Read about Senator Rockefeller's proposed legislation
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| Petition to the Government of Iran |
Physicians for Human Rights is urging the Iranian government to end the incommunicado detention of Drs. Arash Alaei and Kamiar Alaei, two Iranian physicians who have reportedly been detained in Iran by Iranian authorities. The physicians, who are brothers, were apparently arrested at the end of June, 2008 and their current whereabouts are unknown. The doctors are experts on HIV/AIDS and have worked for many years on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities in Iran and internationally. PHR calls on the government of Iran to disclose their whereabouts, provide them access to lawyers and family, and either to charge them with an internationally recognized crime or release them immediately.
Physicians for Human Rights is urging the Iranian government to end the incommunicado detention of Drs. Arash Alaei and Kamiar Alaei, two Iranian physicians who have reportedly been detained in Iran by Iranian authorities. The physicians, who are brothers, were apparently arrested at the end of June, 2008 and their current whereabouts are unknown. The doctors are experts on HIV/AIDS and have worked for many years on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities in Iran and internationally. PHR calls on the government of Iran to disclose their whereabouts, provide them access to lawyers and family, and either to charge them with an internationally recognized crime or release them immediately.
Dr. Kamiar Alaei is a doctoral candidate at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health and is expected to resume his studies there this fall. In 2007, he received Master of Science in Population and International Health from the Harvard School of Public Health.
His brother Arash is the former Director of the International Education and Research Cooperation of the Iranian National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.
Since 1998, Dr. Arash Alaei and his brother, Kamiar Alaei, have been carrying out programs dealing with HIV/AIDS, particularly focused on harm reduction for injecting drug users in the war-torn province of Kermanshah, on the West Coast of Iran.
Since 1986, the Alaei brothers have sought the integration of prevention and care of HIV/AIDS, sexually-transmitted infections, and drug-related harm reduction, into Iran's national health care system.
In addition to their work in Iran, the Alaei brothers have held training courses for Afghan and Tajik medical workers and have worked to encourage regional cooperation among 12 Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries. They were key organizers of a tri-national meeting in 2004 in Tehran to discuss harm reduction and substitution treatment in Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. At that meeting, Iran's programs proved to be inspiring role models for the region, according to medical experts who participated in the meeting. The Drs. Alaei's work has addressed the most disadvantaged populations and patients in the country.
You may access the petition at http://72.52.218.54/~iranfree/. Please sign it and distribute it broadly.
The following announcement was sent by the Canadian Harm Reduction Network.
Please visit their website, check it out and support them by becoming a member.
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(10/12/07) READ...
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
Addiction Recovery Insurance Equity Campaign
READ MORE...
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Our new Advocacy section, I am happy to say, has now grown into it's very own page!
COME CHECK IT OUT!!
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Support Full Funding for Drug Courts!
The President has requested $69.86 million for the Drug Court
Discretionary Grant Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. field. A
letter to the House Appropriations Committee in support of full
funding for drug courts has been authored by Rep. Neil Abercrombie
(D/HI) and Rep. Tom Osborne (R/NE). We are hoping to have 100
members of the House of Representatives sign this letter before it
is delivered to the House Appropriations Committee in May. We need
your help!
Please take a minute to send a letter to your Representative asking
them to sign on to this letter. NADCP is working towards a similar
letter in the U.S. Senate. After the drastic cuts in drug court
funding last year, it is more important than ever that we raise our
voices in unison!
Go to http://ga4.org/campaign/houseapprops to send your letter today.
Blueprint for the States
Policies to Improve the Ways States Organize and Deliver Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Treatment
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June 12, 2009
Patrick Kennedy temporarily leaving Hill for rehab
Posted: 09:11 AM ET
Kennedy said he is again seeking treatment for addiction.
(CNN) – Rep. Patrick Kennedy, the Rhode Island Democrat who in 2006 checked into a rehabilitation center for drug addiction following a car accident on Capitol Hill, is again seeking medical treatment.
In a statement issued by his office Friday, the son of Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy said, "I have always said that recovery is a life-long process and that I will do whatever it takes to preserve my health."
"In consultation with my doctors, I have decided to temporarily step away from my normal routine to ensure that I am being as vigilant as possible in my recovery," he said. "I hope that in some small way my decision to be proactive and public in my efforts to remain healthy can help remove the stigma that has served as a barrier for many Americans reluctant to get the help they need."
The Providence Journal reported Friday Kennedy has "entered an undisclosed medical facility for treatment."
After crashing his car into a Capitol Hill barricade in 2006, Kennedy admitted to an addiction to prescription medication and spent a month in a rehabilitation center in Minnesota.
– CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report
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by
Gary D. Helmbrecht, MD, FACOG, and Siva Thiagarajah, MD, FACOG
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GREAT update for Nepal! 
On 30th Oct 2007, Nepal witnessed a grand re-opening ceremony of Methadone Program in Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital. Amidst controversies, the opening ceremony took place in the Hospital's conference room by the hands of chief guest, Home Minister of Nepal Mr. Krishna Prasad Sitaula.
Witness to the event speculated the ceremony as a historic event taking place in a country where drug users are openly abused by law enforcement and society alike. In a country where anti choice sentiments are still very popular. During his speech the chief guest and Minister of Home Affairs, expressed human prospective towards drug use and tolerant views towards harm reduction and its tools are seen as a major steps towards embracing the humane approach towards drugs problem in Nepal. It's an achievement for drugs and HIV activist of Nepal.
Methadone distribution started from 31st of OCT 2007 with the highly recommended Social Unit operated by NGO in Teaching Hospital premises.
Greater roles of UNODC in Nepal:
The minimum service coverage of below 5 % for drug users in Nepal, Universal access to harm reduction services seems like a far fetched dream.
Recent teaming up of Drug users Network "Recovering Nepal" with UNDP and UNODC for the re-implementation of Methadone program has been encouraging to witness.
Without the support of these UN agencies, such emergency response "the re-implementation of Methadone program" would not have been impossible.
Now, the start of Methadone program and already established Buprenorphine program by Youth Vision "From Margins to Mainstream Project"; the stage has been set for scaling up of these services for wider coverage. The ultimate goal now should be set for universal access to harm reduction services for drug users.
The positive attitude towards harm reduction services by the Government has showed that the future for harm reduction services is very bright for Nepal.
Read other articles about MMT in Nepal....
"Problems in Nepal"
"Kingdom of Nepal"
*Many thanks to Bijay Pandey, a WONDERFUL advocate in Nepal, who contacted me originally and has kept me updated throughout!
Bijay Pandey
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DR. MARC!!
The 2007 American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) National Conference recognizes outstanding contributions to methadone treatment by rewarding the Nyswander/Dole Award. MSO is THRILLED to announce that OUR Dr. Marc will be a recipient this time! Dr. Marc Kleinman, Regional Administrator/Clinical Director for Operation PAR clinics in Florida, is a PhD in Clinical Psychology and has worked with Methadone patients for over 30 years. Since we opened our doors here at MSO he has taken time out of his crazy, busy schedule to come here and operate his Real Deal forum ...where he has answered questions and given support to so many. He is also on our Board of Advisors and Directors.
Dr. Kleinman has been instrumental in establishing Methadone Anonymous (MA) groups throughout Florida . He is a member of the Addiction Consult Team for Hospice in South Florida and provides regular training to law enforcement and child protective services investigators. He is my mentor, at the top of my personal hero list, and I am honored to call him "friend".
At each AATOD conference, the award recipients are nominated and selected by their peers for extraordinary service in the opioid treatment community. These successful Award recipients have devoted themselves to improving the lives of patients in our treatment system. Dr. Vincent Dole and Dr. Marie Nyswander were the first recipients of this Award in 1983. The Association has been responsible for bestowing this honor since the first Regional Conference of 1984 in New York .
It is a great honor that this time the Nyswander / Dole “Marie” Awards will be presented by the children of Dr. Vincent Dole -- Vincent Dole III, Susan Dole and Bruce Dole.
Thanks for all you do, Dr. Marc... and...
Congratulations!!
*Come read the interview with Dr. Marc!*
Unfortunately, Dr. Marc was very sick with cancer and passed away at the end of July, 2008.
Please stop by his Memorial Page and sign the condolence book.
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FEBRUARY 22, 2007
CONTACT: Mark Parrino
Dan McGill
METHADONE TREATMENT:
MEDICINE SAVING LIVES, NOT ENDING THEM
Recent headlines involving celebrities and methadone misuse unfairly undermine the long term safety and benefit of this life-saving medication in treating opioid addiction and reinforce negative public perceptions regarding methadone treatment.
The recent article in USA Today and numerous features in local and national media outlets have focused on the negative outcomes of the misuse of opioids by individuals who are not participating in supervised opioid treatment programs. While some reports do acknowledge the legitimate use of methadone in treating addiction, such references are often marginal. Unsupervised prescription and use of methadone for pain management that puts pills in the hands of uninformed patients, is completely different from the supervised and individualized approach that is practiced in medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction.
Numerous scientific studies and evidence-based practices have shown conclusively that methadone, buprenorphrine and other federally-approved opioids have proven to be successful treatment options when used appropriately in clinically-approved settings where medication is monitored by licensed professionals, Mark Parrino, President of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD), stated. However, the unsupervised use of methadone or other opioids for pain management, obtained illegally or from physicians not specially trained in the use of these medicines, can result in the negative outcomes which surface in the headlines.
AATOD has called for a coordinated national response to reports of methadone associated deaths in line with the recommendations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Report of February 2004. This landmark Report, prepared by a panel of federal and state officials and experts in the treatment of addictions, concluded that health professionals need better training in addressing pain and addiction and highlighted the need to develop a uniform definition in determining cases of drug-related mortalities. AATOD asserts that it is time to move these recommendations forward.
The truth is that medication assisted treatment helps individuals end the cycle of addiction and its associated destructive behaviors reuniting families and enabling patients to become independent and productive members of their communities, Dan McGill, AATOD Public Relations Committee Chair, noted. AATOD encourages and welcomes inquiries from all media outlets to focus on the positive role of medication assisted treatment in the practice of medicine and treatment of addiction.
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A very familiar name to this organization/website is Sharon Dembinski. Sharon is our pregnancy guru and my personal hero, but in case you're one of the few that has not seen or heard me telling the world about Sharon......she is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, NAMA Certified Methadone Advocate and Lead Developer of the Program "Mother's on Methadone" (MOM) at Kent Hospital in Rhode Island. .....as well as practices at the Discovery House clinics also in Rhode Island in her "spare" time! She also has our Methadone Pregnancy Info and Support page here at the website. Yikes.....did someone say "spare time", lol???
That being said.....on with the alert. Sharon recently discovered an error in TIP 43 on morphine dosing for the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). She alerted CSAT one month ago to this potential danger and the following is their response/alert. I would also like to take this opportunity to once again thank Sharon for her hard work ......making this her life's passion! Had Sharon not found this error....or....."typo" infant's lives could have been lost. THANK YOU, SHARON!!!
READ ALERT!!
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