One Hour AT A Time

Approximately 15% of the U. S. population has a personality disorder, according to the DSM-5, the manual of mental disorders that therapists use. Some (not all) people with personality disorders or traits get into intense conflicts or increase conflicts with those around them. They may repeatedly and intensely blame a specific person – their ”target of blame” – whether in romantic relationships, at work, in their families, with strangers or anywhere else. You may be one of their “targets of blame.” This program will introduce the general characteristics of personality disorders. The frequent overlap of personality disorders and substance abuse will be discussed. Four key skills will be provided for managing daily life conflict situations with people who have personality disorders or traits. Some general treatment issues and options will be mentioned for those who may have these disorders.

Charles “Bud” Dasey was a 19-year-old sailor when he landed on Normandy 70 years ago. Now 89, he travels around with his "D-Day in a box" exhibit, visiting schools and museums teaching children about what happened there. The one box of D - Day memorabilia has grown to several boxes over the years. Dasey and his wife also made a 3-D model of the invasion that contains hundreds of small pieces. On June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 troops crossed the English Channel. Dasey of Winthrop, Massachusetts, was one of the sailors sent to Normandy. Dasey was a gunner’s mate, second class. Even 70 years later, he still remembers how the invasion unfolded and his many friends and fellow soldiers who lost their lives that day. Prior to Normandy, Dasey also had served in North Africa and Italy. Dasey also had the opportunity to return to Normandy a few years ago and added two items to his D - Day box collection. He still lives in the Boston area and attends many civic and veteran events.

Our guest today will discuss how and why people become addicted to painkillers when suffering with chronic pain. The topic will include: The similarities between addiction and chronic pain; Why people experience chronic pain and the factors that contribute to it; Predisposing factors and how this term relates to addiction; The short-term vs. long-term effects of opioid use; and Why the practice of prescribing opioids has dramatically increased.

Addiction can threaten the lives of people via many different avenues: recreational drugs, painkillers, alcohol, food, and more. While many of us grow excited about the holiday season, there are others that become anxious about this time of year. The events of the season can impose temptations and challenges for recovering addicts, especially those with co-occurring disorders, such as depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and codependency, which can be heightened by the festivities that surround them. During this holiday season, let us be mindful of all of these people and the addictions they battle against. Whether you know somebody who is still battling an addiction or somebody that is in recovery, make the effort to be considerate of what they are going through. It is important to remember that those in recovery are indeed still struggling too. Our guest today with discuss what can we do to support our friends or family members in the fight against addiction during the holidays.

Our guest today will share some of his own personal story about a father and son trapped in the world of addiction, and how the miracle of recovery has the power to restore one’s life, relationships and emotional wellbeing. There are more than 44,000,000 alcoholics and drug addicts in the United States alone according to the U.S. Department of Health and Social Services and the American Medical Association. Each addict affects at least eight other people in their lives-spouses, parents, siblings, other relatives and close friends as well as co-workers. That means more than 200,000,000 Americans are impacted by this deadly disease.

At Crossroads, we believe that substance abuse, mental health and co-occurring treatment must build upon and respect people’s unique needs to focus on self-determination, personal choices, positive relationships and connectedness. There are significant and documented differences in women and men’s addiction experience and in key issues in recovery, including self-image, relationships, sexuality and spirituality. It’s important to note the difference in the ways men and women deal with these issues and to address them in the ways that work best for each individual. Gender-responsive treatment addresses these differences to best serve the individual client. The experience of trauma and the lack of healthy relationships are extremely common in the lives of affected women. Healing requires that women and men be in an environment in which they can experience supportive, sustaining interactions with staff and each other, using a model of treatment that focuses on relationships.

Our guests today will discuss the Recovery Unplugged program, the Face The Music Foundation, and their contribution with the UNITE event in Washington DC October 4, 2015.

We all want young people to make good choices. In a challenging 24/7 world, too many youth use alcohol and other drugs to cope. We can make a difference by talking honestly with them and encouraging nurturing connections. Jeanne Blake is a medical journalist and founder of Blake Works, an executive leadership communication coaching firm. She is also the creator of Words Can Work® multimedia about the public health challenges youth face growing up. Jeanne offers insight into how vital conversations with youth – early and often – can help saves lives.

Our guest today will discuss what family and friends need to know in order to help someone with an addiction problem; what additional steps family members can take after an intervention; the role of belief in the treatment and recovery process; and how to maintain sobriety through grief and loss. Jeff will also explain the events that led to him getting sober and his mission to help others stay clean.

Recovering addicts face turbulent paths filled with temptation and strife while trying to cleanse themselves. The struggle to remain sober and to achieve an encompassing state of well-being is a grueling journey for most people. Our guest today, Jennifer Matesa, recalls her battles with addiction and explains the methods she used to stay clean, based on solid science and practical guidance, as well as shares the experiences of others in long-term recovery. Key ways that the mind, body, and spirit can work in unison to help alleviate pain and stress while increasing a recovering addict’s health include: Recognize the hazardous ways that drugs and alcohol destroy the body; Use exercise to re-establish a foundation of fitness to help conduct stability and strength; Discover how to eat according to your body’s needs to further recovery; Learn how sleep rids the body of toxins; and Control the brain’s cravings through meditation.

Our guests today will talk primarily about parents and the feelings of isolation, learning to cope and manage through chaos and grief, hope, and finally to recovery. They will speak to what goes on behind the walls of homes that often is undisclosed to professionals, friends, and neighbors. The advice to parents by other parents is about self care, accessing help for their adult children, and for themselves, and reckoning with a new normal for their child and for their family.

PRN for Families is a home-based program for families who have children or teenagers who are out of control or at imminent risk of being separated from their family. They specialize in: Intensive in-home crises intervention; Collaboration with schools, programs and consultants; In-home family assessment; Comprehensive Planning and Case Management; Counseling and Consultation; Life Skills and Family Communication Skills and Follow up and Ongoing Support. Team members are available to respond to crises. Unlike other programs, PRN for Families offers customized, home-based services in whatever state or country the family is located. Their programs are available to adolescents in middle school, and high school, young adults that are attending college or moving to an independent living situation, and to parents and couples. They also provide help to young adults who have completed or withdrawn from a short-term therapeutic intervention or a long-term residential treatment program.

TPAS comprises a collection of addiction professionals who share the practices that work to create permanent sobriety to those we serve. Every addiction professional serves within a unique culture and works to develop the best outcomes possible for their clients. There is to date no accreditation, masters program or manual to show us how to do it. We create within our cultures by trial and error a system that works for us. TPAS gives each of us the chance to share and learn from each other the practices that work for us. These may or may not translate directly to the culture that we serve but it absolutely generates creative energies when we share with each other. We problem solve and encourage each other to create a system that promotes long term recovery for our clients. We want the best for each other and the people who suffer from addiction. We give freely of what we have learned and grow together. Join us for a journey into the world of organized successful treatment outcomes.

In his practice of law, Mr. Barnes provides strategic counsel to businesses, not-for-profits, licensed professionals, fiduciaries, and individuals. He has served as primary legal counsel to national health care service providers, including during start-up and stabilization stages; to international pharmaceutical manufacturers seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of new drug applications. In his public policy practice, Mr. Barnes advises corporations, health care providers, and national non-profits on issues including prescription drug abuse, medication safety, and pain care. Mr. Barnes obtained his Juris Doctor degree from George Mason University School of Law and was recognized by the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section as Outstanding Law Graduate in the Practice of Family Law. He earned a master’s degree in international economic policy from La Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Flagler College.

The debate over marijuana legalization has never been more heated as the issue continues to divide policy makers, the medical community, and the public alike. While it appears that acceptance of marijuana usage is growing, there is much misinformation about it and a lot more that needs to be understood regarding its effect on people, especially on the developing brains of young people. Kevin Hill, author of Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth about the World’s Most Popular Weed, is a leading expert in marijuana research and addiction treatment. Hill’s book covers the complexities of marijuana use statistics, the major myths about use, the controversies around decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana, and the challenges of treating marijuana addiction, including working with parents.