CONSEJERIA CASA DE
Holistic Approaches PROGRAM youth outpatient
Youth DRUG program
Driving under THE influence
Casa Begins IN 1993
LEARN MORE ABOUT AND THE WE OFFER. CASA DE CONSEJERIA SERVICES
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C ASA is a nonprofit organization out of the Eastern North Philadelphia area that extends both its heart and hands to those in the Latino community that require aid during their transition into recovery. With a strong team of passionate, highly skilled professionals CASA takes each individual’s path to recovery and constructs it so it is as unique as the individual it serves. Mission The mission of CASA is to restore and empower Latinos and their families through the addiction recovery process, utilizing a holistic approach by providing treatment, education, and supportive services. The mission is achieved when clients not only improve their own lives, but contribute to the health and recovery of others struggling with substance abuse, as well. Vision To provide the Latino Community in North Philadelphia with an Institution that provides effective treatment and adequate resources that will lead individuals to reach long-term recovery and healthy lives.
213 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Call Us : (215) 634-3259
Driving Under the Influence Program
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casacares.net C ASA’s Driving Under the Influence Program uses education and supportive services to teach members to avoid driving while impaired. Since 2004, the Driving Under the Influence Program
has referred individuals for court evaluations and Drug and Alcohol Full Assessments (Assessment
Severity Index) by a DUI certified counselor. Based on the assessment, the evaluator makes
recommendations for DUI psycho-educational classes or Alcohol Highway Safety School, which are
provided on-site by a certified DUI Instructor and comprise 12.5 hours of instruction.
An evaluation linked through PennDot that is required for all DUI offenders
in Pennsylvania. The evaluation is a pre-screening tool used to determine
if you will be referred for a more comprehensive drug and alcohol
assessment, and is used as a statistical tool for Pennsylvania.
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INSERT 9
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
INSERT 9
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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CASACARES.NET
The Youth Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Program at CASA provide individual and group counseling through evidence based practice interventions for youth ages 13-17 years old. We use strength based and preventative methods in addressing the use of substances and alcohol. In other words, addiction can be successfully treated to help young people like you stop using drugs and alcohol and lead a strong and healthy lifestyle. You just need the right kind of help--professional help from someone who cares about you and can help you make a change to be the best you! If you think that you, or someone you know is addicted, don’t wait another minute and call CASA today! Visit Us In Person! 213 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA Call Us Today 215.634.3259
At CASA We Care About You,
CASACARES.NET
Find a loving home at CASA
Visit Us In Person! 213 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA Call Us Today 215.634.3259
Youth Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Program
T he Youth Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Program at CASA provide individual and group counseling through evidence based practice interventions for youth ages 13-17 years old. We use strength based and preventative methods in addressing the use of substances and alcohol. In other words, addiction can be successfully treated to help young people like you stop using drugs and alcohol and lead a strong and healthy lifestyle. You just need the right kind of help--professional help from someone who cares about you and can help you make a change to be the best you! If you think that you, or someone you know is addicted, don’t wait another minute and call CASA today! CONTACT US:
215.634.3259 213 W Allengheny Ave, Philadelphia, Pa
casacares.net
INSERT 6 Learning to Drink
Study finds alcohol changes the brain from the very first drink
“Drugs of abuse basically hijack the normal learning and memory processes.” - Dr. Dorit Ron University of California - San Francisco
Preventing escalation
The NIAAA-funded study did not establish a relationship between initial use and addiction, or even problematic drinking. But the hope is that further understanding of how alcohol affects the brain initially could lead to better treatment and prevention efforts down the road. “If we can control that step, we may be able to prevent further escalation,” Dr. Ron says. More research is needed to determine which other components of the brain are affected by initial alcohol exposure. Dr. Ron says she believes the changes that occur during first exposure could be reversed with prolonged abstinence from alcohol. But she said the more a person drinks, the harder it is to reverse those changes as the brain forms stronger connections to drinking.
One drink is all it takes. That’s what one research team found when studying how even the first exposure to alcohol can affect a person’s brain. A team from the University of California - San Francisco exposed mice to alcohol and then studied the synapses (connections) in their brains. The team found that even the first drink produced significant changes in the brain’s biological structure, calling the changes a “learning event.” “This is basically the first step,” says Dr. Dorit Ron, one of the chief researchers. “You are basically placing a memory trace.” Dr. Ron says the entire study was based on the idea that “addiction, and not just alcohol addiction, is thought to be a maladaptive form of learning and memory.” In essence, the study showed that first exposure to alcohol primes the brain for further use and lays the foundation for future “learning.” “Drugs of abuse basically hijack the normal learning and memory processes,” Dr. Ron says. “The behavior becomes habit.”
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Predicting behavior
INSERT 6 A new study also suggests that the earlier a person starts drinking, the stronger those connections may become. Researchers recently set out to identify which substance people use first in their lives and found the majority of people try alcohol before any other substance. The team also looked at how a person’s age when they start drinking affects substance use later in life. Researchers say the earlier someone starts drinking, the more likely they are to use more than one illicit substance, and they’re also more likely to develop an addiction. “It’s a very nice predictor for polysubstance use,” says Dr. Adam Barry, the study’s chief author. “The later you delay, the closer you are to 21, the less likely you are to be alcohol dependent or dependent on other substances.”
“ Alcohol consumption among youth doesn’t occur in a vacuum. ” - Dr. Adam Barry, Texas A&M University
Curbing use Researchers acknowledge there’s a difference between a first sip and a first binge drinking event. But they say age at first use of any kind is still a good predictor of behavior later in life. To combat problematic drinking, Dr. Barry says educators need to address all factors of a child’s life, not just the substance itself. In keeping with new guidelines from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Barry and his team recommend beginning substance education as early as third grade. “Alcohol consumption among youth doesn’t occur in a vacuum,” Dr. Barry says. “It’s really just trying to find evidence-based strategies that prevent drug use and then applying those in an alcohol setting.”
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casacares.net
B efore I came to CASA, my life had seemed like one big trip smoking PCP. I ended up catching a case with DHS and having my
kids taken from me. That was on the 7th of May, by the 14th, I was enrolled into CASA’s program. Honesty, I had been so intoxicated, I can’t remember my first couple of times; but what I do remember is this overwhelming feeling of welcoming. When I entered the building, I didn’t feel shame or like I had to be on a drug to handle the experience. No one was prejudice against me for my using. When I first started, I met a woman working at CASA whom I took to immediately, maybe it was because we had the same name, but, she was in charge of urine tests and would update me weekly on my progress. She would sound so proud of me that I’d become proud of me, feeling somewhat accomplished each time. I also had a great counselor who made me feel comfortable, who even when I relapsed after three weeks of being clean told me, “Is that yesterday? Leave it there.” I had felt so disgusted in myself after using I cried to my counselor, and it’s crazy because I had never actually felt guilty about using before coming to CASA. It took two months to get the drugs completely out of my system, but when it was gone, it never came back. Soon, I was spending every day at CASA, I even brought my kids, who were welcomed just as much as I was, participating in Parent Cafes, get togethers, and parties. It was just something about CASA, it didn’t have that hospital feel you think of when thinking about getting help; instead it is a family. I’ve been a year and a half clean now, and although I still have to fight the thought, every time I go outside I feel proud of myself because I am no longer dependent on any substance to get by and can focus on being the best mom I can be.
Push Past Old Habits, Make Room
For New Healthy Habits.
215.634.3259 213 W Allengheny Ave, Philadelphia, Pa CONTACT US:
It does not matter how slowly you go as long
as you do not stop.
casacares.net
There is a Light Ahead.
215.634.3259 213 W Allengheny Ave, Philadelphia, Pa CONTACT US:
casacares.net 215.634.3259
Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Program
CASA’s Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient treatment program specializes in implementing multifaceted therapy approaches in conjunction with preventive education. CASA also supplements these approaches by integrating a variety of supportive services in a holistic context in order to increase resilience and assist individuals through their recovery process.
After a comprehensive pre-assessment and intake process, a holistic recovery plan is created with the PIR’s (Person in Recovery) input that addresses four main components: chemical dependency, psychosocial issues, supportive services, and spirituality. Depending on each assessment conducted, treatment is scheduled, conducted, and monitored followed by an aftercare plan post-treatment to ensure the PIR’s continued recovery.
Visit Us In Person! 213 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA
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.”
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.
I came to CASA for help because I was tired of being tired. I come from a very dysfunctional family, one of drug abuse, domestic and gang violence. As a result, I was a victim of rape, molestation, and almost murder. Things had been so bad I contemplated suicide, but I figured taking my own life could not be the answer, there had to be something better out there for me. So like I said, I got tired of being tired and one day I sat down and talked with my kids to try and figure out a way to better myself and become comfortable with my surroundings. Although no one knew the answer, we all agreed on one thing, I needed help. So, I searched Philadelphia, walking from place to place trying to find some guidance, but it seemed everyone had a reason to turn me away, one even claimed I had to have enough drugs in my system to be put into treatment, so I broke down. I felt hopeless. I
215.634.3259 call Visit Us In Person! 213 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA called my son explaining if he did not find me help right now, I was going to use again. My drug of choice was heroin and the temptation was all around me. I tried to speak with God asking Him for help, I wanted it so bad, I needed it. My son told me he needed me, and to hold on a bit longer, then brought me to CASA. What’s crazy is I had walked by CASA countless times never really noticing it or knowing what lay inside and what they could do for me. Once inside I signed up for the program immediately. Since then it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. CASA was the first step to helping me believe in myself again. They supported me financially, spiritually, and emotionally. Before CASA, I was incredibly guarded, my walls were built and filled with anger, but now, talking about my story helps me to heal. It’s been almost two years now and I will admit I still struggle internally, but one thing I will always remember is to be patient, and although recovery is not easy, it is not impossible.
213 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA
PROGRAMS • Outpatient
• Intensive Outpatient • Driving Under the Influence • Youth Drug Outpatient
•
Alcohol Outpatient
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