Advisory Council Hard At Work!

Some People Who Really Make a Difference...

The 2009 Recovery Walk volunteers this year are an awesome bunch! We have only 2 more meetings before the Walk and there is still so much to do!

Take Care of Yourself...

Affordable massage with excellent service. Tim offers a variety of massage. He is located in Concord and can be reached at 925-407-6906 or www.serenitysessions.com.

Baby Boomers & Drugs...

Illicit Drug Use Rising Among Those in their 50s
August 20, 2009
www.jointogether.org

As baby boomers pass the half-century mark, many are celebrating with more than cake and ice cream: use of illicit drugs among 50- to 59-year-olds has nearly doubled during the past five years, according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The report, An Examination of Trends in Illicit Drug Use among Adults Aged 50 to 59 in the United States (PDF), found that past-year drug use among this age group increased from 5.1 percent in 2002 to 9.4 percent in 2007. SAMHSA officials attributed the increase to more Baby Boomers entering their 50s and continuing their patterns of illicit-drug consumption.

"These findings show that many in the Woodstock generation continue to use illicit drugs as they age," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick. "This continued use poses medical risks to these individuals and is likely to put further strains on the nation's health-care system -- highlighting the value of preventing drug use from ever starting."

Irritating Things Sponsors Say...

"You alone can do it, but you can't do it alone."

Buddhism/12 Step Retreat with Kevin Griffin

There is still space for the Buddhism/12 Step Retreat September 23-27 in Northern California. The retreat blends intensive, silent meditation, with interactive 12 Step work. Kevin's colleague, Heather Sundberg, will offer a depth of experience in Buddhist practice and in recovery. There will be detailed meditation guidance, teachings on connecting Buddhism and recovery, group work, and personal interviews with the teachers. Each evening after the dharma talk, they will conclude with an open 12 Step meeting.

The setting, the Vajrapani Institute, is in a beautiful redwood forest in the coastal mountains above Santa Cruz. If you are interested in deepening your meditation practice and gaining new perspective and tools for recovery, this is a unique opportunity.

Standard dorm accommodations, including meals, cost $350. A few single rooms are available.

To register or for more information, contact Quilley Powers: quilley@yahoo.com. The flier is also available on his website, www.kevingriffin.net.

If you have any other questions, feel free to write Kevin at kevgriffin2@comcast.net.

Your Help is Needed Today! CUT PRISON SPENDING!

Dear friends,

The California Legislature is expected to vote TODAY – Thursday, August 20 – on a plan to protect public safety and cut prison spending (so they don't take those cuts out of education, poison control or other essential services).

THE VOTE IS CLOSE – I NEED YOUR HELP TODAY!  IT'S NOW OR NEVER!

Just make one call! Here’s how:

Step 1: Get your California legislators' phone numbers here: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Step 2: Dial your state Assemblymember's and Senator's number...

Step 3: Tell the person who answers the phone 1) your name, 2) that you are a constituent, and 3) that you want them to VOTE "YES" TODAY TO MAKE SAFE CUTS TO PRISON SPENDING so we don’t have any more cuts to essential programs!

Step 4: Ask 5 (or more) friends to do the same!

Step 5: Let me know how your phone calls went!

If enough of us call we can make this happen. We have just one day to tell our representatives to DO THE RIGHT THING!!

MAKE SMART CUTS TO PRISONS, NOT EDUCATION, AND PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY.

Thank you!!!

Best, Margaret
Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, Deputy State Director, Southern California
Drug Policy Alliance

3470 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 618, Los Angeles, CA 90010

Phone: 213 291 4190 ❙ Fax: 213 382 6425 ❙ Email: msammuli@drugpolicy.org

Reason. Compassion. Justice.

Become a member of Drug Policy Alliance

They're Up To Mischief!!

CFR Chaplain (in the middle) of a couple of Fresh Start Alumni.

Walnut Creek Bans "Pot Clubs"

I read this on Claycord.com. Posted by the Mayor on 8/18/09:

Today, at 8 o'clock this morning, the Walnut Creek City Council passed an emergency moratorium which bans medical marijuana dispensaries for the next 45-days.

This "emergency" action came after a group who calls themselves "C3 Collective" filed a request to create a dispensary at 1291 Oakland Boulevard. The group, which already operates a yoga and acupuncture center at the location, wanted to be able to add the sale of marijuana as an option to some of the patients they treat.

Councilman Bob Simmons was the only one on the council to vote against the emergency moratorium.

The City of Walnut Creek will address this issue once again during the council's regularly scheduled meeting on September 15th.

John Muir Supports the Recovery Walk!

Center for Recovery is donating the money for the RW t-shirts! That's alot of money. The Program Director, Nina (seated on the right), along with Counselors Robert, Cindy, and Jann make up a great team of people who have helped thousands of addicts.

The Old Spaghetti Factory Rocks!!

We had lunch today at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Concord and met with the General Manager. She's the one who is allowing 15% of all dinners they sell on WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9th, 2009 from 5:00pm to 9:30pm to go to the Recovery Walk. So, please join us for a night of good food, fellowship, and fun. Since becoming the GM, Heather has helped different groups raise money for their communities and we really appreciate what she's doing for us! The address is 1955 Mt. Diablo St., Concord, CA. Phone is 925-687-5030. YAY Heather!!

Check It Out...

Spiders on Drugs

Recovery Walk Planning Meeting

Join us at Center for Recovery, 2730 Grant St., Concord, Classroom B for the next Recovery Walk Planning Meeting. 6pm to 7pm.

Prop 36 Funding Cuts

I think it is so terrible that addicts and alcoholics are receiving yet another blow by the 90 million dollar cut in Prop 36 funding. These cuts are so devastating that the survival of some of our programs that are already underfunded will be forced to shut down some or all of their services. We need to send the message that this is not acceptable to the recovering community. What should we do about this? Who else is mad about this?

Our Biggest Recovery Walk Supporters

Every volunteer is important for the success of the Recovery Walk. This year, the S4R Board of Director's would like to especially thank our biggest supporters. They are The Old Spaghetti Factory, John Muir Behavioral Health Center for Recovery and Kinder's.

From 5:00pm to 9:30pm on September 9th, The Old Spaghetti Factory will be donating 15% of their sales to our event! Tell everyone you know! Not only is the food good, the prices are very reasonable. Bring the family. Bring your friends and neighbors too! They are also open for lunch.The address is: 1955 Mount Diablo St, Concord. Right across the street from Todos Santos Park.

As in every year, Center for Recovery is donating the t-shirts that will be given out at the Recovery Walk. Kinder's, for the second year in a row, has supported us with giving out free food at the Recovery Walk.

Just think...if you ever need to go to rehab, you could eat really well...

Welcome!

Welcome to our blog! This is an exciting time for S4R. We have 13 people on our Advisory Council, a few projects in the works (the biggest being the Recovery Walk), and many dedicated volunteers who take part in our success. Our other projects include Support a Counselor and Dress for Success. More info on both of those to come. If you want to do some fun service, go to support4recovery.org and fill out the form to join our Advisory Council.