RIR Magazine -RIR All-STAR BAND

January 2014

The New 2014

RIR All-star band also:

Making an Impact on Recovery Creativity and Recovery

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The 2014 g RIR All-Star With Spec Band

February 15, 2014 7pm - 10pm The Venue of Fort Lauderdale 2345 Wilton Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL

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Contact: 954-826-5968 For More Information Main Sponsors: The Academy For Addiction Professionals Destination Hope

Love of recovery concert and dance www.rockersinrecovery.org

Become a sponsor of this event call 954-826-5968.

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Info

Credits Publisher

Rockers In Recovery Radio Productions

Layout & Design Philip Salvagni philipsalvagni@gmail.com

Contributions by: Carol Harblin Academy for Addiction Professionals Michael Burke

Contact 954-826-4920 825 NE 12th Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 www.rockersinrecovery.org john@rockersinrecovery.org

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Rockers in Recovery Magazine

Contents

Articles Do Not Gamble with your Recovery.............. 6 Making an Impact on Recovery............................ 8 Rockers In Recovery Is Support............................... 10 Creativity and Recovery.... 12

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Articles

Do Not Gamble

with your Recovery

By michael burke

E

very week I am contacted by people dealing with problems created by their gambling. Most of them have lost everything and are trying to figure out what happened to their lives.

All are in deep financial trouble and many are facing criminal charges. Some are even contemplating suicide. Compulsive gambling has the highest suicide rate of all addictions. There are two reasons which allow the gambler to get so lost in his addiction. First, compulsive gambling is known as the hidden addiction. There are no outward manifestations. There is no odor, no staggering, no slurred speech.

People do not realize a problem is starting to consume a loved one or a friend until it is too late. Second, as long as the gambler has a token, the gambler has hope. The gambler will only seek help when all the money is gone.

A large number of gamblers have one other thing in common; they are in recovery from substance abuse.

Many in this group have been clean and sober and in a twelve-step program for many years.

The last two people who contacted me both had an active gambling addiction, one with eight and the other with fifteen years of recovery.

Gambling is an insidious addiction. A person predisposed to develop a gambling problem

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may spend years gambling socially and suffering minimal ill effects. But that person will eventually cross the line into a full blown addiction. The chains of addiction are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. The devastation we gamblers leave in our wake can take a lifetime to recover from. Relationships are often fatally destroyed because of the betrayal of trust by the compulsive gambler.

Studies have shown that between 12% and 20% of substance abusers in inpatient rehab programs also have a co-occurring gambling problem.

We should start treating this group immediately. This can be accomplished by implementing an aftercare program to specifically offer treatment for a gambling problem.

I conducted a survey of substance abuse patients at Brighton Hospital in Brighton, Michigan. I screened 8,000 substance abusers, primarily alcoholics, for a gambling problem. Sixteen percent of the patients screened identified as having a problem.

What was more interesting was that the majority Michael Burke of the remaining eighty-four percent did not gamble at all. The reason for this turned out to be quite simple.

The addiction that brought them into the hospital was working just fine. They did not need another addiction at that time. Unfortunately it is this group that, after treatment for substance abuse, will

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trade their substance abuse addiction for a gambling addiction. They leave their alcoholism or drug abuse at the hospital and walk down the street and find a new addiction to replace it.

This is a large group of people who are predisposed to problem gambling and, at the same time, the most economical and easy to treat. All we have to do is educate them about the dangers of gambling, just as we currently educate alcoholics about the dangers of other substances. The theme should be addiction is addiction is addiction. Education should lead to well informed and appropriate choices for the person in recovery.

Another area that holds great promise is educating people in recovery in the twelvestep programs. There is a need to start discussions relating to gambling and other process addictions. Members need to be

warned of the devastation that gambling can cause a person in recovery. I am deeply saddened by the hundreds of gamblers coming out of twelve-step programs who have lost most of what they had gained back while in that program because of a lack of knowledge about gambling addiction. The message is simple. If you are in recovery, do not gamble. If you need help for a gambling problem, contact me at burkemichaelj@ yahoo.com. « Michael Burke lives in Howell, Michigan where he practiced law for 25 years.

Michaels’ book “Never Enough: One Lawyer’s True Story of How He Gambled His Career Away,” has been published by the American Bar Association. Proceeds from the book go to his victims. He travels the country speaking to groups on the topic of trading addictions and compulsive gambling. «

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Love of recovery concert and dance February 15, 2014 7pm - 10pm The Venue of Fort Lauderdale 2345 Wilton Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Contact: 954-826-5968 For More Information

Main Sponsors:

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The Academy For Addiction Professionals Destination Hope

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Become a sponsor of this event call 954-826-5968. www.rockersinrecovery.org

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Articles

Making An Impact

on Recovery

By Carol Harblin

W

hat is a better way to make an impact during the winter season than getting out and having fun in recovery on March 21, 2014 for The Impact Society’s annual fundraiser in Towson, Maryland, at Kraushaar Auditorium, Goucher College. Rockers In Recovery is helping The Impact Society put the FUN back into FUNdraiser.

Recovery isn’t just about sustaining your own sobriety but also prevention and educating people about living life without resorting to drugs and alcohol. Making music with a message of hope while helping to give awareness and support to others is what making an impact in recovery is all about.

The Impact Society is a non-profit organization that combines prevention, intervention, and recovery services. All proceeds go to recovery houses, New Youth Culture Tour Prevention Education Programs and IMPACT Media.

This night will begin with a meet and greet at 7 p.m. (for VIP ticket holders) prior to the concert where featured artists from the RIR All-Star Band will be present, along with The Impact Society Band. Anyone can be a VIP by purchasing the VIP tickets. Regular ticket prices for the concert are $25 and VIP tickets are $65. Tickets are on sale at www.missiontix.com/rockersinrecovery.

Getting a chance to meet and speak with band members who support recovery is a gift in itself because it shows that having fun is possible without using drugs and alcohol.

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The concert will begin at 8 p.m. and run until 11 p.m. It will present singers and bands, Tony Denikos, Tall in the Saddle Band, Impact Society Band and RIR AllStar Band. This concert will be the last performance with the old faces of the RIR All-Star Band. New performers will carry the message of hope and support to people in recovery.

Danny Brannon, founder and CEO of The Impact Society is also a bass player and songwriter for The Impact Society Band.

Mr. Brannon’s vision and message is, “drugs and thugs are out and community service, education, and leadership are in.”

Mr. Brannon’s inspiration for creating The Impact Society is, “To use music and recovery as a way to prevent others from going down that road.” Because of his tumultuous road in addiction that spanned from childhood to adulthood. Mr. Brannon is dedicated in supporting and educating as many people he can.

According to Mr. Brannon, the message of the event is about educating and influencing the general public about the importance of education, intervention, and the programs, services, and resources that are available to everyone. People do not have to suffer with addiction when there are supportive options to everyone, regardless of financial situation.

“We want to have a fun event that is clean and sober in our community,” said Debbie Dauer, Co-Founder/Board Member of The Impact Society.

All proceeds from this fundraiser go to the

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recovery houses and towards education.

Impact Recovery Houses are dedicated in supporting recovering alcoholics and addicts in early recovery. They provide affordable, structured living with opportunities for personal growth, renewed health, and building a solid recovery foundation.

The Impact Society believes that today’s young leaders have the power to create a

New Youth Culture. The Impact Society educates students that will help them to prevent risky behavior and make wise decisions about substance abuse, teen pregnancy, bullying, teen suicide, and absenteeism.

To learn more about The Impact Society and what they offer, visit our website at www.TheImpactSociety.org. «

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May 2012

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Articles

Rockers

Recovery

By Carol Harblin

T

he ball players may have changed, but the name of the game is recovery and the message is still the same. Rockers In Recovery is an organization that carries the message of hope while educating the public about drugs and alcohol.

RIR understands the steps in recovery and how tumultuous and arduous it is in everyday life to cope without using. Coping with life while being chemical-free can be an extremely difficult journey in a society that continually feeds us more drugs while supporting the marketing for liquor stores.

The new RIR All-Star Band features a core house band with musical directors, Anthony Steele (Buddy Miles, Bobby Caldwell), and Doc Allison (Bobby Moore, James Browns Band). Special guest artists will be showcased along with the house band.

The new RIR All-Star Band debuts February 15, 2014 in Fort Lauderdale Florida, with the message of hope and unconditional support to anyone who is recovering from drugs and/or alcohol, as well as families. Alcoholism and drug addiction does not solely inflict damage to the addict, but also to the whole family. Addiction hits everyone, not a particular age group, race, creed, religion, or gender. Rockers In Recovery recognizes diversity with their audiences with a broader range of musical selections from every genre.

People are literally dying every day from both illicit and over-the-counter drug abuse. A drug is a drug and the bottom line 10

In

Is Support

is that drugs create addiction. Education about addiction is essential in today’s times than ever before. Because addiction reaches so many different backgrounds and ages, there needs to be a more diverse span in music in order to reach more people so that the message is spread out among the masses.

Whether people were alive or not in the 1960s and 1970s, everyone knows that the popular bands from those decades helped carve a positive and peaceful mindset and lifestyle. Unfortunately, the 1960s and 1970s were also two decades that also made people associate rock and roll music with drugs. Since then, becoming a celebrity actor or musician seems to be linked with alcohol and drug use. Why must alcohol and drugs always follow celebrity actor and musician status, which only dampens that industry with more negativity?

“Let’s take the self-destruction elements out of the music from the bands of the 60s and 70s and keep the same energy and mindset alive,” agreed Anthony Steele and Doc Allison, two of the new faces of the new Rockers In Recovery All-Star Band, “We all just want to have clean and sober fun while making music.”

Mr. Steele and Mr. Allison have joined Rockers In Recovery because they both share its message as well as bringing diversity and a multi-cultural aspect to the stage. There is no one-way of going through recovery, just as there are millions of unique recovery stories. There are as many unique stories of those in recovery as there are songs on every station on the radio. Why should we have only one station

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of rock music when there are several genres such as pop, country, Motown, blues, jazz, soft rock, in addition to classic rock music?

Rockers In Recovery Live and The Rockers In Recovery All-Star Band combines cream of the crop musicians that are in recovery or support recovery. This band is about carrying a message of hope, along with some serious good time dance music and some

good old Rock and Roll. This combination makes them Recovery All-Stars. We also want to invite other musicians that are in recovery or support recovery, who want to help us carry our message of hope through music. Most importantly, the message of “Rockers In Recovery Live Concert Series” is that treatment and education mixed with having fun in recovery, is indeed possible! «

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Articles

Creativity and

Recovery

the network of creative, feel-good sites that get fired up when we start to use our imaginations.

By Michele Webb

T

he human brain is built for creativity.

No fewer than eleven areas of our brains collaborate when we create, networking instantly to build new visions in our heads, and to help us express those visions in whatever way works for us. Plus it feels so good! When we create, our brains pump out endorphins, rewarding us for exploring and expressing. This feeling of accomplishment is a wonderful thing, as is the sense of freedom and fulfillment that’s also part of the deal. In a very real sense, creativity is our birthright; we only need to take action.

Musicians create music, but listening to music is a creative process, too. We each experience and interpret music in our own way. You might move to the music, swaying in your seat or swirling and dancing in freeform self expression. Tapping on a table, you are soon performing your own drum solo. Head bobbing, you visualize colors or pictures that your inventive brain conjures.

Maybe your interpretation is more actively visual, as doodles or splashes of paint dance across the canvas of your choice.

We can also use our creativity in purely practical ways, some of which may even save our lives. For recovering people, cravings are not unknown to us, especially early on. Guaranteed relief can be had by switching our thoughts and actions to something creative, even if we don’t feel like it. Especially if we don’t feel like it.

Taking that action moves your brain activity from the craving-filled “addiction box,” as the limbic system is sometimes called, to

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Don't say that you’re not creative -- of course you are! Just imagine trying to survive the challenges of active addiction without creativity. Who is more creative than an addict chasing a high?

I’ll bet you were pretty inventive, at times!

Creativity can be found in many forms, and none of them require perfection. Move to the music. Have fun, be free! Take a pottery class. Sing in the shower...really loud!

Make a collage. Learn to play a musical instrument. Write in your journal. Write poetry, silly or profound. Fingerpaint!

Gardening is a creative activity. So is cooking. You could buy or make something new to decorate your living space.

Decorate yourself. Take up beading or woodworking. Read a book and envision the characters, locations and action. Planning an outing for yourself or with a few friends can activate your imagination. Tell stories around a campfire and eat s’mores. Play charades. Play Pictionary. Plan a road trip.

Paint the kitchen. Go to a concert with other recovering people.

Creativity is about taking small emotional risks when that voice inside says, “Be cool. Don’t get involved.” It’s about taking action that changes your thinking and helps you grow and cope -- that helps you find your true self, your happy self.

It’s about bypassing perfectionism to find joy. Rock on! «

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