Recovery Takes Flight Press Coverage

Recovery Takes Flight Press Coverage

SAN RAFAEL: BALLOON LAUNCH CALLS ATTENTION TO PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

SAN RAFAEL (AP/BCN)

Former U.S. Drug Czar and retired four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey is participating in a nationwide effort today to call attention to the quintupling of prescription drug abuse in the United States over the past 10 years.

McCaffrey and CRC Health Group CEO Dr. Barry Karlin will take part in a noon balloon launch at the Bayside Marin Recovery Center in San Rafael to highlight what they say is a new wave of drug abuse.

The Bayside Marin Recovery Center is the (balloon launch) national headquarters of CRC Health Group, a nationwide drug and alcohol treatment provider. About 100 hundred other CRC locations in the country will also participate in the "Recovery Takes Flight" balloon launch.

McCaffrey said this morning the event here and one at the Azure Acres Recovery Center in Sebastopol Thursday are about optimism.

"The pain management capacity of American medicine has gone up enormously because of these wonderful drugs," McCaffrey said in a telephone interview this morning.

But drugs like OxyContin are "intensely powerful and inexpensive," he said, and are available at pharmacies and from foreign suppliers.

When misused, they are "one of the most powerful synthetic opiates" and are more readily available than morphine that is processed into heroin abroad, McCaffrey said.

"If you're a municipal judge, a police officer or a social worker, you are worried about 22.6 million people involved in this substance abuse," McCaffrey said.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 21 million Americans, 3.1 million in California, need but do not receive treatment for illicit drug or alcohol problems, McCaffrey said.

"It's just an enormous challenge," McCaffrey said.

Karlin said prescription drug abuse often begins when parents don't lock up their pain medications to keep them from their teenage children and drug abusers also get prescriptions from multiple pharmacies.

"The balloon release signifies that we celebrate, honor and remember the patients, families and staff who have gone through treatment, and carry hope for those still suffering from dependency," Karlin said.

Karlin said this morning that Bayside and other CRC Health Group Centers offer a variety of treatments, including an intensive detoxification program and short- and long-term stays.

The nationwide balloon launch takes place during National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery month declared by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Thursday's event will take place at 11 a.m. in Sebastopol at Azure Acres Recovery Center, 2264 Green Hill Road.

TELEVISION COVERAGE

00:04:25 Balloons Released: Balloons will be released over The North Bay to call attention to the abuse of prescription drugs. About 100 Drug and Alcohol treatment Centers plan to release Bio Degradable Balloons at noon, in the North Bay. That will happen in The North Bay at The Bayside Main Recovery Center in San Rafael. Former US Drug Czar, BarryMcCaffrey, plans to attend prescription drug use in California, Nationwide. It is said to have increased four fold, in the last decade. 00:04:55

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00:51:05 Balloons: Balloons will be released over the North Bay todayat The Bayside Main Recovery Center in San Rafael to call attention to the misuse of prescription drugs. V; Prescription drugs on shelf. V; Pharmacists filling prescriptions. 00:51:31

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00:19:52 TZ; Balloons: Former US drug czar BarryMcCaffrey was in San Rafael at the Bay SideMarinRecovery Center to celebrate the work done at alcohol and drugrecovery centers in the state. V

Interview of Dr. Barry Karlin and Gen. Barry McCaffrey about prescription drug increase and National Recovery Month by NBC11

North Bay Events Focus On Prescription Drug Abuse

SAN RAFAEL, CA (AP/BCN) ― Two events are scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday in the North Bay as part of a nationwide effort to call attention to prescription drug abuse.
Former U.S. Drug Czar and retired Four-Star General Barry McCaffrey will appear at both events that are part of a nationwide "Recovery Takes Flight" balloon launch.
An estimated 100 drug and alcohol treatment centers in the country will release biodegradable balloons at noon local time on Wednesday.
The balloon launch is intended to inspire the fight against the quintupling of prescription drug abuse over the last decade in California and the nation and the traditional abuse of traditional drugs including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy.
The launch also calls attention to the need for and the effectiveness of drug treatment.
"The balloon release signifies that we celebrate, honor and remember the patients, families and staff who have gone through treatment, and carry hope for those still suffering from dependency," said Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of CRC Health Group.
"After treatment, people report a significant reduction in their alcohol and drug use, increased employment and income, and decreased homelessness. Substance abuse disorders are treatable diseases," Karlin said.
McCaffrey will attend a news conference and balloon launch Wednesday starting at 11:15 a.m. at the Bayside Main Recovery Center, 718 4th St. in San Rafael.
San Rafael Mayor Al Boro and San Rafael Police Chief Matt Odetto also are scheduled to attend.
The Marin County event is the principal national balloon liftoff headquarters point.
McCaffrey also will attend a drug recovery event Thursday at 11 a.m. at Azure Acres Recovery Center, 2264 Green Hill Road in Sebastopol.
"Twenty-one million Americans need but do not receive treatment for illicit drug or alcohol problems according to the latest numbers from HHS (the Department of Health and Human Services); less than three million receive treatment," McCaffrey said.
"In California, 3.1 million need but do not receive treatment; less than 200,000 are treated. We have a huge treatment gap," McCaffrey said.
The nationwide balloon release is part of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery month declared by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(Distributed by the Associated Press. Bay City News contributed to this report.)

Bay Area Daybook, Sept. 10, Wednesday, 2008
Associated Press - September 10, 2008 9:44 AM ET

11:15 a.m. DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTERS - Former National Drug Policy Director and retired four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey participate in a news conference for a nationwide celebration of recovery against a new wave of drug abuse, followed by the release of biodegradable balloons in tandem with 100 drug and alcohol across the country.

Location: Bayside Marin Recovery Center, 718 Fourth St., San Rafael.

Contact: Bob Weiner and Rebecca Vander Linde, (301) 283-0821 or (202) 329-1700

9:15 AM Wed., Sept. 10-- RADIOInterview with Dr. Barry Karlin and Gen. Barry McCaffrey on KMUD 91.1/88.3/88.9 FM (Northern Mendocino)

9:30 AM Wed., Sept. 10 -- RADIO Interview with Dr. Karlin and Gen. McCaffrey on KUSP 88.9 FM – Central Coast Public Radio

KSRH San Rafael High School 88.1 FM

1:30 PM Wed., Sept. 10 – RADIO Interview with Dr. Barry Karlin and Gen. Barry McCaffrey

7: 18 AM Thurs., Sept. 11 – LIVE RADIO Interview with Gen. McCaffrey on KSRO 1350 AM – Santa Rosa, CA

Topic: HHS
Wed, Sep 03, 2008

Former U.S. Drug Czar/4-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey, San Rafael Mayor Al Boro and Police Chief Matt Odetto, CRC Health CEO Barry Karlin, Among VIP's at Bayside Marin Recovery Center 11:15 AM Sept. 10

PRNewswire-USNewswire (nationwide release on 3000+ sites)

Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2008

Former U.S. Drug Czar/4-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey, San Rafael Mayor Al Boro and Police Chief Matt Odetto, CRC Health CEO Barry Karlin, Among VIP's at Bayside Marin Recovery Center 11:15 AM Sept. 10

TO LEAD 100 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE IN BIODEGRADABLE BALLOON LIFTOFF CELEBRATING RECOVERY AGAINST NEW WAVE OF DRUG ABUSE

11:15 AM WED. SEPT. 10 NEWS CONFERENCE, BALLOON LIFTOFF NOON NATIONWIDE,

BAYSIDE MARIN RECOVERY CENTER, 718 4th Street, San Rafael, CA

Additional event Sept. 11, 11AM, Azure Acres, Sebastapol, CA--2264 Green Hill Rd

"RECOVERY TAKES FLIGHT" TO FIGHT QUINTUPLING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former U.S. Drug Czar and Retired Four-Star General Barry McCaffrey, CRC Health Group CEO Dr. Barry Karlin, head of the nation's largest drug and alcohol treatment provider, and San Rafael Mayor Al Boro and Police Chief Matt Odetto will lead 100 drug and alcohol treatment centers across the country in releasing bio-degradable balloons on Wednesday, September 10th at Bayside Marin Recovery Center in San Rafael, CA. There will be an 11:15 AM news conference and the balloon liftoff at 12 noon local times, celebrating recovery against a new wave of drug abuse. Bayside Marin, 718 4th Street, San Rafael 94901, is the principal national liftoff headquarters point, including the event there.

The theme, "Recovery Takes Flight," is intended to inspire the fight against the quintupling of prescription drug abuse over the past decade in California and nationwide, as well as against the continuation of abuse of traditional dangerous drugs including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and club drugs such as ecstasy.

The event occurs during National Recovery Month, designated by the federal government. Lunch will be provided following the balloon liftoff. At the event, Gen. McCaffrey, Dr. Karlin, Mayor Boro, Police Chief Odetta, and other VIP's will join the treatment center staff and clients in pointing to the need for and effectiveness of drug treatment.

The balloons are 100% biodegradable natural latex. They will be hand tied --- no clips and no strings.

Nestled in the hills overlooking San Francisco Bay, the Bayside Marin facility provides a holistic treatment approach that incorporates biological, psychological, social and spiritual treatment modalities tailored to the individual client's needs.

An additional recovery celebration event, recognizing steps to address the drug and alcohol abuse crisis, will also take place the following day with Gen. McCaffrey, Dr. Karlin, and local officials: Thursday, Sept. 11, at 11 AM at Azure Acres Recovery Center, 2264 Green Hill Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472.

Gen. McCaffrey stated, "Twenty-one million Americans need but do not receive treatment for illicit drug or alcohol problems according to the latest numbers from HHS; less than three million receive treatment. In California, 3.1 million need but do not receive treatment; less than 200,000 are treated. We have a huge treatment gap."

Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of CRC Health Group, said, "The balloon release signifies that we celebrate, honor and remember the patients, families and staff who have gone through treatment, and carry hope for those still suffering from dependency. After treatment, people report a significant reduction in their alcohol and drug use, increased employment and income, and decreased homelessness. Substance abuse disorders are treatable diseases."

The nationwide balloon release is part of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, declared by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Contact: Bob Weiner/Rebecca Vander Linde 301-283-0821/202-329-1700

CRC Health Group

CONTACT: Bob Weineror Rebecca Vander Linde +1-301-283-0821 or
+1-202-329-1700, both of Robert Weiner Associates/CRC Health Group