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ChemicalRecovery.Org : News http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/e107_images/crtitle.gif http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/ 88 31 This is a Christian substance abuse recovery website. It's purpose is to provide help and support to those recovering or wishing to recover from drugs or alcohol abuse. One Day Seminar in Westerm Maryland http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.213.3

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rday April 28^th 2012.
Members of the Baltimore Maryland, Montgomery County, Frederick Maryland and Northern Virginia Chemical Recovery (CR) ministries gathered for a one-day seminar in western Maryland.
Classes included “The Ten Killers of a Group”, “Willingness to Change” and “Outreach” in the form of a Bible Talk designed to introduce Church Members and their visitors to the Chemical Recovery Ministry.
The groups’ fellowshipped, broke bread together, renewing and strengthening friendships that will help the various ministries to flourish and grow. “As iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another”. To God be the Glory

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]]> CR Miinistry News hmullan Thu, 03 May 2012 10:57:19 -0700 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.213.3 Whitney Houston: Cocaine in System At Time of Death http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.212.8

Recently we learned that the death of Whitney Houston was indeed caused by her relapse into drug abuse. The coroner indicated that there was water found in her lungs leading us to believe that she slipped beneath the water unable to help or save herself. Simply thinking about this is horrific. The world lost an incredibly talented singer and actress in the death of Ms Houston.

Those who surrounded her claim that they were certain that she had stopped using drugs and that she was working hard on her recovery. The autopsy tells a different story that she was still an active cocaine user while trace amounts of several other prescription drugs such as Xanax and Flexeril were also found in her system. While it is so easy for the user to convince themselves that their using affects only themselves the case of Ms Houston shows what a complete fallacy that belief is.

Even if you were not a fan, you could not deny her talent and presence. Her death shows again that drug addiction is no respecter of persons. It will kill the homeless bum living under the bridge as fast as it will kill the celebrity as in the recent cases of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. The only difference is the amount of publicity it gets.

As Ms Houston leaves behind a beautiful young daughter, a mourning ex-husband and a legion of heart broken fans there are those who I am sure ask themselves if they could have done more to prevent this from happening. A lesson that we can all take from this is that if we see a family member or a friend struggling with drugs or alcohol to not stand in judgement on them but to strive to get them the help they need. Drug and alcohol addiction is a terrible scourge but it can be overcome, it can be beaten.

]]> News Stories Editor Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:45:29 -0700 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.212.8 Anti Drunk Videos In The Media Section http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.211.1

Back in my college days studying for Electronics Engineering I had a professor who had tremendous experience in the electronics repair business. He talked about a device that used to exist in tube televisions called a Tripler. It had the function of tripling the voltage needed for the tube to work. He told us that if you ever had the misforture of putting you hand on a tripler that it would be a mistake you would not soon forget and would be unlikely to repeat.

As addicts we can repeat our mistakes frequently even after much pain. One way that governments try to curb this is by producing anti drunk ads and drink driving prevention ads. These are hoped to give a visual aid to dissuade those who drink too much and/or drink and drive. We have put a selection of these in our Media Gallery section. Take a look at them. Some are really well done. If you have any links for other good ones, send them to us and we will put them up. Thanks for checking them out.

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]]> Misc Editor Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:09:42 -0700 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.211.1 CDC unveils graphic ads to combat smoking http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.210.8

By Saundra Young, Washington (CNN) -- Federal health officials are unveiling Thursday a $54 million national media campaign to get smokers to quit and prevent anyone else, especially children, from starting.The campaign, called "Tips From Former Smokers," is intended to educate Americans about the dangers of smoking through the stories and graphic pictures of ex-smokers who have suffered severe health consequences of tobacco use.The former smokers profiled have suffered ailments like stroke-related paralysis, limb amputation, lung removal and heart attack. One breathes through a stoma, a surgically created hole in the neck through which a person who has undergone larynx or voice box surgery can breathe. Check out print ad here.

Full Article Here

]]> News Stories Editor Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:41:20 -0700 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.210.8 Grandiose Thinking http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.209.11

This article is reproduced from our sisters Wendys blog. Stop by and visit and leave some encouraging comments. Thx.

From AA daily reflections: "Experience has taught me that my alcoholic personality tends to be grandiose. While having seemingly good intentions, I can go off on tangents in pursuit of my "causes." My ego takes over and I lose sight of my primary purpose. I may even take credit for God's handiwork in my life. Such an overstated feeling of my own importance is dangerous to my sobriety..." Grandiose thinking is common among addicts and even more so for those of us who are dual-diagnosis, where grandiosity may be a symptom of our mental illness. How can the Bible help us to have a more accurate view of ourselves and our responsibilties?

Full Article Here

]]> Editorials Editor Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:00:32 -0700 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.209.11 Alcohol Myths Busted http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.208.9

I am sure that by now you have had the chance to see the show MythBusters, where they take everyday myths and test them to see if they are real or totally busted. There are a lot of myths around alcohol as well. Below we list some of the myths and how they stand up to some scrutiny.

MYTH: Everyone drinks.
TRUTH: Not true. 69% of teens said they did not drink alcohol in the past month! If you choose not to drink, you're definitely not alone.

MYTH: Alcohol gives you energy.
TRUTH: This statement is false. Alcohol is a depressant, and can actually make you sleepy. It slows down your motor skills which control the way you think, speak, move and react.

MYTH: Beer before liquor, never been sicker - liquor before beer, you're in the clear.
TRUTH: This is an old urban legend used to explain why people get sick when they drink - but it's just not true. Your blood alcohol content (also known as BAC, the percentage of alcohol in your blood) is what determines how drunk you are. It doesn't matter what type of alcohol you chose to consume - a drink is a drink, and too much of any combination can make you sick.

MYTH: I can sober up quickly if I need to.
TRUTH: If you think that taking a shower, drinking 10 cups of coffee or eating a loaf of bread will help you sober up — think again. The only thing your body needs is time — depending on your weight, it takes about three hours to eliminate every two drinks from your body.

MYTH: Driving with someone who drank can be safe, because they drive extra carefully so they don't get pulled over.
TRUTH: Drinking and driving is extremely dangerous and can be deadly. Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking and about 1,900 of these deaths are from motor vehicle crashes (NIAAA). In 2002, alcohol was involved in 41% of all fatal crashes (NIDA). A person might think he's in control, but alcohol slows down reaction time which makes driving a car one of the worst decisions one can make — even if he's had only a little bit to drink.

MYTH: Everyone who gets drunk acts the same.
TRUTH: Not true. There are lots of factors that affect the body's reactions to alcohol, including weight, age, gender, body chemistry, genetics, amount of food and alcohol consumed — the list can go on. The way one person reacts can be vastly different from how another person reacts. You can't predict how alcohol will affect you.

MYTH: Alcohol makes sex better.
TRUTH: Wrong again. Alcohol can make people feel less uncomfortable in a social situation. But the reality is that alcohol can actually keep guys from getting or keeping an erection, and it can lower girls' sex drives, too. More importantly, alcohol can affect your decision-making ability: You might put yourself in a risky situation; you might think you're ready to have sex when you're not or you might forget to use a condom — which can result in pregnancy and/or contracting a sexually transmitted infection – like syphilis or HIV.

MYTH: If I drink too much, the worst thing that can happen is I get my stomach pumped.
TRUTH: This is false. If alcohol is drunk excessively, it can lead to alcohol poisoning which can cause death. Also, drinking excessive alcohol can cause vomiting. When drunk and unconscious, a person may inhale fluids that have been vomited, resulting in death by asphyxiation. Long-term, heavy use of alcohol can lead to addiction (alcoholism), and can even cause a heart attack or stroke.

MYTH: Talk to me about drugs - that's a bigger issue than alcohol.
TRUTH: Both drugs and alcohol are serious problems among teens. Alcohol kills young people just like cocaine, heroin and other serious illegal drugs. Also, according to recent studies, nearly one-half (47%) of persons who began drinking before age 14 were alcohol dependent at some point in their lifetime.

MYTH: Alcohol isn't harmful to my body.
TRUTH: Again, this statement is wrong. Large amounts of alcohol can take its toll on your body, causing disturbed sleep, nausea, and vomiting as well as a dreaded hangover. Heavy drinking can inhibit the firing of nerve cells that control breathing, a condition known as respiratory depression — a condition that can be fatal.

MYTH: My friends will think I'm weird if I don't drink.
TRUTH: Friends are your friends no matter what - and they won't give up your friendship over something as silly as a beer. And if they do, they’re not your real friends. Also, keep in mind that most people are usually too focused on themselves to care what others are — or aren't — doing.

MYTH: My parents drink — so what's the big deal if I do?
TRUTH: Science now proves it is a very big deal. According to new research by A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D., teens who drink and take drugs are at greater risk than previously thought. Research shows that the brain is not fully formed until age 24. Using drugs and alcohol during this important time as your brain develops might have negative long-term effects on brain functions such as memory.

Sources: NIAAA, NESARC and www.thecoolspot.gov

]]> FAQs Editor Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:38:32 -0800 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.208.9 Getting Locked Out of Group http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.207.11

Whenever we go out to a group to teach about CR and we get to the part about the rules, there is one rule that will invariably raise more debate than the others. It is a rule that does not sit comfortably with a lot of people. Can you guess what that rule is? It's the one that states that doors close promptly at x:xxpm (whatever time you group starts). This means that once group starts, the door is closed and anyone coming after this time cannot enter.

This rule more than any other elicits a slew of scenarios and the "What ifs" begin. What if the person tried their hardest to get here but got delayed in traffic? What if they got lost? What if their child was sick and they had to wait for their spouse? Each of these scenarios can be heart wrenching in their own right but none are reasons to change the rule.

Lets first take a look at the purpose of this rule in CR. Why does someone come to CR in the first place? For the most part they come to get help. They want to hear what they have not been hearing outside of CR. The group, if run properly, wants to provide them with that opportunity.

Once group starts those in the room are ready to have group. They have arrived on time, maybe even early. They have their coffee or tea and they are ready to get help. It is important that everyone at the group is focussed on why they are there. For a newcomer that may not be as clear as possible but for the old timers that should not be an issue.

If the group time was not fixed what would happen? If you want to get an idea of this all you have to do is attend an AA or NA meeting or better yet, a church service. At a church service that starts at 10am, it is commom to see people dragging in the door at 10:30, 10:45 or even 11:00. Can you imagine trying to run a group like CR with people coming in whenever they felt like it. It would render the group useless.

As addicts we didn't like rules. We liked things to be so flexible that they would bend any way we wanted. The CR rules can bring a level of discomfort to us because of the inflexibility. However the rules provide a tangible way that we can tell how we are working our recovery. The rules also take power away from the individual. This means that if a person arrives late I don't have to battle with my people pleasing nature to let them in. The rules makes my decision for me. It's not personal, its the rules!

An example of this is a man who was planning to come to group for his first time. When giving him directions, I told him clearly that the doors closed at 8:30pm. That night before CR I get a call from him at 8:27pm that he was on his way. From his location I knew that he would not make it on time and told him to turn back and come the following week.

He insisted that he could make it and by the time he got there the doors were closed. He believed that an exception would be made for him. He went away angry and never returned calls or returned to the group. Obviously this was a man who was not serious about his recovery. How do I know this? Simple. When I went to buy drugs and could not find my dealer, I invariably went back another time. At no point did I ever say "Well that's it! I am done with smoking marijuana 'cos this guy is not here." It simply did not happen.

Unless a person is prepared to put as much effort into their recovery as they put into their using, they will not recover.

]]> Editorials hmullan Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:26:43 -0800 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.207.11 Recommitted to Recovery http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.206.2

In November 2011, my wife and I both celebrated our 20th year as disciples. We worship here in the Chicago Church of Christ and what a wonderful Journey it has been. We are leaders in the churches Recovery Ministry, specifically Chemical Recovery for Men and Co-Dependency for Women. This Year I have recommitted to ignite my passion for helping as many as possible experience freedom from addiction, for I too have been set free.

I was born in 1970 in Angola, Africa during the height of the Cold War. This was followed by the Civil War after the country gaining independence in 1975 from Portugal. By God's grace and the hard work of my Father, a UN Selected Student in Washington DC, my Mom and her 5 children had been able to get political asylum and move to the US in 1979.

As a nine Year old child in the US learning a new language, experiencing a new culture and way of life, I believe that this shock to my social system made it hard for me to adjust. I can remember at the age of 10 or 12, trying to fit in and doing my best to impress my peers by being my best in sports, classroom or anything that could help me be socially accepted.
When I reached adolescense, I soon realized that the real "in” crowd were those who were using alcohol, tobacco and other mood altering substances.

I willingly joined in and soon found myself not only enjoying this type of atmosphere, but in many cases creating it. My alcohol abuse increased in College and it became apparent that I was being enslaved by this addiction, when my grades slipped from 3.5 to 2.0GPA in 2 years; it also affected my performance in athletics. I had to sit out my junior year because of Academic and Behavioral problems; it affected my social life when close friends deserted me saying that I was negatively effecting them; lastly it affected my relationship with God to the point where I stopped attending Church and never read my Bible, which had been something that my parents had instilled in me since I was a boy.

In 1991 God sent someone into my life to reach out to me as a discouraged, discontented and enslaved 21 Year old young man. I was invited to a Bible Study at a pick-up basketball game. I had prayed to God to help me change because I had come to the realization that I could not change on my own; the previous week I had spent a night in prison on charges of Public Disorder and Public Intoxication. While studying the Bible I made the decision to surrender and make Jesus the Lord of my life. On November 15th 1991, I was baptized in a swimming pool at a Chicago University.

In the past 20 years I have struggled with relapsing. At some of the lowest points of my spiritual life, I have turned to alcohol as a comforter or numbing agent so as to not deal with the real issues in my life. These issues have included loneliness, discouragement, pressures of life; financial or other stresses. I have had moments of weakness and picked up that first drink, even after making that promise “I am not drinking again” and of course facing the negative consequences of the bad choices that I had made.

My real recovery did not start until God showed me that Unconditional Surrender to His Word and total acceptance to my powerlessness over alcohol is the first step of recovery. October 30, 2007 is my freedom day. I had to place my total faith in God and his word with this area of my life and I also had to commit my life to my recovery plan. I give credit to the Chemical Recovery Ministry, (www.chemicalrecovery.org), that is offered in the Church. My wife who is part of my accountability partnership, along with some close friends have been instrumental in showing me unconditional love and at the same time holding me accountable to the plan that has helped me overcome and continues to help me grow in sobriety.

Fast forward to today, January 21, 2012 I am now the Husband of my beautiful wife, who has been my best friend, supporter and partner in the Gospel for the past 9 Years and we have a seven year old daughter who is the light of our lives. I am working in a secular job as Director of IT and we are family group leaders for the wonderful sector that we attend. In addition, we are very passionate about helping as many as possible to overcome addictions in their lives, putting into practice the calling that Jesus himself took and passed it on to us in Luke 4:18-19:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

As we begin this new Year 2012, I am recommitting my life and passion to be available for God to help as many as possible to overcome their addictions through Biblical Principles and the Power of God. That is what Christ expects as he spoke through Paul by stating in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God

When we overcome and help others overcome we remember that it is God who gets the Glory as he did when he rescued the Israelites from Slavery from the Egyptians in Leviticus 26:13

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of
Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the
Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled
you to walk with heads held high.

To God be the Glory!

]]> Recovery Stories hmullan Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:53:47 -0800 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.206.2 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.205.6

Using any credible measures for assessing the quality of a movie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows scores an A plus across the board. Action-packed, full of the type of wit the English are famous for, compelling cinematography that puts you convincingly in the London of the late 1800's, and a cast of actors that never remind you they are acting. But for a guy like me it is the seemingly unintended message that moves me most deeply.

The power of logic is too seldomly lifted up as the virtue that it is. People of faith often believe the lie that logic (and by extension truth) is incompatible with faith. That God is orderly and has ordered the world as a means to show himself wise and magnificent is not spoken of so much.

The lack of appreciation for logic and reason among believers should be dispelled by those of us in recovery however. One of our primary goals in recovery is to expose how little sense drug and alcohol abuse makes and how employing the reasoning God lays out in Scripture is the road to coming to our "senses." Sherlock Holmes epitomizes the analytical thinker; his problem-solving skills are unparalleled. He reasons his ways to answering very sophisticated dilemmas.

Outreach being one of the CR Traditions and a tenet of our recovery process, we strive to help others with their own web of troubles (weaved through years of poor decisions to include, and compounded by, drug and alcohol abuse). It behooves us to sharpen our ability to reason in an effort to strengthen our personal efforts toward recovery as well as guide others we seek to help. A first step in this effort would be to recognize the value of clear and reasonable thinking. The second would be to devote time to listening and reading the works of renowned thinkers such as C.S. Lewis (might I suggest Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Abolition of Man)? These pieces of literature have made an eternal and transformative impact on my mind and sharpened immensely my ability to think clearly about all things to include the “things above” spoken of in Colossian 3:2.

Acts 17:2 speaks of the Apostle Paul’s custom of reasoning with the people “from the Scriptures.” In 1 Peter 3:15 we are implored to give the “reason” for the faith and hope we profess. This movie highlights a skill that, given more attention, would help turn the tide from us being driven by the visceral spirit of the world to us being led by a spirit of truth. Sherlock Holmes engages the heart and mind in a very entertaining and exciting way. It is time very well spent!

]]> Movie Reviews hmullan Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:21:30 -0800 http://www.chemicalrecovery.org/news.php?item.205.6