Ira Levy's Blog

Rockers in Recovery Ft. Lauderdale

March 27, 2013 by Ira Levy Leave a Comment
rockers-recovery-ftlauderdale-sunrisedetox

From left: Jessica Kyle and Lynda Michaletti with me (Ira Levy) and Stephanie Palyvos. Jessica and Stephanie are nurses at Sunrise Detox in Ft. Lauderdale. Lynda is Lead Counselor.

Recovery can be fun! That’s what I was feeling after the awesome live concert last week in Fort Lauderdale featuring celebrity musicians from Aerosmith, Vanilla Fudge, Southside Johnny, the Billy Joel Band, and even the SNL Band. This show was a non-alcohol event at Revolution Live at which those in recovery could have a safe, great time. What a great venue – Revolution Live  was voted “Readers Choice” and “Best Rock Club”by The New Times recently, and for good reason.

The Rockers in Recovery blockbuster fundraiser was held by Susan Israel (wife of the new Broward County Sheriff Scott J. Israel) and Rockers In Recovery for The Special Olympics and The Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County on March 22, 2013.

It was awesome to see some old name favorites raising money for causes like these. The children had a great time. It was cool to see them smile. Performers included Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett and The Blackhearts), Liberty Devitto (Billy Joel Band), Christine Ohlman “The Beehive Queen” (SNL Band), Muddy Shews (Southside Johnny), Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge) and Richie Supa (Aerosmith).

I’m not the only one who loved this show, my friends and colleagues did, too. Attendees included Jessica Kyle, RN, Sunrise Detox Ft. Lauderdale, Ira Levy, National Marketing Director, Sunrise Detox, Lynda Michaletti, Lead Counselor, Sunrise Detox Ft. Lauderdale, Stephanie Palyvos, RN, Sunrise Detox Ft. Lauderdale and George St. Louis, Director of Admissions Holistic Drug Rehab Center in Miami.]

I am hoping to get Richie (from Aerosmith) or Ricky (from Joan Jett and The Blackhearts) to come to Sunrise Detox to play a set of acoustics for patients showing how you can have fun in recovery. I really look forward to being more involved with Rockers in Recovery next year.

Filed Under: Recovery Tagged With: ,

Heroes in Recovery 6k Walk and Run South Florida

March 8, 2013 by Ira Levy Leave a Comment
6K Walk and Run April 27, 2013 at Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek, FL

The Heroes in Recovery 6K Walk and Run April 27, 2013 at Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek, FL

What could be better than spending a spring morning having fun with friends and neighbors and getting some exercise? Supporting a worthwhile cause at the same time! Please join me on Saturday, April 27, 2013 for the “Heroes in Recovery South Florida 6K Run & Walk”.

The mission of Heroes in Recovery is to work to reduce the stigma associated with substance abuse treatment, to help raise awareness of the need for treatment, and to provide support to people in recovery. Heroes in Recovery hosts similar events across the nation. Money raised at the South Florida 6K Run/Walk will benefit Mount Bethel Human Services.

The Heroes in Recovery Run & Walk will run from 7:00am to 10:30 am at the Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek. I will be there representing Sunrise Detox, to show our proud support of this worthy organization.

There are over 23 million people in America who need help with addictions and mental health issues. Only about 3 million actually seek treatment. Heroes in Recovery believes many more people would seek treatment if they didn’t sense a social stigma associated with substance abuse and mental health disorders.

Events like the South Florida 6K Run & Walk raise community awareness of the wisdom of seeking treatment and help to remove that stigma. If addiction and mental health disorders treatment is viewed in a positive way, and accepted by the community, more people needing treatment will seek treatment. In other words, more lives can be saved.

Come join me on April 27th at the Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, for the Heroes in Recovery 6K Run & Walk. It’s a great way to show our community’s support of our friends and neighbors who are making the heroic effort to break the chains of addiction, to give themselves and their loved ones the great quality of life they deserve.

Filed Under: Addiction, Treatment

Pain Meds Creating New Addicts in New Jersey

August 12, 2012 by Ira Levy Leave a Comment

Drug trafficking in New Jersey is known to be very dangerous. Due to its location between New York and Philadelphia, along with easy access via major roadways and seaports, it has become a major transportation route for illegal drugs.

We also face a serious problem with the sometimes legal, sometimes illegal practice of abusing painkillers. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration notes that prescription forgery and doctor shopping are very common here. In Morris County, one doctor was caught exchanging prescriptions for services.

Why are so many people in New Jersey focused on drugs?

Many of us in the drug and alcohol treatment community generally believe addiction is a disease, something people are genetically predisposed to. There is a lot of evidence to support that claim. There is also a lot of evidence that the medical treatment people receive can affect whether or not they become an addict. Over-relying on pain medications, we’re creating new addicts every day.

One of my patients was recently put on methadone after having major knee surgery. That’s a recipe for disaster. The guy is asked to convalesce and before he can even fully recover from his surgery, he has a major addiction problem to deal with. We constantly see patients like this in our New Jersey detox center. Doctors give their patients large doses of medications that are known to be addicting rather than opting for solutions like physical therapy, acupuncture or massage. Even non-narcotic pain medications are a much better option.

Narcotic pain medication has its place in the medical world, but it has become far too prominent. Attempting to solve chronic pain by risking addiction doesn’t help patients.

Problems this large don’t go away on their own. Here, in New Jersey, we must be vigilant if we are going to curb addiction.

Filed Under: Addiction

Treatment for Nonviolent Drug Offenders Would Be Good For New Jersey

February 21, 2012 by Ira Levy Leave a Comment

Lawmakers in New Jersey are working on legislation that would offer treatment to nonviolent offenders in lieu of jail time. Studies show that treatment is a more effective method of curbing drug offenses than imprisonment. With a greater than 50 percent chance of offenders returning to prision, it becomes clear that the current laws are not working.

When considering the state of New Jersey’s costs to enforce current laws and sentences, we can see that this is a win-win proposal. It costs $44,000 a year for a prisoner to live in a New Jersey state prison. 25 percent of inmates in New Jersey’s prisons are nonviolent drug offenders. Cut 25 percent of the prison population and overcrowding issues are solved. Money saved by not housing prisoners could easily cover treatment costs, job training, and counseling.

Could drug treatment reduce offenses?

In 2009, New York enacted legislation that resulted in a 13 percent decrease in its nonviolent prison population and a savings of more than $250 million. Governor Christie’s Plan for New Jersey would work if administered correctly.

The state has to put programs in place for rehab, treatment, counseling, and job training for those addicts. Giving those in need the tools to become contributors to society are important to their independence and self-worth. As studies have shown, building a support system around an addict leads to a higher chance of recovering and staying sober. It doesn’t make sense to send these people to a prison system that is not supportive and only shows evidence of creating repeat offenders.

I am hopeful that the lawmakers here in New Jersey will do what is right for our state and pass this legislation. Addicts should not be left to suffer in prison. They need real treatment.

Filed Under: Law