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WELCOME TO
THE Recovery Radio FLASH! |
Week of January 26 2006 |
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Welcome...to the
FLASH! This weekly e-newsletter will keep you informed of what's
new at Recovery
Radio Show...and at Recovery Media, Inc., our affiliated
service corporation. We are dedicated to taking the hope of
RECOVERY to you, your family, and to all persons afflicted with-
or affected by - THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION. There IS a better
way....
1.
SEX ADDICTION: COMING NEXT MONTH
SEX
ADDICTION: OUT OF THE SHADOWS
 Internet
pornography has been the driver of what is perhaps the
nation’s biggest “unknown” addiction in our nation today,
Sex Addiction. Essentially no internet user is protected
from an ongoing and constant assault of graphic sexual content
on the web, which is “pushed” aggressively onto just about any
computer which has an internet connection. People have been
known to spend 8-10 hours PER DAY- or more- browsing the
myriad adult web sites, obsessively seeking a yet-more-unique
sexual gratification. Sex Addiction has remained beneath the
radar in the USA primarily because of the profound shame
associated with this form of addiction.
As a form of compulsive behavior or addiction, Sex Addiction
is in position of public awareness, understanding, and
acceptance that alcoholism and drug addiction were 20-30 years
ago. We as a nation can and must come to grips with this
widespread form of addictive behavior. Recovery Radio will do
so during the month of February with this 5-Part Series.
Sex Addiction is not limited to internet pornography, however.
Strip clubs, pornographic DVDs, adult magazines, escort
services, massage parlors, adult bookstores, bath
houses….these all contribute to the enticement of easy sexual
experiences. Sex is around us and in our faces constantly.
Some sex addicts focus more on the “relationship” side of the
sex, and various affinity groups for sex addiction recovery
have developed over the years to address the various sub-types
of sex addictions. It may be more appropriate to refer to “Sex
and Sexual Relationship Addictions”, rather than simply “Sex
Addiction”.
On the other hand, human sexuality is a normal and essential
aspect of life; it can and should be meaningful, enjoyable,
endearing, bonding, and of course, procreating. Finding a
balance between normal and addictive sex can be problematic
for those individuals who have the genetic make-up of
predisposition to Addiction.
 This
month we will feature Sex Addiction as our focus. Dr.
Patrick Carnes, author of the groundbreaking book, “Out
of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction” will join
us on March 4th for the conclusion of our 5-Part Series on Sex
Addiction. As one of the earliest pioneers in this field, he
is widely acknowledged to be the “father of sex addiction
treatment”. Also joining us this month will be Sharon
O’Hara, MA, in private practice and formerly Director,
Sexual Dependency Unit at Del Amo Hospital in Torrance,
CA, Rob Weiss, LCSW, Clinical Director of the Sexual
Recovery Institute, Los Angeles, and Maureen Canning,
MA, Clinical Consultant with the Sexual Disorder Service
at The Meadows in Wickenburg, AZ. Rounding out our
stellar guest line-up for the series will be “Frank L”,
one of the founders of the first 12-Step recovery group for
sex addiction,
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous.
Special Thanks go to Kay Poggi, MA, private practice
sex addiction therapist based in Orange County, who served as
our content technical consultant for this series. She has
worked extensively with Dr. Carnes, and welcomes new patients
to her practice: 949.498.5018 or 949.230.3515
Don’t miss this exciting and informative series!!
Join us "LIVE!!" every Saturday night, 6 - 8P Pacific Time
99.5 KKLA Los Angeles, or, in 10 other cities, or, Streaming
on the Web. On-Air Call-in Number: 888/995-5552
RECOVERY WORKS!!
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2.
MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
WITH RECOVERY RADIO
Recovery Radio Seeks
Show Sponsors
 The
Recovery Radio Show is more that just a radio show.
We are a comprehensive set of resources for addicts and their
families. Our uniqueness is that each week we reach hundreds of
thousands of addicts and their families who are still
suffering…over 500,000 people each week. We do this in many
ways, the most obvious of which is over the airwaves every
Saturday night in Los Angeles and 10 other cities,
coast-to-coast.
In addition, we will soon be publishing “California Together”,
a monthly newspaper targeted at the recovery community
throughout Southern California. We will be publishing this in
partnership with Bill and Barbara Brown, publishers of “Arizona
Together”, which periodical has been meeting the needs of
the Arizona recovery community for over 15 years. The two will
be sister publications.
We maintain one of the most popular “recovery radio” websites in
the world! Both Google and Yahoo have rated ours to be #4, and
this after only 6 months of existence! That is phenomenal, and
testimony to the fact that we are “doing something right!” Our
weekly e-newsletter, the FLASH! reaches many people each week as
well, with timely updates on what is happening with Recovery
Radio and the recovery world in general.
Future projects include an “800 HELPLINE”, the HOW Program USA
“recovery scholarships”, Fourth Step Workshops with Bob and Dr
Steve, and “The Art of Recovery- Southern California” recovery
community annual convention.
What does this all mean? It means that those organizations whose
business is related to recovery and/or recovery products have a
unique opportunity to engage- at the ground-floor level- in an
extremely effective marketing alliance with The Recovery Radio
Show.
Ours is a highly-targeted audience. We reach over 500,000 people
each week (conservative estimate). Approximately 60% of our
callers are family members or loved ones of an alcoholic or
addict who NEEDS RECOVERY. They are looking for solutions to get
their loved on into recovery. About 30% of our callers are from
addicts or alcoholics who are IN RECOVERY, and want and need
recovery-oriented products.
More so, ALL of our listeners are learning more about a
societal problem that in reality affects essentially every
single person in this nation. Addiction is by far the #1 public
health problem in the nation today, costing our society over $4
Billion/year. It is long overdue that our nation accepts
addiction for the medical disease that it is. We are doing our
part to effect that change.
If you are with a business or organization that might benefit
from a marketing relationship with Recovery Radio, please
contact us. We will be happy to discuss the many ways that you
can benefit from joining our team…and at the same time help AND
benefit from our growing fan and listener base.
CONTACT US
if you would like to explore sponsorship or marketing
opportunities with Recovery Radio Show. Toll-Free:
866.334.0471., ext. 102 (Bob), or ext. 111 (Dr Steve).
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3.
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: SATURDAY, JANUARY 28TH
Part IV of our Special January Series New Years’
Housecleaning: Resolving to Get Into Recovery
- Working a Good Recovery Program: Aiming to Prevent
Relapse
- Special Guest: William Borchert, author of “The
Lois Wilson Story: When Love is Not Enough”
 We’ve
made the decision to seek Recovery, we’ve survived Detox, and
have completed our time in Rehab. Now What??
Avoiding dreaded relapse is the crucial focus of the
recovering addict’s ongoing efforts. By definition, Addiction
is a chronic, relapsing brain disease. “Chronic” and
“relapsing” are words that both connote the importance of
focusing attention on ways to avoid relapse. How does one do
that??
For most of us, the hardest part, at least initially, is
dealing with the obsession to drink or use. “Obsession” is
another very strong word, meaning with one cannot forget;
cannot avoid the thought, and cannot NOT think about our drug
or alcohol. For many, losing this “obsession” takes time; time
for our brain synapses to “forget” how wonderful our drug used
to make us feel. There is no known way to disengage obsession
to use, but when that time finally arrives, we are eternally
grateful.
Until which time our obsession departs, we must do what we can
to consciously manage our actions every single second of the
day. Certain medications exist which MAY help to decrease
cravings; such medications as Campral,
PROMETA ™ protocols, naltrexone, and topiramate. It is not
clear how effective these approaches are; we will see as time
goes on. An addictionologist can make the determination as to
whether such a medical adjunct may be helpful to a particular
individual.
Mostly, we must be armed with behavioral tools to help us
manage our obsession and our tendency to “reach for a drink or
fix” when the going gets rough. Regular attendance at 12-Step
meetings is the foundation of a continuing recovery plan. This
specifically includes getting a sponsor, and working the
steps. Attending meetings alone is not enough. As is
constantly reminded to us in our meetings, “It works if you
work it, but won’t if you don’t”.
Relapse will occur for most of us, unfortunately, but this is
a reality of the disease of addiction. But it is not adequate
to be fatalistic and just wait for it to happen; we must be
prepared for the earliest threat of relapse. Having a relapse
plan in advance is extremely helpful in avoiding relapse.
Looking for “warning signs” is also key, so we can downshift
our Recovery Program into low drive, and rev it up.
This week we will discuss creating a solid continuing Recovery
Program, and the various components, as outlined above.
 Also, we
will have back with us for the entire two hours William
Borchert, author of the book “The
Lois Wilson Story; When Love is Not Enough”. We’ll
discuss with him the origins of Al-Anon, the 12-Step support
group for family and loved ones of alcoholics and addicts.
Addiction is truly a family disease; they, too, need healing
and recovery from similar maladaptive behaviors, such as
co-dependency and enabling. They, too, become sick as they
live with the active alcoholic or addict.
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!!
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4.
STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE
DOC by Dr Steve
Dealing with those Pesky Cravings
 Once we have
finally attained sobriety, once we are alcohol and drug-free, we
must strive to STAY sober. Addicts in recovery are always
seeking ways and tools that help us remain sober.
What sort of MEDICAL tools are out there? Are there any sorts or
medications that might help us to decrease our cravings or
otherwise keep us from drinking and using??
A handful of medications DO exist that are available for this
purpose. The main thing to keep in mind, however, is that for
most of us, the KEY thing is to ATTEND MEETINGS REGULARLY.
The most common reason given by relapsers is that they STOPPED
GOING TO MEETINGS!! Plain and simple.
PROMETA™ is a new medical treatment for addiction that has
been available for about 2 years. It is a combination of
currently available medications that are administered to the
addict, and which together act upon GABA brain synapses in a way
that leads to decreased cravings. It also assists with
more-rapid healing of the brain, back to pre-drug status.
PROMETA™ works for alcohol, methamphetamine, and cocaine. It
is not currently recommended for opiates or other classes of
drugs of abuse.
CRAVING is a mental phenomenon which causes the addict to obsess
over the thought of drug- procuring it, using it, remembering
it, just OBSESSING over it. Our thoughts fixate on the drug and
we cannot seem to get it out of our minds. WE WANT A FIX!
NOW!!!!
Craving is the direct result of the euphoric reinforcement that
is created in our brains when we are high with a drug. We feel
so WONDERFUL, SO HIGH, SO GOOD, that our brains simply want
MORE, and at any cost. We forget all else. This is CRAVING.
Craving cannot be repressed solely with mental effort or power.
It is physiologic, has a basis in brain receptors and circuitry,
and it is real.
PROMETA’s effect is upon the very brain receptors where euphoric
reinforcement occurs. It’s effect is to “normalize” those
receptors much more quickly than would naturally occur. Many
addicts who have undergone PROMETA treatment report that almost
immediately, their obsession with their drug has been largely
dissipated.
My opinion? Don’t quit going to meetings…that is sure to lead to
relapse. But to help with cravings? Consider PROMETA…it DOES
WORK!!
This is Dr Steve, giving it to you straight!
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5. THOUGHT FOR RECOVERY- by BOB MUNCK
 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?
 One of the
keys to success in any recovery program is the coming together
of people with similar backgrounds 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
traumas done to us at sometime in our past; we also need
healing from the influence these past experiences continue to
have on our present lives.
We are here to support one another. We do not attempt to fix
each other. This is a support group not a therapy group. Group
members are strongly encouraged to be in their own individual
therapy.
One of the most important things about a group is that it can
create a safe environment where as men who abuse drugs &
alcohol we can talk freely 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. We can also
start to learn to trust others again.
Right now I pray to God that you will show me the right
12-step group to which I can go to, Belong to, share to and
most importantly, begin my recovery and healing from my
addictions. Amen
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HYTHIAM, Inc. joins us as our corporate sponsor!!!
We at the Recovery
Radio Show are pleased to announce that beginning Saturday,
October 8, 2005
HYTHIAM, Inc. joins us
as our corporate sponsor!!! A health services
management company that licenses an
exciting methamphetamine treatment protocol called "PROMETA"
(TM), Hythiam was founded in 2002 in Los Angeles.
The PROMETA (TM) protocols are currently being evaluated in a
placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical study. This radical approach
to the once dismal treatment of "speed" addiction- which likely
will revolutionize the world of addiction treatment- is
available to addicts NOW!! Hythiam also has PROMETA (TM)
protocols for cocaine and alcohol, too!! For more information,
call
(800) 700-SOBER, or visit
www.overcomeaddiction.com |
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 Our newsletter is
a free, weekly update on what's going on here at RRS. We will include a
PREVIEW OF THIS WEEK"S SHOW TOPIC, and much, much more.
Forward this email to your friends and
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A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
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.
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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 |
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