| Painkiller addiction can be tough to swallow
Drug addiction is a term that is easy to define but hard to pinpoint. Most medical literature says that drug addiction occurs when a person compulsively seeks to use a substance despite potentially negative consequences.
In 2003, 15 million Americans reported taking a prescription drug for a nonmedical reason. The most abused type of prescription drug is a painkiller, specifically a type of drugs doctors call opioids.
Painkiller addiction may occur in people who must routinely take such drugs for medical reasons but then find it hard to discontinue them when the pain dissipates.
However, painkillers can be used recreationally. They not only provide physical relief from aches and pains, they may cause feelings of well-being and even euphoria.
Bernalillo County works on new program to help meth addicts
Starting with methamphetamine addicts, Bernalillo County has made its first move toward creating a social services safety net program for people coming out of jail. The Meth Team started taking clients June 18 and provided them with services they need to stay sober, employed and mentally and physically healthy. County officials say the team also aims to start education programs in schools, community centers and other venues. The team is the beginning of the county's hope to reduce the number of people returning to jail for addiction-driven crimes and to help stabilize affected families. In the first month, the Meth Team's two case workers have enrolled about 25 clients. Face-to-face visits — on a daily basis and sometimes more often — ensure the clients have access to the services they need, officials say.
(From the last 12 hours)
SACRAMENTO—The California Medical Board is abolishing a controversial diversion program that has allowed many drug- and alcohol-addicted doctors to continue practicing medicine while secretly undergoing rehabilitation. Five separate audits of the program have found dramatic gaps in its enforcement, including about one in four random drug tests that were not performed and tests that failed to catch ongoing drug use. The audits also criticized the use of "work site monitors"—fellow employees and sometimes subordinates who shadowed the doctors at work but sometimes lied to cover up the doctors' addiction problems. "Most of the public would be horrified to know that the medical board, whose job it is to protect patients, runs this program—which protects doctors who have substance abuse problems," said Julianne D'Angelo Fellmeth, author of a 2004 audit of the diversion program.
Concerns voiced over group teen home in Soudan
The possibility of an alcohol and drug rehabilitation group home moving into the old Parkside building in Soudan was met with questions from the board, and opinions and concerns from several local citizens, during the Breitung Town boards regular meeting. The board heard from executive director of Phoenix Group Homes Howard Meier July. 25. Meier, and several boys from the his homes in the Twin Cities, attended the meeting to answer questions about their intended plans. The most common question was, Can you guarantee there wont be any problems? The answer from Meier was no. The bottom line is that you cant predict individual behavior. I cant promise there wont be any problems. What I can tell you is that in the thirteen years Ive been doing this we havent had any problems with any of our neighbors yet.
Local Domestic Violence Court may become state model
MANSFIELD -- On Sept. 1 Mansfield Municipal Court Judge Jerry Ault will implement Ohio's first domestic violence court. "We are hoping it will be the state model," said Melissa Knopp, manager of the Specialized Docket Section of The Supreme Court of Ohio. .
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