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S teppingstones To Recovery believes that alcohol and drug problems begin innocently with social and experimental use, and progress to abusive use, then to dependence - which is accelerated if certain genetic factors are
present. While Steppingstones was originally established to help people with addictions, over the years it has expanded services to include treatment of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions in the absence of alcohol or drug use. S teppingstones is not a hospital-based “inpatient” treatment facility
offering medical and detoxification services, but refers out to a number of facilities for this purpose in an effort to match the proper level of care with financial resources.
STEPPINGSTONESRECOVERY.COM
STEP OUT OF THE
DARKNESS...
...& into your recovery
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S tart rebuilding your personal life and mending important family ties with outpatient recovery. IOP establishes a foundation for long-term recovery support in the local community while still maintaining patients’ independence in their work/home life. Our intensive outpatient drug and alcohol rehab program provides evidence-based (proven) treatment from experienced licensed clinicians and certified addiction counselors. CALL: 706.733.1935
2610 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909
T he only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping
stones is the way in which we use them. STEPPINGSTONESRECOVERY.COM
TAKE THAT BIG STEP.
START YOUR RECOVERY JOURNEY TODAY. STEPPINGSTONESRECOVERY.COM
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VISIT: 2610 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909
What happens when people are struggling and they open their hearts?
CALL: 706.733.1935 VISIT: 2610 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909
S tatistics prove that recovery from substance abuse is a long-term process, therefore Steppingstones is committed to maintaining close relationships with its clients for a year after discharge from treatment by offering once- weekly attendance for NO EXTRA
CHARGE! Commitment to our clients is lifelong.
STEPPINGSTONESRECOVERY.COM
FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE
D espite years of stigma, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is steadily gaining in popularity among treatment providers. Government groups like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are actively campaigning to get more providers to offer MAT as a potentially vital resource for patients. While such groups often promote well-known medications such as methadone and buprenorphine, drug researchers are looking for new medications that could be a lifeline to patients in need. But new medications can cost millions to research and take years to get on the market. That’s why some researchers are taking a closer look, and finding success, with drugs already approved by the FDA. CURBING COCAINE USE Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say a drug already on the market for diabetes may be able to curb cocaine use. The FDA-approved drug Byetta, used to regulate blood sugar in diabetic patients, is derived from a natural hormone known as GLP-1. The research team looked at how the hormone functioned in rats and found that the same hormone that regulates food intake could be used to suppress cocaine consump- tion. “These results are very provocative and suggest these compounds could be repurposed for drug addiction,” says Dr. Heath Schmidt, one of the lead researchers. “We have seen a reduction in cocaine consumption…but it doesn’t completely abolish it.” Currently, there is no FDA-approved drug for the treatment of cocaine abuse. But because Byetta and a similar drug have already gained federal approval, researchers say that leaves fewer hurdles before they could be used in treatment settings. Although still far from human trials, research- ers say they’re optimistic, especially because their research suggests the hormone is not specific to cocaine and could be used in treatment of other substance abuse disorders. “I think this opens up a large world view with regards to this system in the brain,” Dr. Schmidt says. “There’s really a lot to be explored here and I think it’s really an exciting time to be in the field and exploring the GLP- 1 system.”
ADJUSTING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION Another team of researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia believe the FDA-approved drug pindolol could be used to stop alcohol abuse. Pindolol is an anti-hypertensive medication used to treat high blood pres- sure. But because of the way it interacts with neurotransmit- ters in the brain, they believe it could also be effective in treating alcohol use disorders (AUDs). To study the drug’s effect, the team used mice and exposed them to an alcohol consump- tion regimen similar to a binge drinking cycle common in humans. For mice also given pindolol, the team found they were able to reduce drinking in the long term (after at least 12 weeks). The team did not see as positive of results in the short term (only four weeks), but they say they’re still excited about its potential uses. “Although further mechanistic investigations are required, this study demonstrates the poten- tial of pindolol as a new treat- ment option for AUDs that can be fast-tracked into human clin- ical studies,” the authors wrote.
2610 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909 visit:
A ll of our staff are fully trained to include your close friends and family member(s) in your treatment; some family members seek services independently of their loved one, and some wish to be a part of your recovery. Recovery involves the whole family and/or social support system, therefore we offer a weekly Family Workshop for all close friends, employers, and family members. This workshop STEPPINGSTONESRECOVERY.COM
has received numerous accolades over the past 20 years for its ability to educate and teach loved ones how to be supportive without nagging and controlling, with hundreds of parents, spouses, and friends expressing emotional relief after utilizing the principles taught. It meets on Wednesdays, 6 – 7:30 p.m. and is offered at no extra charge for one year or more if needed.
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New study looks to pinpoint transition from prescription opioids to heroin
Stopping heroin use before it begins may be the best remedy for the country’s growing epidemic. A new study looks to pinpoint the times and ways that young people rst use the dangerous drug in hopes of strengthening prevention efforts. For three years, researchers at Wright State University tracked nearly 400 18- to 23-year-olds in Columbus, Ohio, who used illicit prescription opioids but were not opioid-dependent. Of the 362 participants, 27 eventually transitioned to heroin, a rate of 7.5 percent. “We were surprised at the number of people who transitioned to heroin,” says Dr. Robert Carlson, the study’s lead researcher. “We had really no idea of what exactly we’d be able to predict.”
Predicting risk
Researchers found several predictors of increased risk of heroin use, starting with the ways in which the opioids were being used. Those who crushed or snorted the prescription drugs were far more likely to transition to heroin. “It increases the speed at which the drug is hitting the system and makes people much more liable to becoming dependent,” Dr. Carlson says. “If people can become aware that if they even think about starting to use via a non-oral route, they are heading off on a very dangerous path.”
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“We were surprised at the number of people who transitioned to heroin. ” - Dr. Robert Carlson, Wright State University
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Racial divide
The study also saw a difference in race among those who eventually turned to heroin. Despite roughly half the participants being African-American or Hispanic, all of the individuals who ultimately used heroin were white. Although the study could not determine the reasons behind such a strong racial divide, Dr. Carlson suggests that social networks, generational use and other circumstances could be signi cant factors. National data shows the heroin epidemic has increasingly hit white males the hardest. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that between 2002 and 2013, heroin use among non-Hispanic whites increased 114 percent.
Age is just a number
The new NIDA-funded study targeted 18- to 23-year-olds because they are arguably at the highest risk for substance abuse. The study did not look at other age groups. But when considering the factors that may move a person from prescription opioids to heroin, Dr. Carlson believes age is just a number. “I wouldn’t think the risk factors for transition to heroin would be much different regardless of age group,” Dr. Carlson says. While the risk factors may be the same across age groups, the most deadly effects of heroin use are not. Research has shown that those most at risk of a heroin-related overdose fall in the 25 to 44 age range.
Targeted approach
It’s important to keep in mind that the vast majority of prescription opioid users will not move on to heroin. And signi cant research is still needed to determine the social, environmental and biological factors that contribute to a person transitioning to heroin. But Dr. Carlson says he’s encouraged by the progress being made and believes the groundwork has been laid to develop effective treatment and intervention programs. “The really exciting thing to come out of this is it really gives us a rm foundation of some variables that could be targeted to prevent transition to heroin and transition to dependence,” Dr. Carlson says.
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STEPPINGSTONESRECOVERY.COM
W hile in IOP, your personal circumstances are considered in establishing a care specific plan unique to your own individual needs and preferences. To accommodate varying work schedules, group sessions are offered twice daily, mornings, and evenings, five days a week for six weeks. At that time, clients transition to a one-year aftercare program which meets once weekly for no extra charge. Throughout the program, clients learn a range of valuable recovery skills in intensive outpatient treatment.
2610 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909
D on’t Let Obstacles get in the way..
T he best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping-stones. Laugh at them, tread on them, and let them lead you to something better.
CALL: 706.733.1935
2610 Commons Blvd Augusta, GA 30909 visit:
STEPPINGSTONESRECOVERY.COM
CALL: 706.733.1935
W hen both a substance abuse problem and a mental health issue exist (such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety) it is called a Co-Occurring Disorder or Dual Diagnosis. Because there are many combinations of disorders that can occur, the symptoms of dual diagnosis vary widely. A Co-Occurring Disorder is a very
broad category; it can range from someone developing mild depression because of binge drinking, to someone’s symptoms of bipolar disorder becoming more severe when that person abuses drugs during periods of mania. Untreated Co-Occurring Disorders can lead to major problems at home and work and in your daily life, so it’s important to seek help. CALL: 706.733.1935 VISIT: 2610 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909
IT IS TIME TO FACE YOUR ADDICTION.
STEPPINGSTONESRECOVERY.COM
Still Effective After All These Years After 80 years, AA still works
For those seeking to break free from addiction to drugs and alcohol, one of the most widely used -- and easily accessible -- tools has been the Twelve Steps, first published in 1939 in the book,”Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism.” Not much has changed since 1939, in what the Twelve Steps require of individuals, in order to regain control of their lives. The process, known to its adherents as “working the steps,” involves taking individual responsibility for one’s actions, admitting that one is powerless to control the addiction, and seeking the help of a higher power in order to heal. The benefits of the Twelve Step method are widely known: acceptance into a fellowship of non-users who regularly attend meetings to discuss their addictions, face their actions, and atone for them through spiritual practice and forgiveness. Although Alcoholics Anonymous and its many offshoots do not conduct or allow others to conduct research into the effectiveness of the methods, the military has produced studies that show individuals who attend meetings are 60% more likely to achieve sobriety than those who do not.
Millions of men and women around the world have used the Twelve Steps to break free from a wide variety of addictions and compulsions. More than 200 self-help organizations around the world have adopted twelve-step principles for help with compulsion for, and/or addiction to, gambling, crime, food, sex, hoarding, debting and over-working, among others.
Where did the Twelve Steps come from? According to an article published by AA co-founder Bill W. in 1953, there were three primary sources of inspiration: the Oxford Groups, Dr. William D. Silkworth of Towns Hospital and the famed psychologist, William James, widely considered the father of modern psychology. The Oxford Groups, an evangelical movement which became popular in the 1920’s and early 30’s, preached concepts like absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness and absolute love. “The Twelve Steps could be considered a personal roadmap for achieving sobriety and serenity.”
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Combining science and spirituality William James’ major contribution to the philosophical underpinnings of AA was his book “Varieties of Religious Experience.” In his book, James provided scientific validation for the concept of spiritual experiences, which he said could transform people and enable them to overcome personal defeat and find recovery. The Twelve Steps could be considered a personal roadmap for achieving sobriety and serenity and living a life of freedom from addiction to alcohol and drugs. Each of the steps is only one sentence in length, but each one contains enough universally applicable wisdom and power to fill a book. While the 12 steps has provided a path to recovery for countless alcoholics, drug addicts and others seeking to break free from addictive or compulsive behavior, they have also sparked controversy and debate over the decades. The major source of controversy is AA’s longstanding emphasis on a belief in God. AA supporters point out that, in the AA context, that means belief in “a higher power,” a belief in something larger than the self. The phrase was coined in the early years of AA.
They also practiced a type of confession, which they called “sharing,” the making of amends for harms done they called “restitution.” They believed in the value of “quiet time,” a form of meditation and seeking of God’s guidance, practiced in both group and individual settings. Dr. Silkworth spent years helping alcoholics dry out at Towns Hospital in New York City. One of his core beliefs, which he often spoke on, was the disease concept of alcoholism -- defined as an obsession of the mind combined with an allergy of the body.
“’Higher power’ doesn’t necessarily mean a deity, and those who use the steps are free to interpret that phrase as they see fit.”
“Higher power” doesn’t necessarily have to mean a deity, and that those who use the steps are free to interpret that phrase as they see fit, based on their personal beliefs. The phrase could be applied to mean the power of the group, or nature. Some AA members around the world who don’t accept faith in a god as a necessary tenet have formed their own agnostic AA groups. More than 90 unofficial, self-described “agnostic AA” groups now meet regularly in the U.S., according to Patheos.com. The debate continues. Some think the 82-year old organization has drifted away from its core principles and become too lenient, Lee Ann Kaskutas, senior scientist at the Public Health Institute’s Alcohol Research Group in Emeryville, Calif., told CharismaNews.com. “Others think it’s too strict, so they want to change AA and make it get with the times.” Newcomers to AA are often advised to “take what you need and leave the rest,” Kaskutas points out. That flexibility allows participants to put together a recovery program that fits their needs. It’s one of the reason AA still works for people, eight decades after its founding.
Keep your head clear! When battleing addiction it doesn’t
matter how bright the path is if your mind is always cloudy.
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2610 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909
T he best treatment for co-occurring disorders is an integrated approach, where both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder are treated simultaneously, often lowering costs and creating better outcomes. With proper treatment, support, and self-help strategies, you can reclaim your life. Recovery depends on treating both the addiction and the mental health problem. Getting sober is only the beginning. Your continued recovery depends on continuing mental health treatment, learning healthier coping strategies, and making wiser decisions when dealing with life’s challenges.
2610 Commons Blvd, Augusta, GA 30909
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