1. DR PATRICK CARNES: SEX     ADDICTION TREATMENT ICON     WILL BE ON RECOVERY     RADIO 2. THIS WEEK'S SHOW: REHAB-     SCHOOLING FOR ADDICTS 3. JANUARY SHOW THEME:     ADDICTION TREATMENT A TO     Z 4. STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE     DOC: "DETOX AND REHAB     AREN'T THE SAME" by Dr     Steve 5. THOUGHT FOR RECOVERY-     WHY JOIN A 12-STEP     SUPPORT GROUP? By     Bob Munck 6. HYTHIAM IS OUR CORPORATE     SPONSOR 7. SIGN UP FOR THE FLASH! 8. ARCHIVES- LISTEN TO PAST     SHOWS 9. RECOVERY RADIO A NOT-     FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

1. SEX ADDICTION: COMING NEXT MONTH  
Dr. Patrick Carnes to Join Us for Sex Addiction Series!!

Dr. Patrick Carnes will be the featured headliner in our February, 2006 series on Sex Addiction. We are pleased- and humbled- that this pioneer and icon in the world of sex addiction treatment will be joining us live on our show. He will be with us on the concluding night of this series, on Saturday, March 4th.

Back in the 1980's, Dr. Carnes wrote a groundbreaking book titled "Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sex Addiction". The title alone is descriptive of the dynamic by which this extensive addiction had remained hidden from public view. Only in recent years has his and others' work in the field allowed those individuals suffering from sex addiction to find insight and healing for their addiction.

Other noted sex addiction therapists who will join us in February are Sharon O' Hara, MA, private practice therapist and former program director of the Sexual Dependency Unit at Del Amo Hospital in Torrance, CA; Rob Weiss, Clinical Director of the Sexual Recovery Institute, Los Angeles, and Maureen Canning, MA, Clinical Consultant at the Sexual Disorder Services at The Meadows in Wickenburg, AZ. The guest line-up will be rounded out by "Frank L", one of the founders of Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA), the first of five 12-step recovery groups for various aspects of sexual and relationship addictions.

Sex Addiction is without question the most misunderstood addiction in America today. It affects a huge number of people, and it destroys people and families in a way no different from alcohol or drugs. Because if the extreme "shame" base of sex addiction, it has remained "under the radar" for years, and today is much in the same situation as was alcohol and drug addiction 30 years ago in terms of public awareness, understanding, and acceptance.

One interesting but not surprising fact about Sex Addiction is that approximately 50% of those individuals suffering from it, also have co-occuring addictions to drugs or alcohol. One reason this common correlation occurs is that the mechanism by which Sex Addiction is thought to work is through the same brain synapses that process the sensation or feeling of "euphoria" or "high". During sexual "acting out", dopamine accumulates in higher amounts in the brain's neural circuits that are involved with pleasure and reinforcement of it. Same as with drugs and alcohol- or any other so-called "behavioral" addiction such as gambling, eating, or shopping.

The explosion of internet pornography since the 1990's has served as the propellant that has kicked Sex Addiction into gear, affecting just about any person with a computer and internet access. Internet porn is ubiquitous, and is aggressively "pushed" into our offices, homes, and living rooms by on-line porn peddlers.

Topics set for discussion during our February Sex Addiction Series include Defining Sex Addiction, Internet Pornography and Sex Addiction, Women's Issues and Trauma (and SA), Recovery Groups for Sex Addiction, and of course, our evening with the "Master", Dr. Carnes.

For more information about Sex Addiction, go to Dr. Carnes' website: www.sexhelp.com.  There you will find many helpful resources, including several self-assessment "tests" that will help you determine whether YOU may have a problem with Sex Addiction.

Plan now to join us ALL MONTH on Saturdays during February, 6 - 8P Pacific Time.
 

2.  THIS WEEK'S SHOW: SATURDAY, JANUARY 21ST
Part III of our Special January Series New Years’ Housecleaning: Resolving to Get Into Recovery

Rehab: Going to School...Learning to Stay Sober

Our task this month on Recovery Radio is to provide you, our listeners, with a broad overview of how the Recovery process works. We made our New Year’s Eve resolution to quit drinking or using…now we must make good on that promise.

How does one get sober? More importantly, how does one STAY sober?? In the prior two weeks of this series, we talked about making the decision to seek recovery; it’s a decision that can be made RIGHT NOW. It’s never too late, and any time is a good time. The next step is to get the drug out of our system: That process is “Detox”; not to be confused with “Rehab”.

Detox is best done under medical supervision (“medical Detox”), and briefly described is typically a 3-5 day process of gradually weaning the alcoholic or addict- who by now most surely has developed physiologic “dependence” to alcohol and/or drug(s)- off of that substance…carefully and safely. This is done slowly until which time the addict’s brain is re-acclimated to having no drug in their system.

Rehab follows Detox, and is a that formalized process, conducted by a staff of addiction treatment professionals, of teaching the alcoholic or addict the essential knowledge he or she needs to understand the disease of addiction, and to acquire the tools needed to maintain sobriety. This process typically takes a minimum of 30 days, and more properly is done over 2-3 months. Rehab can be thought of as “going to school” to learn about addiction. It can be done as an inpatient or as an outpatient. It is debatable which setting (inpatient vs. outpatient) is best; each has advantages.

Inpatient rehab has the advantages of 1) Taking the addict away from his drug (reducing both “temptation” as well as physical availability of the drug) and 2) Allowing for total concentration by the addict in beginning the Recovery process, and free of many stresses and the distractions of daily life. Rehab takes work!!

Tonight, we will outline what Rehab is. We will describe a typical Rehab program. We will discuss the advantages of inpatient vs. outpatient Rehab. Can an addict skip this part of the Recovery process? If not, why??

Join us "LIVE!!" this Saturday night, 6 - 8P Pacific Time 99.5 KKLA Los Angeles, or, in 10 other cities, or, Streaming on the Web. RECOVERY WORKS!!

Recovery does not occur overnight. It takes time, and must be done is several steps. It is not adequate simply to say, “I will stop using tomorrow”. That approach is doomed to failure… every time.

“Rehab” is short for “Rehabilitation”, the process of drug or alcohol treatment. Most all of us are quite familiar with this term.

What really is Rehab? How does it differ from Detox? Why is Rehab so important in the Recovery Process??

Detox gets us safely off our drug, and takes a few days; Rehab follows detox and teaches us how to stay sober; this takes much longer.

Rehab is delivered by drug treatment professionals, usually lasts a minimum of 30 days, and is the place where newly-sober addicts and alcoholics learn to understand and to deal with their addiction.

The addict MUST attain a critical understanding of key aspects of the disease of addiction. They must learn how addiction works, how it affects the brain, why they have cravings, why relapse is so common…and, to acquire the tools they need to stay in recovery and to avoid dreaded relapse.

Rehab can be done as inpatient, or as an outpatient. In-patient treatment pulls them safely out of their toxic environment, protects them from the temptation to drink or use, and allows them to focus solely on their Recovery.

The ideal length of rehab is debatable and not certain; it is a bare-bones minimum of 30 days, to a more effective 2-3 months. Taking this much time away from work or other obligations may seem unjustifiable. However, it is absolutely necessary if it is going to work.

Skipping Rehab CAN work for some if they choose to simply get a sponsor and attend 12-Step meetings, but this very definitely is the hard way. Why do it half-ass??

If you have a problem with drinking or using, get into rehab….NOW!!!

Next week we will talk about Aftercare!!

This is Dr Steve, giving it to you straight!

Each week on our show this past year, Bob has shares his "Thought for Recovery", a unique personal reflection meant to inspire those of us in Recovery. This is from a man with 15 years of personal sobriety, and with many years of recovery leadership. He has seen and heard it all. He has sponsored hundreds of men during that time. Bob's "Thoughts" will focus on pearls of wisdom that all alcoholics and addicts in Recovery can use to enhance their own Recovery. We reprint this week's Thought for Recovery here:

Why Join A Support Group??

There are many solid reasons to join a 12-Step support group, the most important which is to help maintain one's Recovery.

One of the key factors leading to success and strength in a recovery program is the coming together of people with similar backgrounds and who also have common goals and objectives.

Our common background is a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse, and our goal is to enter into, or maintain recovery.

Recovery for us is a two-fold issue. We need healing from the mental and emotional trauma inflicted upon us in the past; we also need healing from the lingering effects of these past experiences, which continue to be exerted upon us even years later.

We are here to support one another. We do not attempt to fix each other. These are support groups, not therapy groups. Group members are strongly encouraged to be in their own individual therapy if appropriate.

One of the most important characteristics of a 12-Step support group is that it can create a safe environment where men or women addicts and alcoholics, in gender specific groups, can talk freely amongst themselves without putting on a brave face. We can talk honestly about our innermost fears and still feel respected and accepted by the other group members. This helps us to overcome the feelings of guilt and shame that characterize addiction. We can also begin learning to trust others again.

Right now I pray to You, God, that You show me the right 12-step group to which I may go to, belong to, share to, and most importantly, where I can begin my recovery and healing from my addictions. Amen

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The Recovery Radio Show is organized as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit public benefit corporation under the IRS tax code: Our Mission is to provide education about addiction to our fellow human beings, and to do what we can to allow those still suffering to get into recovery. If you, or your company, would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the RRS, you may do so with our profound thanks and appreciation by clicking on the link above, or by going to the "DONATE" button on our website on the HOME page. Or, you may call our very own Melissa Stewart at 866.334.0471 M-F between the hours of 8A - 5P.

That's it for this week....Join us this Saturday Night, won't you?????.....6-8 Pacific Time...on-air, or on the web.

Yours very truly, and in sobriety,
Dr Steve, Bob, and the Recovery Radio Crew