You’re warmly invited to Celebrate the Season at our Holiday Network Luncheon

Details: Thursday, December 1st from 11:30 to 2:00 PM at the Canyon Crest Country Club

Address: : 975 Country Club Drive, Riverside, CA 92506 (click here for directions)

More Information: Enjoy a delicious Lunch & Holiday Raffle with Special Guest Speaker Velvet Mangan, CADCI, NCRS, Founder of Safe Harbor Treatment Center for Women with live musical stylings by Eddie Gee. 1 CEU credit.

Topic: Soul Sickness: Intervening on Young Women

Sponsors: ABC Recovery Center, Pat Moore Foundation, And Sovereign Health of California

Click here to view or download the flyer.

When we go to the doctor, we expect a clear diagnosis as to what is wrong. Unfortunately, a specific diagnosis isn’t easy when dealing with mental health issues.

Many mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, can be convoluted by substance abuse. This makes it difficult to diagnose specific problems. If a person suffering from depression is using drugs, it may be hard, for instance,  to tell if they have bipolar disorder or are just experiencing symptoms of drug abuse.

When a person has mental health issues combined with substance abuse problems, both of these problems must be treated at the same time, since both of these issues are connected. The best treatment comes from a multidisciplinary team of experts who specialize in co-occurring disorders. Read more »

Addiction! After a long dilemma, this has finally been identified as a chronic brain disorder, thanks to the release of a document by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

It is very important for all society to understand that it is a function of the human brain  to reuse ‘good’ or ‘high’ experiences after the ‘pleasure point’ of the brain is satiated. If this satiation is caused by the use of a particular substance, we tend to reuse it, more and more, to the point that it becomes addictive.

For years we have been blaming drugs or alcohol abuse for addictive behaviors. But it has now been proved, through many scientific studies, that even substance-free behavior ? such as gambling, sex, exercising, eating, tanning, etc. ? can affect the brain in somewhat similar ways, with significant consequences. This doesn’t mean that one should be restrictive with eating or exercise. However, it does indicate that one should be well aware of the risks – especially when undergoing treatment. Read more »

Drug addiction! It maybe that you use drugs to feel high, but sometimes our addiction and inclination towards it increases because of its relation with celebrities. By the time we realize that there is nothing glamorous about drug addiction, it is often too late. From time to time, we all must have read about, or seen in the media, celebrities using drugs to party or during other times in their life, but few of them gave us signals that drug addiction never discriminates!!!

• Elvis Presley! One of the most popular American rock stars, often referred to as the ‘King of Rock and Roll’, was found dead in his bathroom. Physicians described cardiac arrhythmia as the cause of death.  This was the result  of an overdose of prescription drugs.

• Christopher Pettiet! Famous as Zach Crandell of ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’ died on April 12, 2000 because of a drug overdose at the age of just 24.

• Heath Ledger!  Renowned Hollywood actor who starred in The Patriot, The Dark Night and more, Heath accidentally died in January 2008 due to acute intoxication caused by a concoction of drugs.

• Marilyn Monroe! At the age of only 36, Marilyn was found dead in her bedroom due to barbiturate poisoning.

Read more »

As a species, we spend around 700 billion minutes on Facebook every month. What started as a small, networking website for a handful of elite college students, quickly turned into a worldwide superpower reportedly worth $50 billion. Facebook is now an integral part of almost everyone’s life and has turned into something more meaningful than a website. It has become a serious means of communication, social status and expressionism. Facebook has become a major constituent of modern life.

Most see Facebook as a convenient tool. And obviously, most would agree that Facebook is, overall, beneficial. But others see it as a threat. People no longer talk to each other in person; instead, thet spend hours ‘chatting’. Users robotically stare into a virtual arena riddled with gossip and Likes and can anonymously stalk anyone they wish. Many simply spend too much time on Facebook and allow it to dictate their days. Used to excess, Facebook has been proven to destroy relationships, hamper careers, cause insomnia and even procure a sort of high. Some are now arguing that Facebook can, as with drugs, be the fuel to a fully serious addiction. Read more »

Spice, also known as Genie, K2, fake weed, or Zohai, is a form of synthetic cannabis.  It was found in head shops everywhere and could even be purchased online at one time.  It is typically sold as incense, but this is an obvious loophole.  Users smoke it and find its effects similar to those of marijuana.

Since the effects of Spice are like those of marijuana, many people use it for the same reasons – as a tool for escapism.  Many users, in fact, mix the drug with marijuana for a more intense high.

Side effects of Spice include: dry mouth, red eyes, anxiety attacks, nausea, increased pulse rate and hallucinations.  With time, users develop a tolerance to the drug and thus find that they must smoke increasing quantities to obtain their original high.  Some users develop a chemical dependency. Read more »

The New York Times recently published an article that told of a man in Pennsylvania who broke into a monastery and stabbed a priest, a woman who cut into her skin for several days, believing there to be something underneath and a man who jumped off of a flagpole into oncoming traffic.  “Yes, it is quite a crazy world we live in and these things do happen,” you may be thinking to yourself.  There is something peculiar, however, hidden behind each of these incidents. All three of these people, at the time of their bizarre happenings, were high on a drug colloquially known as ‘bath salts’ and were therefore (with the exception of the man who stabbed the priest) perfectly compliant with the law. How could this be? How could a substance that many now consider the most dangerous drug in the world be federally legal, both to produce and consume?  Society is, at times, paradoxical.

Although its origin dates back to 2004, bath salts’ popularity in the United States has only recently started snowballing.  Poison centers across the nation received a total of 303 calls regarding bath salts during 2010.  In the first half of 2011, this had risen to 3,740.  Despite efforts from the media and law enforcement, these numbers are rising quickly and experts anticipate them to breach 5,000 by the end of the year.  These statistics speak a bitter truth: that bath salts consumption is dangerous and on the rise.

Bath salts are marketed under various names such as ‘Ivory Wave’, ‘Vanilla Sky’, ‘Blue Magic’, ‘Gold Rush’ and ‘Ocean’.  All varieties contain a very powerful stimulant called Methylenedioxyprovalerone (MDPV), although each brand has a unique mixture of chemicals.  DEA official Gary Bogg put it well, saying, “You don’t know what is in the particular product that you’re using.”  Consumers are not only oblivious to the ingredients, but often to the salts’ effects and dangers.  One user, who we will call Mr. Z, explained how he thought that the bath salts “couldn’t be that bad since they were legal.”  Mr. Z later reported feeling “really paranoid, like something was out to get me.”

The side effects are alarming and include, but are certainly not limited to, insomnia, increased heart rate, dizziness, psychotic hallucinations and extreme anxiety.  Bath salts are also seriously addictive.  Director of the San Diego Poison Control System, Lee Cantrell, explained, “They appear to induce more of a craving for re-dosing than other stimulants”.  Many users say that it takes but one ‘trip’ to become hooked for years.  Additionally, the comedown is harsh, and typically includes severe depression, sometimes to the point of suicide.  One user described his MDPV comedown, saying that “Coming off of MDPV is like winning a Mercedes and being told at the last minute that they got your name wrong”.

A relevant question is where are bath salts coming from?  Like most other products, they are produced and sold by a firm, whose objective – in this case their sole objective – is to make a profit.  For all companies, profit equals revenue minus costs.  For bath salts producers, revenues are high.  As with many other drugs, a gram is sold at an inflated rate, usually between $50 to $100.  However, production costs are relatively low.  Apart from factories and intermediate goods, the only costs these firms incur are paying a team of chemists, marketers and distributers.  The men and women behind these firms may not be criminals, but they are certainly immoral.

Bath salts are obviously harmful and potentially lethal.  Around half of our states have indeed illegalized them and others are planning to follow suit.  They are still federally legal, however, and over 20 states have yet to take official action.  Our most salient question remains:  How could this be?  Part of the answer is simple.  Since bath salts are comparatively new and controlling a substance is a lengthy, legislative process, it is merely bad timing.  The DEA and FDA need more time. They will eventually illegalize bath salts.  Mr. Cantrell explained, “Illicit drug manufacturing is a constantly moving target, which makes it quite difficult to regulate or control.  I know that there are wheels turning right now, in California, to try to outlaw certain classes of these chemicals rather than going after individual compounds.”  The other part of the answer is more complex.  Because federally controlling a drug takes so much time and skillful chemists can quickly alter formulas, many fear this may become a perpetual problem.  Bath salts manufacturers are abusing legal loopholes because they can.  The only long-term solution to this sort of problem would be for the government to change its bureaucratic process, which may not be realistic.  The best active solution to this problem is to be intelligent and stay away from this synthetic evil.  DEA representative, Rusty Payne, wisely stated, “Just because something is not illegal, does not mean it’s safe.”

What are your thoughts?

Sovereign Health of California is supporting the Imagine Lives Changed charity by purchasing tickets to their benefit this Saturday, August 13th. The benefit will be hosted by Grammy and Golden Globe winning Hall of Fame Songwriter and Recovery Advocate, Paul Williams. You can make your contribution by purchasing tickets or a table for the event, too! There will a dinner, auction and entertainment on Saturday August 13th, starting at 6:00PM, Harborside Restaurant, Balboa Pavilion. Check out their website for more information about the event.

Imagine Lives Changed is a partnership of treatment facilities, sober livings, recovery schools and others ? who are taking action to end the pain and economic disaster going on in the lives of our children, loved ones, neighbors and customers.

• The introduction of western television in Fiji caused a dramatic increase in the rate of eating disorders.
• One in every four TV commercials puts out some sort of message about attractiveness.
• One study documented that watching music videos featuring thin women led to an increase in body dissatisfaction
• In a survey carried out by People magazine, 80% of those who took part responded that images of thin women on TV and in the movies make them feel insecure.
• Actresses Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz, as well as singer Diana Ross all meet the Body Mass Index physical criteria for Anorexia.
• Model/Actress Elizabeth Hurley stated in Allure magazine “I’ve always thought Marilyn Monroe looked fabulous, but I’d kill myself if I was that fat.”
• Pamela Anderson is 5’7” and weights 120 pounds. She is supposed to be the voluptuous ideal yet she is 11% below ideal body weight. In contrast, Marilyn Monroe set the beauty standard for her generation at 5’5” and weighed 135 pounds. Today her agent would probably tell her she had to lose weight!

On Saturday, July 23, celebrated singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse was found dead at her house in London, England.

She was, above all, a brilliant musician.  In an industry polluted with excessive auto-tuning and a general lack of musicality, Amy was a gem.  Most professional musicians agreed – she was one of the most talented singers of her time.

Amy was also famous for struggling with addiction.  She started using heavily in 2005 and in 2007 was admitted to a hospital in London for an overdose concoction of cocaine, ectasy, heroin, alcohol and ketamine.  Her behavior was self destructive and dangerous; she said, “I really thought it was over for me then [during the overdose].”  In 2008, she had a two-week stay at a rehabilitation facility and in 2010 she entered a clinic for one week.  She wanted to get better.  In an interview in late 2010, Amy stated, “I literally woke up one day and was like, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Police took several weeks to complete a toxicology report and wrap up their forensic investigation into Amy’s death.  But, regardless of the cause, the loss of Amy Winehouse was a blow to every fan of good music.  On behalf of Sovereign Health of California, we send our condolences to Amy Winehouse’s family, friends, and fans.