| They ditched hooch for health
Many stories on rehabilitation focus on an alcoholic's downward spiral before finding new life in sobriety. But with that new life comes a quandary — how to fill time once occupied with a bottle with time dedicated to health.
"You have to have something to replace that time, said Lawrence Houston, 48, who once abused alcohol and drugs but today lives clean and sober in suburban Lancaster. "Idle time is the devil's workshop!"
"Go for a walk," agreed Dr. David Hill, a Millersville University professor of psychology, who has also served as an addictions consultant for area treatment centers. "Go to the gym; go to something self-enhancing."
Like Houston, others who have battled addiction have taken up that mantra. They work out, golf, swim, coach, take up yoga, read, meditate and/or pray.
Rehab Centers Take Issue with Media's Portrayal of Revolving Door Celebrities
Celebrities are doing it -- some successful, some not. Rehab success is due to attitude, programs offered and patience. The media make drug rehab appear to be unsuccessful as it relates to popular entertainment icons. This negatively effects the likelihood of potential patients entering into programs. North Palm Beach, Florida (PRWEB) October 22, 2007 -- The recent mischaracterization of Drug Rehab Centers as revolving door facilities prompts Florida treatment center CARE FLORIDA to distance itself from the rock-star agenda. Many recovery centers, when attended devotedly and vigilantly, can help with every kind of addiction problem out there. From drug and alcohol detox to help with gambling and eating disorders, these centers have programs to help with any addiction. However, the media make drug rehab appear to be unsuccessful as it relates to popular entertainment icons.
30 years of Aloha House celebrated on Maui
WAILUKU Seven years ago, Leonani's addiction to drugs was so great "I could not function" without them, she said. She landed in jail. There she enrolled in a special program for inmates who want to overcome their addictions and live a life free of substance abuse, The Maui News reported. Leonani, who wished to be identified only by her first name, is now sober, free from jail and sharing her story so people can know how Aloha House Inc., and specifically, its program in the Malama Recovery Center, changed her life. "I learned new skills and learned to live clean and sober one day a time," said Leonani, a convicted felon. As Aloha House gets ready to celebrate its 30th birthday, Leonani said she wanted to join other former addicts in thanking the agency "for all of their love and support, but mostly for the chance to change my life for the better." Executive Director Jud Cunningham said Aloha House is continuing to do what it can to adapt and accommodate the growing needs of the people it serves on Maui.
Williams enjoying free rein
Deron Williams, the point guard who was a frustrated rookie spending what he thought was too much time on the bench, now has a green light from coach Jerry Sloan to make his own decisions on the court. "Yeah, he has a lot more leeway than what I gave him probably the first year or so," said Sloan about Williams, who is entering his third season. "If he has something he feels good about it, I don't have a problem with it." Sloan and power-forward co-captain Carlos Boozer credited Williams for dictating much of the tempo Tuesday night at Golden State. The Warriors like to push the pace like the Phoenix Suns, and the Jazz have in the past had tendencies to try to keep up. "He kept us in our offense, and he went through a stretch where he had some opportunities for himself to score (24), and he did a great job of that," said Sloan.
Liquor commissioners punt 'alco-pops' issue to Legislature
SALTE LAKE CITY -- State liquor regulators voted Thursday to let the Legislature decide whether flavored malt beverages should be removed from grocery store shelves and sold only in state-run liquor stores. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission dropped a proposal to limit the drinks, sometimes called "alco-pops" because of their sweet flavor and popularity with underage drinkers, to state stores where liquor and wine are sold. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has suggested that the state restrict the beverages to state stores to make it more difficult for teens to purchase them. Opponents said the rule was discriminatory because the drinks contain the same 3.2 alcohol percentage as beer that is available at grocery and convenience stores.
SA not swamped with NT drinkers: Brough
Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough has dismissed claims Northern Territory Aborigines are "swamping" South Australia to avoid the federal government's tough new alcohol restrictions. Steve Baines, the mayor of Coober Pedy in central SA, has said hundreds of NT Aborigines have poured into his town since the alcohol restrictions came into force. The restrictions were introduced as part of the government's national emergency response to child abuse in NT indigenous communities. But Mr Brough dismissed claims that people from the NT were camping in the streets of Coober Pedy. "That's not correct," he told Southern Cross Broadcasting. "My department was out there last week and none of these issues were raised at that stage with my department." Mr Brough said when the intervention is fully underway welfare restrictions placed on NT Aborigines will "follow them" wherever they go in Australia.
Homeless people in White Plains, a political football punted back and forth
"Westchester retreats" read yesterday's headline in The Journal News and you might think that warm cots will await homeless men and women on cold nights, not a continuing battle between Westchester County and the city of White Plains about where they should go. Not so fast. The county has challenged White Plains to agree to cots, but so far, the city has not. What to do once the temperature drops is still as much a test of political wills as a coherent policy about how to treat the homeless. "I can't just respond to this without knowing more about it," Mayor Joseph Delfino told my colleague Rich Liebson. "The county has never contacted us about this." This week's wrangling came after the county announced an exceptionally ill-conceived policy.
Drug addicts find hope
A drug treatment program called Prometa is considered experimental by some accounts and miraculous by others. Federal Way City Council member Jack Dovey has suggested the city allocate $20,000 through its mid-biennium budget amendment process for a 2008 Prometa pilot program in Federal Way. “I think it would be life-changing for our citizens," Dovey said. While the council agrees a drug treatment program would be beneficial to the city's residents, mixed feelings toward Prometa were expressed at a budget meeting Nov. 13. Prometa, which is claimed to rid addicts of their alcohol, cocaine and methamphetamine addictions, has been hailed by some as a miracle drug treatment program. The treatment protocol is a combination of three medications — Flumazenil, Hydroxyzine and Gabapentin — that have been independently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, said Pierce County Alliance Deputy Director James Boyles.
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