12 Steps Again

If you spend anytime on Miami Beach, You may have seen the new SoBe Sober logo sprawled across the back of most public busses. The SoBe (short for South Beach) Sober campaign began as a way to prevent underage drinking. The initiative helps students of today become productive and healthy parts of society in the near future by informing them about the negative, long term effects of alcohol abuse.

“In partnership with D-FY-IT, a local non-profit organization, this campaign is designed to combat underage drinking among Miami Dade and Broward County students through education, outreach and celebrity sponsorship endorsement programs.” –SoBeSober.org

For more information on SoBeSober.org including sobering facts about alcohol abuse and underaged drinking, parental tips, the SoBe Sober photo gallery, upcoming SoBe Sober events and much more, visit them online at www.SoBeSober.org

Rohypnol Drug Effects:

One of the significant effects of Rohypnol is anterograde amnesia, a factor that strongly contributed to its inclusion in the Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996.

Anterograde amnesia is a condition in which events that occurred while under the influence of the drug are forgotten. In addition to the chemically induced amnesia, Rohypnol often causes decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, confusion, astrointestinal disturbances, and urinary retention.

What is the form of Rohypnol?

Rohypnol (also known as Rophies or Roofies) is manufactured in pill form. The licit market for the drug is currently supplied with a 1-milligram dose in an olive green, oblong tablet, imprinted with the number 542. The new tablet includes a dye that, according to Hoffman-La Roche (the makers of Rohypnol) will be visible if it is slipped into a drink.

How does Rohypnol get into the United States?

Rohypnol is usually smuggled into the United States by way of mail or delivery services.
The drug remains readily available, mainly through pharmaceutical operators located in Mexico, especially Tijuana.
How much does Rohypnol cost?

Reports indicate that Rohypnol is often sold for between $2 and $5 per dosage unit, although it may sell for from $10 to $30 per dosage unit.

The 13th Annual, 2009 Prism Awards takes place Wednesday, April 23rd in Beverly Hills, California. The event will take place in the Beverly Hill Hotel but will not air live. Although the Prism Awards are modeled after the Oscars and the Emmys, this will be the first year that the Prism Awards will be televised.

The annual Prism Awards honors excellence in Music, Film and Television within the realm of Addiction, Recovery and Mental Health. This year’s Prism Awards will air on FX in September. The following is just a few of the categories and nominees for the 2009 Prism Awards:

PERFORMANCE IN A TV MOVIE OR MINISERIES:
 
Tammy Blanchard, Sybil
(CBS Entertainment / Warner Bros. Television / Wolper Organization / Norman Stevens Productions)
 
Jessica Lange, Sybil
(CBS Entertainment / Warner Bros. Television / Wolper Organization / Norman Stevens Productions)
 
Sally Pressman, Love Sick: Secrets of a Sex Addict
(Lifetime Television / Johnson Production Group)
 
Susan Sarandon, Bernard and Doris
(HBO Films)
 
Chandra Wilson, Accidental Friendship
(Hallmark Channel / Automatic Pictures)
TALK SHOW EPISODE:
 
The Doctors – “Episode #1055″
(CBS Paramount Domestic Television / Stage 29 Productions)
 
Dr. Phil – “The Bridge”
(CBS Paramount Domestic Television / Peteski Productions)
 
Dr. Phil – “Pill Popping Twins Parts 1 and 2″
(CBS Paramount Domestic Television / Peteski Productions)
 
Dr. Phil – “Sober Up Or Else!”
(CBS Paramount Domestic Television / Peteski Productions)
 
The Tyra Banks Show – “Addicted Moms: Families in Turmoil”
(Telepictures Productions)

MUSIC RECORDING:
 
In the Rooms – Richie Supa
 
Lost in Recovery – Selfish Steam

For more information on the Prism Awards, check them out online at www.PrismAwards.com

Millions of Americans struggle daily with suffocating addictions. Millions more are devastated by the aftermath of their loved one’s addiction. This new addiction forum is a unique and private way for those affected in any way by addiction to get answers, help, and support for what they are going through.

The free online addiction forum if provided by www.RiseAboveAddiction.com. Their philosophy is to provide a place for anyone affected by addiction to come and find anonymous help and support through a loose group model of discussion. The online forum has special sections focused on: Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, Mental Illness, Pornography, Gambling, and even Video Gaming addictions. There are also special areas dedicated to family members, friends, as well as areas specifically for addicts.

Many specialists of addiction medicine have advocated the use of group therapy for those suffering from addiction as well as for those who are suffering the consequences of someone else’s addiction. By talking with other addicts, it is possible to see themselves in a more honest light. It also allows addicts to see their own barriers to recovery through the eyes of someone else’s struggle. Families benefit perhaps most of all as they talk and share their experiences of what they are going through. They begin to feel a sense of support. In hearing that others are experiencing what they are, families, parents and friends no longer feel alone.

Registration for the online forum is fast and free. No matter the addiction, or whether you suffer with an addiction yourself, or if someone you love is addicted – all are welcome. All regions of the world are also welcome. You never know, the help and strength you have been looking for may be waiting at http://www.riseaboveaddiction.com/forum/index.php.

There’s a new social networking site on the Internet for people who want to communicate with others around the world about various 12-step recovery programs and support groups.

InTheRooms.com is an online community designed specifically for individuals in recovery, people who are seeking recovery, and for the family, friends and allies supporting their loved ones in recovery. Since its launch in October 2008, the site has registered nearly 12,000 members who collectively have more than 50,000 years of total recovery time, a figure that is constantly increasing.

At the website, people can send messages to other members, create a list of friends and post comments on other people’s pages, and connect to others within their fellowship by meeting new people and participating in discussions. Users can also search for other people by fellowship, personal interests or by zip code and create an online group for their home group and communicate and message everyone in the group at the same time.

“In The Rooms is much more than just another social networking site,” said Ken Pomerance, the site’s cofounder. “It really is a community of supportive members who are in recovery and who understand the trials and tribulations that come with battling the disease of addiction, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, eating disorders and more.”

Additional features of In The Rooms include automatically updated daily meditations, a speaker library with nearly 1,000 speaker tapes for download (and the ability for members to upload their own speaker tapes), announcements of member birthdays and recovery anniversaries, and a recording of singer Richie Supa’s latest single, which as written especially for In The Rooms.

“Our goal was to create an environment for fun and fellowship for people in any of the 12-step recovery programs,” said Pomerance, “and the response so far from members, and from the recovery community has been remarkable. We’re committed to providing even more tools and resources for our members so their experience will be even better.”
  
About InTheRooms.com

As a social networking innovator, InTheRooms.com is designed specifically for people in recovery around the world. The mantra of In The Rooms centers on the word H.I.T.C.H., an acronym for Help, Inform, Touch, Connect and Heal, which is also the mission of the site. With this guiding principle, along with supportive, caring members, InTheRooms.com has become the fastest growing online recovery community in just a few short months.

InTheRooms.com is the most comprehensive resource for global fellowships, local support groups and individuals dedicated to recovery. Members can meet other like-minded people, upload photos, post videos, create blogs, and most importantly, share their experience, strength and hope about recovery.

To learn more, visit www.InTheRooms.com.