One Person. One Family. One Community, One State. OUR NATION....one battle...and one day at a time!!!

We're not talking about Iraq...we're talking about our nation's #1 Homeland Security Threat: ADDICTION. It's not a war on addicts, but rather, about the DISEASE of Addiction.

The effects of addiction start with the individual. It will kill him/her...usually slowly, but sometimes quickly. There are many ways to die from addiction, from starvation, to overdose, to complicating medical conditions, to HIV, violence, accidents.... and.... suicide. If it does not kill him, it will put him into to jail or an insane asylum or other institution. Hence the AA mantra: "Jails, institutions, and death". It is the only disease known to man that fools the sufferer into thinking that he/she is well. "I am just fine, thank you!! It is YOU that has the problem!!!!" Along the way, it takes with it many unwitting innocent people...from family to co-workers to neighbors...to the entire nation. Fully 10% of our population is directly afflicted with the disease of addiction. Add to that the 5-10 people closely related to the addict, and one can quickly see that well over half our nation is either directly or indirectly affected by addiction. IT IS HUGE. We cannot afford to stand by and just let this calamity happen...without a fight.

Next comes the family. It is shattered: emotionally, financially, spiritually, completely. Then the community...the state...the entire NATION. Step by step, addiction extends its destruction from the addict to those around him, from immediate relationships all the way to the entire nation. $400 Billion per year!!!! This is solely the dollar cost, and does not speak to the misery, heartache, broken homes, crime, and chaos.

Addition is a FAMILY DISEASE that takes down others along with the affected addict. It is for this very reason- the effect on others- that we as a nation cannot afford to NOT declare war on addiction. "ONE person, ONE family..." is our rallying cry as we enter November and dedicate the entire month to initiating our WAR ON ADDICTION. Not on addicts, but on the DISEASE OF ADDICTION. Addiction IS without doubt the nation's number one HOMELAND THREAT. It's about time our nation recognizes Addiction for what it is: The biggest public health issue and homeland security threat that our nation faces, and by far.

So, this month we have declared WAR ON ADDICTION. We will fight it out...from the foxhole and the suffering addict...to the War Rooms in Washington, DC.

Join us each Saturday Night, 6 - 8- Pacific Time on 99.5 FM KKLA in Los Angeles, or in any of our 10 other cities where we are broadcast LIVE!! Or, you may catch us on the WEB. If you cannot listen LIVE!!, you can always catch us later by going to our ARCHIVES in the convenience of your home or office. Or, your iPod or other personal listening device.
 

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

LISTEN TO PAST SHOWS!
Miss one of our shows? No problem!! All shows are archived for easy listening in the comfort and convenience of you home or office. All you need is your computer and a browser; that's all there's to it. Also, you may download any or all of our shows to your iPod or other mp3 device for even more flexible listening. We at Recovery Radio want to make it E-Z for you to get the tools, tips and solutions that YOU need. 24/7. Our shows may also be heard "LIVE" every Saturday night by going to our website HOME page and clicking the "LISTEN HERE" button.
Audio Archive Here

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RECOVERY RADIO 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.

2.  THIS WEEK'S SHOW - Nov 5th,  6-8PM PT
 "ADDICTION: FIGHTING IN THE FOXHOLE...man to man combat"

This Saturday, November 5th , Recovery Radio's War on Addiction begins, in Part 1 of a 4-program series.

Oddly, we will be starting our series at the end...the end of the line, that is. For many if not most addicts, their disease leads progressively and incessantly towards death. Sometimes quickly, oftentimes slowly, but always....death is the end-result. Unless, that is, the addict is "lucky", and is caught in the "safety-net filters" of jails and institutions- and thereby being temporarily spared death. But this at the cost of their freedom and dignity. And....jails and institutions are no guarantee that death will not ensue.

Think of "skid row" in your town. This is the "junkyard of humanity", the "playground of the lost souls", the "underground culture", the "last stop", the "netherworld of addiction". An estimated 75% of individuals who reside in "skid rows" are there either because they are addicts and/or alcoholics who have lost most everything to date with the sole except of their lives. Death is often days to hours away. This is the end of addiction. And...most of these people at one time in their life looked no different from you or me!!!! Think about this- and....very, very carefully. Addiction WILL take you down....deeply.

Not all addicts end their lives on a "skid row". From the penthouse to the park bench, addiction kills. Money and social support structures will help some addicts to stay alive longer than others, but neither of these factors will stop the inexorable march towards death.

This Saturday night, we will be fighting our War on Addiction in the foxhole...alongside the suffering addict. We will examine WHY ADDICTION BRINGS US UNRELENTINGLY TOWARD DEATH. And we will provide survival tips and fighting weapons to help the struggling addict survive in the foxhole of addiction...to get the help he needs to find RECOVERY. RECOVERY WORKS!!!!

JOIN YOUR BATTLE COMMANDERS this Saturday from 6 - 8P Pacific time, and CALL Bob, Dr Steve with your questions, comments, or solutions that have worked for you. 6 - 8P Pacific Time, Saturday...99.5 FM KKLA Los Angeles...or...on the WEB. Our call-in number is 888- 275-2240. That's TRIPLE EIGHT- ASK- TWENTY-TWO-FORTY.

This past Saturday, October 29th, we were honored to have as our very special guest, noted UCLA addiction researcher and teacher Richard A. Rawson, PhD. A member of the UCLA Department of Psychiatry for over 20 years, Dr. Rawson is widely acclaimed to be one of the most knowledgeable experts on the topic of addiction in this country, and in methamphetamine addiction in particular.

His current title is Associate Director of the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP), where his own research interests include brain imaging studies, numerous clinical trials on pharmacological and psychosocial addiction treatments, and the study of how new treatments are applied in the treatment system. During the past decade, he has worked with the US State Department on large substance abuse research and treatment projects, exporting US technology and addiction science to Mexico, Thailand, Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. Dr. Rawson has published 2 books, 15 book chapters, and over 125 professional papers, and has conducted over 1000 workshops, paper presentations and training sessions.

Dr. Rawson "hung" with us for most of our first hour, and provided some fascinating information about Methamphetamine addiction research and treatment approaches. Foremost to me, was that the common public perception that Meth Addiction is a "unique" and "a more difficult to treat addiction" is in fact likely to be a MYTH!! He cited actual studies that show that traditional behavioral approaches to meth addiction are no less successful than for alcohol, cocaine, or any other. So, at least there is HOPE for dealing with what still remains to be the most horrific drug of abuse currently known. A second curious fact is that WOMEN are disproportionate represented among the ranks of meth addicts. Reasons for this are thought to be many, but this fact alone is interesting, and provides reason to place emphasis on looking for solutions. He also described UCLA brain imaging studies that show how the effect of meth (and other drug) addiction creates brain abnormalities that in many ways are very similar to those seen in post-traumatic head injuries.

This and other evidence shows unequivocally that ADDICTION IS A DISEASE; a brain disease. The latter is an important point that we at Recovery Radio feel important to remind the public over and over and over and over again!!! Unfortunately, we did not have as much time with Dr. Rawson as we would have liked, so we hope that he will join us again sometime in the future. Thank you very much, Dr. Rawson!!!!

IMPROVING TREATMENT WITH SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
Western Conference on Addictions to take place Nov. 11-13
The 2nd Annual Western Conference on Addictions (WCA) will be held this coming November 11-13, 2005 in Los Angeles at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City Hotel. It is hosted by the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP), the Pacific Technology Transfer Center, Matrix Institute on Addictions, and the Pacific Region Node of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network. Now that's a mouthful!!!

This conference features world-renowned substance abuse researchers and clinicians in a learning format that allows for individual interests to be fulfilled. Among other topics will be cutting edge information on methamphetamine, medications for opiate and alcohol abuse, cognitive-behavioral treatments for substance abuse and depression, sex addiction, and domestic violence.

The conference is designed for psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, nurses, and other health professionals who wish to gain the knowledge and skill needed to treat substance abuse disorders. 18 hours of continuing education credits are available for several disciplines. Registration fee is $295 in advance, and $325 on-site. Additional information and registration materials may be obtained by visiting www.uclaisap.org,  or contact Shaquita Tillman via e-mail at shaquita@ucla.edu or by phone at 310.445.0874, ext. 321
 

Bob and Dr Steve are always available to take your questions- or accept your comments and suggestions. We're not only available on-air on Saturday nights, but you can contact us ANYTIME, either by calling us at the office, or by contacting us via e-mail.

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