Report: “Leftover” Meds Key Source for Prescription Drug Addicts

April 29, 2010 at 11:53 AM by admin

A recent study in Utah highlights the need for parents to restrict access to dangerous prescription drugs like Oxycontin from teenagers.

A report by the Utah Department of Health says that the vast majority of teens and adults who abuse opioid painkillers like Oxycontin or Vicodin receive their drugs from friends and family members who have legitimate prescriptions. According to the report, 97 percent of people with a prescription drug addiction had received drugs from friends and family, and in most cases the drugs were given to the person willingly.

An estimated five million Americans use pain medication for reasons other than pain relief, and drug and alcohol addiction centers are seeing an increasing number of patients who are checking in for help with prescription drug addiction. The results of the research by the Utah Department of Health, published in the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, highlight this: almost two percent of the more than 5,300 Utah adults surveyed in 2008 said they had taken an opioid pain medicine not prescribed to them over the past year.

Drug treatment for prescription drug problems is hampered by the ease with which a person can gain access to medication. Researchers found that one in five Utah residents had a prescription for at least one prescription painkiller, and most had “leftover” medicine that they kept and were happy to share with friends.

In most cases, the person giving the prescription drugs does not realize that they are contributing to a person’s addiction and possible need for time in a rehab center; they believe they are just helping someone by giving them medicine to ease their pain. But many people who end up in an addiction program will exaggerate or invent medical problems in order to obtain access to prescription-strength pain medication.

Whether you know of someone who has been through a rehab program for pain medicine addiction or not, it’s a good idea to dispose of your opioid medication as soon as you are done with it rather than hanging on to it. U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends flushing unused prescription drugs, while some states like Utah have prescription drug drop-off programs at local police stations.

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Sports display cases

April 25, 2010 at 06:11 PM by publisher

Sports memorabilia is a huge industry and amounts to many millions of dollars every year. However, only the most ardent of collectors go to great depths to protect their collection. Sports display cases are the best way to protect any memorabilia, because they offer maximum protection & visibility.

Collectible items appreciate in value over time. However, one aspect that greatly impacts their value is the condition of the item. This requires the collector to pay meticulous attention as to how the item is stored and protected. The best possible way would be to put it an airtight container and “shove it under the bed” so to speak. But this would defeat the purpose of having the product as no one would be able to see it or even know that it is there. Putting it in a glass fronted cupboard is also not ideal because friends and visitors will inevitably open the cupboard and “play” with the item.

Having a sports display case can solve all your problems easily. These cases come in different sizes to fit your memorabilia. Whether it is a signed baseball, a Formula 1 car replica, a boat etc. you can find a display case to fit it. Even if you need an unusual size, it is not a problem. All you have to do is locate a plastics injection molding company in your local directory and call them up. They can custom design a display case for your needs. If you are worried about how it will turn out, they can produce plastic prototypes for your inspection, so that you can approve the design before it goes for manufacturing.

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Why pick a business answering service?

April 25, 2010 at 06:08 PM by publisher

In today’s business world, communication is of paramount importance. A missed call or a mishandled call can cause anything from a loss of opportunity to a loss of millions. This is where an answering service can be invaluable.

The person who first answers a call on behalf of your business is the face of your business. This is a fact that most people fail to remember. The old adage “the first impression is the best impression” is quite accurate in this instance. Even if a bungled first pickup is patched up later on into the conversation by a skillful employee, the damage has already been done. This is why you need a professional outfit in charge of responding to customers.

Customer support services, especially, should be manned by competent personnel who can handle difficult customers. Keep in mind that when people use this service, they call because they have a problem that needs to be solved. Therefore they may not be in an understanding frame of mind whereas the representative answering the phone should be very accommodating, pleasant and knowledgeable.

To stay ahead in business and to enforce customer retention, your business needs to be contactable on any day at any time. This is another reason why you need to have an answering service. Having a 24 hour hotline coupled with a web call center will give your customers the accessibility they desire. In turn, it will inspire confidence in them as well because they know that the product is backed by a company that will respond immediately to their concerns.

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Small business merchant account

April 25, 2010 at 06:01 PM by publisher

Running a business requires a lot of enthusiasm and a never give up spirit. Within that comes the goal of not letting any sale go by. Achieving that goal requires many tools; supporting credit card transactions is one of them. To do this you will need a small business merchant account.

Processing credit cards is a very specialized industry. If one plans to accept credit card payment, you will need a small business merchant account. You can deal with banks directly or deal with credit card processing merchant services to get an account. Using the latter is very advantageous for small businesses, especially those that are home based. This is because banks will refuse merchant accounts to businesses that don’t satisfy requirement criteria. Some of the general requirements are:

being in a certain geographical location

having a physical storefront

being in business for a certain period

Merchant service providers, also known as independent sales organizations, are more accommodating of small businesses that fail to meet these criteria. Although there are other third party companies that will process your payments, it is better to go with the established methods as customers feel better about them. Another advantage with the established methods is that you will receive your payments faster.

However, dealing with credit cards is always a tricky business. Before you choose a provider to work with, engage in extensive research. Keep in mind the fees charged by the providers, the risks involved and the penalties you will encounter if you do not function within the guidelines. This will help you to choose the best provider for your business.

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The practicality of Doctors answering services

April 25, 2010 at 05:56 PM by publisher

In the Medical industry call answering services can prove to be of invaluable service. Sometimes called a Small Business Answering Service, this enables you to have prompt responses to your patient’s calls. Using such a service is also a very cost effective way of implementing a customer service solution. This is because it allows you to have a prominent business presence, while cutting down on any overheads and payroll associated costs that usually come with customer service solutions.

As well as the two key benefits mentioned above, there are many other benefits of implementing a doctors answering service solution.

1. It allows you to have an image of a round the clock operation, which in turn gives patients a greater sense of security.

2. Having a 24 hour local answering service also means that you never miss a call from a patient. In pure business terms, this means that you will never miss an opportunity that will bring you revenue.

3. By employing a readymade and proven system, you don’t take on the headache of having to implement it yourself.

4. All you have to do in order for the system to work smoothly is to provide phone numbers, duty rosters and of course pay on time. Basically, you just have to provide information and payments.

Because these services have staff that has an assured level of competency in the field, all callers will be handled promptly and accurately. This takes the burden of having to interview, hire and monitor receptionist who would normally do this job.

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Addiction and Spiritual Recovery

April 16, 2010 at 10:16 AM by admin

Addiction treatment involves more than physical detoxification from drugs or alcohol.  The addiction recovery process should include therapy and healing for the body, mind and spirit. Unfortunately, many people fail to address the spiritual aspect of recovery.

The famous Twelve Step Program, designed for the Alcoholics Anonymous program and that is still being used by rehab centers around the world, is all about spiritual recovery. The purpose of the program is to inspire a spiritual awakening that will help the recovering addict maintain sobriety for the rest of their lives.

Every rehab center and addiction treatment program should encourage spiritual change. Although this process is a personal one and not necessarily a religious experience, the right concepts and teachings can help revive the human spirit and bring about true spiritual change.

Only a true spiritual awakening or change of mind can bring healing that will manifest into other areas of your life. Make sure that you select a professional drug and alcohol addiction recovery center that offers sprit-focused activities and exercises. Whether you experience a spiritual awakening on the first day of rehab or after many years of sobriety, it will be a day you will never forget.

Please contact Cirque Lodge for more information.

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Outdoor Roofing Systems

April 15, 2010 at 01:37 PM by admin

When it comes to planning outdoor events, roofing systems are almost always a necessity. You want to have a dependable roofing system to protect the stage, the performers and your guests from rain or other outdoor elements. Milosgroup offers a large selection of temporary roofing systems for outdoor events including both conventional and curved roofs. Designed to be compatible with staging systems and exhibit truss systems, these roofing systems are ideal for outdoor concerts, live theatre and major festivals.

The MR1 system, for example, features a unique curved roof and is the perfect roofing system for rock concerts and other bands. The MR2, on the other hand, comes equipped with extra features designed to support lighting, speakers, cables and other common accessories involved with preparing for outdoor performances. Depending on the event, you can select a roofing system that meets your budget and specifications. For more information about roofing systems or trade show truss systems, please visit http://www.milosgroup.com.

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