Budget Omits Grants For Drug Pogram
TODAY
WASHINGTON — President Obama’s first budget proposes to end state grants for school drug programs that he and Vice President Biden fought for as senators.
Last year, when President Bush asked Congress to stop funding the grants under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program, Obama, Biden and 35 other senators protested. They signed a letter calling it “the backbone of youth drug prevention” that was “making a difference” for 37 million children. They signed similar letters in 2006 and 2007.
Obama’s budget calls the program “poorly designed” and cites a 2001 study by the RAND Drug Policy Research Center that found it “profoundly flawed.”
The grants are too small to be effective, says William Modzeleski, head of the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools in the Education Department. More than half the recipients get less than $10,000, he says.
Funding has declined since 2003, when Congress allotted $472 million for the grants. In 2006 and 2007, Bush proposed cutting out the program but Congress allotted $346.5 million each year. Last year, Bush requested $100 million; Congress nearly tripled it to $295 million.
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“The inherent flaw in these state grants is it tries to do too much with too little,” Modzeleski says
This story is alarming when the facts are looked at prevention is anecessary tool to crub drug abuse Senator Obama,understood this but Prisedent Obama does not.
Newport New Drug Court Offers New Beginnings!
On yesterday we posted about the nation’s Drug Czar plans to double budget for Drug court funding,today we will take a look at some of the results of one Drug court in Newport News Virginia. The article tells the story of Tyra Gomesalong with ten others that graduadted. I had to fight back tears reading there story its much like my own,only I did not go to drug court but I have recovered so I know the joy and the sorrow.
At the lowest point of her addiction to drugs, Tyra Gomes sold her body for 40 bucks.
Her addiction made her justify cashing stolen checks for her drug dealer. It was worth the quick fix. It was worth the high. Her love for cocaine, crack, marijuana and alcohol almost stole her life.
Gomes, 30, has stepped out of the fog of addiction and has been sober for 18 months. She and 10 others graduated from the Newport News Drug Treatment Court Program Friday afternoon inside the City Council chambers.
“You have to figure out what you really want,” Gomes said. “Do you really want to live like this for the rest of your life?”
Gomes is now in school to become a social worker and wants to eventually counsel drug addicted women in prison.
The program started in 1998 through a federal grant. Participants, who must meet a set of goals to graduate, go through weekly to monthly court appearances, drug testing and group therapy. Between $3,000 and $5,000 is spent on each participant. This is the program’s 10th graduating class.
Circuit Court Judge Timothy Fisher told the graduates there is one goal of the drug court program: “To make you a normal and ordinary person — not a superstar, but just like everyone else.”
Sen. John Miller was the keynote speaker.
“You have faced things that many in this room have not, and had they faced them, may have not been able to overcome them,” Miller said. “You are the reason you are here. You are the reason you are graduating.”
The road of recovery is not over for the graduates. They are required to check in once a month for six months to a year, according to program administrator John Haywood.
The participants must also demonstrate financial responsibility.
“All of our drug court participants must be employed and save 10 percent of their salaries and have a steady place to live,” said Haywood, who said none of last year’s graduates have relapsed.
When graduate Teresa Williams entered the program in 2006 she’d used crack cocaine for 13 years. She hasn’t used drugs in 772 days.
“I have so many more options in life,” said Williams, who plans to pursue a nursing degree. “There’s nothing I’m not capable of accomplishing in my life.”
Ronald Haggar has been clean for 866 days — almost two and a half years. His mother, Miriam Little, spoke during the graduation.
“Inspite of all of this I’ve learned the term ‘tough love,’” she said. “He’s gone from being homeless to having a I’home and taking responsibility… . He was determined that he would graduate and so you have,” she said, looking at him.
Shortly after his mother spoke Haggar accepted his certificate. Still moved by his mother’s remarks he wept for a moment at the podium. Then he regained his composure.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “But it’s here.”
Reading this at my desk this morning bought me to tears because I relate to there story thats why I do this day end and day out.I believe and promote recovery.Because Recovery Is Possible All Day Every Day,at williamjordandirect we are fghting to keep the war on drugs alive that’s the purpose of this blog every day we hope to bring attention to drug abuse and whats a stake a life one life at a time we can win the drug war.
Source Chicago Tribune .com
Author Ashely Kelly
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Is Now One of Top American Health Promblem
If there was a disease suffered by one out of every ten Americans over twelve years of age,wouldn’t you agree that this disease was raging out of control.Look no futher that’s the case with drug abuse and dependence. When I sat at my desk this morning this headline met my eyes at williamjordandirect where recovery is possible all day everyday we look to keep America informed on abuse issues.
We fee that the fight aginst drugs in America is at stake,its not time to give up we believe that a new approach is necessary to combat drugs in America.We have call for a three point approach,education prevention,and treatment.
Source Pk urgent
Affects of Drug Abuse World Wide
According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, Cocaine was involved in over 380,000 emergency room visits in 2004 alone. Cocaine is extremely potent, whether taken in powder or the crack forms. Mild symptoms include increased heart rate, sleep disorders and convulsions. Snorting the drug can permanently damage nasal tissue. Cocaine interferes with brain processes, can cause heart attacks, seizures and strokes. Even first time use can cause fatal heart attacks. For those it doesn”t kill, the addiction can easily lead to habits that require thousands of dollars a week to support. Cocaine also has severe effects on the unborn. This can start at underweight babies or pre-term labor on up to miscarriage. Cocaine can cause placental wall tearing, losing the attachment to the uterus. This can kill mother and baby at birth if not detected in time. If the baby survives birth, cocaine can lead to strokes, heart attacks, urinary infections and heart defects. While it appears many babies exposed to cocaine use in the womb can eventually recover, it also appears that this doubles their chances of developmental delays.
According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, Heroin was involved in over 160,000 emergency room visits in 2004 alone. Heroin suppresses the central nervous system, resulting in poor mental functioning, and can even suppress the autonomic functions to the point of respiratory failure. Chronic use damages the heart, liver and circulatory system and increases the risk of pulmonary issues such as pneumonia. Heroin abusers generally use injections, with associated infection risk including HIV. Additionally, the drug is often mixed with other chemicals to allow a given quantity to result in more sales, so strength is always unknown and poisons have been used to stretch the drug supply. Children who were exposed to heroin before birth will go through horrible withdrawal symptoms after birth, and have ten times the chance of dying of SIDS. Developmental slowdowns are also possible.
According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, Methamphetamine was involved in over 70,000 emergency room visits in 2004 alone. Amphetamines, including the club drug Ecstasy, can cause psychotic behavior and brain damage. This includes hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia and can lead to homicidal or suicidal thoughts. Physical effects are similar to Alzheimer”s and strokes. Ecstasy in particular can lead to kidney damage and memory loss, though long term human studies are still inconclusive. For the unborn, risks include clubfoot, cleft palates, heart and limb defects, retarded development and maternal bleeding. Babies can go through withdrawal symptoms, but long term studies are still underway to identify long term prices.
Opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the view of Relapse Prevention Texas / Sitemap which the author would like for you to visit.
Source Real World Health Effects Of Illegal Drugs.
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