RECOVERY MONTH

August 29th, 2011

September is National Recovery Month which celebrates people in recovery from an addiction and or mental illness. Additionally, recovery month is to promote the benefits of treatment for substance abuse and mental disorders, while lauding the contributions of treatment providers, and promoting the message that TREATMENT WORKS AND PEOPLE RECOVER. Throughout September I will focus on spreading the message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention and treatment work, and that individuals in need of addiction and/or mental health treatment need to have access to these services.

On September 25th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in Columbus on the campus of OSU Medical Center-East the Ohio Citizen’s Advocates for Chemical Dependency Prevention and Treatment will host the 2011 Rally for recovery.  This year’s rally is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever!  For all of the details please click on this link.

Have a great week!

Cheri

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer

Posted in CEO Minutes |

New Definition of Addiction

August 22nd, 2011

On August 15, 2011 the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released a new definition of addiction highlighting that addiction is a chronic brain disorder. ASAM is the nation’s largest professional society of physicians dedicated to treating and preventing addiction. Their new definition resulted from an intensive, four‐year process with more than 80 experts actively working on it.  In addition to highlighting addiction as a chronic brain disease, ASAM’s new definition also describes addiction as a primary disease, meaning that it’s not the result of other causes such as emotional or psychiatric problems. Addiction is a chronic disease that can be treated and people can engage in recovery, but they must work their recover for the rest of their life. As stated in the ASAM news release — Addiction Is a Chronic Brain Disease, Not Just Bad Behaviors or Bad Choices.

To see the entire ASAM news release click on the following: definition

Have a great week!

Cheri

Posted in CEO Minutes |

Healthcare Reform Individual Mandate Unconstitutional

August 12th, 2011

Today, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the suit brought by 26 states challenging the constitutionality of the individual mandate including in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  The 11th Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, ruled that the individual mandate is not constitutional.  However, the Court also disagreed with the lower court’s ruling and severed this provision from the rest of the law which will allow other provisions of the law to remain “legally operative.”

This ruling from the 11th Circuit conflicts with a ruling issued by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals who ruled that Congress had a “rational basis” to impose an individual mandate and upheld the law.  This appears to be the next step on the way to the United States Supreme Court.  To read more about the ruling from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, click here.

Cheri

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer

Posted in CEO Minutes, Health Care Reform |

Fall-ballot Ruling Awaited on Health Care Law

August 10th, 2011

The Columbus Dispatch reports that Ohio Supreme Court has until Monday to make a decision on whether or not Issue 3, the amendment targeted at repealing the federal health care reform law in Ohio, will appear on the fall ballot.  Supporters of the federal health law challenged the validity of more than 69,000 petition signatures and asked the Ohio Supreme Court to take the issue off of the ballot.  If the Ohio Supreme Court invalidates the signatures, they may grant the supporters of the ballot proposal time to file additional signatures.  To read the Dispatch article, click here.

Posted in Health Care Reform |

ODMH and ODADAS Annual Reports

August 3rd, 2011

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services both released annual reports this week.  To read the annual reports, please use the links provided below.

ODMH – Annual Report

ODADAS – Annual Report

Posted in Up to the Minute |

Bath Salts: A New Drug Trend

August 1st, 2011

“Bath Salts: A New Drug Trend” addresses the recent emergence of substances being sold as “bath salts” that are used for no legitimate purpose, but manufactured solely for the purpose of substance abuse. July 2011 BathSalts

Posted in One Pager |

MISUSE OF PAINKILLERS–A GATEWAY TO ILLEGAL DRUGS

August 1st, 2011

A new study published in the international Journal of drug Policy suggests that abuse of prescription painkillers may be an important gateway to the use of injected drugs, such as heroin, among people with a history of using both types of drugs. The study explores factors surrounding young injection drug users’ initiation into the misuse of opioid drugs. Common factors identified in this group included a family history of drug misuse and receiving prescriptions for opioid drugs in the past. The results support a need for efforts to prevent misuse of prescription drugs, particularly during adolescence. To see the full report please click on the following: The study, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy,

 Have a GREAT WEEK!

Cheri

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer

Posted in CEO Minutes |