When We Talk About Suicide, We Need to Talk About Addiction No one can say definitively why Kate Spade or Anthony Bourdain died by suicide. But I can tell you why I tried to kill myself. Twice.Learn More   These New Opioid PSAs Are Missing the Worst Part of Addiction Visceral new PSAs show the extreme lengths people will go to get high – but they leave out the desperate banality of the life of an addict.Learn More   The ‘cash for patients’ scandal sabotages addicts For the sake of their patients, addiction centres must be beyond reproach. These negative stories are a wake-up call for the sector. Learn More   “What ifs”: An underappreciated side effect of addiction Shortly after our son, William, died of an accidental heroin overdose at age 24, I stumbled upon this unflinching reflection of addiction as a family disease: “Addiction isn’t a spectator sport. Eventually...

Surprisingly, opioids may increase risk of chronic pain After surgery, opioids — such as morphine — are routinely used to manage pain. However, according to a new study, the drugs could actually raise the likelihood of experiencing chronic pain.Learn More   Turning the Tide on Opioid Addiction As the crisis worsens, can more be done to ensure the problem doesn’t start in a doctor’s office?Learn More   Utah doctor’s opioid-addiction recovery program aims to save lives Doctors at a Salt Lake City clinic are trying to save lives by educating the public about programs to help get people off opioids. Learn More   Families demand action: We must treat addiction like any other disease We are two of the millions of people across the country who have lost our loved ones to addiction—an entirely preventable and treatable disease.Learn More   Why genetics makes some people more vulnerable to opioid addiction –...

Surprisingly, opioids may increase risk of chronic pain After surgery, opioids — such as morphine — are routinely used to manage pain. However, according to a new study, the drugs could actually raise the likelihood of experiencing chronic pain.Learn More   Turning the Tide on Opioid Addiction As the crisis worsens, can more be done to ensure the problem doesn’t start in a doctor’s office?Learn More   Utah doctor’s opioid-addiction recovery program aims to save lives Doctors at a Salt Lake City clinic are trying to save lives by educating the public about programs to help get people off opioids. Learn More   Families demand action: We must treat addiction like any other disease We are two of the millions of people across the country who have lost our loved ones to addiction—an entirely preventable and treatable disease.Learn More   Why genetics makes some people more vulnerable to opioid addiction –...

Our Weekly Addiction News & Policy Update is a compilation of news items provided to Wellspring by a variety of sources. Wellspring staff assembles this information and is pleased to provide it to you. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The content of this email does not represent the official views or policies of Wellspring Center for Prevention. The content has been collected from a variety of sources and is provided for informational purposes only. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by Wellspring of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. If you do not wish to receive this email in the future, simply email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be unsubscribed. Unnecessary Debate: Is Addiction a Disease? Imagine two stalwart wrestling fans locked in debate. One holds that professional wrestling is a...

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} The content of this email does not represent the official views or policies of NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. The content has been collected from a variety of sources and is provided for informational purposes only. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by NCADD of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. Drug czar promotes treatment, tells personal story As the nation's drug czar continues to warn people about the potential death and destruction from substance abuse, he's also encouraging them to tell their stories about treatment and recovery. Usually he starts with himself. Rest of this article is here. CADCA Statement on...

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} The Fine Line Between a Casual College Drinker and an Alcoholic Fall semester is quickly approaching and we all know what that means -- time to hunker down and perfect that beer pong curve in less than a month. For those of us who spend quite a bit of time flipping cups and shot gunning brewskis on our well-renowned campuses, it is important to acknowledge one of the most serious and misunderstood nicknames of our crowd: alcoholics. Rest of this article is here. In halls of academia, medical marijuana an unwelcome guest Colleges, mindful of federal rules, draw ire by keeping stiff bans. Although medical marijuana has been legal in Massachusetts...

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Christina Lin 15.00 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} In the experience of AA, a member's age matters The Baby Boomers are now into their 60s. As the first generation of Americans to experiment widely with illegal drugs, elderly Baby Boomers are thought to experience substance use problems more commonly than previous generations of senior citizens. The most prevalent substance of abuse among the elderly of all generations is alcohol, due to the ease of obtaining it and its relative social acceptance. With more Baby Boomers reaching their golden years, a growing number of seniors are needing recovery programs, and many are entering Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to address their substance abuse issues. Please click here to continue....

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Helping the 'long-timers' What happens when a sober patient comes in and says, “I’m not certain if I need treatment or not”? This is a seldom seen phase of addiction care, when a sober “long-timer” comes to therapy in order to work on issues. It is not about denial. The clinical focus here may not even be about “BUDD” (Building Up to a Drink or Drug). Looking more deeply to Terence Gorski's relapse work(1) or to a 2000 study cited by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) about chronic disease relapse rates(2) might be helpful in order to rule out those concerns, because this is not always about relapse. And...

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Massachusetts General to Start Screening All Patients for Alcohol, Illegal Drug Use Patients at Massachusetts General Hospital will soon be asked questions about their alcohol and illegal drug use, no matter why they're at the hospital. The program scheduled to start this fall is part of a broader plan to improve addiction treatment at the Boston hospital and its community health centers. Please click here to continue reading. When Airlines Serve Alcohol, and the Beverage Cart Requires a Bouncer When Joshua Konowe, a technology entrepreneur, took his seat in an emergency exit row on a flight to Belgium last fall, he was unaware that his seatmate had washed down an anti-anxiety...

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Increased demand will follow increased access to addiction services In Ohio—one of the most populated states in the country—the prevalence of opioid addiction and abuse might be turning a corner, according to Orman Hall, director of the Ohio governor’s  Opiate Action Team, who spoke at the groundbreaking for the Gelbman House in Youngstown, Ohio yesterday. As more individuals gain access to healthcare coverage through Affordable Care Act provisions, they are more likely to seek treatment for their substance abuse issues. “We’re seeing significant demand, especially around the issue of opiate and heroin addiction,” Hall says. “The Affordable Care Act is really important, but the other piece is Medicaid expansion.” Ohio joins...