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MR. JAMES CRAWFORD on the Jessie Crawford Recovery Center

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Slippery slope Despite some lingering questions, researchers were able to show the significance of the economy’s role in problematic substance use.The study showed that even a small change in the unemployment rate can have a tremendous impact on the risks for substance abuse disorders. “For each percentage point increase in the state unemployment rate, these estimates represent about a 6 percent increase in the likelihood of having a disorder involving analgesics and an 11 percent increase in the likelihood of having a disorder involving hallucinogens,” the authors write. Previous studies have focused on the economy’s link to marijuana and alcohol, with many looking at young people in particular.This study is one of the first to highlight illicit drugs, which given the current opioid epidemic, holds important lessons for those working to curb problematic drug use.

When it’s needed most The study bears significant weight for treatment facilities and public policy makers in particular. During economic downturns, government agencies typically look to cut spending on treatment programs as a way to save money, something researchers say may be more costly in the end. “Our results suggest that this is unwise,” Carpenter says. “Such spending would likely be particularly effective during downturns since rates of substance use disorders are increasing when unemployment rates rise, at least for disorders involving prescription painkillers and hallucinogens.”

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“Spending would likely be particularly effective during downturns since rates of substance use disorders are increasing when unemployment rates rise.”

CELL: 262-497-5739 JCRC: 262-637-8558

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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.

a nti-smoke Signals Fresh Empire’s anti-tobacco appeal is all about staying independent

Tobacco statistics “What’s the deal with tobacco?” asks a Fresh Empire graphic. With this ques- tion, it launches into the ingredi- ents found in cigarettes, along with the health and social side effects of smoking. Images on Fresh Em- pire’s website show freshfaced youth looking directly into the camera as a way to deliver a straightforward and relatable source of information for young people. Fresh Empire does not rely on imag- ery alone. It also provides poignant statistics and cites research conduct- ed by the HHS and Internal Agency for Research on Cancer, among other organizations: •Cigarette smoking causes 480,000 deaths per year. • Smokers die, on average, 10 years younger than non-smokers. • 16 million people have at least one disease caused by smoking. A graphic on the site shows what Fresh Empire calls “all sorts of nasty chemicals” in tobacco, along with unsavory facts about those substanc- es. Listed first is carbon monoxide, which is found in car exhaust. Cig- arettes contain arsenic, Fresh Em- pire informs readers, which is used in pesticides. And there’s benzene, found in gasoline. Another header states simply “keep your cash,” which leads to a statistic that smoking half a pack a day costs an average of $1,000 per year. “That’s a lot of cash to blow on cig- arettes,” Fresh Empire states. “What would you rather spend $1,000 on?”

“Being fresh is about yourself. The empire is yourself, man.” - Radio personality ET

When you are addicted to tobacco, you are not in control. So says the main message of Fresh Empire, an Internet and TV campaign designed to inspire teens and young adults to stay away from cigarettes. Fresh Empire’s website—freshempire.betobaccofree.hhs.gov—has infor- mation and informational videos all about the consequences of smoking. Here, young people can learn about the chemical content of cigarettes, health risks associated with tobacco use and social drawbacks. Fresh Empire, sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), puts on events with performers such as rappers Silento and Stuey Roc, who deliver posi- tive, tobacco-free messages. “Being fresh is about yourself. The empire is yourself, man,” says radio per- sonality ET in video footage of a Fresh Empire concert. And Rock had this to say about tobacco use on a Fresh Empire video: “Smoking is not cool.”

Online videos and TV ads The website has a series of short videos and TV ads, all with poignant soundbites and stories about the self-empowerment that comes from staying away from smoking. In a 30-second TV spot, young people, one after another, repeat the mantra, “I reject anything—including tobacco—that tries to control me.” Jayy Starr, a young hip-hop musi- cian, stars in a commercial where she tells the story of her grandfather. He smoked cigarettes for many years and died of lung cancer. “Losing my grandfather has influ- enced my whole musical being, because it makes me more passionate,” Starr says in a behind- the-scenes video for the ad. “I’m not going to lose

young man in sunglasses and a scarf. Throughout the videos, television ads and web content, Fresh Empire implores young people to think of cigarettes as an affront to autonomy. Surrendering to nicotine is not being in control, they say. Therefore, smoking is not fresh. “Losing my grandfather has influenced my whole musical being, because it makes me more passionate. I’m not going to lose another person to cigarettes. To me, being a leader means being

In another video, young people stand in the middle of the frame as messages flash on the screen alongside then. One reads “Long live Fresh Empire. Long live you. Live tobacco-free.” Another spot flashes empowering words for young women—“fresh,” “strong,” “boss,” “royal,” and “queen”—before a female voice-over says, “Fresh Empire is flippin’ the script in fash- ion, in hip-hop, in life.” Another video opens with the question “What’s Fresh Empire?” followed by a group of young people defining the tobacco-free movement. “It means looking out for you,” the first young man says. Another adds, “And your fam, too.” “When you are doing you, looking fresh, people follow,” says a stylish

tobacco-free.” -Singer Jayy Starr

another person to cigarettes. To me, being a leader means being tobacco free.”

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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.”

“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 signicant 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 signicant 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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Marijuana users are five times more likely to develop an alcohol abuse disorder, according to a new study

When it rains it pours. The old idiom may be familiar to many drug users who often find themselves battling more than one addiction. While previous research has shown multiple substance abuse disorders often go hand in hand, a new study suggests simply using marijuana can lead to a much higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.

Finding the Link Researchers at Columbia University analyzed data from 27,461 people who had used marijuana at the time of first testing, but had no history of alcohol related disorders. When researchers checked back three years later, they found marijuana users were five times more likely to have developed an alcohol abuse disorder.

Researchers said they were surprised the link wasn’t between marijuana use disorder, but simply marijuana use itself. “I think it’s important for people to be aware that there are certain behaviors that come with specific risks,” says Dr. Renee Goodwin, one of the lead researchers. “It would be particularly useful for youth.” Because youth are at a higher risk of experimenting with both drugs and alcohol, researchers said educating them about the total scope of risk is not only important, but could help curb problematic behaviors. “Preventing or delaying the onset of marijuana use could prevent or delay the onset of alcohol use disorder,” Dr. Goodwin says. “Statistically it should.”

“I think it’s important for people to be aware that there are certain behaviors that come with specific risks.” -Dr. Renee Goodwin

“Preventing or delaying the onset of marijuana use could prevent or delay the onset of alcohol use disorder.” -Dr. Renee Goodwin

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Uses In Treatment For those already struggling with marijuana or alcohol use disorders, researchers said the knowledge that the two behaviors are linked could help people see the bigger picture of their addiction, and could prove useful in their journey toward recovery. “In some ways it may seem self- evident, but it may not be,” Dr. Goodwin says. “If you’re trying to quit drinking, it’s good to know that quitting marijuana could increase your chance of being successful.”

Zero relationship to mood and anxiety disorders As marijuana use has increased in the U.S., with some states even voting for legalization, some have wondered what the psychological cost will be to users. To investigate the question further, other researchers at Columbia University also conducted a recent study to determine if a link exists between increased marijuana use and psychiatric disorders. Although the results, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, mimicked previous research in showing a strong relationship between marijuana use and other substance abuse disorders, the findings in regards to psychiatric disorders were much different. The study showed no relationship between marijuana use and increased instances of mood and anxiety disorders, only substance abuse disorders. But despite the lack of a connection, researchers still cautioned against public policy that could lead to increased marijuana use. “The lack of association between more frequent cannabis use with increased risk of most mood and anxiety disorders does not diminish the important public health significance of the association between cannabis use and increased prevalence and incidence of drug and alcohol use disorders,” the authors wrote. 

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“Whether recovering from addiction or coming out of incarceration, JCRC provides safe, transitional housing for all of those who need it most.”

r. James Crawford on the Jessie Crawford Recovery Center MR. JAMES CRAWFORD JESSIE CRAWFORD ON THE RECOVERY CENTER M When James Crawford started the Jessie Crawford Recovery Center in Madison, he had no idea what it would soon grow to be. A sober living, case management, and addiction treatment facility, it also has the unique distinction of being the only minority owned and oper- ated facility in the region that oers treatment, housing, and counseling for people trying to make a positive change. How JCRC Came To Be e Jessie Crawford Recovery Center was not built overnight. Instead, it grew slowly over time out of a desire to oer services that were not readily available in the Madison area. When asked about why he chose to found the Jessie Crawford Recovery center, he reects, “I was associate director of a treatment agency in Madi- son that provided residential, half way, and ¾ housing and I saw people still had diculty nding a safe sober place in the community when they were done. At the time, the treatment agency wasn't interested in sober living houses. So, in 2012 I started the recovery center. It started small with 3 beds and demand just grew. Today we have more than 160 beds. We then found that there was such a need for housing that we needed more care oerings as well, like substance abuse treatment. In 2013, we opened a clinic to oer treatments and continued to grow. Now, our center oers housing as well as outpa- tient, intensive outpatient and day treatment services. e Jessie Crawford Recovery center is named in honor of Mr. Crawford’s mother, herself a recovered addict. e name brings both a personal signicance to the project, but also serves as a symbol of hope and a sign that long term recovery is attainable.

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e Center Now With many years of continued growth, what started as one rented home has now expanded to provide 130 beds throughout Dane county, and an additional 30 beds in Rock. Beyond sober living services, e Jessie Crawford Recovery Center oers intensive outpatient and outpatient services along with group therapy to provide an in depth support system. JCRC also oers family therapy and family education classes as an important part of the process. e recovery should include the family because it aects all,” says Mr. Crawford. “We try to get the family reunited and work out issues. A large part is educating on the disease of addiction. It really is a brain disease, it’s not able to just

Jessie Crawford owner

quit without help. When the family understands that, they become an important part of the process.” Community Impact To the community around the Jessie Crawford Recovery Center, so much more is provided than simply addiction treatment. Support systems are created for those that need it most. Whether recovering from addiction or coming out of incarceration, JCRC provides safe, transitional housing for all of those who need it most. e sober living facilities are located throughout the area, providing locations near jobs and along the bus line to further support the individual. A few facilities have on-site managers, while most benet from recovery coach and peer specialist check ins and support. With a diverse clientele from all walks of life, JCRC is a minority facility that goes above the scope, helps those in need, and truly serves the entire community.

THE TEAM

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CELL: 262-497-5739 JCRC-Racine: 262-637-8558 822 Park Ave Racine WI, 53403

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