced another initiative: a "pill mill strike force" that will pull staff and resources from various state agencies to combat prescription-drug abuse. The effort was launched with $800,000 in federal grant money. For the coming fiscal year, the legislature has allocated an additional $3 million, said Steve Casey, executive director of the Florida Sheriffs Association.

Law enforcement can use the help. According to the sheriffs association, major-crimes units typically report that at least half of their investigations are linked in some way to prescription drugs. Among the examples they cite are pharmacy robberies and drug deals gone awry.

Officials in Appalachian states welcomed the news that Florida was poised to enact a new pill-mill law. "This is another weapon in the battle against this problem

via online.wsj.com

Recovery Month 2011 - Voices for Recovery

Across the country, people in recovery are celebrating their successes and sharing them with others in an effort to educate the public about treatment, how it works, for whom, and why. Because these successes often go unnoticed by the broader population, Voices for Recovery provides a vehicle for people to share their recovery stories.

You can view others' stories and share your recovery story to help others see that recovery is possible on the Recovery Month website.

We will post your story along with your first name, last name, city, State, or email address, if you choose to provide this information. If you prefer to remain anonymous, only provide your State and your story.

View Stories

Share Your Story

via www.recoverymonth.gov

Share your recovery story, help other see that recovery is possible!!

Summer Sky Texas Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center