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What's New Archive 002 - 010512 to 010530 An Article By Terence T. Gorski |
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Review These Books & Manuals On Relapse
Visit GORSKI-CENAPS Books - www.relapse.org 1-800-767-8181 |
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Training & Consultation: www.tgorski.com, www.cenaps.com, www.relapse.org Gorski-CENAPS, 17900 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430, 708-799-5000 |
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Women in America should be seriously concerned about a recent court decision that convicted a 24 year old Regina McKnight of Conway, S.C., of homicide by child abuse for killing her unborn fetus by smoking crack cocaine and sentenced her to 12 years in prison . Conflicting medical testimony did not stop a jury from convicting McKnight after fifteen minutes of deliberation. Accurate information about addiction, medical intervention, and treatment was never presented to the jury. Although on the surface this decision seems to protect unborn children from drug-crazed addicted mothers, the potential consequences to the rights and liberties of women and families could be devastating. It places addicted and mentally ill women at extreme risk. Read the details. |
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Crowded
Jails Create Crisis These two stories from the New York Times graphically depict the problems with jail and prison overcrowding in Alabama which has been caused by primarily by the war on drugs. Similar problems are occurring across the nation. The main cause of the rapid growing jail and prison populations are non-violent drug offenders arrested for personal possessions and use of illegal drugs and sentenced to prison sentences averaging seven to fifteen years. Less than 12% receive treatment for their addiction, even though addiction is proven to be more effective than incarceration in reducing drug abuse.. |
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History Of Anti-Drug Patrols in Peru (5-30-01) Read about the long history of US involvement with Peru's that led up to the killing of innocent missionaries in pursuit of winning the drug war. As you read, ask yourself this question - is this the kind of country you want to live in? Is this the kind of foreign policy you want the nation to follow under the guise of helping addicts? Would this money be better spent investing in prevention and treatment programs within this country aimed at reducing the demand for drugs? |
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News
On California's Proposition 36 California continues to move ahead in the implementation of Proposition 36 which calls for treatment instead of incarceration for non-violent drug offenders. Progress is being made but many challenges need to be faced, not the least of which if finding adequate funding for the the needed expansion in treatment slots. |
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Substance
Abuse and the Prison Population: The Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has developed a model policy for guiding the use of aftercare services top prevent criminal recidivism. This model stresses a treatment & enforcement coordination (TECS) approach. |
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Canada
Moves Toward Legalizing Marijuana There is a slow but steady movement toward the legalization of marijuana in Canada. This political movement is in opposition to current trends in US drug law and could influence future direction of drug policy in the United States toward a public health addiction policy that focuses upon prevention and treatment and away from a criminal justice drug policy that focuses upon punishment as a deterrent. |
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New
Gorski Article On Line This article challenges three mistaken beliefs that often prevent treatment professionals from dealing effectively with relapse prone clients. These beliefs are: (1) Relapse is self-inflicted; (2) Relapse is an indication of treatment failure; and (3) Once relapse occurs the patient will never recover. (Get a low-cost pamphlet that teaches recovering people to challenge the common Mistaken Beliefs About Relapse) |
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Betraying the Young: Children in
the US Justice System This article summarizes some of the key points in a report by Amnesty International involving the abuse of children in our criminal justice system. We all need to be concerned, because in a very real sense these are our children who are being abused by a system that we are all responsible for. |
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New
Gorski Article On Line This article describes the differences between adolescent and adult substance abusers that can lead to relapse and present practical suggestions for marching the unique needs of adolescent substance abusers to relapse prevention strategies in order to decrease the rate of relapse. |
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New
Gorski Article On Line Should children be tried in adult courts and sentenced to adult prisons? Gorski doesn't believe that they should. This article explains why. |
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New
Gorski Article On Line This article describes the basics dynamics of cocaine relapse a process that progresses through three stages, setups, trigger events, and a self-reinforcing craving cycle. Guidelines are provided for preventing craving and effectively managing craving if it is activated. |
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New Search Engine For Thanks to lee Jameson of ERATECK a new search engine has been added to the tgorski website. You can search immediately from the first page or you can click to the search page from any other page in the website. This will make it easy for you to find specific items that you are interested in |
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New Study On Cocaine Craving & Relapse (5-15-01) New research conducted by Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York may shed new light on the biology of cocaine craving and the relationship of craving to relapse. There are two brain centers that have been implicated in cocaine craving: the "reward" or "liking" center that registers the high from using the drug -- a brain pathway that involves a chemical called dopamine; and the hippocampus region of the brain, which is associated with memory and involves glutamate, an entirely different brain chemical. This research suggests that craving is is activated by the hippocampus when strong memories of cocaine use are activated. The study suggests that medications affecting the productions of glutamate may be helpful in reducing cocaine craving. Read the details. |
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Methamphetamine Update 5-14-01 Here's an update on the effectiveness of the drug war on Methamphetamine Production. As you read this article please note that methamphetamine production has not been cut by our war on drugs efforts, it has simply shifted geographical locations to evade enforcement efforts. This is why the investment in supply reduction is not cost effective. Investment in demand reduction through treatment is a much better alternative. |
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Marketing To Prisoners Behind The Bars (5-14-01) The growing inmate population is a lucrative market for many specialized products. There's something wrong in America when we have so many people behind the bars that prisoners become a lucrative commercial market. Don't forget that 25% of the approximately 2 million incarcerated people are nonviolent drug addicts who are doing time for the possession and personal use of illegal drugs. Recovering drug addicts make great employees. It's a shame most can't find jobs when they get out because industries are teaming up with departments of correction to take the jobs out of the community and install them behind the bars using cheaper inmate labor. |
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President
Bush's Approach The following briefing document was forwarded to me. It provides the White House briefing information on the President's new approach to reducing drug abuse and information about John P. Walters, the new Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). This information is strongly slanted to the needs and interests of the treatment providers to whom it was sent and presents a very different focus from the President's remarks at the time of the nomination. |
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The
Drug War - What Now? An Interview With A policy-reform advocate criticizes the U.S. role in the international war against narcotics—and suggests some fixes. |
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Search & Email MSNBC News Sources The Quick-Links section has been expanded to include the ability to search and email the leading news sources of MSNBC. This is quick way to search for transcripts or to email your reactions to news stories. It's easy to make your voice heard. Click here and go to the bottom of the table and see how easy it is. |
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Bush Approach To National Drug Control Policy
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Nomination
Of Director Of The Office Of Drug Control Policy On April 10, 2001 President Bush nominated John P. Walters to his cabinet as Director of National Drug Control Policy. Read the remarks of the President made at the time of the nomination. |
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Dual
Disorder Counseling - Research Depression is a serious problem that can lead to relapse in addicted clients. This article describes a specific application of cognitive therapy to the treatment of depression that significant reduces relapse rates to depression. Adaptations of this method may prove effective in treating relapse prone addicts with coexisting depression. |
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Neural
Activity & Cocaine Craving This article documents the unique brain responses experienced by cocaine addicts to a variety of cues related to cocaine use. This research adds to the growing evidence that addiction to mind altering drugs is a brain disease. |
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Neuroimaging
& Alcohol Craving New studies using advanced neuroimaging technology shows that alcoholics have a unique brain response to alcohol-related cues that is not present in moderate drinkers. This studies strengthens a growing body of evidence that addiction is a brain disease. |
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Research
Validation Of GORSKI-CENAPS Model The Journal On Studies of Alcohol reported in September 2000 that The Assessment of Warning-Signs of Relapse (AWARE), a scale to operationalize the 37 warning signs identified in Gorski's post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) model of relapse was shown to be a Reliable & Valid Predictor of Alcohol Relapses. (Reference: Miller, William R; Harris, Richard J Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 2000, 61, 5, Sept, 759-765.) |
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New
Gorski Article On Line This article describes the basic research-based principles upon which the GORSKI-CENAPS Model of treatment is based. The article is divided into two parts. Part one describes the best scientific understanding of the nature of substance use disorders. Part two describes the best scientific understanding of the principles that govern the effective treatment of substance use disorders. A listing of the references from which these principles were derived is listed at the end of the article. |
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Addiction
Is A Brain Disease Alan Leshner reports the most recent scientific evidence that demonstrates that chemical addictions are brain diseases. This article is must reading for counselors and therapists, program managers, mental health professionals, criminal justice professionals, and policy makers. This article summarizes the basic reasons why the United States needs to shift its focus from a War On Drugs Policy which views addiction and a crime and addicts as criminals who need punishment to a Public Health Addiction Policy which views addiction as a brain disease and addicts as sick people requiring treatment. |
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New
Gorski Article On Line Recovery from chemical dependence occurs at five levels – abstinence, situation change, behavior change, emotional change, and personal belief change. An excellent article for use as a client handout. |
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New
Gorski Article On Line There is a relationship between spirituality and relapse. This article defines spirituality, explores how both mystical and non-mystical forms of spirituality can work in harmony to promote recovery and avoid relapse. An excellent article for use as a client handout. |
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Physicians Divided On Medical Marijuana Use (4-30-01) A new national survey found that physicians are evenly divided on the issue of medical marijuana. Read the details. |
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NASADAD
Letter to Congress Regarding NASADAD sent a letter to Congress asking them to not support language in a Community Renewal Bill that allows the Secretary of DHHS to exempt any faith-based treatment counselor from state licensing requirements. Read the letter for important information why Faith-based Addiction Programs represent a step backward and violate current scientific knowledge about addiction as a brain disease. |
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New
Gorski Article On Line: This article describes the special problems encountered by people in recovery from alcoholism or drug dependence when they need medical treatment that requires the use of pain medication or other potentially addictive medications. Six clear and easy to understand guidelines are provided that could save people's sobriety. This is an excellent article for use as a client handout. |
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Gorski
News Analysis:
On April 21, 2001 a plane carrying missionaries was shot down by a Peruvian fighter jet guided to it's target by US-led War On Drug surveillance forces. A 35 year old mother and her seven month old daughter were killed in the incident. Other passengers were severely injured including the pilot who had the bones in both legs shattered. This is one of thirty incidents since 1994 that US surveillance teams provided information to Peruvian jet fighters that resulted in private plans suspected of running illegal drugs to be shot from the sky. This incident is raising understandable doubts over the drug war that costs US tax payers about $2.6 billion each year. It also raises an important issue: Should the United States of America provide surveillance support to third world counties in executing suspected drug dealers without a trial by shooting down private airplanes? |
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New
Gorski Article On Line: This article describes the process of relapse in clear and easy to understand language. It is an excellent article to use as a handout for clients or family members. |
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New
Gorski Article On Line: This article describes in clear and easy to understand language how to develop a relapse prevention plan. It is an excellent article to use as a handout for clients or family members. |
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Best Practices - Alcoholism In the Workplace (4-28-01) The United States Government has published comprehensive guidelines for dealing with alcoholism in the workplace. This is a good source for determining best practices in employee alcoholism programs. |
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Learning
To Kill
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Video's On The Criminal Justice System (04-22-01) Court TV Provides Some Excellent Shows Available On Video That Illustrate Some Important Issues About The Criminal Justice System Here Are A Few That I think Are Worth Viewing. |
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Incarceration As Entertainment (04-22-01) I am seriously concerned about the growing trend of Sheriff's using prisoners to gain media attention by putting prisoners on television shows and live on the internet through web cams. These practices need to be carefully reviewed. It seems to me that they violate prisoner rights. It also tells America that it's OK for law enforcement professionals to exploit prisoners for their own benefit. Check it out for yourself. Here are few of the website that can lead you to some of these questionable public displays of law enforcement used as theater. In my opinion, many of these shows are an embarrassment to the responsible men and women of law enforcement. Check them out and decide for yourself. |
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CATO
Institute Policy Briefing Although the Clinton administration shows signs of abandoning the most oppressive tactics in Washington's war on drugs, more radical policy changes are needed. The administration should immediately declare an armistice in the international phase of the drug war. The "supply-side" campaign waged by the Reagan and Bush administrations throughout Latin America was an exercise in destructive futility. Washington's "Ugly American" tactics caused horrendous social and economic problems in the drug-source countries, undermined their fragile democratic systems, and poisoned U.S. relations with those societies. The Clinton administration should avoid the temptation to continue the hemispheric drug war in a more "humane" fashion by emphasizing crop-substitution programs instead of eradication and interdiction. Crop substitution has already been tried and has failed. Administration officials must also realize that Washington's domestic prohibitionist strategy creates the black-market premium and other perverse incentives that have enabled the illegal drug trade to become a powerful political and economic force in Latin American countries. |
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DEA
Letter To ASAM Read the letter from the DEA written to the American Society for Addiction Medicine discussing the use of pain medication by doctors practicing addiction medicine. This letter and the new national offensive against prescription drug abuse raises a critical question: Who should have the final authority to determine the medically appropriate use of prescription drugs - doctors or enforcement professionals? |
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Medications
Reduce Incidence of Substance Abuse This article summarizes and links you to the references for research indicating that by identifying and appropriately treating adolescents who have ADHD with an appropriate combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy the incidence of substance abuse in ADHD patients goes down. Patients who have coexisting ADHD and Substance Dependence require treatment for both disorders. |
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Gorski
News Analysis : Here's the details on the new federal initiative to curb prescription drug abuse. This initiative could cause a collision between a public health addiction policy and the war on drugs policy. Public Health Addiction Policy seeks to help addicted people with early intervention and treatment. War On Drugs Policy is intent upon viewing prescription drug abusers as criminals and the pharmacists and doctors who make the drugs available as drug dealers. Unless this initiative is clearly governed by a Public Health Addiction Policy, this initiative could turn into another federal drug offensive that back fires because of the law of unintended consequences. The nation could easily end up incarcerating more sick people who need treatment and driving people who legitimately need medication into the illicit drug market. |
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Gorski
News Analysis : Opposition to the White house Faith-based Programs is growing among labor groups and religious organizations. The leadership of the addiction and mental health field have still not been heard on the level of national media. Check out details. |
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Controlled Substances Act Of 1970 The Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, is the legal foundation of the government's fight against the abuse of drugs and other substances. This law is a consolidation of numerous laws regulating the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled substances. |
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This
Is the End Of The "What's New Archive |
