Just how do we recover from drug addiction?

Given the number of people out there who suffer from drug addiction the question of how we (or anyone) recovers from it is really rather important. Addiction (to anything, to alcohol, drugs or other life destroying things) exacts such a human toll that we of course want to find out what is the best drug treatment. The problem we've found is that it's actually both hard and highly variable.

Clearly and obviously the most important point is to stop the addiction itself: but that isn't all. For there may well be an underlying problem which leads to the propensity for addiction: if we don't solve that deeper problem then we're not going to solve the addiction in the long term. This is the practice of "dual diagnosis" and it's becoming very influential. So drug treatment is now a great deal more than simply the weaning off of whatever poison it is that is addicted to.

We also know that different people react better to different treatments: what works for one crystal meth user might work for a prescription painkiller user, but not for another crystal meth user. So we have entirely medically supervised drug treatment plans, more therapy based one, even the AA's old 12 step plan is still useful for many.

What this means is that any center for treatment needs to be multi-disciplinary and able to offer the individual the treatment that works best for them: not simply applying a checklist to all. And that's where the Pat Moore Foundation scores so well, being able to offer all of the potentially successful treatments under one roof. Click through any of the links for further details.

The Yankees parade 2009

Well, since they've gone and done it there will be the Yankees parade for 2009 on Friday.

As is traditional in these things, when the Yankees win the World Series, as they did last night, there will be a victory parade through lower Manhattan. The Yankees parade 2009 (to distinguish it from the other years in which the Yankees have won the World Series) will take place on Friday starting at 11 am.

The Yankees parade will go through the Canyon of Heroes (of course!) and then moves on in stages to City Hall.

We assume that, if people still actually have ticker tape (and if modern windows can in fact be opened) that there will be ticker tape thrown over the Yankees parade as it passes.

Tom and Katie

Head over here for stories about Katie Holmes. It's a blog dedicated to offering news about Katie Holmes....if that's what you want that's what you're going to get over there.

For example, this post on whether there are problems in Tom And Katie's marriage.

Or, if your prefer, this one with news reports from Katie Holmes' marriage.

USB Gadgetry

The things people will think up. OK, so USB ports provide a power supply to all sorts of things (as well as providing a connection of course.

So, people are starting to make all sorts of odd bits and bobs of machinery to add to them..

Like this USB Missile Launcher.

Yes, go on, you know you want one.

Well, at least they believe in privacy

Would that our own rulers thought the same:

Plans to urge Japanese mothers to breast-feed and sing lullabies to their babies and for families to turn off the TV during meals have been scrapped, Kyodo news agency reported.

Mothers were urged to look into their baby's eyes while breast-feeding in a draft of a report by a government panel that was due out this week.

It had also warned that the Internet and mobile phones give children a "direct connection with the evils of the world."

But the release of the report by an education reform panel was called off at the last minute in an apparent response to criticism that it went too far in meddling with people's private lives, Kyodo reported.

To be honest, I can't think of anything that our current lot wouldn't do for reasons of privacy.

Nice Ringtones Site

"Ringtones are undoubtedly one of the most popular features that somebody can download from the net. While searching for Ringtones I found a very cool site. GoldRingtone.com is the best site to download free ringtones without restrictions. The information mail I received from the site says that the database is enriched with new ringtones every week. I decided to test it and download some ringtones (Rihanna’s Unfaithull is cool) and it works just fine.

I have to notice that the site offers free free MP3 Ringtones, Real Tones, Midi Ringtones. Every carrier is available. Get free Cingular Ringtones and free Sprint Ringtones.

Besides the site has an informative blog for mobile phones and a page dedicated to the famous Mosquito Ringtones. Do you know what a mosquito ringtone is? It is the new, cool weapon that children use in order to receive a call or an sms without being noticeable from the adults. This is due to the fact that the adults can’t hear some high frequency sounds.

Well, I suppose that Goldringtone is the ideal site for someone who wants to download one or more free ringtones, easily.

Anna Nicole Smith: Ordering Drugs.

Yup, Anna Niclole Smith used her PA to order the drugs for her.

How many and how much? That’s what people want to know about Anna Nicole Smith’s drug usage. That, and how it might affect her baby daughter, Dannielynn.

A fax obtained exclusively by this column may shed some light on the still mysterious death of the modern-day pin-up model who accomplished nothing so much as getting the most publicity possible for the fewest achievements.

The fax was written and sent by Khristine Eroshevich, Smith’s personal psychiatrist and, since her death, “best friend.”

It’s a request for a laundry list of drugs that Eroshevich wanted sent to the Bahamas by courier for “M. Chase,” the pseudonym Smith used to obtain drugs.

Eroshevich sent the fax on Sept. 15, 2006, a week after the baby was born and five days after Daniel’s death.

At first she sent it from the Bahamas to Sandeep Kapoor, the Los Angeles physician who treated Smith under the pseudonym “Michelle Chase.”

When Kapoor refused to fill the prescriptions, sources say, Eroshevich sent the request directly to Key Pharmacy in North Hollywood, Calif. It was also refused there.

The doctor wrote the fax in her own hand and added a note at the bottom: “You have my local number here. Please call if half of the amounts can be prepared, I’ll have someone take them to a courier to bring to me and he can [illegible] Fedex the rest, except for the Intensol, which has to be on ice.”

She signed it “Kris,” even though it seemed from the fax that she didn’t actually know Kapoor.

One pharmacist, to whom I read this list, noted that all the dosages requested were much higher than usual.

“That’s 12 times the amount of Dalmane. All together, these drugs potentially will kill you. I would have refused to fill the order.”

All of the drugs carry warnings for pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding especially not to take them.

Thing is though, at least we know she was using prescription drugs, right?

A Non-Royal Grandchild

Looks like Camilla Parker Bowles is going to be a grandmother:

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are said to be ecstatic at the news that they are to become grandparents.
The duchess' son Tom Parker Bowles told the Mail on Sunday newspaper his wife Sara Buys is three months pregnant with their first child.
According to friends, Prince Charles is looking forward to becoming a grandfather.
Mr Parker Bowles, 32, said everyone was thrilled with the news.
"We have told our friends and family and they are all delighted," he said.
"Mummy is absolutely over the moon at the prospect of becoming a grandmother.
"Sara is going for another scan next week and we're hoping everything will be fine. I'm very excited and honestly don't mind if it's a boy or a girl, as long as the baby is healthy."
Ms Buys, a 34-year-old fashion journalist, said they would like to have another child.
"I've been very lucky so far. I haven't had any of the pregnancy horrors some of my friends have been through - and I haven't had any unusual food cravings.
"I'm only just beginning to show. I'm wearing lots of baggy clothes and I'm looking forward to maternity shopping.
"I think Tom and I would ultimately like to have two, but at the moment I'm just trying to get my head round this one."
Mr Parker Bowles, a food writer, is Camilla's son from her first marriage and is Prince Charles' godson.

Yes, we know she's Duchess of Cornwall but no, the child gets no title.