Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Hand sanitizer: The new vodka for teens?
There's a new trend among teens looking for a buzz, doctors say, and it surrounds an unlikely household item designed to keep us germ-free: ethanol-based hand sanitizer. Teenagers are using it this stuff to get high, according to health officials. Poison control centers nationwide say reports are on the rise. The big issue here is the alcohol content, says Dr. Robert J. Geller, a medical toxicologist and Emory University pediatrician.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
A&E Intervention: Season 11 Episode 10
I have been getting requests to post the complete email exchange with A&E Intervention Executive Producers
Complete Correspondence
Chain with the Executive Producers of A&E Intervention
Ban 'A&E Intervention' Altogether?
Your Reaction to A&E Intervention's Censorship over Unethical Conduct of Interventionist Donna Chavous
- Marshall R.Apr 17, 2012 06:27 AMInterventions based upon confrontation, hostility, name calling and surprise attacks are harmful and unethical! It is time for recovery advocates and professionals to stand up against Interventionists that use these tactics and recognize that we must all first DO NO HARM in our work. Promoting recovery is about helping people rebuild their lives by encouraging hope and optimism and all involved need to offer compassion, kindness and acceptance if they want to be part of the solution.
Accountability is an absolute in our chosen field.
I'm also not surprised...entertainment trumps therapy...ratings are everything.
Peter B
Aurora, Canada
AnonymousApr 18, 2012 07:49 AMA&E is making money off peoples misery, plan and simple. And we are to be entertained by watching this? I guess they will do anything for a buck. The Florida drug courts with the help of the Marchman Act have been a responsible successful response to the growing problem of drug addiction. To see A&E sensationalize the process and exploit those in need of treatment for ratings is sickening.- AnonymousApr 18, 2012 12:27 PMA&E should be ashamed of itself. It's one thing to make a profit on exploiting those who suffer. It is quite another thing to knowingly promote a person who exacerbates the situation to the detriment of the suffering AND over the objections of experts in the field. Shame, shame, shame A&E. End the suffering NOW by taking this woman off the air!
- AnonymousApr 18, 2012 03:33 PMAlthough I have not seen the episode in question, I do have a good deal of experience with using the Marchman Act successfully. It is not a scare tactic, but a useful tool for terrified families and very ill addicts. The justice system of Florida have provided lawyers and skilled clinicians with this legal recourse for families who are hopeless. It is a shame that this interventionist used the Marchman Act in the way she allegedly has. Personally, I can no longer watch Intervention due to the negative effects, intended and unintended consequences that happen in most episodes.
As a clinician, practicing in the state of Florida, I feel that the commercialization of addiction and recovery is ridiculous. It SUCKS that A&E is disregarding or ignoring Ray's expertise and advice.
Addiction and Recovery is already shrouded in misunderstanding and ignorance, I fear that this show may only make things worse.
Signed,
Concerned Clinician in Florida - Christopher I.Apr 18, 2012 03:51 PMI have been following this thing since I first saw the Episode and then read the article in the Huffington Post. I was encouraged, initially, that A&E was taking this situation seriously and had been waiting to hear that Ms Chavous had been properly reprimanded, and, at minimum, required to re-certify herself before continuing to act as an interventionist.
I am absolutely appalled at A&E's change of attitude on this matter. It seems to me that they have opened themselves to all kinds of legal trouble and I hope that every ounce of that trouble now finds them.
I, for one, will not be watching anything on A&E until I have heard they intend to take appropriate responsibility for Ms Chavous' actions. The show I took pleasure in supporting, because of the good I thought they were doing, has become willfully dangerous and recklessly irresponsible.
Christopher I.
Encino, CA - AnonymousApr 19, 2012 05:50 AMDear Attorney Raymond G. Ferrero III,
Thank you. As a Treatment provider, Advocate and person in Recovery for the past 18 years I applaud your recent post I just viewed on your Blog and also Addiction Professional Discussion Board about "Courtney's story"! I also want to see an immediate response and action by A & E for their failed promise to investigate Donna Chavous’ conduct.
Although like you and others I do not expect it. With this being said, I had a thought to share with you. Since you have written Blogs which has brought attention to this matter and many in the recovery community have also voiced their concern I wonder if you should visit the website of "Change" ( http://www.change.org/ ) . This is a site that allows individuals to raise awareness to a topic and generate national media attention. I feel this would be a wonderful way to get "Courtney's Story" out to the public and the Recovery Community. This would serve to raise awareness and also provide the means to request everyone support the cause to hold A & E responsible for their actions and demand they take action to correct the harm they have inflicted!!!
I hope you will consider my suggestion. I have seen the benefit this site has provided and recommend it highly. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, T.T. RN CMA - AnonymousApr 19, 2012 05:55 AMSince I don't watch the show, I will rely on your thorough recap of the behavior of the interventionist. In a historical sense the intervention is a relic of the halcyon days of the medical model. At least from what I saw, treatment has greatly changed based in large part upon the work of William Miller and his associates in the development of Motivational Enhancement Therapy. For the better. Intervention used to be a patient finding strategy for inpatient programs, most of which went out of business by 1995. From your description of the Marchman Act, it seems to fill a gap we often saw here. However, making it easier to involuntarily commit substance abusers doesn't necessarily mean that intervention is the best way to get people help.
JS, LPC, LMFT - Although I have not seen this episode as well, I am astonished and terribly disturbed by this report. I believe from an ethical perspective, it is imperitive that councelor's recognize the impact of their ehtics,values and lack of interpersonal skills can negatively affect a client rather than help. We must remember "Cause No Harm"
Kimberly, Canada - AnonymousApr 19, 2012 07:23 AMGood job. That was my first thought - until there is public awareness of this - it will be brushed under the carpet....
Posted by BM, LMSW - AnonymousApr 19, 2012 07:26 AMAccountability is an absolute in our chosen field.
I'm also not surprised...entertainment trumps therapy...ratings are everything.
PB
Aurora, Canada - AnonymousApr 19, 2012 07:28 AMA&E is making money off peoples misery, plan and simple. And we are to be entertained by watching this? I guess they will do anything for a buck. The Florida drug courts with the help of the Marchman Act have been a responsible successful response to the growing problem of drug addiction. To see A&E sensationalize the process and exploit those in need of treatment for ratings is sickening.
- AnonymousApr 19, 2012 07:36 AMThis maybe more of an opportunity than a problem! I read your open letter regarding A&E Intervention and agree with your perspective. I am a Chemical Dependency Counselor in Ohio which has recently passed new legislatoin creating a process for commiting addicts and alcoholics to treatment for thefirst time. It appears to be modeled after our exixting process for involuntary commitment of mentally ill. It occurs to me that your experiance in Florida could inform our process in Ohio.
- AnonymousApr 19, 2012 08:08 AMIt's about time! I have been an addictions counselor for about 8 years, and I get great results because I NEVER tell the client what to do, nor do I ever use pressure or force of any kind. My success rate is often six or sevenfold that of other counselors in the same agency who just can't resist giving advice or using overly directive interventions.
I will, no doubt, get slammed for this, especially by those whose wallets are getting fat from doing interventions, but I will say it anyway. Interventions are ALWAYS wrong! It is flatly inappropriate to stage what I call the "Nasty little surprise party." People stop when they are ready to stop and NOT before. I have worked with many, many clients who were the recipients of interventions, and in every case I have ever seen, even if there was a brief period of white knuckle sobriety, they not only went back to using, they went back with a vengeance, trying to make up for "lost time." My suggestion for every interventionist out there working right now is to get a copy of "Motivational Interviewing" by MIller & Rolnick, read it about three times and then get some training. You just cannot jump the shark on this step. Yes, maybe you stopped them on a downward spiral, but it's the other treatment counselors that get to deal with the wreckage you caused.
Q: "Have you ever been the recipient of a home intervention?"
A: "Oh, yeah. It was awesome -- got me sober and saved my life, man!"
Q: "Yes, but I notice you're back in treatment again. How many times have you been back to inpatient treatment since the intervention?
A: "Fourteen. But that intervention REALLY worked, man!"
Sometimes they say 9 or 12, one guy had been through inpatient treatment again 17 times! Interventions evoke short term compliance, and in my experience, nothing more. They do, however, seem to evoke a chronic "revolving door" treatment patient.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
A&E ‘Intervention’ Condones Addict Abuse By Donna Chavous of Intervention911 And Silences Audience Outrage
“With each
additional day of silence, I truly recognize what is potentially the greatest
threat posed by A&E Network to the treatment and recovery community - their
indifference.”
- Raymond G. Ferrero III, Esq.
- Raymond G. Ferrero III, Esq.
A&E Intervention Season 11 is coming
to a close, but not without controversy. Episode 10 - "Courtney,"
which aired on March 05, 2012, resulted in a flood of harsh criticism against
the show over the intervention of 20 year old heroin addict Courtney (the
self-identified "junkie princess") by interventionist Donna Chavous
of Intervention911. Donna Chavous' heavy handed tactics, unprofessional
language and threats of incarceration against Courtney were described in posts
on A&E’s website by viewers as "bullying
tactics" and "lies"
from what one poster 'Marisa' called a "power
hungry bully." Additional comments warned A&E to: "get rid of her before she gets someone
killed." The message was clear. A&E viewers were outraged at the
overall direction of their beloved ‘Intervention’ with additions to the cast
like Donna Chavous – and, they were going to be heard.
Lone bloggers on the outskirts of
the web were not the only ones to take notice of A&E Intervention’s
alarming new direction, however. On March 06, 2012, the day after Episode 10
aired, the Huffington Post published an article entitled: 'Intervention' Gets Dangerous As Courtney
Lashes Out, Tries To Escape, which detailed Courtney’s failed intervention,
including the chaotic conclusion where the audience watches as one of her
family hangs from the open door of a truck driven by Courtney’s heroin addict
boyfriend with “Courtney prodding [him]
to go faster” from inside as she struggles to detach anyone trying to
prevent her escape.
I watched Episode 10 online, days
after it first aired, from my Florida based law firm: Addiction Recovery Legal
Services. I sat slack-jawed in my chair watching Courtney’s botched
intervention play out and becoming incensed by the outrageous, unprofessional
and unethical behavior of Dona Chavous. Specifically, and most troubling, false
threats she made to both Courtney and her family about the power she possessed
under a Florida law called the Marchman Act to have Courtney arrested for
refusing treatment. The Florida Marchman Act has been my personal passion and
the foundation of my 17 year legal career. I am a former member of Florida’s
Drug Policy Advisory Committee under Governor Charlie Crist; a legal adviser to
the 2010 Florida Marchman Act legislative redraft; and, the actual lawyer who,
in 2009, provided a Florida Marchman Act training to “Intervention A-Lister”
Ken Seely’s ‘Intervention911’ team (Donna Chavous’ current employer).
Accordingly, what I witnessed during Episode 10 concerned me gravely personally
and for the recovery and treatment community as a whole.
As an active professional within
Florida’s treatment and recovery community, I say without pause that Donna
Chavous’ handling of Courtney’s intervention during Episode 10 was wantonly
reckless, extremely dangerous and undoubtedly unethical. Specifically, in the
"pre-intervention" scene where she explains to Courtney’s family, her
power under Florida’s Marchman Act law to summon police at will and have
Courtney arrested, if she refused treatment on the day of the intervention - a
bold faced lie. The Florida Marchman Act is an “involuntary commitment” statute
to compel addicts into detox and treatment, but it is also a legal “process”
that could never grant Donna Chavous such power. The Florida Marchman Act is
not a legal sword to punish addicts with incarceration for refusing care.
Instead, the Florida Marchman Act is a legal shield to protect addicts from the
criminal justice system and incarceration; but, most importantly, from ending
up in the morgue. My outrage at the misinformation this woman spewed on
national television, I first personally vetted on the A&E Intervention
discussion board. Hours later, I directed a more formal email to the show
producers, which began a personal email exchange with the executive producers
of A&E Intervention.
Initially, our exchange was hopeful,
and convinced me (at least temporarily), that the executive producers of the
show were in fact “very concerned,”
over Donna Chavous’ conduct and ready to protect the “integrity of the interventions [they] conduct.” Specific promise
was made to me that they would personally investigate: “Ms. Chavous’…overall conduct with appropriate clinical
professionals..,” and told me that they would be “grateful, if I could provide them with the specific inaccuracies in
any language during the episode, concerning the [Florida] Marchman Act.” They
asked me to further detail any “specific
inaccuracies Ms. Chavous articulated” during Episode 10. The correspondence
very quickly devolved, however, into clear posturing by A&E to distance the
entertainment and production aspect of the show from what they described to be “a strict division on ‘Intervention’ between
the television professionals and the clinical professionals.” Despite this,
I ultimately did what they asked and provided them with a detailed
transcription of the specific abuses that I witnessed aired on the show. It was
then, that our seemingly fluid exchange turned to corporate stonewalling and
abrupt silence. My request concerning the specific actions A&E Intervention
intended to take to address Donna Chavous conduct and set the record straight
were ignored. More troubling, A&E Intervention quickly went about
systematically “sanitizing” all trace
of my original discussion board venting under the title “Marchman Act Attorney.” Only the posts of equally outraged
audience members, who noticed A&E’s removal of my earlier comments, remain:
"Where's the Marchman Attorney's messages? What
happened to the messages from the Florida Attorney about the Marchman Act? Did
someone from A &E take them down because he was right &; Donna
lied!"
"I AGREE!!!...Honey, I just posted about the same
thing. Donna Chavous is not an appropriate interventionist. Screaming after
her, "I'm shutting down all your tricks girl! You're going to jail!!"
I HATE this woman and she needs to find a new field of work. She's hurting
these already sensitive and confused, scared addicts."
"[Re: Where's the Marchman Attorney's messages? Posted
By: shined33] What messages are you referring to? I never saw [them]."
My outrage with Donna Chavous has
been compounded by the subsequent inaction of A&E, whom I now hold equally
accountable to the treatment and recovery community. A&E Intervention could
easily have remedied their predicament by: (1) suspending Donna Chavous from
further interventions until the allegations of her misconduct were fully
investigated; (2) pulling all existing (or, future airings) of episodes she
appears in until the allegations of her misconduct were fully investigated; and
(3) publicly remedy her lie by spending equal air time rehabilitating audience
perception of the Florida Marchman Act as was spent showcasing Donna Chavous
misrepresentation of the law. I am sure the Reverend Hal S. Marchman; if alive
today, would have found this a reasonable approach to remedy such a lie. I’m
not so sure the lawyers for Hal S. Marchman’s current Estate would be so
forgiving should they learn A&E had not only turned a blind eye (and ear)
to such deception, but profited from it as well.
Considering the evidence at hand,
A&E Intervention critics like Matthew Gilbert of the Boston Globe prove to
be shockingly insightful: “[A&E
Intervention] makes prime-time sport of vulnerable, desperate people and their
spiral to the bottom.” Has the A&E Network not struck Hollywood pay
dirt with its Emmy Award winning show? Have they not generated nearly unlimited
sources of potential advertising revenue showcasing addicts, who Mr. Gilbert
quite accurately described as being on the countdown to self-destruction?
Another TV critic, Melanie McFarland, of Seattle believes that A&E
Intervention blurs the line between “compelling
depictions and exploitation with every episode following addicts at the lowest
coils in his or her downward spiral and only confronting the person in the very
last quarter of the show whereby the viewer is not left to contemplate the
subject's healing process as deeply as how messed up that person is.” How
unrealistic or non-objective is McFarland’s assessment of the show’s formula,
which she accurately describes to be “25
percent recovery, 75 percent chaos.”
I respectfully submit to the
treatment and recovery community that we all need to wake up and simply act. In
regard to Donna Chavous of Intervention911, as treatment providers we have an
ethical and legal duty to report unethical conduct by a licensed professional
within our field, regardless of celebrity or association. All treatment
providers need to be held to the same exacting standard of care, whether that
care is being performed at a treatment center for Hollywood’s most affluent,
or, on the front line of any indigent based facility in any city across this
nation. Our duty is equal; as is our accountability. In regard to A&E
Intervention, we must recognize how vital it is that we police the influence we
allow an entertainment giant like A&E to have over the treatment industry
and recovery community. We must hold A&E accountable for every single cent
they profit on every single second of content produced on the back of every
single addict like Courtney. Why? A&E Network produces television content
in the name of entertainment. How can we know A&E Network holds entertainment
value over their concern for addicts? In the face of credible allegations of
abuse by an employee, A&E sits silent. As a community we must judge such
silence unacceptable. More so, we must judge A&E’s censorship of valid
corporate criticism equally unacceptable. Never forget, A&E entered the
treatment profession and recovery community for no other reason than to create
entertainment content for profit. In fact, A&E transformed its entire
network on a long shot that they could also transform treatment and recovery
into television gold. Don’t take my word for it, just a year ago A&E
programming Vice President, Rob Sharenow, stated in the article ‘How A&E Got Rich Off of Recovery’
by Joe Lynch: “Intervention was a critical
turning point for us…it signaled a big change in the network's entire approach
to programming... interventions are quite dramatic…they come with a built-in
climax, which makes for powerful TV.”
In conclusion, thirty-nine (39) days
have passed since A&E was placed on notice of Donna Chavous abuse of
Courtney and her family. Yet, Donna Chavous remains an untarnished member of
the A&E “Intervention Team”
without repercussion; without accountability and without public or, private
apology. I humbly call on every member of our community to let A&E hear
your voice by signing the petition at www.marchmanactblog.com.
Tell A&E and Donna Chavous: “(1) I
publicly hold you accountable for your conduct; and (2) I demand independent
clinical oversight of your entertainment product from today forward.” This
has never before been more important for our community than right now.
Especially, with A&E’s plan for even greater influence over our community
with the ‘Intervention’ spin-off: 'The
Recovery Project' scheduled to air this year with celebrity endorsement by
Whoopi Goldberg, Russell Simmons, Benjamin Bratt and Christopher Lawford (among
others). Peter Hamilton Consultants (who develop, produce and market television
content for other network giants like CBS, Discovery, AETN, National Geographic
and NBC) has referred to ‘Intervention’
as a revenue “Sweet-Spot” for the
A&E Network. ‘The Recovery Project'
is clearly intended to replicate A&E’s success with ‘Intervention’ by selling a similar theme to the estimated 100
million U.S. home the show will reach weekly (thanks in total to A&E's
pre-existing “Sweet-Spot”). What does A&E say about their new endeavor?
According to A&E Network:
“[The
Recovery Project]…was inspired by our work on the ‘Intervention’ series and in
the community…to break the stigma of addiction...[A&E] celebrates people in
recovery and pays tribute to those who support them: treatment providers,
family and friends.”
Let that sink in for a moment, while
thinking about Episode 10…About Courtney…About Donna Chavous…About A&E Network.
Absolutely no reconciliation can exist between A&E’s lofty claim above to “pay tribute to every individual in
recovery, provider or family member” while they condone the abuse and
exploitation of any single addict – just like Courtney - and then silence public
concern over such abuses.
Author Note:
For my part, I know which way the wind
blows and will continue to see how many more days will tick past before A&E
responds and attempts to regain any semblance of credibility in my eyes, but
more so in the watchful eyes of the treatment and recovery community itself. I
hope for immediate response and action by A&E, although I expect none. As
A&E has no incentive to change unless we demand that they change!
With each additional day of silence, I truly am beginning to recognize what is
potentially the greatest threat posed by A&E Network to the treatment
industry and recovery community - their indifference. I will continue to do my
part to share Courtney’s story. I hope this "Open Letter" will result
in A&E eventually learning that every addict is significant; and, a
person’s significance is not somehow devalued, simply because you happen to be
standing at the door selling tickets to the show.
Please sign our petition and share Courtney’s
story with a friend today.
Thank you.
Raymond
G. Ferrero III, Esq.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Lindsay Lohan's had enough of people's false accusations while she's trying to get her career back on track after five years of legal troubles, her publicist said Tuesday.
"We've reached a point where it's just not going to be tolerated anymore," Steve Honig said. "People need to understand that there are consequences."
Monday, April 9, 2012
10 surprising benefits of quitting smoking
Rick Morris is one of seven CNN viewers participating in the CNN Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge. He quit smoking on an episode of "Sanjay Gupta, M.D." and has been smoke-free since.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Support Congressman Buchanan’s “Pill Mill Crackdown Act
Share your opinion on Congressman Vern Buchanan’s legislation to crack down on prescription drug abuse nationwide!
Buchanan’s bill will reschedule hydrocodone combination drugs – one of the most addictive and deadly drug mixtures. It will also double the penalties and triple the fines for ‘pill mill’ operators and use assets seized to fund prescription drug databases.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Broward County pill mill owner pleads guilty, agrees to turn over nearly $12 million in cars, cash, property
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