Former drug addict helps others using his experience, yerba mate company

Addiction can turn life upside down. In most cases, people fall into destruction because of it. However, there are also those people who admit their addiction, yet they took the courage to seek help and get out of it. In fact, there are those who serve as an inspiration to others, setting as an example and helping them better understand the effects of drugs and how it can change one’s life.

Five years ago, Wes Hurt struggled with addictions to cocaine, opiates, and alcohol. Today, he runs a company that helps others recovering from addiction. In 2014, Hurt founded CLEAN Cause, an Austin-based yerba mate tea company, to help people recovering from addiction by allocating 50% of profits to sober-living scholarships. He said he not only wanted to be an entrepreneur but also have an impact.

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Hurt said his addiction started in high school, when he began experimenting with drugs and alcohol. In the span of 20 years, Hurt went to six rehabilitation centers and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. After realizing he was truly hooked, Hurt said he continued postponing the recovery process like a New Year’s resolution.

“That was one of my more difficult realizations about my life,” Hurt said. “I knew there was going to be a long battle back.”

It wasn’t until Hurt was dismissed from his former company, had no money left and lived in a warehouse after his wife kicked him out that he realized he wanted to change.

“CLEAN is the product of that extremism in a healthier way,” Hurt said. “It speaks to something bigger, which was an explicit purpose in life that gave my actions reasons (to fight) for recovery.”

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Recovering addict shares her story with local opioid council

The availability of drug addiction treatment centers and the many initiatives led by the government and different organizations have helped many people who are abusing drugs. Although the problem with drugs still exist and the number of users is increasing, if there is one good thing about, it’s the fact that there are many of them who are also trying their best to quit and live a new life. Many of these recovery addicts also share their stories to inspire others.

At 27, “Hope” found herself serving three years in prison after a stint of abusing prescription drugs and later addiction to heroin. She said she started abusing drugs because of the trauma she experienced as a teenager. Unsure about how to cope, she turned to drugs. “I wasn’t addicted to the drug. I was addicted to the numbing,” she said. “I wasn’t using to feel something. I was using to not feel.”

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The Madison County resident grew up in what she described as a “very loving, Christian home.” She attended a Christian academy and went to college. At 16, she was raped and Hope said she didn’t know how to handle the shame she felt. She said her lack of self-worth led her to stay in a mentally abusive relationship, which created more trauma. She said getting “mixed in with the wrong crowd” also contributed to her abuse of drugs.

Following a car accident, Hope began abusing prescription pills. Two years later, she transitioned into using heroin. While Hope stopped using drugs while she was pregnant, she said her inability to cope with pain led her back to using drugs.

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Project Turnabout makes progress in overcoming addiction

So many initiatives have been made possible with a goal of overcoming or ending the problem with drug addiction. Through the years, solving this dilemma has been so challenging. It seems like each year, it is getting worse and the number of people getting affected by it is constantly increasing. Good thing that there are organizations that are trying their best to put an end to this problem. Just like Project Turnabout that is making a lot of progress in overcoming addiction.

In 2018, Project Turnabout released a book reflecting on the history of our organization. The motivation for this book was based on the belief that who we are today is founded by those that came before us. We wanted to recognize the staff members who have impacted the organization over the years and decided the names and positions be listed together in no order or hierarchy.

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In putting together this history book, information was gathered from past and present Board members, a myriad of people who received our services over the years, and interviews with current and former staff, including the late Bruce Bottge, whose notes were especially helpful. We knew to go in that this was not going to sell a large number of copies – that was not our intention. Our intent was to record and share the paths we have traveled and lessons learned with future staff, Board members, and other interested parties.

What stood out through the creation of this book was the strength of the organization in its ability to stay focused on the mission while continually adapting, improving, growing, and expanding our services. (Special thanks to the Granite Falls, Marshall, Redwood Falls, and Willmar communities over the years who have supported us.) The past year has been one of transition for us and a time to examine how we do things given our growth and size.

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Aspen family faces 41 counts related to drugs, underage alcohol

There have been countless times when a person’s life has been put to danger because of drugs. Indeed, the substance can affect one’s life. However, there are also instances when the use of drugs is not entirely because of the person’s will. Perhaps, he just got caught up in a situation. Just like with what happened to Aspen family who hosted parties for high school students where, according to police, cocaine and alcohol were freely provided.

Joseph Lipsey III, 56, who faces 16 charges, has hired attorneys Yale Galanter of Miami and Richard Cummins of Aspen. Galanter has represented O.J. Simpson and, closer to home, actor Charlie Sheen and his then-wife in Aspen-based cases.

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The charges filed, according to deputy district attorney Don Nottingham, are for Lipsey III: one count of distribution of cocaine, 11 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and one count of possession of cocaine, which are all felonies. He also faces three misdemeanor counts of providing alcohol to minors.

His wife, Shira, is charged with cocaine distribution, 11 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and three misdemeanor counts of providing alcohol to minors.

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Study finds alcohol and drug treatment may be best served at home

For so many years now, treating alcohol and drug addiction has always been a challenge. The sad thing is, the problem is getting worse each day before one gets solved. So many treatments have become available but only a few have been successful. On the other hand, although treatment is available, not all people who are using drugs are willing to seek help.

Now, here is a study that found that alcohol and drug treatment may be best served at home. Offering withdrawal services to certain people struggling with alcohol and other drug addictions in their own home may serve as an acceptable and less expensive treatment option, research led by Curtin University has found.

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he paper, published in the Australian Journal of Primary Health today, examined the costs and effectiveness of home-based drug and alcohol detoxification services run by the Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Network (DAWN) in the Perth metropolitan area, based at St John of God Subiaco Hospital and funded through the Mental Health Commission.

Lead author Mr. Cameron Wright, from the School of Public Health at Curtin University, said the research offered valuable information at a crucial time when demand for drug and alcohol treatment services was outstripping the supply of such services across Australia.

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No quick solutions to drug problem, ex police chief says

When it comes to the problems that the world is facing right now, one thing is for sure, the drug problem is not going to end sometime soon. This is because it has become so serious that fighting or putting an end to it will not come easy. This is a reality that everyone should acknowledge, yet it should not discourage them from taking steps to solve the problem and save lives. We just have to acknowledge the problem so we can come up with solutions on how to solve it.

Communities are being blighted by “misery and harm” caused by drug dealers despite a major sting in north Wales, says former police chief. Clive Wolfendale, who now leads a drugs charity, was speaking after a gang boss was jailed for 10 years last Friday. Aled Gray, 35, was the last among 27 people sentenced after North Wales Police targeted two gangs working in a multi-million pound “consortium”.

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CPS Wales said the operation was a “big step” forward but the fight continued.

Mr Wolfendale, chief executive of CAIS Drug and Alcohol Counselling, said there were no “easy or quick solutions”.

“It is imperative that those who trade in the misery of drug addiction are brought to justice, with the full force of the law,” he said.

“They should be made to pay by all means possible. However, individuals and communities in north Wales continue to be blighted.”

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Penn Highlands Healthcare offers drug addiction treatments

Treatment for drug addiction is a must today. There are now so many people who are abusing drugs and this had led to more health problems that put the lives of people at risk. Aside from this, addiction to drugs can lead to more crimes that can endanger people. An addiction treatment center is so important so people can always seek help and recover from their addiction.

In Pennsylvania, is offering drug addiction treatment that aims to help people who are suffering from drug addiction. In December, the U.S. opioid crisis was reported as the top health story of 2018. The number of opioid-related deaths and suffering across the nation prompted the White House to declare a “Public Health Emergency” and Pennsylvania to issue a statewide “Public Health Disaster Declaration.” Especially hard-hit are rural communities.

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Opioids are a class of drugs used to reduce pain. They include prescriptions, such as OxyContin, Vicodin and morphine; fentanyl and heroin.

Often viewed as an urban problem, the numbers reveal a devastating phenomenon –starting in 2006, rural rates of fatal drug overdoses surpassed those of urban areas. The statistics are alarming. Even more alarming, was the news that the crisis had made its way into our own neighborhoods, having devastating consequences.

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