Newsletter

April 30, 2007 Some Reminders Some Helpful Numbers
Road to Recovery
Dosing hours Monday through AA - Alcoholics Anonymous
Friday are 5:30am to 10:30 am 214-887-6699
Counseling is available NA - Narcotics Anonymous
5:30 am to 12:30 pm 972-699-9306

www.dallasareana.org

Recovery is a Journey

The Blessing of Confusion

For many of us the first few months of being clean and sober bring with it difficulties in thinking straight, problems concentrating, being able to get anything done, and nightmares. It gets better, eventually. The haze won't vanish overnight. Your brain and the rest of you need time to recover from the abuse. The older you are and the younger you were when you started your journey into hell, the more damage you have done and the more time it will take to heal. Gradually, if you stay clean, your brain will rewire itself and your body will gain strength. Your soul and your spirit will come to life again. The following are some guidelines for dealing with this time in your recovery:

  • Your emotions may be, in a way, even more unpredictable than before you got clean and sober. Don't keep these emotions to yourself. Share them with your counselor, with a trusted (healthy) friend, or with your family.
  • Some things will slow down the healing. Alcohol use, abuse of drugs other than the one you came into treatment for, poor nutritional habits, not getting the right amount of sleep, and not working will definitely slow down or virtually stop the healing process.
  • Remember your spiritual life. For some, this means praying, or going to church. For others it may mean a walk in the park, meditation time, or yoga. For others, it may be either starting or getting back into a nourishing routine with a support group like NA, AA, CA, etc. Still others feel that their spirits are refreshed via the arts, athletics, or music.
  • Do something! If all you are doing is just not using any dope, it is very likely you will relapse sooner than later. The road to recovery is an active journey, not a passive one.
--Rick B.

HIV Testing Offered

Almost every Friday, a member of the HEI department from the Greater Dallas Counsel on Alcohol and Drug Abuse are here to offer free HIV testing. The test is called "OraQuick Advance." The test is based on saliva and you get your results in 20 minutes. The test is 99% accurate. All you do is come in and asked to be tested.

The Three Reasons We Use Drugs

  1. Avoid what we don't want to deal with.
  2. Escape what we are already in and don't want to deal with.
  3. Enhance something about ourselves.

ACUPUNCTURE
HERE NOW
The procedure is called auricular acupuncture. It is helpful for a variety of issues that affect those with addictions.
Please see your counselor.

WHO SMOKES THE MOST

Whites: 21.9%
African American: 21.5%
Hispanic: 16.2%
Native American: 32%
Asian: 13%

If you are serious about quitting the smoking habit, talk to your counselor or Dr. McDaniel. We can help if you want to quit.

--Rick B.

Clinic hours on Saturday are OA - Overeaters Anonymous
6:00 am to 9:00 am 512-327-2802
Closed on Sunday Problem Gamblers Help-Line
  800-742-0443
Please remember to bring SA - Sex/Love Addicts Annon.
your lock boxes. 800-477-8191

Come to Group

We are Meeting Every
Saturday from
8:30 AM to 9:15 AM


Up in Smoke!

Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the USA, killing 440,000 Americans per year. Some government agencies and civic action groups are suggesting a ban on all advertising of tobacco. There are tools available to help those who want to stop smoking.

Currently, 44.5 million American adults smoke. Of them, 70% say they want to quit and an estimated 40% make a serious effort to quit each year. Only 5% who attempt to quit smoking are successful. The smoking population in the United States of America decreased to about 21% in 2004 from 37% in 1970. In 2005 an estimated 2.2% of adult Americans were cigar smokers and 2.3% used smokeless tobacco.

The World Health Organization estimates that every eight seconds a person dies of a smoking-related disease. According to the American Lung Association, smoking costs the economy over $167 billion in productivity. The following are conclusions in the 2004 report from the Surgeon General:

  1. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and reducing the health of smokers in general.
  2. The list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis, and stomach cancer.
  3. Cigarette smoking causes most of the cases of lung cancer, close to 90% in men and 80% in women.
  4. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the USA and the leading cause of death caused by smoking. Smoking is hard on the heart.
  5. Respiratory disease is an all too common side effect of smoking. The occasional smoker's cough is often the first signal of trouble in the lungs. Chronic bronchitis usually follows; if left unchecked emphysema can develop.
  6. Seniors face increased risks associated with smoking, including hip fractures, cataracts, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It is never too late to quit smoking. The health benefits of cessation start within minutes of the last cigarette.
  7. Smokers have a harder time healing from surgeries and have more overall health issues than non-smokers.
  8. Smokers create risks for the unborn children. Not only is smoking toxic to an unborn child, studies have shown that getting pregnant may be more difficult for smokers.

According to the WHO, less than 7% of smokers who try to quit on their own achieve more than one year of abstinence and most relapse within a few days of attempting to quit.

Taken from the AOA Supplement
Mothers Against Meth-Amph.
866-293-8901
www.mamasite.net
 
Recovery Related Stuff
www.hazelden.org
Hepatitis Information
hepatitisneighborhood.com
APAA
The Association of Persons
Affected by Addiction
www.apaarecovery.org
The Twelfth Step Ministry
214-706-9526
Lots of support groups of
various interests.
Visit their web site.
www.llumc.org
The Network of Community
Ministries
Assistance with food, clothing
972-234-8880
 
 
 
Texas Workforce Commission
972-288-2703
Baylor College of Dentistry
214-828-8440
 
STD Screening The Dallas County Health Department is offering screening for sexually transmitted diseases. The fee is $25. If you can't afford to pay the full amount, a payment plan can be arranged. Please call before 7:45 AM to schedule an appointment.
214-819-2000

Foot Detox

Detox Spa

Helps cleanse your body of toxins. You will feel better. 30 minutes.



Dr. Candace McDaniel
8021 East R.L. Thornton Fwy, Suite A
Dallas, Texas 75228

Call (214) 328-4848 or   for more information