Is Addiction Really a Disease?

The Most Important Question about Addiction...Is it REALLY a Disease?

		Join us for a Webinar on September 13 It's very simple. If addiction IS a chronic disease, why aren't we receiving up to date education in our training programs, and why aren't we treating it the way we treat other chronic diseases? This webinar will focus on the science of addiction and the evidence based treatment protocols being developed and utilized as a result of the amazing discoveries from the advances in neuro-imaging. After participating in this webinar, the attendee will: ~ Understand the biology of chemical dependence (CD); ~ Discover how the biochemical changes in the brain affect      motivation, memory, and behavior; ~ How to recognize early signs and symptoms of CD; and ~ Receive an overview of evidenced based treatment protocols. The presenter is Jack Stem. Jack whose professional and personal life came crashing down when his addiction surfaced after years of treating a chronic pain condition, is a former health care professional. With a career which began as an orderly in a busy emergency room 38 years ago, he went on to become a Registered Nurse in that same ER, and later became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Today, clean and sober over 15 years, he acts as a peer advisor for Ohio's nurse anesthetists and consults with attorneys practicing in nursing license defense. Mr. Stem is the Founder and CEO of Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC, which provides assistance to nurses with substance use disorders. The one-on-one personal recovery assistance which he delivers to professionals who want to take their recovery to the next level is held in high regard by his clients and colleagues. His spare time is devoted to writing and presenting on the disease of addiction and graphically illustrating to audiences of all types the help and hope that is available for afflicted health care professionals. Title:   The Most Important Question about Addiction...Is it REALLY a Disease? Date: Monday, September 13, 2010 Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/360316185

The 3 M's of Addiction: Myth, Misbelief, and Misinformation

The 3M's of Addiction: Myth, Misbelief, and Misinformation

The Law Office of LaTonia Denise Wright, LLC is pleased to present a series of webinars September-December 2010 focusing on substance use, abuse, and recovery in nursing.
Join us for this webinar presented by Jack Stem with Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses. See http://www.peeradvocacyforimpairednurses.com/.
I am moderating the webinars. The cost of the 60 minute webinar is $20.00.
For additional information and to pay online see http://nursing-jurisprudence.com/substanceusewebinars.html.

The 3 M's of Addiction: Myth, Misbelief, and Misinformation

Join us for a Webinar on September 27 Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/925851713 Why does all logic seem to disappear as soon as we hear the word "addict"? It seems we stop thinking with out cerebral cortex and begin reacting with our limbic systems. What is behind this almost automatic, visceral response to those we care for afflicted with this chronic, progressive, deadly disease? It's based on the 3 Ms of Addiction: Myth, Misbelief, and Misinformation. This webinar will look at the most common stereotypes and the science that can help as all become "Mythbusters"!  Common myths to be discussed include: ~ Drug addiction is a voluntary behavior ~ Addiction is a lack of willpower and/or character flaw ~ Forced treatment doesn't work ~ Treatment is a "one shot deal" ~ Treatment doesn't work ~ Addicts have to hit "rock bottom" before treatment will help ~ If someone is totally motivated, treatment only takes a few weeks ~Relapse is a sign of weakness and that further treatment is   worthless The presenter is Jack Stem. Jack whose professional and personal life came crashing down when his addiction surfaced after years of treating a chronic pain condition, is a former health care professional. With a career which began as an orderly in a busy emergency room 38 years ago, he went on to become a Registered Nurse in that same ER, and later became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Today, clean and sober over 15 years, he acts as a peer advisor for Ohio's nurse anesthetists and consults with attorneys practicing in nursing license defense. Mr. Stem is the Founder and CEO of Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC, which provides assistance to nurses with substance use disorders. The one-on-one personal recovery assistance which he delivers to professionals who want to take their recovery to the next level is held in high regard by his clients and colleagues. The webinar is moderated by LaTonia Denise Wright, RN, BSN, JD. The cost of the 60 minute webinar is $20.00. See http://nursing-jurisprudence.com/substanceusewebinars.html. Title:   The 3 M's of Addiction: Myth, Misbelief, and Misinformation Date: Monday, September 27, 2010 Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

New Webinar Series

LaTonia Wright and I are beginning a series of webinars start Monday September 13 at 4:00 pm (EDT).

Who is LaTonia Wright? Only the best nursing license defense attorney in the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana area! She is also a registered nurse and a business woman extraordinaire! She's also a friend who has given this recovering, former nurse a chance to use his experience, strength, and hope to help those nurses struggling with substance misuse disorder. It's a chance for me to give back what has been so freely given to me over the past 5,555 days (but who's counting?).

Visit her award winning blog and learn more about this firebrand!

Thanks LaTonia for what you do for the nurse who is struggling with this lousy disease and all of the legal consequences that accompany it.

One day at a time!

Jack

Recovery Month Starts Today!

September has been designated "Recovery Month" by the recovering community NIDA, Faces and Voices of Recovery, etc.).

I think one of the most frustrating things for this advocate and advisor (and recovering addict) is the lack of understanding that health care professionals have regarding substance misuse disorder (formerly called addiction). Why is that? Because they simply don't teach about the disease in training programs...nutsing, medicine, pharmacology, etc. So how in the world can we expect to care for someone with this disease when we don't understand it?


Visit the above sites to get started on understanding Substance Misuse Disorder! Read one article per day for the next 30 days. You'll be surprised how much your attitude will change about the person whose disease is actively killing them!

Keep taking it one day at a time...

Jack