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WELCOME TO
THE Recovery Radio FLASH! |
Week of February 23 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.... |
 Reach
over 500,000 people each week in Los Angeles and 10 other
cities, coast-to-coast!
READ MORE >>> |
1.
THIS WEEK'S SHOW–
February 25, 2006
Part IV of our Special February Series: Sex
Addiction- Understanding, Accepting, Healing
Finding Healing from
Sex Addiction:
The Alphabet Soup of 12-Step Recovery Groups
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Frank L. in front of the 12 Steps of Sexual Compulsives in
the mid-1970's |
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Special Guest: Frank L, Recovering Sex Addict and
Founder,
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA)
IN our first three weeks of this series, we defined Sex
Addiction (a "behavioral" addiction that damages lives and
families in a manner no different from addiction to drugs or
alcohol), examined the recent explosion of Internet
Pornography (the "crack cocaine of sex addiction"), and looked
deeply within ourselves to better understand the backdrop and
contributing factors to Sex Addiction ("trauma" and a family
history of co-occurring addictions).
Sex addiction is at its core shame-based, making it without
question THE most difficult addiction to admit to and to talk
about openly. Paradoxically, sex addiction is NOT about sex!!
It is about controlling and manipulating others. Many sex
addicts will say that it's not the end-act that gives them
their euphoric "high"; it is the "hunt", the strategizing, the
anticipation, the mental processes through which they go in
their pursuit of the next "ultimate" sexual encounter.
How does the Sex Addict find healing? How can he or she
learn to re-incorporate normal, healthy sexual relationships
into their lives?
 The center of a recovery prescription for Sex Addiction is
participation in a 12-Step program which is based upon the
principles of the original 12-Step group, Alcoholics
Anonymous. The importance of sharing with other sex addicts is
without question the most crucial helper for healing from sex
addiction. Overcoming the ingrained shame can now happen;
seeing others with similar problems in emancipating and
healing. Therapy with a trained sex addiction therapist may
also be extremely helpful, largely because so very many sex
addicts must also grapple with their own prior history of
"trauma" (physical, emotional, or sexual abuse as a child) or
co-addictions. Nearly 100% of sex addicts will have one or
more co-occurring conditions.
We will be joined this week by Frank L,
a recovering sex addict and one of the founders of
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA). Frank L is
an extraordinary "ordinary person": He is a self-described
"maverick composer" and highly accomplished musician. His
background, childhood, and formative years provide great
insight into understanding theories about sex addiction, and
confirm the belief that personal trauma and a family history
of addictions contribute strongly to the formation of a sex
addict.
Created in 1973, SCA was the first of the 5 currently-existing
12-Step organizations for sex addicts. This prescient
organization came into existence many years before the term
"sex addict" came into common usage; a real tribute to the
vision and insight of Frank L. The story behind the
development of SCA is a fascinating one, and can be read by
going to Frank L's website, SCA Origins. Curiously, this
founder of SCA found his sex plan (as SCA calls it)
insufficient to maintain complete sobriety. Now, since
December, 2004 and as an unmarried person he has found that
the only "sex plan" that works for him is to be celibate.
"This chastity has given me peace for the first time in my
life", he noted last week, during a phone conversation I had
with him while preparing for our show this week.
He went on to recall that back in 1973, he deeply believed it
was God's will that he start Sexual Compulsives Anonymous, but
he knew within a short time that he was failing to completely
surrender acting out. And he knew he couldn't do it without
group support.
Subsequent to the arrival of SCA, several other sex addiction
recovery groups came into existence including
Sexaholics
Anonymous (SA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA),
Sex
Addicts Anonymous (SAA), and
Sexual Recovery Anonymous (SRA).
The concept of how to achieve sexual sobriety varies somewhat
from group to group. And for the addict, sex seldom means
love. Group support is a key factor in attaining sexual
recovery.
Addiction is very much a family disease, and perhaps even more
so with sex addiction. Spouses, partners, girlfriends,
boyfriends, and so on usually feel absolutely devastated.
Several parallel groups for co-dependents of sex addicts also
exist, and include
Codependents of Sexual Addiction (COSA),
Sex-Anon International Family Groups , Recovering Couples
Anonymous (RCA),
SCA-Anon , and COSLA .
This week we will talk about the origins of the 12-Step
recovery groups for Sex Addiction. We will discuss the
differing approaches and philosophies of the 5 existing sex
addiction 12-Step organizations so that sex addicts that want
to find recovery can do so more easily. We will discuss the
needs of co-dependents of sex addicts: family, spouses, and
partners; and we will provide them with the resources and
encouragement they, too, need to find their own recovery. And
of course, we will take your calls!!! All of this, and more!!!
Don’t miss this exciting and highly informative show!
Live!! This Saturday night, February 25th 6 – 8P Pacific Time
on 99.5 FM KKLA Los Angeles and 10 other cities…and…streaming
on the web. Our show call-in number is 888/995-5552 for your
questions and comments. Remember….. RECOVERY WORKS!!!
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2.
ALL OF FEBRUARY 2006:
SEX ADDICTION!!
SEX ADDICTION: WE WILL "OUT" IT!!
 Five
Part Special Series
Understanding ~
Accepting ~ Healing
This month we will feature Sex Addiction as our
focus. 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.
 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, LCSW, 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.
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.
Robb Weiss has written two excellent books on the subject
as well:
Cybersex Exposed (2001) and
Cruise Control (2005). Both are good sources of
information about Internet Sex Addiction and gay issues and Sex
Addiction, respectively.
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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3.
STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE
DOC by Dr Steve
Drugs and Sex
Series: Speed
 Methamphetamine- Speed, Crank, Crystal, Ice- is commonly
thought to be the most dangerous drug of addiction. It affects
the brain in ways that may best be described as “demonic”.
Let’s talk about how it interacts with Sex. Speed has
aphrodisiac qualities; it amplifies and accentuates feelings
of lust or sexual desire . Intoxication with meth leads to
stimulation of the pleasure centers of the brain, greatly
increasing the desire for and experience of sex, at least in
the early stages. Add this to its stimulant qualities….keeping
a person awake and agitated for days at a stretch….this makes
for an extremely dangerous combination !! Think about it: What
happens when you have a sexually aroused person who is awake
for days at a time???
What might sound like sexual Nirvana is in reality, sexual
Hell.
Dually addicted Male sex and meth addicts have been known to
spend days at a stretch in front of a computer watching
internet porn. That may only be a waste of time, money, and
perhaps skin. What about more serious consequences?
Sex and speed speed addicts who engage in “live” sex are at
HUGE risk of the consequences of risky sexual behavior: HIV,
Hepatitis B, AIDS, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Herpes, Chlamydia,
pregnancy, and…….sex-related crime such as rape, voyeurism,
exhibitionism, frateurism (unwanted sexual touching).
Co-occurring sex and speed addiction is a HUGE problem in any
setting, but especially in the gay community.
The public health officials in recent years have become highly
concerned about the rise in HIV and Syphilis in the gay
community, where the incidence of these conditions is RISING
at an astonishing rate, and at a time when these conditions
are overall becoming more rare. Meth use by gay men sex
addicts leads to protracted “binges” of anonymous sex and
engaging in high-risk behaviors. Major efforts are underway by
public health authorities to combat this alarming trend.
My opinion about Meth and Sex? Terrifying…and Extremely
Dangerous. Don’t be a fool!!!
This is Dr Steve, giving it to you straight!!!
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4. 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:
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADDICTIONS...
ONE OF THE OLDEST ADDICTIONS...
 The
most misunderstood of all addictions in America today is Sex
Addiction. According to national surveys, between 5 and 8%
of the population is affected by some form of sexual
addiction. This means that out of the 300 million people
living in the US, sexual addiction affects some 15 to 24
million. In the year 1998 there were approximately 14 million
pornographic web pages (N2H2 Database). By 2003, this figure
had grown to 260 million pages (N2H2 Database). This is a
20-fold increase in just 5 years.
Sex Addiction is out of control and is growing largely due to
the silence and denial of our society. It is characterized by
Shame; it has been hiding in the shadows of denial throughout
the history of mankind. We don’t talk about it; we don’t
understand it, and we don’t accept it. Most of all, it is
under-treated, miss-treated or just not treated at all!
Sex Addiction destroys Lives and Families in a manner no
different from addiction to alcohol and Drugs! Like all
addicts, sex addicts are unable to stop their self destructive
behavior of their own accord. But like all Addictions in
America, there is help and freedom from Sex Addiction in
Recovery. Recovery is available today if- and I mean IF- all
of society takes action by helping, understanding, and
encouraging the the Sex Addict to seek and achieve Recovery.
Today there exist many different 12 steps programs, treatment
centers, and counselors and therapists that are ready to
assist with recovery from Sex Addiction; and all of these can
be both Christ-centered or secular.
Dear God, I pray that you Bless, Grace, Heal and have Mercy on
the sex addicts of the world and their families; and also to
all those individuals who join together and extend a Hand of
help and encouragement to the still-suffering Addicts. Help
bring them into the Light of Truth and set them Free. Amen
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5.
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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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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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
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is to provide education about addiction to our fellow human
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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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