What's New
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The Supreme Court may review a case that would determine whether addicted people in recovery have a right to apply for and receive employment after successfully completing treatment.

Several states ease voting rights restrictions on convicted felons while other states tighten the restriction. The issue is still controversial and of vital importance to recovering addicts convicted of drug felonies.

Here is the Executive Summary and links to the full report of the Surgeon General on Youth Violence.

I recently renewed contact with Dr. Charles Whitfield and I would suggest checking out his website at http://www.cbwhit.com/index.htm

Mary Binderman of the American Occupational Therapy Association Website has compiled an excellent research based overview on the issues related to school violence complete with numerous valuable links. This article, however, has one drawback - it does not explore the relationship of school violence to the alcohol and drug abuse of the children or families.

The Christian Science Monitor reviewed the role played by ADHD and the medication used to treat it  in the problem of school violence. Many children involved in school violence are suffering from ADHD or using medication to treat its symptoms. In our endless quest for simple solution to complex problems its tempting to blame the whole problem of school violence on ADHD or the medication used to treat it, The truth, however, is more complex. Solutions are available but they are not simple or easy. They involve examining the entire atmosphere and operations of our schools. When the entire educational system is reviewed, it becomes clear that the role of ADHD and school violence is not as clear cut as many people would like school officials to believe. At least five factors seems to interact to create school violence: (1) the presence of ADHD or other attention problems; (2) the medication used to treat it, (3) the general approaches to the management of problem behaviors in the classroom, (4) the ability to identify and appropriately diagnose and treat students in high risk of becoming violent; and (5) the parenting practices, substance abuse, and mental health problems in the the homes of students that put them at high risk of violence at schools. Any effective approach to the management of school violence needs to take these four factors into account.

Managing feelings and emotions has been a vital part of all aspects of the GORSKI-CENAPS Model of Recovery and Relapse Prevention. As a result of many requests, Terry Gorski is beginning to make available the core clinical tools and check-lists that have been an integral part of many of his workbooks. These tools and check-lists are revised in a generic way that allows them to be used as a part of any personal problem solving process. The Feeling Check-List is the first of the tools and check-lists to be broken apart from the core model as a stand-alone clinical tool.

One of the key elements of successful prevention is effective early childhood education. There are many models of effective education for children in early childhood. With the large number of single parents and the growing use of day care by working parents, models of effective programs that can be used in day care centers is critical to the ongoing development of the nation's prevention efforts, Here's a list of resources. For further information contact Lisa Hammond at CENAPS.

Many troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom will return with symptoms of psychological trauma induced by their war experiences. This article gives some graphic examples of the types of combat experiences that are creating those symptoms.

On Monday February 24, 2003 the Honolulu Star Tribune published an article based upon an interview with Terence T. Gorski while conducting a conference.

Here's a new study that links increased rates of violent behavior in adults to the heavy viewing of violent television shows in childhood.  Three factors seem to work together: (1) the amount of violent television viewed, (2) the degree to which children identify with violent TV characters, and (3) the degree to which children believe the TV violence relates to the real world rather than an imaginary play world. When scores regarding all three factors are high, children learn three lessons that increase their risk for violence: violence can be an effective solution to problems, violence can increase social status, and it is not important to learn how to control violent impulses. The report concludes that parents should restrict the amount of television violence that children are allowed to watch. If you can't, watch it with your kids and talk about it. Keep reinforcing that the violence is part of a pretend world, that the violent characters are really pretty dumb because they can't solve problems without violence, and that in the real world people would be hurt really bad.

Even as the supreme court supported the three strikes legislation that is largely responsible for our growing prison population, leadership in many states is reconsidering its get tough policies on drugs and crime. There is growing recognition that our state and national policies have reflected a "get tough and be dumb" policy that has had negative impact on millions of people, crippled state and national budgets, and hurt local communities and economies. In order to effectively contain the costs of enforcement while promoting public safety states need to learn how to "get tough and be smart" by focusing on low cost yet highly effective alternatives to incarceration that can help addicted people and their families while promoting public safety and building the strength and resiliency of our communities. This is all part of newly emerging trend called "the new recovery revolution."

The supreme court upheld three strikes legislation that would permit repeat criminal to be sentenced to extremely long jail terms for relatively minor third offenses. Case examples are given and discussed. Since three-strikes laws are in large part responsible for our growing prison population, we can expect to see a continuing rise in the number of American imprisoned, especially for nonviolent drug offenses.

Underage drinkers account for 19.7 percent of the alcohol consumed in the United States each year and represents $22.5 billion in alcohol sales. ``Excessive'' drinking by adults - consumption of more than two drinks daily - amounted to 30.4 percent, or $34.4 billion in alcohol sales. These analyses show that it is not in the alcohol industry's financial interest to voluntarily enact strategies to reduce underage or adult excessive drinking.

There is growing evidence that removing children from parents during incarceration and placing them in foster care damages the children and goes a long way toward creating the next generation of adults who become addicted, mentally ill, and antisocial as adults. Fortunately, more effective alternatives are available.

The New York Times reports that The White House has questioned the effectiveness of the DEA War On Drugs strategy.

This article describes the effects of PTSD on physical health.

Here are the most recent statistics on criminal recidivism reported from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).

The Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) is a serious problem that is just beginning to make the news.  As more and more inmates are released from prison, our communities will be flooded with people who have serious problems as a result of their incarceration.  There are currently over 2.2 million people in prison.  Of these prisoners, at least 330,000 are nonviolent offenders incarcerated for the personal possession or use of drugs.  Most are addicted. Less than 20% will receive treatment.  All will be damaged by their time in prison.  Those in extended solitary confinement, about 120,000 people or 6.5% of all prisoners, will be the most damaged of all.  Here's an article from USA Today that discusses the problem.  Angel Coronado, the released inmate used to illustrate the problem, was arrested on alcohol and drug related charges numerous times but never received treatment.  I guess this is another victory for the war on drugs. Read the article and decide for yourself. 

Florida currently has a Drug War Policy that neglects all but minimal emphasis upon treatment.  The case of governor Noelle Bush, the Governor's daughter shows the conflict between Drug War policy and Public health Addiction Policy

Here are the most recent articles published by Time Magazine on marijuana.  Don't be surprised if the information doesn't match what you've heard from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Punishment doesn't work for people who are sufferring from addiction and mental health problems.  Those who continue to use this well intentioned but misguided solution are guilty of practicing Get Tough - Be Dumb politics by using punishment approaches that don't work.  Examples of the the horrendous failures of the Get Tough Be Dumb punishment-oriented polices to non-violent alcohol and drug offenders are not hard to find.  Here are the stories of Dennis T. Sevon and the Galloway Brothers both of Spring Hill, Florida.  Hopefully awareness of these failures in public policy will prompt our political leadership to consider an approach that works - a Public Health Addiction Policy.  <Read the full story>

There is a desperate need to provide credible and effective employee assistance programs (EAP's) to our nation's police officers.  The police are a critical component in our network of emergency first responders.  We need to value the efforts of these professionals and recognize and honor the stress and sufferring that they endure in the course of protecting us all.

The death of State Trooper Mark Zack marks the need for all police departments to place a renewed emphasis on their Employee Assistance Programs and creating a culture within their departments that support their officers getting help in times of trauma and stress.  In the aftermath of this horrible tragedy a grieving family is left behind who are also in need to specialized help.  As addiction and mental health professionals, stories like this should cause us to recommit ourselves to the task of making sure that all emergency responders in all departments around the country have access to credible and effective employee assistance services and that all officers and family members are prepared by advanced training to deal with the traumatic events that are a routine part of their lives.

According to the New York Times life in New York City is far for normal for many of its citizens one year after the terrorist attacks.  This is not surprising.  Terrorism is an act of psychological warfare and people are deeply affected especially in areas involving their core sense of safety.  Here's the results of a New York Times Poll conducted August 26 - 29, 2002.  

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is encouraging schools to provide treatment rather than punishment to students with drug problems.  Now its up to the schools to follow this advice by moving away from a zero tolerance drug policy to a public health addiction policy.

Amnesty International reports that i  the aftermath of September 11th human rights violation both around the world and within the United States are increasing.  Here's the details.

Here's an article describing the barriers to obtaining mental heath treatment and recommendations about how to overcome those barriers.

Here's an article from Brown University that shows that advice about drinking given by a [physician can reduce the quantity and frequency of drinking and of  alcohol related problems.

Many parents keep asking about what ton say to their kids about marijuana.  This articles by Terry Gorski provides Twelve guidelines in the form of talking points that parents can use to help guide their conversations.

The budget cuts to medical, addiction, and mental health services are being cut in the aftermath of September 11th and the policy oof redirecting national priorities to the war on terrorism.  The effects could very well be catastrophic to the treatment industry and the people it serves.  Here's an example of what's happening in Virginia's VA hospital system.

This article describes the recent research describing the relationship between marijuana use and the self-reported problems of adolescents.

Here's a report of a recent study on PTSD and depression on Manhattan residents six months after 911.  The incident rates remain significantly higher than that normal.  Read the details. 

The AWARE, a science-based self-assessment questionnaire has been developed based upon the GORSKI-CENAPS relapse warning signs.  This article describes the research showing the validity of the GORSKI-CENAPS warning signs as a relapse predictor and provides a link to print at the AWARE Questionnaire and the instructions for its use.

Here are some brief screening tools for detecting alcohol problems in women in high risk of addiction.  These tools are especially helpful when working with pregnant women whose unborn babies may be at risk due to the mother's drinking.

Here are two articles from the NIAAA Alcohol Alert Series related to methods for effectively screening for alcohol problems

This article explores the relationship between addiction and criminal career history and shows very clearly that there are two distinct relationships - addicts who begin committing non-violent crimes to support their addiction; and criminal personalities who abuse and become addicted to alcohol and drugs during the course of their criminal history.

Brief medical interventions conducted in a doctor's office can reduce the number of alcohol problems and facilitate an early referral into treatment.  Here's an article describing the results of one study.  

The GORSKI-CENAPS Website has been reorganized to make it easier to use.  It's now easy to keep informed about where and when GORSKI-CENAPS events will be scheduled.  More changes will be coming shortly.  Check it out.

Here's a leading study that describes the overall cost of addiction in 1992.  This is important reading for anyone who needs to justify their budget for the treatment of substance abuse and related mental health and social problems.

Here's the first part of an article by Terence T. Gorski that describes the development of the personality style components of the CENAPS Model.  The foundational works that shaped his thinking are listed with directs links to the sources.

Here is an article by Terry Gorski that responds to a recent CDC report that heavy alcohol use among pregnant women has remained unchanged in spite of extensive attempts to persuade women not to drink during pregnancy.  This article describes why Gorski thinks current approaches are failing and what needs to be done to lower the rates of heavy drinking among pregnant women.  Links to the CDC study and a copy of news stories are included.

This article by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) describes the role that addiction and mental health services can play in a comprehensive public health system developed to effective manage the threats of terrorism.

If you're serious about researching the neurobiological and clinical consequences of PTSD this book needs to be high on your list.  It contains comprehensive information about all aspects of PTSD and complete references.  I wish I knew about this book when starting my research on PTSD.

Here's a news release on a newly released study identifying a gene responsible for some of the genetic factors that influence the development of addiction

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 adversely affected the sleep of many Americans.  Although some of these sleep problems have improved, a substantial number of people are still experiencing sleep problems that are related to the terrorist attacks and the ongoing war on terrorism.  Here is a series of articles and links to the National Sleep Foundation.

Go To What's New Archive 001: 02-02-01 to 03-27-01

Special Focus:  Mental Health, Substance Abuse, & Terrorism