The River Source Youth Substance Abuse Rehab Program provides treatment to adolescent males (ages 12-17) for drug and alcohol addiction by offering services in a safe, residential environment. Aligning with their philosophies in drug and alcohol treatment, they focus on treating the underlying issues rather than just the symptoms of this disease. River Source’s integrative approach uses traditional medical detox with a team of medical and support professionals that focus on healing the whole person; physically, mentally and spiritually.

 Detox: The River Source is one of the few teen rehab treatment centers offering detox as part of the residential inpatient program. 

Holistic Methods: As the body and mind are restored to harmony and balance, patients are taught yoga and meditation techniques to enhance their mind, body, and spirit connection. Patients meet individually with counselors and interact in group education where they learn how to rebuild and shape their lives for success.

Education: Once the body is stabilized and free of the toxic effects of drugs and alcohol, patients begin nourishing the mind through education, music and art therapy. They will have the option to attend online classes, or receive coursework provided from their schools. Our academic program provides support for teen patients to focus on their studies. For those interested, our GED assistance program prepares patients for taking the GED.

12 Step for Teens: With a focus on peer support and active involvement, our 12 step rehab program incorporates the Big Book, 12 x 12, Interactive Journals and more. There will be opportunities to participate in youth centered 12 Step meetings, as well as peer support groups.

Family Enrichment: Family involvement and supportive activities are encouraged where the patient and family can grow together helps to build trust and repair family bonds. All parents will have access to the youth treatment team where they will be able to receive updates, message their child’s medical team or counselors, and remain an active participant in their son’s addiction recovery. 

For more information call 888-687-7332 or visit www.theriversource.org.

Divorce can be a frightening, emotional journey, but it does not need to be taken alone.

The Transitions Counseling Divorce Recovery Group is an experiential group program designed for individuals who are experiencing or have recently experienced the end of a primary relationship through separation or divorce.  

 Divorce can be a frightening, emotional journey, but it does not need to be taken alone. Divorce Recovery is not only about endings, it is about new beginnings. It is about finding the path back to our true selves. Transitions Through Divorce is a program that will provide the tools and opportunities to learn and grow through this life experience. If you are confused and hurting, this program can help the transition through the divorce process with compassion and support.  

 The Transitions Divorce Recovery Group will be held bi-weekly on Thursdays from 6-7:15 PM beginning May 7 at the Transitions Counseling Office, 19420 N. 59th Avenue, B-247 in Glendale. Weekly groups are $45 per session. Payment plans are available. Visit www.transitionscounselingandconsult.com/group-treatment or contact Meagan Foxx, LPC, LISAC (602) 363-0629 or [email protected] to register and for more details.

A drug known as “flakka” is the latest synthetic compound to raise concern among public health experts, Fox News reports. Flakka is a tweaked version of bath salts.

In some cases, Flakka can cause heart palpitations and aggressive, violent behavior, the article notes. Use of the drug can affect the kidneys, leading to kidney failure or death.

Flakka use has recently been reported in Florida, Ohio and Texas. The name is derived from the Spanish word “flaca,” which means “skinny.” The drug is sold in other parts of the country as “Gravel.”

In Florida, Flakka contains alpha-PVP, a substance that provides an instant sense of euphoria, according to Jim Hall of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. The drug also gives a boost in physical strength that is similar to other stimulants, such as Ecstasy and cocaine, he said.

Hospitals in South Florida are admitting 20 new patients a day for Flakka abuse, Hall told Fox News. “One of the reasons we think alpha-PVP is such a problem is because it is extremely dose-specific, and even just a little dose will give a person the desired effect they want,” he said. “Just a little more can create a number of serious adverse effects to the point the user doesn’t even know.”

Flakka, which comes in crystalline rock form, can be snorted, swallowed, injected or vaped in an e-cigarette. While its effects are generally felt for three or four hours, they can continue for days. It is being sold in Florida for $5 for one-tenth of a gram.

“It’s cheap like crack cocaine,” Hall said. “This is as close as we’ve come to a crack cocaine problem since 1995 in terms of the severe reactions, low prices, and that it’s available to young kids, and even homeless populations are now impacted.”

There is a concern it could soon pop up in Arizona. “Understand that just because it’s not in Arizona yet, doesn’t mean it can’t be,” said Stephanie Siete, the Director of Community Education for Community Bridges, a nonprofit organization that helps those battling addiction.

A new study finds a woman’s use of prescription opioids during pregnancy increases the risk her baby will be born small or early. Such use also raises the chance the baby will go through painful drug withdrawal, known as neonatal abstinence syndrome, HealthDay reports.

The study of more than 112,000 pregnant women in Tennessee found almost 28 percent used at least one prescription opioid, such as hydrocodone or oxycodone. The risks to the baby increased if a woman also smoked or took antidepressants, the researchers report. Of the babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, 65 percent had mothers that legally filled prescriptions for opioid pain relievers.

“Historically, drug withdrawal for newborns has been described among illicit drug use such as heroin or women treated for previous opioid abuse, but this is really one of the first studies to look at legal prescriptions for pregnant women,” lead author Dr. Stephen Patrick of Vanderbilt University in Nashville said in a news release.

Taking a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors along with prescription opioids also doubled the risk of the syndrome. “Infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome have longer, more complicated birth hospitalizations,” Patrick said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a social media campaign called “When the Prescription Becomes the Problem.” The campaign is designed to raise awareness of prescription painkiller abuse and overdose.

The CDC is encouraging people who have been affected by prescription painkiller addiction to share their stories on social media, Forbes reports. The campaign urges people to write their six-word story or message, create an original picture or a video tagged #RxProblem, post it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by May 15, and ask friends and followers to share it.

“Help us tell the stories of the many people whose lives have been affected by prescription painkiller addiction or the death of a loved one,” the CDC says on its campaign website. “Encourage those in need to seek treatment for addiction. Celebrate others who are already working to change lives, and inspire our communities to improve patient safety and the way we treat pain.” There were 16,235 deaths involving prescription opioids in 2013, an increase of 1 percent from 2012, according to the CDC.