A newly proposed tax bill in West Virginia that would tax a dollar to treatment centers for every dose of methadone distributed to recovering addicts is being met with mixed emotions by the drug rehabilitation community for various reasons. Recovering addicts are skeptical about the newly proposed bill because they feel that the tax will be passed on to them by the treatment centers. Additionally, recovering addicts are arguing that the bill is discriminating against them because it does not tax non-addicts who are taking methadone for pain treatment.
On the other hand, the bill is designed to collect 1.5 million dollars to be used mainly for heroine prevention programs state wide and general drug intervention and recovery programs for addicts. The legislators who created the bill argue that there are plenty of methadone treatment clinics for recovering addicts but not enough long-term, in-patient recovery programs. This is much due to funding issues in the state’s budget.
As of now, there are seven major methadone clinics in West Virginia that are owned by the CRC Health Group, a California-based company. The CRC owned clinics have also met the bill with opposition, arguing that they spend millions of dollars a year for community prevention and recovery programs and that the tax would only affect them negatively. Nonetheless, state-law-makers argue that there just isn’t enough aid available to recovering addicts and more must be done to try and solve the state’s epidemic of opiate addictions.
Though National Recovery Month is officially in September, the organization’s mission statement clearly notes that the aim is to keep people informed about addiction and methods of recovery year-round. The initiative, known as the National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), was founded in 1991 by a federal mandate and is sponsored by addiction recovery groups, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).
The central theme of National Recovery Month changes every year. For example, the 2000 theme was “Recovering Our Future: One Youth at a Time”; and in 2008, it was “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.” 2009 will mark the 20th year anniversary of the National Recovery Month, and the initiative openly invites people in the community to take part. It does so, by encouraging individuals to download the toolkit from the website http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2009/default.aspx and actively participate in organizing coalitions, events, and spreading the news via media releases. Additionally, the website is full of resources for people seeking addiction recovery help, including recovery organizations’ phone numbers, websites, and events/meeting calendars.
In the linked video, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx discusses the importance of National Addiction Recovery Month and the pivotal part it plays in addiction disease recovery in the U.S. Nikki Sixx notes how key political figures like congress men and senators called him and invited him to take part. Speaking of himself and the great opportunities that National Recovery Month has to offer, Nikki Sixx notes in the video: “Whoever thought that an ex-heroine addict would write a book and then write an album with two of his best friends and we’d be on tour, and you know my phone would ring and you know, it’s a specific high level congressman or congresswoman calling me and asking my opinion on how to get the message out there for National Recovery Month. It’s blowing my mind.”
For some people, there comes a time in their lives when they may ask themselves, Am I addicted to narcotics? The question seems simple enough. Yet, the process that it takes to come up with a just and honest answer takes courage and the willingness to admit one’s faults.
At InTheRooms.com, they’ve developed one of the most comprehensive surveys online. The InTheRooms.com survey can help you answer the question, Am I addicted to narcotics? Admitting that you have a problem with alcohol abuse is one of the first steps towards recovery. At InTheRooms.com, you can find individuals, just like you, that are looking for support and someone to talk to.
Am I Addicted to Narcotics?
Take this brief survey to learn more about yourself. Take Survey Now
Whether or not you are an addict is a question that only you can answer. However, InTheRooms.com hopes to help those suffering from an addiction to narcotics, or those who feel they may be prone narcotic addiction, by providing them with these valuable surveys.
If you want to find the answer to the question, Am I addicted to narcotics?, simply click on the “Take Survey Now” icon in this article. It’ll take you to the interactive survey at InTheRooms.com. Afterwards, feel free to take part in any one of our other surveys and join the #1 recovery community online, www.InTheRooms.com.
Here at TheNABlog.com, we are always happy to share true stories of addiction from the people who lived through them. In this short essay, an anonymous contributor describes what recovery means to him or her:
I’m not one for words and talking about my recovery don’t come easy. I lived life hard for many years and life rode me hard right back.
If it got me a high, I did it. I stole, I lied, I cheated to get me that next fix so I could stop being sick. I did jail time, I was homeless and I became like this other person that would stare back at me from bathroom mirrors or the car windows to see what I was really on the insides.
I’ve been clean and sober for five years now. Some people think that don’t say much but any addict can tell you it aint easy. I struggle every day but I never struggle alone! It took me a hell of a long time to get to the place where I am now and I fight every day never to go backwards. One of my counselors suggested I keep a journal to help me get down on paper what I was feeling when I was getting myself clean.
I still keep a journal to this day but one of the first entries I ever wrote is with me everyday in my pocket. The title is RECOVERY. It reminds me of the strength we each have inside even if there are days when we dont always feel strong.
- Respect
- Effort
- Contemplate
- Overcome
- Vindication
- Everyday
- Responsibility
- You can do it
In my meditation class at rehab I learned to concentrate on the words and I repeat them in my mind every single time I want a drink. It’s a powerful exercise for your spirit and it’s these kinds of things you can learn in recovery once you get yourself a good support system going. Now with the internet its easy to do. Signup, get help, be strong!
