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Worked with the Partnership of a Drug-Free New Jersey to create TalkNowNJ.com with some wonderful people to spread awareness on the prescription drug epidemic. I am here with from the top left Steve Adubato, Meg Dupont Parisi, Angelo Valenti, Myself and Donna Pacicco DeStefano.
Please take 15 minutes to learn about what you can do to know if someone you love is addicted to RX drugs.
Morehttp://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/01/08/op-ed-prevent-opiate-addiction-at-the-source-through-educating-patients/
The prime source for the national explosion of opiate addiction — whether in the form of painkillers such as OxyContin or in the form of illegal street drugs such as heroin — is the dramatic increase in the use of opiate-based prescription drugs. Over the past 20 years, there has been a threefold increase in the number of prescriptions issued for opiate-based painkillers, as well as a major step-up in dosage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Healthcare providers wrote 259 million prescriptions in 2012 alone. Further, it has been well-documented that some people when they can no longer get access to prescription painkillers feed their opiate addiction by turning to heroin.
The costs in lost and ruined lives from what the CDC refers to as a “national epidemic” of opiate addiction continue to rise. Drug overdoses are the number one cause of accidental death in the United States. In 2010, nearly 20,000 people died from an overdose of opiates — nearly 17,000 from prescription painkillers and an additional 3,000 from heroin. It is time for a comprehensive approach that matches the scale of the problem and that begins at its source—the overprescribing of prescription painkillers and the underinforming of patients about the risks of this medication and possible alternatives
We are pleased to report that there is legislation moving through the New Jersey legislature that does exactly that. Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-37th) and Senator Joe Vitale (D-19th) are putting forward a proposed law (S-2366) requiring physicians and other health practitioners to discuss with a patient the risks of physical and psychological addiction and the availability of potential alternative medications, before issuing a prescription for an opiate-based painkiller.
In cases where the patient is under 18 years old, this discussion must take place with a parent or a guardian From the harm that too many of our children and families have experienced because a teenager becomes addicted to opiates, we know just how important providing this essential knowledge can be. To ensure compliance with the essential provisions of this legislation, the practitioner must obtain a written acknowledgement from the patient or the patient’s parent or guardian that this discussion has taken place.
The need for moving forward with this kind of approach is underscored by the American Academy of Neurology’s recent determination that the risks of powerful narcotic painkillers outweigh their benefits for treating chronic headaches, low back pain, and fibromyalgia. The Academy noted that 50 percent of patients who took opioids for at least three months are still on them five years later.
Further, more appropriate and limited prescribing of prescription painkillers will help reduce heroin use by reducing the number of people who crave opiates. AS CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., said, “Addressing prescription opioid abuse by changing prescribing is likely to prevent heroin use in the long term
Just as importantly, there is strong public support in New Jersey for this approach. In a recent FDU Public Mind Poll, more than two-out-of-three New Jersey parents indicated support for a law requiring that they be notified if their child’s prescription contained potentially addictive medication
We are pleased to report that this legislation, one component of a comprehensive package aimed at taking on New Jersey’s addiction problem passed the Senate recently, by a margin of 36 to 1. Still, there is a long way to go before final passage and it will require all of us to make our voices heard. It is particularly important for people to communicate their support to their Assembly members, since that is the next hurdle, we anticipate an open and fair discussion of this legislation in the Assembly Health Committee chaired by Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-7th) soon after the New Year.
Senator Weinberg and Vitale’s legislation (S-2366 ) is a critical prevention measure which attacks the problem directly at its source. Treatment after the fact is still important to do, but because of the brain changes caused by opiate addiction, it is a hard, difficult road to recovery for too many and the results are hit or miss. We must put preventing addiction in the first place at the forefront and that begins with passing this essential measure.
The New Year always brings change for each one of us. One thing that we don’t have control over time moving on. Yet, the things that we do have control over we need to stay focused on to better ourselves and the world around us.
I haven’t posted in a while. I have been busy continuing my education. I have returned to school as a full time student and it has consumed 8 days of week of work. In order for me to make a difference in my advocacy movements, I want to gain as much education as I can. So I apologize for slacking, however will do my best in 2015!!!
Wishing you all a peaceful New Year!! 
http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/02/19/home-school-programs-modestly-slow-teen-prescription-drug-abuse/66113.html
Teen prescription drug abuse programs have experienced mixed levels of effectiveness, ranging from big drops in drug abuse to no measurable effect.
The finding comes from a study of 11,000 teenagers by researchers at Duke and Pennsylvania State universities.
The best results came from pairing a school-based program with a home-based intervention, resulting in a 10 percent decrease in abuse rates.
By contrast, most school-based programs were ineffective when used by themselves, with just one exception.
While the results are sobering (no pun intended), the six-year study is among the first to measure the success and cost-effectiveness of prescription drug abuse prevention efforts.
Abuse of prescription opioids, a form of painkiller, is the fastest-growing form of illicit drug use in the country, affecting more than 12 million Americans and killing more people annually than heroin and cocaine combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended restricting access to painkillers such as Percocet, Oxycontin, and Vicodin.
“These drugs are very available, and highly addictive,” said Max Crowley, Ph.D., an NIH Research Fellow at Duke’s Center for Child and Family Policy.
“There’s a growing national debate about whether we should restrict access to these drugs, but at the same time, the drugs are hugely important for pain management. What’s being left out of the debate is the role of prevention.”
Crowley and his co-authors found that only one school-based program was effective when used by itself.
The Life Skills Training program resulted in 4 percent lower drug abuse rates, compared with a control group. The 18-session course teaches social skills that build competence and encourage assertiveness.
“Life Skills Training was also among the most cost-effective programs studied, costing an average of $15 per child,” Crowley said. “By contrast, the study notes that prescription drug abusers cost society an average of $7,500 each for treatment and other expenses, by conservative estimates.”
Life Skills was among four prevention programs the researchers studied.
The team looked at 28 rural public school districts in Iowa and Pennsylvania, tracking students from grades 6 through 12. They examined a home-based program called Strengthening Families 10-14 and three school-based programs: Life Skills Training, Project Alert, and All Stars.
All four were “universal” programs that were offered to all teenagers in a given district.
The researchers analyzed pairs of demographically similar school districts. Within each pair, one community received a prevention program or programs, and the other did not.
The research team surveyed teenagers each year, asking teens to anonymously report whether they had ever used a prescription painkiller for nonmedical purposes. The authors then compared drug use levels in districts that received interventions versus those that did not.
In communities that received no intervention, a quarter of high school seniors reported having misused prescription painkillers.
The most substantial reductions in abuse rates occurred when the Life Skills program was combined with the Strengthening Families program. The All Stars intervention also yielded reductions when it was used alongside the Strengthening Families program.
Crowley said he hopes policymakers and educators will put the findings to use.
“Policymakers and other leaders are actively searching for efficient ways to curb prescription drug abuse,” Crowley said.
“These results give policymakers options regarding how to handle this growing epidemic.”
The study appears online in Preventive Medicine.
Source: Duke University
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This is Roxy. As you know she is our mascot. Roxy was sent to us from heaven.
Justin always wanted a bulldog named Rocco. He would talk about this dog and how much he loved it when in fact, he never had it. Well. I made a promise to Justin that I would get a bullie for him. So in September of 2011, Dan Justin’s oldest brother, worked in a pet store. He called me and said that they had a bullie that they were placing up for adoption because of some surgery that was needed and that we could have it. WOW!!! I almost fell on the floor. This didnt happen! A bulldog for free? Crazy enough, this cute little bullie was around in May of 2011. Dan actually sent Justin pictures of her showing her how adorable she was. For some reason, nobody bought her!!! This almost never happens with these dogs. But in this case it did. Why you ask? Well because she was waiting to come to us. So with a little help, from heaven and her angel, Justin, Roxy has joined our family. Its not a Rocco, but Roxy will do.
Happy Birthday Justin!! We love you!!
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