The Kansas City Star says meth is widely available in the U.S. and only getting more prevalent.  The Kansas City Star’s Crime Scene blog reports on new information from the federal government on the growing meth problem in America.  Go to the Crime Scene blog to read the article.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department have launched an investigation into domestic violence claims involving actor Mel Gibson and his ex girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.  The estranged couple is currently embroiled in an ugly custody battle over daughter Lucia and the audio tape of Mel Gibson screaming at Grigorieva was released yesterday by RadarOnline.com. The audio clip is a very ugly but if you want to listen to it, we have a clip at the end of this post.

Alcohol or drug abuse is often a warning sign in many domestic violence cases.   If a partner uses alcohol or drugs heavily, especially if his habits involve daily or nearly daily intoxication, this can be one of the warning signs of a dangerous situation.  But domestic violence advocate Lundy Bancroft warns against making generalizations about batterers:

Generalizations about batterers have to be made with caution. Batterers come from all socioeconomic backgrounds and levels of education. They have the full range of personality types, from mild and mousy to loud and aggressive. They are difficult to profile psychologically; they frequently fare well in psychological testing, often better than their victims do.

Lundy Bancroft is one of the top experts in the area of domestic violence and an advocate for victims of domestic abuse in the courtroom.  Bancroft has written three books on the subject of domestic violence and serves as a custody evaluator, child abuse investigator, and expert witness in domestic violence and child abuse cases.   According to Bancroft’s books and website, there are a few common characteristics to look for:

The batterer is controlling: he insists on having the last word in arguments and decision-making, he may control how the family’s money is spent, and he may make rules for the victim about her movements and personal contacts, such as forbidding her to use the telephone or to see certain friends.

He is manipulative: he misleads people inside and outside of the family about his abusiveness, he twists arguments around to make other people feel at fault, and he turns into a sweet, sensitive person for extended periods of time when he feels that it is in his best interest to do so. His public image usually contrasts sharply with the private reality.

He is entitled: he considers himself to have special rights and privileges not applicable to other family members. He believes that his needs should be at the center of the family’s agenda, and that everyone should focus on keeping him happy. He typically believes that it is his sole prerogative to determine when and how sexual relations will take place, and denies his partner the right to refuse (or to initiate) sex. He usually believes that housework and childcare should be done for him, and that any contributions he makes to those efforts should earn him special appreciation and deference. He is highly demanding.

He is disrespectful: he considers his partner less competent, sensitive, and intelligent than he is, often treating her as though she were an inanimate object. He communicates his sense of superiority around the house in various ways.

The unifying principle is his attitude of ownership. The batterer believes that once you are in a committed relationship with him, you belong to him. This possessiveness in batterers is the reason why killings of battered women so commonly happen when victims are attempting to leave the relationship; a batterer does not believe that his partner has the right to end a relationship until he is ready to end it.

Most abusers do not express these beliefs explicitly: they are more likely to deny having them, or even to claim to have opposite convictions that are humane and egalitarian. An experienced batterers’ counselor may have to spend several hours with the abuser before the underlying attitudes begin to show. These attitudes are generally evident to victims, however, who often feel frustrated at the batterer’s ability to present a markedly different face to the outside world. This dual aspect to his personality also helps to keep the victim confused about what he is really like, and can contribute to her blaming herself for his abusive behaviors.

Go to LundyBancroft.com to read more information on domestic violence and it’s impact on custody and court battles.  Below is the clip of the alleged rant by Mel Gibson  from the Associated Press:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJOgdKmnblA

Each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia has laws that prohibit driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or above. The laws for each state are similar, however each state does not treat a drunk driving conviction exactly the same.

The laws, penalties and fines for drunk driving are all very high in most states, and the number of deaths caused by drunk drivers each year is still significantly high.  One website offers a DUI Calculator to estimate if you are legally drunk.  Go here to use the DUI Calculator.

DUI Laws

In most states if you are convicted of drunk driving, you will be taken to jail, fined and you may have your license suspended or revoked  It is also possible that your license may be taken if you fail or refuse to take a breath or chemical test. In some states this is called an administrative license suspension that usually falls under the state’s implied consent law.

Lindsay Lohan is going to jail. The actress was found to be in violation of her probation today and she was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

The star of Mean Girls had to report to court in Los Angeles because of a missed court date in May. Lindsay was sentenced to 90 days in jail

Lindsay claimed she had lost her passport at the Cannes Film Festival and was unable to travel
back to the states to attend the court date.

Judge Marsha Revel says that Lindsay has lied about possessing drugs and drinking in the past:

“It’s like someone who cheats but doesn’t think it’s cheating if they don’t get caught.”

Group therapy is an important part of the addiction recovery process. Here are a few of our groups.

* Men’s and Women’s Group: This gender-specific group addresses the psychological issues faced in early recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. Through group discussion and structured exercises, you will gain insight into the complexities of emotional barriers and established dysfunctional behavior patterns that can prevent healthy relationships with yourself and others.
The sessions focus on overcoming stress, establishing emotional well-being.

* Education/Process Group: This group addresses issues faced in the early stages of recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. Films, and lectures, with structured exercises provide basic education that focuses on the disease of addiction and the recovery process.

* Relapse Prevention Group: This group studies the implementation of sober living, with emphasis on relapse prevention that is essential in early recovery.
* Individual Therapy: Each week you will meet with your primary counselor for individual therapy scheduled at a mutually agreed-upon time.

The Fourth of July holiday centers on drinking and parties, which is the reason that “America’s Birthday” is also one of the top relapse days for people battling drug and alcohol addiction.

It’s common for family and friends to gather on the Fourth of July for outdoor barbeques, to watch fireworks or to spend the holiday at the lake.

Amy Sheldon of Turning Point Recovery Services, says that the Fourth of July is a tough holiday for people in recovery:

This holiday is a family oriented time and there is an expectation to attend family functions. For many of our clients, family functions  often have alcohol flowing freely. We tell our clients to take extra precautions over the Fourth of July holiday, so that they don’t get themselves into a situation where they set themselves up for failure.

Sheldon says that that the post Fourth of July holiday is a time when many people get help because of a DUI or an embarrassing incident at a holiday party. Amy gives some tips to prevent relapse:

Spend part of the Fourth weekend at AA/NA event.

Host 4th of July party at your home–without alcohol.

Get together with recovering friends and family.

For more information, contact Turning Point Recovery Services 913-563-5115 or turningpointrecovery@yahoo.com

Kansas City law enforcement officers will be out in full force during the 4th of July holiday period, cracking down on drunk drivers!

Area law enforcement agencies are launching an aggressive initiative to crack down on drinking and driving called Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest enforcement blitz.

Romell Cooks, Regional Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says:

“Driving while drunk isn’t worth the tremendous risk. No matter your age, if you’ve had too much holiday spirit, you’d better find a safe and sober ride home or your chances of arrest are high.”

According to statistics, impaired driving is one of America’s deadliest problems. In 2008, 37,261 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. Out of that number 11,773 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

Traffic safety officials remind motorists that much of the tragedy from drunk driving can be prevented with a few simple precautions before going out to celebrate:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
• Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and give that person your keys;
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
• Use your community’s Sober Ride program;
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
• And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses.

Don’t let this Fourth of July blow up in your face. Remember, Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.Designate your sober driver before the parties begin.

For more information, please visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

Getting the proper assessment and the right education is a critical part of our program.

Assessment

Our Intensive Outpatient Programs begin with a comprehensive assessment to individualize your addiction treatment. This includes but are not limited to:

• Drug and Alcohol Use
• Psychological Assessment
• Family and Social Relationships
• Lifestyle Issues

Education
We provide comprehensive drug and alcohol education groups at our rehab center that include the use of lecture, videotape, group discussion and homework assignments to provide you with a forum to process many recovery issues. Our curriculum is based on current research and knowledge of addiction treatment and recovery, including . In these groups, you will learn how to overcome and heal the impact substance abuse has had on your brain and body, your emotions, your spirit, your relationships and your family.

Outpatient rehab group topics include :
* Addiction Recovery
* Relapse Prevention
* Problem Solving Skills
* Stress Management
* Relationships