Narconon would like to remind families that the use of addicting drugs is on the rise, take steps to protect your family from drug use. If you know anyone who is struggling with drug addiction get them the help they need.

Call for a free brochure on the signs of addiction for all drugs. Narconon also offers free screenings and referrals.  800-431-1754 or www.drugabusesolution.com.

ADDICTION COUNSELING

Narconon can help you take steps to overcome addiction in your family.  Call today for free screenings or referrals.   800-431-1754

Visiting Angels protects seniors with “Fight the Flu Kits” to prepare for peak flu season
This year’s vicious flu epidemic has threatened local seniors, and now their caregivers are fighting back by handing out “Fight the Flu Kits,” to help prepare seniors for the peak of the flu season, January and February.
Weaker immune systems make seniors more vulnerable to the flu, and that’s why 90 percent of all flu-related deaths and more than half of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people age 65 or older*. The flu is an even bigger scare for seniors this year because the flu shot is not effective against half of all flu strains. If seniors get the flu it compromises their body’s ability to fight other infections, such as pneumonia which can be deadly.
That’s why Visiting Angels, one of the nation’s largest in-home senior care companies, with a center in our area, is helping local seniors in three ways:
1.    Assembling a Visiting Angels “Fight the Flu Kit”
2.    Caregivers can help sanitize seniors’ homes and run their errands so they don’t have to expose themselves to viruses in crowded areas, such as the grocery store and the mall.
3.    Caregivers can help seniors spot the difference in symptoms between the flu and the “stomach bug.” They can transport seniors to the doctor or hospital if necessary.
Visiting Angels “Fight the Flu Kits” include: (items available at most retail stores)
•    Bottled water – water helps the body produce and circulate immune system cells to fight off viruses. Proper hydration also keeps nasal passages moist to help trap and get rid of tiny particles carrying illness-causing bacteria.
•    Paper towels – encourage seniors to use paper towels in the bathroom instead of hand towels, which can harbor germs.
•    Thermometer – if seniors have a fever higher than 102 degrees, that could indicate they have the flu.
•    Pocket-size hand sanitizer, with aloe – helps keep seniors’ skin germ-free without drying out their sensitive skin.
•    Pens – seniors should always have their own pen handy – pens shared in public areas carry a ton of germs.
•    Disinfectant spray – reminder for seniors to spray doorknobs, handles, and light switches, etc. at least once a week – viruses can live up to 48 hours on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.
•    Hand soap – recent studies show plain soap and water works just as well, if not better, than antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizer. But seniors need to scrub hands for at least 20 seconds to kill the germs!
•    Hand sanitizer wipes – these are handy to have on-the-go, whether to clean hands or public surfaces. Seniors should not rely on baby wipes because they do not contain the proper ingredients to kill viruses and germs.
“Often seniors don’t think of themselves as elderly, so they tend to ignore health warnings and resent loved ones ‘telling them what to do,’” said Larry Meigs, CEO of Visiting Angels. “Our caregivers can help nudge a senior to take the proper steps to try and protect themselves from the flu and to get them help if they do catch the virus. They’re also an extra set of eyes who can help a senior determine if they may have the flu or a stomach bug simply by being aware of the difference in symptoms.”
Symptoms of the flu:

One of the biggest myths about the flu is that is causes vomiting. But the flu is actually a highly contagious respiratory disease and vomiting is not on the list of typical flu symptoms.
•    fever
•    headache
•    muscle aches
•    sore throat
•    cough
•    chills
•    runny nose
•    fatigue
Symptoms of the “stomach bug:” (gastroenteritis)
Most people recover completely. Stomach bugs can be serious for the elderly who may be unable to drink enough fluids to replace what they lose through vomiting and/or diarrhea.
•    nausea
•    vomiting and/or diarrhea
•    possible fever

DURHAM, N.C. – The southern U.S. had the nation’s lowest five-year survival rate among those diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in 2003-2004, according to new research.
Fifteen percent of people diagnosed with HIV and 27 percent of those diagnosed with AIDS in that year had died within five years of diagnosis.
Nine southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas) are hit disproportionately hard by HIV/AIDS. Patients in this region tend to be younger, more rural, African-American and female. They are also more likely to attribute their HIV infection to heterosexual sex.
“This research documents the dire consequences that having an HIV diagnosis in the Deep South region has for too many individuals,” said Duke University law professor Carolyn McAllaster, who directs the Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative (SASI) and the law school’s AIDS/HIV and Cancer Legal Project.
The research team included the Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research at the Duke Global Health Institute, SASI,  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of North Carolina School of Public Health. Their findings appear in the December 2014 edition of the Journal of Community Health.
Differences between U.S. regions in demographic characteristics and transmission risk did not explain the higher death rate among persons living with HIV in the targeted Southern states, indicating that other factors contribute to this disparity.
Lead author Susan Reif of the Duke Global Health Institute said a number of factors likely contribute to the differences in outcomes seen among individuals living with HIV in the Deep South, including poverty, lower levels of education and insurance coverage, social stigma associated with the disease, and racism.
“These differences are crucial to consider when creating strategies to address HIV/AIDS in this region,” Reif said. “Clearly greater investment and focus are required to address the unique nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the South.”
The research was commissioned by Duke Law’s AIDS Legal Project through a grant from the Ford Foundation.
CITATION: “HIV Diagnoses, Prevalence and Outcomes in Nine Southern States,” Susan Reif, Brian Wells Pence, Irene Hall, Xiaohong Hu, Kathryn Whetten, Elena Wilson. Journal of Community Health, Dec. 2014. DOI: 10.1007/s10900-014-9979-7

AMAC says Magnetic Resonance Therapy  may  help Autism & Alzheimer’s patients
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] has been the bane of many veterans who fought in the Iraq and Afghan wars, causing insomnia, panic attacks, alcohol abuse and even suicidal thoughts. Until now, there were few, if any, effective treatment alternatives. But, a new procedure using Magnetic Resonance Therapy developed at the Brain Treatment Center may hold the key to a cure.
Veterans who have successfully undergone the MRT treatment use terms like “miracle,” “game-changer” and “waking up” to describe the results they achieved at the BTC facility in Newport Beach, Calif.
PTSD, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens, is “what we used to call ‘battle fatigue’ or ‘shell shock’ and it manifests itself in variety of debilitating ways. Returning soldiers are awakened in the midst of war-based nightmares. They experience panic attacks and some harbor thoughts of taking their own lives. One report showed an 80 percent increase in suicides among soldiers returning from the war fronts in the Middle East during the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
AMAC is keeping a watchful eye on the MRT treatment alternative because of its potentially effective use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. “But, the fact that it is helping our wounded warriors to cope with the aftermath of war is an important first focus.”

Many of the PTSD treatments to date have focused on the symptoms of the disorder; the MRT procedure appears to concentrate on the workings of the brain, itself.  As Dr. Kevin T. Murphy, Vice Chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego Medical Center, put it: “Addressing the core frequency mismatch that occurs in various parts of the brain, and not the patient’s symptoms per se, allows this system to be potentially useful in numerous psychological and neurological disorders, from autism to Alzheimers.”

Dr. Yi Jin, medical director of the Brain Treatment Center, is careful in an encouraging way when he describes the successes of the BTC’s new therapeutic approach.  “We are not claiming efficacy, but we are seeing clinical responses that are positive.”

Both Murphy and Jin are believers and intent on proving the efficacy of their approach.  As Murphy, whose 10-year-old son is afflicted with Asperger’s syndrome, told Richard Leiby, a senior writer at the Washington Post: “Right now it’s like we’re selling snake oil.  It’s hard to believe, and if I hadn’t had my own son treated, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

The child underwent months of therapy and has shown extraordinary improvement as a result.

Likewise, Iraqi war veteran Jon Warren says he recovered from acute PTSD after he was treated with Magnetic Resonance Therapy.  He no longer suffers from the extreme combat flashbacks and nightmares that made him dysfunctional.  They set “my [brain] frequencies right” and his life is returning to normal.

4 Agencies under 1 roof to serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault

Service Agencies Include:
The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office
YWCA Central Alabama
Crisis Center, Inc. – Rape Response Program
Birmingham Police Department
This is a safe place for survivors to come and ask questions about the criminal justice process, receive free and confidential counseling and/or advocacy services, and learn about additional resources.
Survivors may talk to as many agencies as he or she chooses.
Police report is not required or expected, unless you plan to pursue prosecution of perpetrator(s).

Dates:
Friday, February 13th
Friday, March 13th
Friday, April 10th
From: 9a.m.-12p.m.
Location: M-POWER
4022 4th Ave S,
Birmingham, AL 35222

For more information about the Metropolitan Family Justice Center, or if you are a survivor who needs help, call:

YWCA’s Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline 205.322.4878
Crisis Center’s Rape Response Hotline 205.323.7273

 Most children don’t think a cuddly dog would ever hurt them, but the fact is about 4.7 million dog bites happen every year in the United States, and more than half occur in children under the age of 14. Sometimes it may be just an innocent nip, but often these dog bites result in a child going to the hospital and even having surgery. Experts at Children’s of Alabama want parents to know that teaching kids about dog safety early on can help prevent the majority of these incidents.

Any Dog Can Bite
Dr. Bert Gaddis of Indian Springs Animal Clinic offers a better understanding of what may cause a dog to bite. Gaddis says first and foremost, it’s important to realize that any dog has the potential to bite. “Any dog no matter the breed or how sweet them seem can be pushed to that point unknowingly”, Gaddis says, “I tell pet owners with children, who probably feel very good around your pet, teach them not to approach strange animals. If it’s a dog with an owner, ask permission to pet that dog.”
Gaddis also says sometimes aggression in animals may be breed related, or even how the dog is raised. If the animal is raised to be defensive, or is often engaged in rough play, the dog may perceive a stranger as a threat even when that stranger is a child. Sometimes dog bites occur when the dog is feeding, and is very territorial around food.  But even the nicest, most well-trained family dog may snap if it’s startled, scared, threatened, agitated, angry or hungry. And remember, even a small dog can have a dangerous bite.

In the event your child is around an unfamiliar dog, here are some tips to follow:
Interacting with an Unknown Dog:
•    Teach your child to ask the dog’s owner for permission to pet their dog
•    If the owner says yes, move slowly
•    Allow the dog to see and sniff before petting
•    Keep fingers together
•    Avoid sudden, jerky motions

The state of Alabama has had a leash law in place since 1915, but local municipalities have the authority to have their own ordinances to better reflect the needs of the community.
Still, keep in mind, just because there may be a leash law, that doesn’t mean your child won’t encounter a roaming dog without a leash. It’s important to teach your child to know how to respond when they are approached by a strange dog.
When Approached by a Strange Dog:
Dr. Gaddis offers these important tips if you or your child has an encounter with a strange dog:
•    Don’t Run
•    Don’t Scream
•    Don’t Make Eye Contact
•    Don’t Turn Your Back
•    Back Away Slowly
•    If a dog does try to bite, put anything you can between you and the dog.
•    If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball, cover your face and lie still.

Always Supervise
A lot of dog bites can be avoided with parental supervision. Never leave a child alone with a dog. And teach children to never tease an animal. Being safe and responsible around dogs is the first step in preventing a dog bite.
For more information on this or other health and safety topics, visit www.childrensal.org.