Newsletter

January 2009 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

"I'm not here for that!"

On occasion, a client may get a little frustrated with the counselor's interest in their life. This happens most often while discussing the results of a drug screen. You know, "I haven't done any heroin in months. I didn't come here to stop drinking. So, leave me alone about it!". A lot of us can see through this denial without much effort. Recovery, effective on a long term basis, may require a life-style change, not only a change in substance abuse habits. What I am suggesting is that we start to address things like our nutritional habits, stress management, exercise, spirituality, relationships, and general health issues.

Come to Group

We are Meeting Every
Saturday from
8:30 AM to 9:15 AM
and
Every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Nutritional Thoughts

  1. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables of different colors each day.
  2. Drink more water.
  3. Eat more nutritious snacks during the day instead of just one big meal. Eat low-fat cheese, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, light yogurt, and unsalted nuts.

Exercise

  1. Regular physical activity can lower your risk of many illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, bone loss, diabetes, lower back pain, and some cancers.
  2. Exercise helps you have more energy and have control of your weight.
  3. Everyone should be physically active about 30 minutes or more each day.

Respiratory Infections

How to protect yourself:

  1. Washing your hands thoroughly and often is the most important way you can prevent catching or spreading germs. Use warm water, soap and scrub your hands for about twenty seconds. Be sure to wash before eating, or touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
  2. Wash your hands after touching anyone who is sneezing, coughing, or blowing their nose, or has a runny nose.
  3. Do not share towels, lipstick, toys, cigarettes, food, eating utensils, drinking glasses, or anything else that might be contaminated with respiratory germs.
  4. Wash your hands after using the restroom.
  5. When possible, avoid closed, crowded places.
  6. Cover your mouth with a tissue when you sneeze and throw it away.
  7. You may want to consider getting a flu shot.
Taken from Texas Department of Health


Recovery Mountain
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

Health Checks

For people twenty-five and older:

  1. Have your blood pressure checked every two years, if it is normal.
  2. Have your cholesterol checked, if it is normal, every five years. If not, get it checked at least yearly.
  3. If you have been sexually active get checked for STD's. Why? Because 40-60% of those with an STD are not aware they are infected.
  4. Those who are forty and older should get an eye exam every two to four years.
  5. Women forty and older are encouraged to get a mammogram at least every 2 years; those fifty and older, every year.
  6. If you are older than forty-five, get your blood sugar level measured every three years.
  7. If you've never had one, get one: pap test, prostate exam, or colonoscopy.

If we want to fully recover, we will also want to take better care of ourselves. For those of you who are in your twenties and thirties, don't wait till you start having symptoms before you take care of yourself. In essence, waiting till you have to do something is just the same as waiting to get clean and sober…until you have to. So, the next time your counselor starts asking those nosey questions,or suggesting you address issues in addition to those directly involving substance abuse, give it a little extra effort.

--Rick B.

Why Patients Leave Outpatient Treatment

A national survey from 2005 collected the following reasons patients left an outpatient treatment facility:

Terminated 11%
Dropped out 29%
Transferred 12%
Completed 36%
Other 12%

The highest percentages of those completing treatment were among those who were in residential, or more structured recovery settings.

How does AALCT measure up? Let's look at the drop out rate. Our drop out rate is only 3%, compared with this survey's average of 29%.

taken from SAMHSA News

What does Addiction Cost Us?

Recently, the state of California's Marin Institute did some measuring and comparing of the cost of alcoholism compared with natural disasters and tobacco. Below is what the institute reported:

2003 S. Calf. Wildfires $2.6B
1991 Oakland firestorm $3.3B
1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake $9.3B
Annual tobacco $10B
1994 N. Ridge Earthquake $40.1B
Annual Alcohol $38.4B

This study only looked at alcohol and tobacco. What is the cost to our society when we also consider other drugs? You guessed it…incredibly high.

--Adapted from SAMHSA News
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
 
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.

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

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.

Foot Detox

Detox Spa

Cleanses your body of toxins.
30 minute treatment. Thirty dollars



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

Call (214) 328-4848 or   for more information